DEAN Performer Bass CE Left-Handed
- similar to the Performer Bass CE except in left-handed configuration, disc. 2007.
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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.
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 EXOTICA KOA (MODEL EKOA)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, koa top/back/sides, round soundhole with rosette, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, pickup system with built in tuner, avail...
DEAN Performer SE-12 12-String
- similar to Performer SE, except in a 12-string configuration and six-per-side tuners, available in Gloss Natural or Classic Black finish, mfg. 1998-2007.
DEAN TRADITION S (MODEL TS)
- dreadnought style, 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, available in Gloss Natural, Classic Black...
DEAN GYPSY (MODEL GPS)
- small single cutaway body with an arched back, select spruce top, lacewood back and sides, round soundhole, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, Piezo pickup system, chrome hardware, Natural finish, 22...
DEAN PERFORMER BASS DAO (MODEL DGA-DAO)
- jumbo style, single rounded cutaway body, dao top/back/sides, round soundhole with wood Celtic rosette, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, triangular Dean rosewood bridge, two-per-sid...
DEAN EXOTICA NOMAD (MODEL ENA)
- small auditorium single cutaway body, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with wood and abalone rosette, maple body and neck binding, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, Dean electroni...
DEAN Performer SE Left-Handed (Model DSE-L)
- similar to the Performer SE, except in left-handed configuration, available in Gloss Natural finish, disc. 2006.
DEAN Tradition S Left-Handed (Model TS LH)
- similar to the Tradition S except in left-handed configuration, mfg. 1998-2006.
DEAN JUMBO CUTAWAY (MODEL 771J)
- single rounded cutaway jumbo body, solid spruce top, spalted maple back and sides, multi-ply B/W top binding, round soundhole with a single ring of abalone pearl rosette, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with custom inlays, spalted m...
DEAN PERFORMER BASS QM (MODEL PBQM)
- single rounded cutaway jumbo-style body, quilted maple top/back/sides, round soundhole with wood abalone rosette, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, bound headstock with two-per-side...
DEAN EXOTICA PADAUK (MODEL EPADUK)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, padauk top, back, and sides, round soundhole with woodcut rosette, celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock, three-per-side chrome tuners,...
DEAN PERFORMER KOA (PEKOA)
- single smooth cutaway folk-style body, koa top, back, and sides, round soundhole with abalone rosette, multi-ply celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard with split pearl block inlays, koa matching finish head...
DEAN Tradition S2 (Model TS2)
- similar to the Tradition S except has tortoiseshell binding, different rosette, and sealed tuners with oyster buttons, available in Classic Black, Gloss Natural, Satin Natural (disc.), Trans. Red (disc.), or Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg....
DEAN MAMBA (MODEL MAMBA)
- single rounded cutaway body, solid spruce top, maple back and sides, multi-ply black binding, round soundhole, maple neck, 14/21-fret maple fingerboard with double offset dot inlays and a black snake inlay that extends the length of the f...
DEAN EXOTICA QUILTED ASH (MODEL EQA)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, quilted ash top/back/sides, round soundhole with rosette, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, pickup system with built in tune...
DEAN PERFORMER KEY LARGO (MODEL PQSEKL)
- similar to the Performer E, except has a Sitka spruce top, quilted maple sides and backs, Florida palm fingerboard inlays, dolphin rosette, available in Trans. Blue finish, mfg. 2003-2010.
DEAN Tradition S2 Left-Handed (Model TS2LH)
- similar to the Tradition S2 except in left-handed configuration, mfg. 2007-08.
DEAN MLCOUSTIC (MODEL MLCOUSTIC)
- ML-shaped acoustic mahogany body, multi-ply body binding, triangular soundhole, mahogany neck, 23-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, wing-style headstock with black overlay, three-per-side chrome tuners, triangular rosewood...
DEAN Exotica Quilted Ash 12-String (Model EQA12)
- similar to the Exotica Quilted Ash, except in 12-string configuration with six-per-side tuners, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2009-present.
DEAN PERFORMER QUILT ASH (PEQA)
- single smooth cutaway folk-style body, quilt ash top, back, and sides, round soundhole with abalone rosette, multi-ply celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard with split pearl block inlays, quilt ash matching...
DEAN Tradition SE Electric
- similar to the Tradition S except features a piezo bridge pickup and Shadow five-band EQ, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 1998-2000.
DEAN NATURAL SERIES DREADNOUGHT (MODEL NSD)
- dreadnought-style body, solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with abalone rosette, multi-ply herringbone body binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, rosewood headst...
DEAN Exotica Quilted Ash Aphex (Model EQAA)
- similar to the Exotica Quilted Ash, except has DMT 12EX electronics with DWC Aphex Aural Exciter and Big Bottom circuitry, available in Trans. Blue or Trans. Power Purple finish, mfg. 2009-present.
DEAN PERFORMER TRIBAL (MODEL PETRBL)
- single rounded cutaway jumbo maple body, multi-ply top binding, round soundhole with barbwire rosette, mahogany neck, 14/21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with barbwire "tribal" fingerboard inlays, black headstock overlay, thre...
DEAN Tradition S CE Cutaway Electric (Model TSCE)
- similar to the Tradition S except features a single cutaway with Dean electronics, available in Gloss Natural or Blueburst finish, mfg. 2001-07.
DEAN Natural Series Dreadnought 12-String (Model NSD12)
- similar to the Natural Series Dreadnought, except in 12-string configuration with six-per-side tuners, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2012-present.
DEAN EXOTICA QUILT SUPREME (MODEL EQSES)
- similar to Exotica BB, except has Shadow P7 electronics, solid Engelmann Spruce top, quilt maple back and sides, AB multi-ply binding, available in Gloss Natural, Trans. Blue, Trans. Red, or Trans. Power Purple finish, mfg. 1999-2008.
DEAN MICHAEL SCHENKER PERFORMER (MSP)
- single cutaway Performer style, select spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard, round soundhole with custom rosette, matching headstock, three-per-side tuners, Piezo pickup with built-in tuner, chrome hardwar...
DEAN Tradition S12 12-String (Model TS12)
- similar to the Tradition S except in 12-string configuration, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2010.
DEAN Natural Series Dreadnought Cutaway (Model NSDC)
- similar to the Natural Series Dreadnought, except has a smooth cutaway, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2012-present.
DEAN Exotica Quilt Supreme Left-Handed (Model EQSESL)
- similar to the Exotica Quilt Supreme except in left-handed configuration, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2006.
DEAN TRADITION TQS12
- dreadnought style 12-string body, solid spruce top, quilted maple back and sides, mahogany neck, 14/20 rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-per-side gold Grover tuners, multi-ply binding, abalone soundhole inlay, available in Gloss Na...
DEAN NATURAL SERIES NSFC (MODEL NSFC)
- single Florentine cutaway NSFC-style body, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany (Classic Black finish) or rosewood (Gloss Natural finish) back and sides, round soundhole with abalone rosette, multi-ply herringbone body binding, set mahogany n...
DEAN EXOTICA ROSEWOOD SUPREME (MODEL ERSES)
- similar to Exotica QSE, except has rosewood back and sides, rosewood EX fingerboard, hexagon position markers, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 1999-2011.
DEAN TRADITION TUCSON
- similar to the Tradition One, except has a single cutaway, electronics, and lizard inlays, available in Sunburst or Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2003-06.
DEAN VCOUSTIC (MODEL VCO)
- V-shaped acoustic body, select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multiple-layer body binding, triangle-shaped soundhole with Dean T-Wing rosette, mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, Dean V-shaped headstock with...
DEAN EXOTICA RADIANT (MODEL EX RAD)
- similar to Exotica FM, except has solid Englemann spruce top, rosewood back/sides, radiant sun inlays, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. 2001-04.
DEAN TRADITION WING (T-WING)
- dreadnought style, select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, Dean wing custom design soundhole, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge, piezo pickup, Buffer preamp with built-in tuner, chrome hardware, available in...
DEAN V-WING
- single cutaway dreadnought-style body, baseball field-shaped soundhole Dean wing logo, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays, V-shaped black headstock, three-per-side chrome tuners with buttons, rosewood bridge, pickup s...
DEAN EXOTICA SELECT (MODEL ESEL)
- similar to Exotica FM, except has quilted maple top/back/sides, and abalone hourglass inlay, available in Tiger Eye finish, mfg. 2003-present.
DEAN EXOTICA SPALT MAPLE (MODEL ESPALT)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, spalt maple top, back, and sides, round soundhole with woodcut rosette, celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock, three-per-side chrome tu...
DEAN EXOTICA SPRUCE (MODEL ESPRUCE)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with woodcut rosette, celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-...
DEAN EXOTICA WALNUT (MODEL EWAL)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, walnut top/back/sides, round soundhole with rosette, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, pickup system with built in tuner, av...
DEAN EXOTICA ZEBRA (MODEL EZEBRA)
- single cutaway Exotica-style body, zebra top, back, and sides, round soundhole with woodcut rosette, celluloid binding, set mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching headstock, three-per-side chrome tuners,...
DEAN MICHAEL SCHENKER EXOTICA
- single cutaway Exotica style, select spruce top, maple back/sides mahogany neck, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard, round soundhole with custom rosette, matching headstock, three-per-side tuners, Piezo pickup with built-in tuner, chrome har...