DEAN JEF BERLIN - TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

[white_cloud]

It must be said, in all fairness, that Jeff has a really nice tone. Jaco was in the same category - nice tone, no fancy electrics!
 
It is true that a lot of a players tone is actually in the fingers!!
 
John.

[jacko]

John.
I'll agree that most of the time he ran clean, however, jaco used the built in distortion on his acoustic 360 heads. He also used a rackmount MXR digital delay and an octave pedal od sorts. If you check out the Joni Mitchell 'Shadows and light' DVD you'll see him constantly faffing with all three during his solo spot.  
jaco was a true innovator and liked to experiment. If he'd lived, i'm willing to bet he'd have tried out extended range basses, digital looping and every other tool that's come along in the last 20 years.
 
Graeme
 
graeme

[bsee]

I have a bass from the original Dean era twenty-something years ago.  It's a very solid piece.  The current generation of Dean stuff I have seen is mostly Korean made commodity gear, though I have also seen a few higher end pieces.  
 
What he's playing in that pic looks like a modernized Jazz.  The neck pickup might be a little closer to the neck than on a Fender, but it looks pretty similar short of the cosmetics.
 
Any bass in the $500 or less price range that feels solidly built, plays well, and sounds pretty good is worth a shot.  I am guessing that's what you mean by cheap.  If so, then go for it if it suits you.

[white_cloud]

It would have been interesting to witness the kind of music that Jaco would be composing/playing today had he managed to survive!
 
Players from the same era, such as Jeff, have certainly matued well. Jeff has really found his voice on the bass now.
 
Poor Jaco - what an awful gap he left after his sad downfall
 
Yeah, a bass with Schallers, bad-ass, bartolinis, graphite re-inforced neck, hard case etc delivered for $500..Im happy with that deal
 
John.