3 YRS AGO ...I WAS INTRODUCING MY SELF BACK INTO THE ACOUSTIC FORMAT FOR THE VENUES I NOW PERFORM. I HAVE NOT USED A ACOUSTIC   SINCE THE 60S/ MY LAST ACOUSTIC WAS A FENDER NEWPORTER /WHICH   I HAVE AS A COLLECTIBLE GREAT NECK AND SOUND FOR A SMALL GUITAR/NO ELECTRONICS
I TRIED OUT ALOT OF ACOUSTIC ELECTRICS/
       AND TALKED WITH SEASONED ACOUSTIC PLAYERS AND IT WAS INTERESTING
ON THE VARIED POINTS OF VIEW....FROM TAYLOR TO TACOMA TO GIBSON....
AND THE LIST GOES ON
                     I WAS NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH MOST OF THESE
AS I HAD BEEN PLAYING GRETSCH ELECTRICS ....AND WANTED SOMETHING CLOSE that neck style
                        I STUMBLED ON A DEAN ...THAT WAS THE EXOCITkA
RSE TOP OF THE LINE....AT A WELL KNOWN MUSIC STORE HERE....IT BLEW MY MIND FOR A LOW END CHINA MADE GUITAR WITH GROVERS GREAT CUTAWAY VENTIAN STYLE.....ETC....I DIDNT GET THAT MODEL...BUT I FOUND A LIMITED ONE ON EBAY....CALLED THE FREEDOM WITH great real mother of pearl inlay on the neck...cool~ very.nice tone and neck...it is my main axe....for the money and the features ...great guitars...i think you have to find the one that works for you
no mattter what the company! my thoughts anyway...
so for price/ performance/ bright tone...take a dean and kick the tires! superior value for the money.....regards&keep rockin dhe!