Dean Tradition Acoustic Guitar, Exotic Birds Eye Maple Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been playing my "Dean Tradition Acoustic Guitar, Exotic Birds Eye Maple" ever since I received it this evening; I've taken a break to upload some pictures and write an initial review.
It is a very attractive instrument...well-constructed with nice details...and has decent action & volume...its pitch is somewhat bright, which I like, as it provides a contrast to my warmer cedar-top Seagull.
Here are Dean's specifications, directly from their web site:
"TRADITION EXOTIC
* Solid Spruce Top
* 5 Body Types Available (see below)
* 25-1/2" Scale
* Mahogany Neck
* Rosewood Fingerboard
* Pearl Dot Inlays
* Sealed Die Cast Tuners
* Celluloid Binding
* Woodcut Mosaic Rosette
* Finishes: Birds Eye Maple, Mapa Burl, Lacewood, Zebra, Quilted Ash"
I believe that the Birds Eye Maple covering the sides/back is a veneer over a mahogany underlayment.
Generally, the guitar was finished with good attention to detail: the only undesireable things that stood out to me [but were not 'deal-breakers' and may not matter as much to other folks] are:
* a few flecks & chips of wood embedded in the gloss finish
* the veneer is not aligned well [ie, the Birds Eye pattern is not matched up closely on the sides...I'm posting a photo to explain better].
* of more importance...at least, to me, since I initially ordered my guitar based on Amazon's "Product Features," which, as of this writing states "Machine Heads: Grover"...is that this guitar DOES NOT have "Grover" machine heads. It apparently has ones made by "Ping" [this is what I was told when I contacted Dean...and I also asked them why more than one website says "Grover" but they couldn't tell me]. If anyone is really hankering for Grovers, they'll probably have to plan on spending at least $50 to upgrade...just an FYI.
My pictures that I uploaded to the gallery will tell the rest of the story...excuse me while I get back to playing my new baby ;-)

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Dean's Tradition Exotic series offers players a line of guitars that are crafted from exotic tonewoods at great prices. This guitar is made from Birds Eye Maple for a unique voice, plus a solid spruce top for added tone and volume. It's mated to a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. A classy parquet design adorns the rosette. Also features a set of chrome die-cast tuners. Case not includedTradition Exotic Birds Eye Maple~Solid Spruce Top~25-1/2" scale~Birds Eye Maple Back and Sides~Rosewood Fingerboard~Pearl DOT Inlays~Mahogany Neck~Sealed Die Cast Tuners~Celluloid Binding~Woodcut Mosaic Rosette

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