Dean DimeBag Darrell Tribute ML

June 29, 2007 by Jo Minor 


DimeBag Darrell Abbott was guitarist several different bands including Pantera and Damageplan. During his illustrious career, he frequently played Dean guitars, appearing in their advertisements and endorsing various models. Dean Guitars produce a wide range of hot looking guitars in extreme designs. Due to Darrell’s affiliation with the company, it was only natural and fitting that they should create a Tribute ML to honor the famous guitarist after his untimely and senseless death.

The Dean DimeBag Darrell Tribute ML has a suggested retail price of $499.99. This moderate price means that some of the higher priced details, like a Floyd Rose bridge and tremelo, have been omitted. You do, however, get a crest on the headstock which honors Darrell, making this a potential collectible. Of course, the Tribute ML is also a completely adequate and playable axe made with Dean quality.

Dean Guitars are known for their rock electric guitars, but also make good sounding acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, electric basses, and a complete array of electronic effects and amps. The company was founded by Dean B. Zelinsky in 1976. Zelinsky was only 18 at the time, but felt like the world was ready for some new innovations in electric guitars. The current suppliers of electric guitars were not keeping up with the needs of rock musicians.

Zelinsky began to create guitars with a distinctive large V-shaped head stock, and a wing motif logo that is still in use. Soon after the first Dean guitars hit the market, they began to appear in rock concerts and music magazines everywhere. Dean guitars were even seen in the hottest music videos, a development that was just becoming popular. The company has changed owners a few times, but has retained the Dean name, and Zelinsky himself is still involved in design and marketing.

Dean Guitars have other guitars that bear Dimebag Darrell’s name in one way or another. The DBD Tribute ML has that distinctive ML body shape as well as a crest on the classic V-shaped head stock that pays tribute to Darrell. The black version also features a DimeBag decal on the upper V wing of the guitar body itself. The Zebra-cover humbucker pickups are high output for all the sound you could want. A poster of DimeBag Darrell is included with the guitar.

In 2006, Dean Guitars honored Dimebag Darrell in an unusual way. They invited famous rock musicians and tattoo artists to paint a Dean ML electric guitar however they wished, and the art laden guitars would be auctioned off. Proceeds from the “Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute” went to an organization called “Little Kids Rock,” which is a charity dedicated to providing music education to underprivileged children.

If you are a fan of the late great Dimebag Darrell, you will be sure to want one of the Tribute ML electric guitars dedicated to his memory.

Advantages: The DBD Tribute ML has good Dean humbuckers for a good sound. It also has a bridge similar to that on a Gibson guitar, so that you can adjust the individual strings for the best in intonation. The traction knobs are good for changing settings in the middle of a song. This guitar has great sustain. It is lightweight and comfortable for playing. It could be considered a beginners’ guitar, but it plays much better.

The frets are wide and easy to play and the neck is slick and fast. For many people, it is the fact that this guitar pays tribute to the memory of a great rock guitarist that is the main drawing card.

Disadvantages: It does not include a Floyd Rose style bridge which means you will not be able to do all of DimeBag Darrell’s style of play. As always, it is always best to try out a guitar before you buy it. Some people do not find the ML shape of body comfortable for them. It is certainly an individual matter, so try it out first if you can. The guitar does not fit well into many gig bags, so you will probably want to invest in a hardshell case for it.

Specs:

  • Available in black/white/gray camouflage (called “Dime-o-flage”) and DimeBlade Graphic finish, as well as the black model pictured above

  • Tribute crest on headstock

  • Dimebag Quad sticker on body

  • Dean Series II classic V headstock

  • Dimebag traction knobs

  • Zebra humbucker pickups

  • Bolt-on construction

  • Maple neck

  • Rosewood fingerboard

  • Pearl dot inlays

  • Basswood body

  • 24-3/4″ scale

  • 1-11/16″ nut

  • Grover tuners

  • Chrome hardware

  • Tune-o-matic bridge with string through body feature

  • Dimebag tribute poster

At the Dean website, you can see the complete collection of 50 ML electric guitars painted in the Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute.

Here’s the Wikipedia article telling all about Dimebag Darrell, including his illustrious music career and the various guitars he used.

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