The original Evanston, Illinois-based company was founded by Dean Zelinsky in 1977. Zelinsky, fond of classic Gibson designs, began building high quality electric solid body instruments and eventually started developing his own designs. Originally, there were three models: The V (similar to the Flying V), the Z (Explorer body shape), and the ML (sort of a cross between the V and an Explorer - and named after the initials of Matt Lynn, Zelinsky's best friend growing up). As the company's guitars gained popularity, production facilities were moved to Chicago in 1980.
In 1986, Dean closed the USA Shop, leaving all construction to be completed overseas. The U.S. market had shifted towards the then-popular bolt neck super-strat design, and Zelinsky's personal taste leaned in the opposite direction. Zelinsky sold Dean Guitars in 1990 to Oscar Medros, founder and owner of Tropical Music (based in Miami, Florida). The Dean Guitars facility in Plant City, Florida was run by Tracy Hoeft and Jon Hill, and new guitars were distributed to markets in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and Europe. In 1995, Armadillo Enterprises or Clearwater, FL bought Dean from Tropical Music. In 2000, Zelinsky came back to work for Dean. They currently produce several lines of guitars overseas and they also have a high-end custom shop that builds several original models. Most acoustic models are produced overseas (with the exception of a few custom shop models). Dean did produce a few acoustics in the early 1990s, but the bulk of acoustic guitars were first introduced in 1998. For more information, contact Dean directly or visit their website.
Instruments currently produced in Tampa, FL, Korea, Japan, and China. Distributed by Armadillo Enterprises of Tampa, FL. Previously produced in Evanston, IL 1977-1986, and in Plant City, FL 1990-94, and Clearwater, FL 1995-2005. Instruments have been produced in Tampa, FL since 2005 and overseas since 1985.

DEAN Acoustic Guitars Models

DEAN EARTH 00CE Image

DEAN EARTH 00CE

- 00 size single cutaway body, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with rosette, 14/20-fret fingerboard with offset dot inlays, ebony bridge, bone nut and saddle, Piezo pickup and Fishman preamp, satin Natural f...

DEAN CGP Image

DEAN CGP

- classical design, spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, rosewood fingerboard, slotted style headstock, Mosaic rosette, Gloss Natural finish, plush lined case included, mfg. 2005-present.

DEAN TRADITION AK48 (MODEL AK48) Image

DEAN TRADITION AK48 (MODEL AK48)

- dreadnought style, select spruce top, mahogany sides/back/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, chrome hardware, Gloss Natural, Trans. Black, Trans. Blue, or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2004-present.

DEAN EAB BASS (MODEL EAB) Image

DEAN EAB BASS (MODEL EAB)

- jumbo-style mahogany body, multi-ply body binding, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, rosewood headstock overlay, two-per-side chrome tuners, triangular rosewood bridge, Dean electronics, availab...

DEAN SWEETWOOD OOR (MODEL SWOOR) Image

DEAN SWEETWOOD OOR (MODEL SWOOR)

- classical style, solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back/sides, 12/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with inlays, slotted style headstock, available in Satin Natural finish, mfg. 2003-04.

DEAN STUDIO S Image

DEAN STUDIO S

- classic body style, solid spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, multi-ply binding, abalone soundhole inlay, three-per-side Grover chrome tuners, available in Gloss Natural or Vintage Sunburs...

DEAN STAGE ACOUSTIC (MODEL DGK-SA) Image

DEAN STAGE ACOUSTIC (MODEL DGK-SA)

- offset double cutaway hollow basswood body, round soundhole, body binding, set-in neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge, chrome hardware, small offset V-shaped headstock, three-per-side tuners, available in Cl...

DEAN ARTIST CE (MODEL ACE) Image

DEAN ARTIST CE (MODEL ACE)

- single cutaway thin body, solid Englemann spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, multi-ply binding, abalone sound hole inlay, Grover three-per-side tuners, Shadow P7 Electronics, availa...

DEAN RESONATOR C (MODEL DGA-RC) Image

DEAN RESONATOR C (MODEL DGA-RC)

- single rounded cutaway body, metal resonator plate, multi-ply body binding, mahogany back/sides, biscuit bridge, chrome hardware, three-per-side tuning machines, available in Black Satin or Natural Mahogany finish, mfg. 1998-2000.

DEAN 12 GAUGE (MODEL 12GAUGE) Image

DEAN 12 GAUGE (MODEL 12GAUGE)

- dreadnought-style body, solid spruce top, mahogany body, round soundhole with three-ring rosette, multi-ply body binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with maple open dot and 11-13th fret round shotgun shell end inla...

DEAN CONCERT (MODEL C) Image

DEAN CONCERT (MODEL C)

- classical style body, cedar top, mahogany back/sides/neck, 12/18-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side open-gear tuners, multi-ply binding, abalone sound hole inlay, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2006.

DEAN PERFORMER E (MODEL PE) Image

DEAN PERFORMER E (MODEL PE)

- jumbo style single rounded cutaway body, select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole, body binding, 14/20-fret fingerboard with dot inlay, triangular Dean rosewood bridge, three-per-side tuners, piezo bridge pickup, volume...

DEAN NOUVEAU CM Image

DEAN NOUVEAU CM

- offset double cutaway hollow mahogany body, solid Engelmann spruce top, 25.25 in. scale, mahogany set neck, 22 frets, rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, Dean electronics, Grover tuners, chrome hardware, abalone sound hol...

DEAN CONTOUR Image

DEAN CONTOUR

- single cutaway hollow mahogany body, solid spruce top, set mahogany neck, 25.25 in. scale, multi-ply binding, extended rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, 23 frets, Shadow P7 preamp, Grover tuners, chrome hardware, Abalon...

DEAN EXOTICA FM (MODEL EFM) Image

DEAN EXOTICA FM (MODEL EFM)

- single cutaway hollow flame maple body, flame maple top, mahogany set neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, abalone soundhole inlay, multi-ply binding, Dean Electronics, Grover tuners, chrome hardware, available in...

DEAN MASTERS SD (MODEL DGA-MSD) Image

DEAN MASTERS SD (MODEL DGA-MSD)

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, round soundhole, wood body binding, mahogany back/sides, 14/20-fret fingerboard with white dot inlay, triangular Dean rosewood bridge, three-per-side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, available in Satin...

DEAN EXOTIGLASS Image

DEAN EXOTIGLASS

- single rounded cutaway body, flame maple top, fiberglass composite back and sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side chrome tuners, multi-ply binding, abalone soundhole inlay, Dean Electro...

DEAN EARTH 000 Image

DEAN EARTH 000

- 000 size body, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 12/19-fret fingerboard with offset dot inlays, ebony bridge, bone nut and saddle, satin Natural finish, mfg. 2005 only.

DEAN CS Image

DEAN CS

- classical design, solid cedar top, mahogany back/sides/neck, rosewood fingerboard, slotted style headstock, Mosaic rosette, Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2004-present.

DEAN TRADITION AK48 FLORENTINE (MODEL AK48 F) Image

DEAN TRADITION AK48 FLORENTINE (MODEL AK48 F)

- single sharp cutaway jumbo-style body, select spruce top, quilt ash back and sides, black top binding, round soundhole with three-ring rosette (large middle ring of abalone pearl), 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, qu...

DEAN SWEETWOOD DM (MODEL SWDM)  Image

DEAN SWEETWOOD DM (MODEL SWDM)

- dreadnought style, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back/sides, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with inlays, tortoiseshell binding, herringbone rosette, three-per-side tuners, available in Satin Natural finish, mfg. 2003-04.

DEAN STUDIO S DELUXE Image

DEAN STUDIO S DELUXE

- similar to the Studio S except has an extended fingerboard to 23 frets and abalone body binding, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2001-03.

DEAN STAGE ACOUSTIC DELUXE (MODEL DGK-SD) Image

DEAN STAGE ACOUSTIC DELUXE (MODEL DGK-SD)

- similar to the Stage Acoustic, except features a flame maple top, gold hardware, Shadow piezo bridge, volume/tone controls, available in Flame Black, Flame Cherry Sunburst, Flame Gloss Natural, or Flame Red finish, mfg. 1998-2000.

DEAN RESONATOR SP (MODEL DGA-RSP) Image

DEAN RESONATOR SP (MODEL DGA-RSP)

- dreadnought style, metal resonator plate, multi-ply body binding, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, spider bridge, chrome hardware, three-per-side tuning machines, available in Cherry Sunburst and Natural Mahogany finish, mfg. 1998-2007...

DEAN Nouveau CR Image

DEAN Nouveau CR

- similar to Noveau CM, except has gold hardware, Shadow P7 electronics, rosewood back and sides, AB multi-ply binding, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2001-02.

DEAN D-1 Image

DEAN D-1

- dreadnought style, laminated spruce top, round soundhole, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, mahogany back/sides, enclosed chrome tuning machines, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1991-92.

DEAN ARTIST CS (MODEL DGA-ACS) Image

DEAN ARTIST CS (MODEL DGA-ACS)

- jumbo style, single rounded cutaway medium thin body, solid spruce top, round soundhole, body binding, mahogany back/sides, 14/20-fret fingerboard with white dot inlay, triangular Dean rosewood bridge, three-per-side Grover tuners, chrome...

DEAN AXS FLAME (AX FLAME) Image

DEAN AXS FLAME (AX FLAME)

- single cutaway body, select spruce top, mahogany body, round soundhole with no rosette, single-ply body binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, matching finish headstock overlay, three-per-side c...

DEAN CONCERT C (MODEL DGA-CC) Image

DEAN CONCERT C (MODEL DGA-CC)

- classical style, single rounded cutaway body, select cedar top, round soundhole, multi-ply body binding, mahogany back/sides, 12/19-fret fingerboard, slotted headstock, tied bridge, three-per-side tuning machines, available in Gloss Natur...

DEAN Performer Denim (Model PED) Image

DEAN Performer Denim (Model PED)

- similar to the Performer, except has a flame maple body with tortoiseshell binding, abalone inlays, available in Fade Denim, Fade Tiger Eye, Faded Black Denim, or Faded Pink finish, mfg. 2004-05.

DEAN TRADITION CUTAWAY (MODEL T100C) Image

DEAN TRADITION CUTAWAY (MODEL T100C)

- single rounded cutaway dreadnought-style body, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, single-ply black binding, round soundhole with three-ring rosette, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, mahogany headstock overlay, thre...

DEAN ARTIST CSE (MODEL DGA-ACSE) Image

DEAN ARTIST CSE (MODEL DGA-ACSE)

- jumbo style, single rounded cutaway medium thin body, solid spruce top, round soundhole, abalone binding, Dean "Wing" design rosette, solid rosewood sides, rosewood back, 14/24-fret extended fingerboard with block inlays, triang...

DEAN CSR Image

DEAN CSR

- classical design, solid cedar top, rosewood back/sides, rosewood fingerboard, slotted style headstock, Mosaic rosette, mahogany binding, maple purfling, Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2004-2010.

DEAN CONCERT CRSE (CONCERT 24) Image

DEAN CONCERT CRSE (CONCERT 24)

- single rounded cutaway classical body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, 12/18-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side open-gear gold tuners, multi-ply binding, abalone soundhole inlay, Shadow P7 Electronics, ava...

DEAN RESONATOR CE (MODEL DGA-RCE/RCE NM) Image

DEAN RESONATOR CE (MODEL DGA-RCE/RCE NM)

- single rounded Dean cutaway body, metal resonator plate, multi-ply body binding, mahogany back/sides, biscuit bridge, chrome hardware, three-per-side tuning machines, chrome lipstick pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Black Satin...

DEAN MASTERS SE (MODEL DGA-MSE) Image

DEAN MASTERS SE (MODEL DGA-MSE)

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, wood body binding, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret fingerboard with white dot inlay, triangular Dean rosewood bridge, three-per-side Schaller tuners, chrome hardware, pi...

DEAN Frana TR Image

DEAN Frana TR

- similar to Frana TM, except has gold hardware, Shadow P7 electronics, rosewood back and sides, AB multi-ply binding, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2001-02.