I've a Dean Preformer.
I play mostly slide and was looking for an acoustic with a different sound. I was looking for an insturment with a cut-a-way, so I picked the Preformer.
I like the sound right off with the bottleneck I had with me at the time. I bought it.
Since then I've replaced the radial saddle with a flat one and raised the action up a bit.
It sounds good and the quiality seems to be in that $400 price range. I'm really happy with my Dean.
Slidin' on.