I just got this in the mail yesterday after a very long wait (backordered from dean). This is my first experience with an acoustic bass and with a dean. I am very impressed. The feel, the weight, the look, the sound, are all better than expected. Easy to play, and very rich sound. Plugged in it sounds very nice as well. not as loud as a true electric obviously, but it amplifies well. It is a very big guitar, even my wife remarked on the size of this instrument. I plan to switch strings to flatwound as suggested in a previous review just to see how it effects the chatter, but this thing came out of the box nearly ready to play. I tuned it up and started playing. Very easy to work with and very easy on the wallet. My highest recommendation to other customers and my thanks to dean for producing what I wanted.

This is a basic bass, with a fantastic tone. It feels nice, has a great action to the neck, is light and durable. Its big shape produces a resonate sound, that is deep, almost that of an upright bass. The full scale neck is great. Electronics are good, not the best, but do the job that needs to be done.Overall, a great, and best of all, affordable bass!

This bass is big, but that's expectable from an acoustic. Good tone, decent electronics, and a REALLY cheap price tag. Makes a great addition to your collection. Not good for funk or slap-style.

I think that some of the comments are a little undeserved. Perfection in a beginner bass is not realistic. It states that this is a beginner bass. The tone is excellent, better than most more expesive acoustic basses. This is the best value for your money.

Quality of material and workmanship on this instrument is only fair. The bridge saddle and nut are made of flimsy soft plastic contributing to the poor acoustic volume. I changed strings to a nylon taped type to smooth out the finger noise. It sounds much more like an old stand-up bass now. I discovered the string holes in the bridge had been drilled without a backup caul on the bridge plate which was splintered on the inside. There was sawdust and splinters inside the body. The passive piezo pickup strip is mounted under the bridge saddle and is sensitive to finger noise and accidental bumps. To overcome this, turn the onboard tone control all the way down and compensate by turning the amp tone control up or there will be noticeably diminished first string response. I haven't been able to find a carrying case for this bass. It's over four inches deep and with the long scale neck, it's massive but graceful in appearance. Satin finish is flawless but delicate. Not bad for the price.

I don't usually write these little review things on websites, but I am extremely pleased with this purchase. I bought this bass solely for the purpose of quiet practicing/jamming in my apartment, where an amplified electric bass would not be welcomed with open arms. If you're considering it for this purpose you'll be completely satisfied. For the cash spent, it doesn't get much better than this. This is a sturdy instrument that you won't have to worry about being too 'careful' with. The finish and general appearance are nothing fancy at all, but if your about the music, you won't even notice. It has a different feel and requires a slightly different playing style than electric bass (just as an acoustic guitar differs from electric) but I found myself adjusting quite easily. I highly suggest changing the stock strings to flatwounds, which are smooth as silk on this thing, because this instrument tends to create a bit of finger noise with the roundwounds. IMO this is not a substitute for an electric bass, but has it's own unique sound. Overall: A ton of fun and a unique playing experience!

GREAT BASS WITH A GREAT TONE, PROBABLY THE BEST BASS U COULD GET WITH UR MONEY

This acoustic bass is big. The body is big, but manageable. You're going to have to take good care of this bass. The satin finish is rather delicate. It is a beautiful instrument, though. Everything looks good on this bass, except for one thing. It needs that second strap button to complete the deal. I suppose that tying the strap to the peghead will balance the hold of the guitar. The acoustic volume is not loud. Most acoustic basses of this type are about the same in the volume department. The tone quality is good. I was looking for a good substitute for an upright bass kind of tone. This will have to do. A cellist wishing to start in on acoustic bass could very easily tune to the cello pitches and begin playing sideways bass with this bass guitar. The fingerboard seems to have the same scale length, frets included.The electric pickup is ok. I usually have the volume at maximum level while the tone level is at the minimum setting. My fingers cause too much "clacky-ness"; the minimum tone setting fixes this problem along with critical amplifier settings. The bass still performs rather shy in the volume department. I like the acoustic bass for its looks and design. For a big guitar, it doesn't seem overly heavy. I'm six feet tall weighing 215 lbs. I have small hands for my size, but the action and feel is relatively smooth for an acoustic instrument. I've heard of musicians switching to lighter gauge round bound bass strings. I just don't know about switching to a light gauge. The idea of making truss rod adjustments is not my thing if this bass would need such an adjustment. Overall, this Dean Playmate Acoustic Bass is a simple instrument with a simple wide tone and soft projection. It is nice for small venue work and teaching. I think that cello players might consider this bass for doing small bass work. I have other basses in my collection and have tried the more expensive acoustics. This one is just so right for my classroom and personal practice sessions. I like it.

Im a novice bass player who has gotten the opportunity to play a couple of very high end basses and all I have to say is this should be alot more money! I immediately replaced the strings and after the sound was amazing. I love the black color and the acoustic is very nice for tagging along on trips. great product (havent touched the electronics though)

Thought I would try an acoustic Bass guitar. It is definately different. Very top heavy with the long neck, noisy strings from fingering (needs flatwound), amps ok, but look out for feedback. It is also VERY BIG! It just doesn't cut it for bass sound without amping it. If you want that acoustic bass sound buy a standup...