DEAN BABY DEAN FROM HELL
- similar to the Dean from Hell except is a baby version with a basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, two standard humbucker pickups, standard bridge, STB tailpiece, and two knobs, mfg. 2006 only.
- Home
- chevron_right Manufacturers
- chevron_right DEAN
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.
Zelinsky originally got into the guitar building business to fill a void he felt the larger companies had: a high-quality, set-neck, eye-catching stage guitar. Though new designs continued to be developed, manufacturing of these instruments was shifted more and more to overseas builders. 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 has estimated that between 6,000 and 7,000 (possibly 8,000) guitars were built in the U.S. between 1977 and 1986. It has been estimated by various Dean collectors that the Japanese Dean models were built by the ESP Guitar company in Japan (circa 1986 to 1989). 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. In 2005, Armadillo Enterprises moved to large facilities in Tampa, FL. In summer 2008, Zelinsky resigned from Dean for a second time. They currently produce several lines of guitars overseas and they also have a high-end custom shop that builds several original models. For more information, contact Dean directly or visit their website.
Zelinsky originally got into the guitar building business to fill a void he felt the larger companies had: a high-quality, set-neck, eye-catching stage guitar. Though new designs continued to be developed, manufacturing of these instruments was shifted more and more to overseas builders. 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 has estimated that between 6,000 and 7,000 (possibly 8,000) guitars were built in the U.S. between 1977 and 1986. It has been estimated by various Dean collectors that the Japanese Dean models were built by the ESP Guitar company in Japan (circa 1986 to 1989). 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. In 2005, Armadillo Enterprises moved to large facilities in Tampa, FL. In summer 2008, Zelinsky resigned from Dean for a second time. They currently produce several lines of guitars overseas and they also have a high-end custom shop that builds several original models. 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, Plant City, FL 1990-94, and Clearwater, FL 1995-2005. Instruments have been produced in Tampa, FL since 2005 and overseas since 1985.
DEAN Electric Guitars Models
DEAN MICHAEL SCHENKER CUSTOM (MODEL MS CUSTOM)
- V-style guitar, mahogany body, mahogany neck, body and neck binding, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, matching traditional Dean headstock with three-per-side tuners, two zebra Schenker custom would humbucker pickups, three kno...
DEAN DAVE MUSTAINE V (MODEL VMNT)
- Flying V-shaped mahogany body with bevels, set Dave Mustaine spec D-shaped mahogany neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl shark's tooth inlays, bound headstock with signature, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, V-shap...
DEAN SOLTERO
- single cutaway Les Paul-style mahogany body, carved flame maple top, body binding, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with custom abalone inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side Grover tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, slo...
DEAN HARDTAIL
- offset double cutaway mahogany body with maple carved top, set quartersawn mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with custom abalone inlays, wood binding, 3-per-side Grover tuners, two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups, TonePros bridge,...
DEAN DECEIVER (MODEL DECEIVER)
- single cutaway mahogany body, multi-ply binding, set mahogany C-shaped neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl Deceiver inlays, matching finish headstock, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, STB, two EMG pickups (bridge:...
DEAN ASHLEY PURDY CADILLAC OUTLAW (MODEL CADIB)
- single cutaway Cadillac-style mahogany body, set mahogany C-shaped neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl "OUTLAW" spelled out on the 1st through 12th frets and custom graphics on frets 15th through 21st fret inlays, spli...
DEAN Z BASS I
- Explorer-style mahogany body, maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, V-shaped peghead with screened logo, two-per-side Kluson tuners, chrome hardware, humbucker pickup, volume/tone control, acti...
DEAN AMERICAN CUSTOM ACX B4 BOLT-ON
- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Dean fixed bridge, shrimp fork peghead with screened logo, two-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, two Seymour Duncan pickups, three kn...
DEAN VENDETTA 1.0 (MODEL VN1)
- offset double cutaway Showmaster style, mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge, STB, two exposed humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way switch, black har...
DEAN EDGE 09M
- offset double cutaway basswood body, mahogany top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, fixed bridge, two-per-side die cast tuners, vintage bridge, single soapbar pickups, two knobs, chrome hardware, avai...
DEAN RHAPSODY 1
- scroll-shaped double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, 1 Soap-bar pickup, black headstock, 2-per-side Die-cast tuners, 2 knobs, black hardware, available in Classic Black fini...
DEAN RAZOR 1
- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, 2 Dean Session pickups, 3 silver knobs, 2-per-side die cast tuners, chrome hardware, available in Cranberry, Metallic Charcoal, or Powde...
DEAN JEFF BERLIN STANDARD
- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on three-piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard, 21 frets, dot position markers, 34 in. scale, Schaller tuners, gold hardware, Custom Bartolini pickups, available in Trans. Amberburst, Trans. G...
DEAN MACH V BASS
- single cutaway hardwood body, exaggerated treble horn/extended lower bout, bolt-on maple necks, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 2-per-side shrimp fork headstock, fixed bridge, chrome hardware, P/J-style pickups, volume/tone...
DEAN HILLSBORO 09 (MODEL H09)
- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple C-shaped neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, Classic-style headstock with Dean logo, four-on-one-side tuners, die cast bridge, no pickguard, single split coil P-styl...
DEAN ML BASS I
- Flying V-style with treble horn mahogany body, maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, wing shaped peghead with screened logo, two-per-side Kluson tuners, chrome hardware, humbucker coil pickup,...
DEAN BOCA 12-STRING (BOCA12)
- 12-string configuration, symmetrical double cutaway hollow mahogany body, flame maple top, cream body binding, two bound f-holes, bolt-on maple C-shaped neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, bound black headstock overl...
DEAN COREY BEAULIEU SIGNATURE (MODEL CBV1122)
- V-style V-shaped body with rounded cutouts between the wings, mahogany beveled body, mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot and 12th fret custom Trivium "T" inlays, V-shaped matching finish headstock overlay...
DEAN CADILLAC BASS (CADIB)
- offset double cutaway Cadillac-style mahogany body style, set maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, split fork Cadillac-style headstock with black overlay and Dean logo, two-per-side tuners, quick change bridge...
DEAN 90E
- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl wings inlay, standard vibrato, blackface peghead with screened logo, 6-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 single coil/1 humbucker pickups, 1...
DEAN B SQUARED 4
- offset double cutaway basswood body with quilted maple top, maple/rosewood neck-thru design, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret inlay, two Custom Dean pickups, three-band EQ, Piezo pickups under each string with separate volume a...
DEAN DB 91
- offset double cutaway alder body with slap contour area (pop slot) on lower bout, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood with pearl wings inlay, fixed bridge, two-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, P/J-style pickups, three knobs (v, two tone...
DEAN Z FLAME
- Explorer-style mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, V-shape peghead with screened logo, three-per-side Kluson tuners, chrome hardware, two humbucker DiM...
DEAN AMERICAN CUSTOM ACX (BOLT-ON)
- offset double cutaway alder or ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed or Wilkinson bridge (or Floyd Rose tremolo), "shrimp fork" blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-sid...
DEAN AVALANCHE (MODEL AVL)
- offset double cutaway Strat-style Paulownia body, bolt-on maple C-shaped neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, Strat-style headstock with black overlay and Dean with wings logo, six-on-on-side Grover tuners, vintage-...
DEAN V FLAME
- Flying V-shaped mahogany body, V-shaped strings plate, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/strings Through-body tailpiece, V-shape peghead with screened logo, three-per-side Kluson t...
DEAN BABY ML
- downsized Flying V-style with treble horn poplar body, poplar neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tunable wrap over tailpiece, body matching peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, exposed...
DEAN STYLISH STANDARD (STY STD)
- single cutaway hollow body archtop, flame maple top, mahogany back/sides, set mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, f-holes, two covered humbucker pickups, Tune-O-Matic bridge, trapeze tailpiece, two knobs, one switc...
DEAN SS-ONE (MODEL DGK-SS1)
- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, two-point floating tremolo, graphite nut, small offset V-shaped wood peghead with screened logo, 3-per-side Grover tuners, chrome hardw...
DEAN DEAN Z AUTOGRAPH
- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret white painted fingerboard with dot inlay, double locking tremolo, blackface peghead with screened logo, mirror pickguard, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two single...
DEAN PLAYMATE
- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, traditional vibrato, blackface peghead with screened logo, black pickguard, six-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, three single coil exp...
DEAN ML FLAME
- Flying V-style with treble horn mahogany body, V-shaped strings plate, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Tune-O-Matic bridge/strings through-body tailpiece, Dean wing peghead with screened logo with t...
DEAN MACH V
- single cutaway hardwood body, exaggerated treble horn/extended lower bout, bolt-on maple necks, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 3-per-side shrimp fork headstock, traditional vibrato, chrome hardware, 2 humbuckers, volume/ton...
DEAN JAMMER
- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, locking tremolo, blackface peghead with screened logo, black pickguard, 6-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 single coil/1 humbucker e...
DEAN ICON CONTOUR
- offset double cutaway round bottom mahogany body, carved top, set-in mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlay, fixed bridge, chrome hardware, small offset V-shaped headstock, 3-per-side Grover tuners, 2 Seymour Duncan humbu...
DEAN BEL AIRE
- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, standard vibrato, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 single coil/1 humbucker pickups, 2 volume/tone controls, 5-position switch, a...
DEAN BOCA
- double cutaway semi-hollow mahogany body, maple top, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot position markers, 22 frets, 3-per-side chrome Grover tuners, 2 Dean humbucker pickups, Tune-O-Matic bridge, 1 volume/1 tone con...
DEAN CADILLAC
- single horn cutaway round bottom bound mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with logo, 3-per-side tuners, gold hardware, 3 humbucker pi...
DEAN EVO 60
- similar to EVO FT, except has 2 soapbar pickups, arched mahogany top, single-ply binding, available in 24K Gold, Classic Black, Powder Blue or Silver Sparkle finish, disc. 2003.
DEAN EIGHTY EIGHT
- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret ebanol fingerboard with dot inlay, Floyd Rose tremolo, blackface peghead with screened logo, black pickguard, 6-on-a-side tuners, black hardware, 2 single coil/humbucker EMG Se...
DEAN E'LITE
- single horn cutaway round bottom mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with logo, three-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, two DiMarzio...
DEAN DS 87
- similar to the DS 90, except has 3 single coil pickups, 6-on-a-side headstock, chrome hardware, white pickguard, available in Classic Black, Classic Red, or Vintage Sunburst finish, mfg. 1996-97.
DEAN BEAR METAL
- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Floyd Rose tremolo, 6-on-a-side pointy headstock with screened logo, chrome hardware, EMG Select humbucker, volume/tone control, a...
DEAN 91E
- similar to 90E, except has bound arched top, double locking Floyd Rose vibrato, humbucker/single coil/humbucker pickups, black hardware. mfg. 1991-93.
DEAN B SQUARED 5
- similar to the B Squared 4 except in five-string configuration and 3/2-per-side tuners, mfg. 2002-06.
DEAN DB 94
- similar to DB 91, except has black hardware, volume/treble/bass/blend controls, no three-way switch, active electronics, available in Black (1991-94), Black Flame Maple (1995-96), Blueburst, Grayburst (1991-94), Red (1991-94), Vintage Sun...
DEAN Z STANDARD
- similar to Z Flame, except has bound maple top, ebony fingerboard, Grover tuners, available in Black, Braziliaburst, Cherry, Cherryburst, Metallic or White finish, mfg. 1977-1986.
DEAN American Custom ACSL (Neck-Through)
- similar to the American Custom ACX, except features a maple neck-thru-body and Floyd Rose tremolo, mfg. 1996-97.
DEAN V STANDARD
- similar to V Flame, except has bound maple top, ebony fingerboard, Grover tuners, available in Black, Braziliaburst, Cherry, Cherryburst, Metallic, or White finish, mfg. 1977-1986.