Dean Playmate EAB Acoustic Bass Guitar: Review

A large-bodied, somewhat awkward acoustic bass guitar, the $150 Dean Playmate EAB is one of the best acoustic basses for under $1000.

Basic Features

The Dean EAB Electro-Acoustic bass is a standard-scale, four-string acoustic bass with 24 frets, dreadnought-style bridge, closed tuners and a plastic nut. With a piezo pickup under the bridge and passive tone control settings, the bass can easily be plugged in and played with no variation in tone.

With no cutaway, the extra four frets at the end of the fretboard are hard to reach. The neck joins the body at the 17th fret, pushing the fretboard off to the left when played seated, and this high body joint means low notes can be uncomfortable to play.

To add to the discomfort, the body on this acoustic bass has no curved sculpting, so playing fingerstyle is an exercise in finding a position that doesn't cut off right hand circulation and doesn't give a thin tone. While I got the most volume from playing just behind the sound hole, I couldn't hold that position long enough to complete one song.

Sound

To its credit, the Dean Playmate has excellent volume, well beyond Michael Kelly or Ibanez acoustics which cost at least twice as much and can't compete with more than one acoustic guitar.

The only competition the Dean has for pure volume are either the Tacoma Thunderchief, the rare Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic, a cheap double bass or a guitarron -- none of which are nearly as feasible or affordable. Earthwood phosphor bronze strings give it a zingy, bright, guitar-like tone that cuts through most guitar jangling.

Fit and Finish

Overall, the Dean looks and feels beautiful. Its laminate spruce top and mahogany back, sides and neck are pretty enough, and the satin finish keeps hands, arms and fingers from sticking to it. The top and neck are bound.

Dot markers are in the usual places and along the fretboard. The natural finish is nice enough, but repeating patterns in the top wood make it an obvious laminate.

When the bass arrived, it was set up so poorly I couldn't play it. Even when tuned, the neck had enough backbow that the strings were laying flat against the frets, and it took several days of truss rod adjustments and risky over-tuning to get the neck where it needed to be. To make matters worse, several frets either buzzed or didn't play, and needed to be filed down to be made usable.

The Dean Playmate EAB came with a few cosmetic flaws as well. On the lower bout there were several streaks of glue, and the headstock either had wear or missing finish around the edges.

Final Verdict

Much as I wanted to like this acoustic bass, it was too awkward for me to play. Of course, every player is different, so interested bassists should try one at Guitar Center before buying. I wouldn't recommend buying one sight-unseen. They sound great, but that doesn't count for much if it's hard to physically play them.