Dean Review: Rhapsody 8 String Bass

History:

Purchase: I bought my Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass from Firehouse Music in Conyers, Georgia. I had gone in looking for a new 4 or 5 string bass and came across this marvellous instrument. After tax, the total was about $635 (US).

What I Like About This Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass: The most important thing to me about any instrument is the sound, and the Rhapsody 8 String delivers more than I expected. Besides being strikingly beautiful, the instrument has a commanding tone, from a powerful low end to clearly ringing highs. It is well balanced and plays more easily than many might expect. On top of this, there is no neck dive, which is common among 8 and 12 string basses because of the extra wood and tuners in the headstock.

What I Do NOT Like About The Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass: I really can't think of a single thing I dislike about this instrument.

Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass Quality Rating: The Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass has a mahogany body with a bubinga top, a 5 piece laminated maple and walnut neck, an immaculate transparent black finish over the body, black Grover tuners and a two piece black chrome Dean bridge. The 24 fret fretboard is rosewood with perfect fretwork, beautiful green abalone inlays, and a carved fretboard end. It has an on-board 3D preamp with smoothly operating knobs. The battery compartment has a springloaded trap. The EMG pickups really allow this bass to live up to its potential. String pairs are far enough apart to pick single strings if needed, and pairs of strings are far enough apart from each other that playing both with a pick and fingerstyle is easy. And fingering on the wide, thick neck is easier than might be expected. Everything about this bass is solid and flawless.

Review Summary: I bought this bass because of it's sound, which is amazing. It doesn't look half bad, either. On top of that, it's constructed very solidly with high quality parts and electronics, as well as very good choices in woods. It's highly playable and highly affordable. I recommend this bass for anyone looking to branch out from 4 strings to something more exciting. You won't regret it.

Rating of this Dean product: 5

This Dean Rhapsody 8 String Bass Bass Guitars Review Submitted By: glissando

Review Date: 2002-03-16