Dean Dimebag Dixie Rebel Electric Guitar

July 30, 2007 by Jo Minor 


Dimebag Darrell is remembered as one of the greatest all-time metal guitarists, and he preferred to play Dean guitars. In fact, he designed and endorsed many of them. Dean is known for extreme shapes that are radically appropriate for this genre of music, and the Dixie Rebel guitar, designed by Dimebag Darrell, which has a list price of $1,537.50, is certainly no exception.

Born Darrell Abbott, Dimebag Darrell played guitar for the bands Pantera and Damageplan. His dad was a country song writer named Jerry Abbott, who also owned a recording studio in Texas. Darrell grew up listening to blues guitarists who recorded there, and tried drumming, but switched to the guitar because his brother was a better drummer. He was soon entering (and winning) contests for guitar playing. He had even been banned from entering because he had won so often.

Dimebag Darrell and his brother, Vinnie Paul, formed the band Pantera in 1981. They became one of the most popular heavy metal bands and influenced the development of the music style. The band split up in 2003, so the Abbott brothers formed a new band called Damageplan. It included Patrick Lachman on vocals and Bob Zilla on the bass guitar. This band had become successful when their career was cut short by Dimebag’s murder on Dec. 8, 2004. Dean Guitars has kept Dimebag’s memory alive through their tribute guitars.

The Dixie Rebel guitar, designed by Dimebag himself, features a battle-worn Confederate flag. It has stars and the word REBEL” inlayed on the fingerboard, too. And of course it has the screaming sound Dean guitars are known for. After all, what good is good looks if the sound is no good?

Dean Zelinsky founded the Dean guitar company in 1976 when he was only 18. He felt like the world needed some new innovations in electric guitars. The available guitars at that time were not meeting the needs of rock musicians. As a result, the company is now known for their radically different looking rock electric guitars. They also produce acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, electric basses, electronic effects pedals and amps.

Zelinsky began creating guitars that featured a distinctive V-shaped head stock, and used wings for a logo. Dean guitars began showing up in rock concerts and music magazines as soon as they hit the market. The company has changed ownership several times, but has hired Zelinsky in an advisory role, so he is still involved in the business he began all those years ago.

The set neck and fully bound body of the Dean Dimebage Dixie Rebel electric guitar will give you the incredible sustain and tone you want. The bridge pickup is a Dimebucker, a humbucking pickup designed and endorsed by Dimebag Darrell. The bridge itself is a Floyd Bridge double locking tremolo system that lets you make lots of whammy dives while keeping the guitar in tune.

Advantages: The Dimebucker pickup at the bridge does a great job of cutting through distortion to bring out the notes clearly. The guitar has a shredding lead voice and a real bite to its tone. The controls are all accessibly located and the Floyd Rose will have you dive-bombing in style. It has a comfortable body (for some people) and the neck is very fast and comfortable.

The Dean Dimebag Dixie Rebel electric guitar is a neat looking guitar. The Confederate flag design is enhanced by the angular body shape of the guitar.

Disadvantages: Either you will like the paint job or you will not. It is a true American redneck design (but then, you might just be a redneck…) One thing you can say about the paint job is that it will work even if you happen to play a little country now and then.  One complaint about this guitar is that it only has 22 frets. Also, you should probably try it out first, too, in case the body shape is uncomfortable for you.

Specs:

  • Mahogany body in ML shape designed by Dimebag Darrell

  • Custom paint job featuring Confederate flag

  • Large V-shaped headstock that features Confederate flag paint job

  • Grover tuners

  • Set mahogany neck

  • Fast, V-shaped neck

  • Fully bound body and neck

  • Rosewood fingerboard

  • 22 frets

  • Star inlays with the word Rebel at the 12th fret

  • Black hardware

  • Seymour Duncan Dimebucker humbucking pickup at the bridge

  • Di Marzio rhythm pickup at the neck

  • Two volume control knobs

  • One tone control knob

  • Licensed double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo and bridge system

  • Comes with a hardshell case

Want to read about a guitar made out of hemp? This is sort of off topic, but they have found a way to mold hemp into a good looking electric guitar.

For Dimebag fans out there, this website is devoted to his memory.

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