Dean Cadillac Premium Guitar Review

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Review by Marcus Leadley in The Guitar Magazine
Issue February 2001

DEAN - CADILLAC PREMIUM

AS DEAN GUITAR'S PROFILE BECOMES MORE APPARENT in the UK, TGM takes a look at a couple of very different instruments which share the same commitment to tone and build quality. Review by Marcus Leadley (click here for the other review)

Well, here we are in what you might call familiar Dean territory - even if it is clearly a slicker version of a long-running theme. Dean Cadilac Premium

Along with the Flying V/Explorer hybrid styling of the Dean ML, the Cadillac was one of the Company's first major models, dating back in fact to 1980. However, there have been many changes along the way, both in terms of hardware and finishes.

This Premium is certainly no slouch: purple isn't the first colour that comes to mind for a guitar but if you're looking for something a little different, it turns out to be an impressive look that shows of this tasty bit of figured maple very well. While the body style gestures towards Gibson's Les Paul, the extended lower horn adds that Explorer touch that Dean likes so much. This is a full solid body - but despite the mahogany/maple construction it's not too weighty - more SG than LP - and the carve of the top gives the instrument a nice touch of streamlining which flows smoothly into the set neck construction.

The neck has a well rounded, comfortable C shaped profile, slightly slimmer than you might expect but in no way insubstantial. The rosewood fingerboard is a solid 4mm slab and the inlay work is well executed (though such wide inlays may not be to all tastes). Again this is a 22 fret instrument and the dressing is well up to scratch, though there's some gunk around the frets which makes the job look a little messy. This is one slinky action, though, and the overall appeal is fast and rocky. Upper neck access is very open so a bit of widdling will be a breeze.

At the other end of things we have that broad Dean wishboneN headstock. Although there's a style element here that won't appeal to all players, the overall effect of this extra bulk is certainly to deliver a well-balanced guitar. Dean are also keen to point out that the original pattern came from Zelinsky's experiments at making necks resonate better to improve overall tone: it's hard point to assess, but you have to give the maker full points for working his argument. Pickups. Yes, indeed: a chunky set of exposed-coil Seymour Duncans - again with black/cream bobbins but this time with the definite promise of extreme rock action The control layout of the Dean European Custom Cadillac Premium (phew, a right royal title) is simplicity itself: independent tone and volume pots for each pickup, and a single three way selector mounted on the lower horn.

Finally, gold hardware is a bit of a personal style issue: some people dig it, some don't. Most of the `don't' camp are considering the fact that it's probably going to wear off and look scruffy 20 years down the track... but just how far do you want to plan ahead- Live for today! Right now the gold Schaller tuners and tunomatic bridge combine with the purple finish to make this Cadillac look positively imperial, and the cream neck and body multi-ply bindings add a wave of regal authority. A touch overdressed- Maybe for those of a conservative nature - but for you, you with your wild eyes, dashing good looks and virtuoso flair.

SOUNDS
The Sarasota that needed a bit of a tweak before playing, but the Cadillac gives like a good 'un right out of the box (what, no case with a £800 instrument- Hmph). It's got a very classy feel, not unlike a Les Paul and offering a fast, expressive action cradled in the security of a lot of good tonewood.

And like a Les Paul the tone is dictated by the mahogany/maple body and the set-neck construction. The bridge pickup provides a bright clear top end with excellent sustain characteristics. Flicking through the three selector options gives a range of useable clean tones which would suit most applications: add a bit of chorus and echo for fingerpicky indie stuff or keep it clean for country styles, flange your way into the early '80s or go a bit bassy for a more than happy jazz tone.

But at the end of the day this is a rock guitar. You turn up the amp and go for it. Goth, nu/trad metal or hard rock riffs are all at home here and chunky chords and deepdigging lead lines are great fun. These pickups are certainly very powerful but not to the detriment of tone, giving plenty of well-rounded midrange push and just about the right amount of pickup scrape and scratch without being too microphonic. And as this instrument is physically lighter than a Les Paul there's none of those aching shoulders to put up with when you've been wearing the instrument for a while. So is this just a Les Paul in disguise - No, the Seymour Duncan thing is definitely smoother and more punchy than the modern Gibson equivalent and the added power favours modern metal rather than trad rock, so the comparison is of the broad brush variety only. The difference would be quite easy for a seasoned Gibson player to spot: not quite as deep a voice, a bit brighter and more maple in nature. Very pleasing.

As for the neck pickup, the overall tone is more bluesy with a chubbier midrange which - excellent for that no-tops-woundoff sound popular in the 70s. It's a good smooth beast tone for prog rock as well, should you be old and hairy enough to consider taking on the Nordrogs in the forests of the Otherworld...

VERDICT
That Dean headstock "V" for victory or sod off?

That Dean headstock "V" for victory or sod off?

As for the Cadilac Premium, its a first-order rocker for anyone who wants to cut a bit of a dash on stage - and you could go the frilly shirt route or take the distressed black road with ease. This is a classy instrument with all the refinement you'd expect in this price bracket. Mind, if you're up for spending 885.00 Pounds ona guitar then have a lot of great options out there to consider... but if this Dean fits your dream, it certainly won't disappoint.