Dean ML
Encyclopedia
The Dean ML is an electric guitar
made by Dean Guitars
in 1977 along with its counterparts, the Dean V
, Dean Cadillac
and Dean Z
. This is the most well known Dean Guitar due to the radical look and V shaped Headstock
and V shaped tailpiece. It was popularised by the guitarist Dimebag Darrell
of Pantera
. It is one of the most well known heavy metal guitars and has received many tributes from guitarists such as Michael Angelo Batio
and Dimebag Darrell.
A special feature of this guitar that was different from many guitars at the time is that the neck had a slight "v" shape to it, which for some guitarists allowed for faster playing. Also this shape allowed it to fit into some players' hands more comfortably. The mass of the guitar is spread out over a wider area than most guitars in order to maximize sustain. The "V"-shaped headstock and "string-through-body" design are also used to increase sustain and improve tone. The Dean ML's body shape resembles that of a Gibson Flying V
combined with the upper half of an Explorer
.
in 1977 to be the guitar with the ultimate sustain and tone. The ML was created with the Dean concept of spreading the mass of the body over a large area. Radical string angles and string length due to the size of the headstock contribute to the overall resonance. Dean has made the ML available to other manufacturers with exclusive licensing arrangements.
The ML was named after Dean's best friend, Matthew Lynn, who was battling cancer
, and although he did not live to see the success that Dean would soon attain, Matthew was honored posthumously. The sadness of losing his best friend turned into a bittersweet tribute to a young man who fought cancer. What began as a tribute to his fallen friend was a guitar that in 1977, took off and is still revered today; known as the ML, taking its name from Dean’s friend’s initials.
The ML shape is also available as part of the Baby Series as a scaled down version. The Dean
Metalman line of basses
has an ML model.
A guitar body shape similar to that of the ML is featured in the Create-An-Instrument Mode in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour
.
, shown on the cover of Pantera
's album Cowboys from Hell
. It sports a custom lightning bolt paint job, routed for a Floyd Rose
and has a Bill Lawrence L-500XL pickup in the bridge, 2 Dimebag Darrell traction volume knobs, one master tone knob and a rosewood fretboard. The original has an old Kiss sticker on the bottom left spike and multiple abrasions including burn marks on the tips of the headstock due to shooting bottle rockets from them.
, James Hetfield
, Kirk Hammett
, Dave Grohl
, Alexi Laiho
, Kerry King
, Joe Satriani
, Marilyn Manson
, Zakk Wylde
and Willie Adler
. They were on display at the NAMM show.
and the pickup covers. They are all signed by Dean Zelinsky and they come with a trans-black finish and hardcase.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
made by Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
in 1977 along with its counterparts, the Dean V
Dean V
The Dean V is an electric guitar made by Dean Guitars. It was released at the same time as the Dean ML, Dean Cadillac and Dean Z in 1977. It has the recognisable V shaped Dean Headstock and V shaped tailpiece...
, Dean Cadillac
Dean Cadillac
The Dean Cadillac or Caddy is a guitar designed and created by Dean Guitars. It has resemblance to the Dean ML and the Gibson Les Paul. It was released alongside the Dean ML, V and Z. Glen Drover of the band Megadeth is known for using this guitar , as well as Rob Barrett of Cannibal Corpse, John...
and Dean Z
Dean Z
The Dean Z Guitar is an electric guitar made by Dean Guitars in 1977 along with its counterparts, the Dean ML, Dean V and Dean Cadillac. It has the recognizable Dean headstock and the V shaped tailpiece...
. This is the most well known Dean Guitar due to the radical look and V shaped Headstock
Headstock
Headstock or peghead is a part of guitar or similar stringed instrument. The main function of a headstock is holding the instrument's strings. Strings go from the bridge past the nut and are usually fixed on machine heads on headstock...
and V shaped tailpiece. It was popularised by the guitarist Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
. It is one of the most well known heavy metal guitars and has received many tributes from guitarists such as Michael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
and Dimebag Darrell.
A special feature of this guitar that was different from many guitars at the time is that the neck had a slight "v" shape to it, which for some guitarists allowed for faster playing. Also this shape allowed it to fit into some players' hands more comfortably. The mass of the guitar is spread out over a wider area than most guitars in order to maximize sustain. The "V"-shaped headstock and "string-through-body" design are also used to increase sustain and improve tone. The Dean ML's body shape resembles that of a Gibson Flying V
Gibson Flying V
-External links:*, , , , and , from the Gibson website*, a June 2001 article from Guitar Collector magazine*, a tribute site that lists all models and re-issues and most notable players**...
combined with the upper half of an Explorer
Gibson Explorer
The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar that made its debut in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its sibling, the Flying V. The Explorer was the final development of a prototype design which years later Gibson marketed under the name Futura.The...
.
History
The ML was created by Dean ZelinskyDean Zelinsky
Dean B. Zelinsky , also known as Dean Z, Dean Barrett Zelinsky or DBZ, is an American guitar luthier who founded Dean Guitars in 1976 and founded DBZ Guitars in 2008....
in 1977 to be the guitar with the ultimate sustain and tone. The ML was created with the Dean concept of spreading the mass of the body over a large area. Radical string angles and string length due to the size of the headstock contribute to the overall resonance. Dean has made the ML available to other manufacturers with exclusive licensing arrangements.
The ML was named after Dean's best friend, Matthew Lynn, who was battling cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and although he did not live to see the success that Dean would soon attain, Matthew was honored posthumously. The sadness of losing his best friend turned into a bittersweet tribute to a young man who fought cancer. What began as a tribute to his fallen friend was a guitar that in 1977, took off and is still revered today; known as the ML, taking its name from Dean’s friend’s initials.
The ML shape is also available as part of the Baby Series as a scaled down version. The Dean
Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
Metalman line of basses
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
has an ML model.
A guitar body shape similar to that of the ML is featured in the Create-An-Instrument Mode in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
.
Dean From Hell
The "Dean From Hell" is an ML used by Dimebag DarrellDimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
, shown on the cover of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
's album Cowboys from Hell
Cowboys from Hell
Cowboys from Hell is Pantera's fifth album and their first Atco Records album, recorded at The Dallas Sound Lab in Irving, TX and released on July 24, 1990. This was their first commercially successful album, exposing the band's groove metal style to mainstream audiences...
. It sports a custom lightning bolt paint job, routed for a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
and has a Bill Lawrence L-500XL pickup in the bridge, 2 Dimebag Darrell traction volume knobs, one master tone knob and a rosewood fretboard. The original has an old Kiss sticker on the bottom left spike and multiple abrasions including burn marks on the tips of the headstock due to shooting bottle rockets from them.
Six-String Masterpieces
Six-String Masterpieces is a tribute project for Dimebag Darrell. 50 guitarists each helped or created a piece of artwork on a Dean ML guitar, including Jerry CantrellJerry Cantrell
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
, James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
, Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Alexi Laiho
Alexi Laiho
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho is a Finnish singer, composer, and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and he is also the guitarist for Sinergy and Kylähullut...
, Kerry King
Kerry King
Kerry King is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and cofounder of American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since...
, Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
and Willie Adler
Willie Adler
William M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
. They were on display at the NAMM show.
30th Anniversary ML
Dean produced the 30th Anniversary ML and V, marking thirty years since the ML and V were first released. Only 100 will be produced worldwide, with the Dean 30th Anniversary logo printed on the headstockHeadstock
Headstock or peghead is a part of guitar or similar stringed instrument. The main function of a headstock is holding the instrument's strings. Strings go from the bridge past the nut and are usually fixed on machine heads on headstock...
and the pickup covers. They are all signed by Dean Zelinsky and they come with a trans-black finish and hardcase.
Famous players
- Dimebag DarrellDimebag DarrellDarrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
(PanteraPanteraPantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, DamageplanDamageplanDamageplan was an American heavy metal supergroup from Dallas, Texas that formed in 2003. Following the demise of their previous group Pantera, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott wanted to start a new band. The pair recruited former Halford guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and later...
) - Karl SandersKarl SandersKarl Sanders is an American musician, most widely known as the founding member of the American Egyptian-themed death metal band Nile. He was born in California, and lives in Greenville, South Carolina. Karl is endorsed by Dean Guitars, and has two signature models by KxK Guitars...
(NileNile (band)Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
) - Michael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
(NitroNitro-Chemistry:*Nitroglycerin, an explosive chemical compound*Nitromethane, the simplest organic nitro compound; also used to fuel high-performance internal-combustion engines*Nitrous oxide, "laughing gas", used in some dental procedures as an anaesthetic...
) - Corey Beaulieu (TriviumTrivium (band)Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
) - Matt HeafyMatt HeafyMatthew Kiichi "Matt" Heafy is a Japanese-American musician, best known as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for the American Metal band Trivium. Heafy is also the vocalist for the band Capharnaum, along with Trivium's former producer Jason Suecof.-Biography:Heafy is Japanese from his mother...
(TriviumTrivium (band)Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
) - Mike TerryMike TerryMike Terry is a music producer, recording engineer, and mixer residing in Los Angeles, California. Terry grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Terry eventually moved west in the mid 90's and landed his first jobs at L.A.'s The Village, and Sound City recording studios as an assistant...
(Hammerthrone) - Adrian SmithAdrian SmithAdrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
(Iron MaidenIron MaidenIron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, ASAPASAP (band)ASAP was a progressive rock band created by guitarist and vocalist Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden fame. ASAP released an album in 1989 titled Silver and Gold. A.S.A.P...
, Psycho MotelPsycho MotelPsycho Motel was a British hard rock band, formed by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith.-History:The band was formed in 1995 by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith after he left Maiden in 1990. Smith briefly experimented with a project called ASAP before seemingly retiring from the music industry...
) - Yağmur SarıgülYagmur SarigülYağmur Sarıgül is a Turkish songwriter and the electric guitarist of the rock band maNga. He writes both lyrics and music.Yağmur “yamyam” Sarıgül was born in Antalya, Turkey on August 26th 1979 but grew up, caused chaos and discovered music in Ankara...
(maNgaMaNgaManga is a Turkish nu metal band whose music is mainly a fusion of Anatolian melodies with electronic elements. In 2009, they won both the Best Turkish Act award from MTV Turkey and consequently the Best European Act award from MTV Networks Europe in MTV Europe Music Awards 2009...
), Eurovision Song Contest 2010Eurovision Song Contest 2010The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast from the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Greater Oslo, Norway. It was the third time Norway had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The 2010 winner was Germany with Lena singing "Satellite",...