Dimebag had always been a Dean player in his youth. His first Dean was a cherry sunburst ML bought for him by his father and his second a Dean that he won in a playing competition. The guitar he won later became his most popular guitar, the custom lighting bolt painted Cowboy from Hell.

When Dean went out of business in the mid 80’s Dimebag became a Washburn promoter. In 2004, not long before Dime’s death the Dean company was reopened by Dean Zelinsky and Dimebag was brought back on as an endorser. The Razorback Tribute has been released along with a range of reissued ML guitars in Dimebag’s name.

The Razorback Tribute guitar is similar to the ML in many ways but has been updated with a modern body design. The points of the ML have been made jagged to simulate a razor’s edge and the body has been finished with a hand airbrushed rusted metal finish. To top it off the headstock is decorated with a tribute Dimebag Darrell crest.

Although Dime used Dean and Bill Lawrence pickups in his personal guitars, the Razorback has a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Signature pickup in the bridge position and a MiMarzio rhythm pickup at the neck. Don’t worry though; the Seymour’s were still approved by the man himself. Dimebag is a pioneer when it comes to metal and the use of a tremolo bridge. Only a Floyd Rose Tremolo was good enough for the Razorback.

Mahogany was used to build both the body and the set neck which has a rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard is inlayed with pearl wings and a razorblade on 10th fret. Dimebag choose Grover tuners and black hardware to finish the look of this guitar. If you ask me the guitar is a little over the top price wise at $3699 from Musicians Friend. But there may be a big enough market in Dean and Dimebag fans to sell the guitar. Musicians Friend will get their next shipment on June 2nd 2006, so place your orders now.

Feature Summary

• Mahogany body/Set Mahogany Neck/Rosewood Fingerboard
• Seymour Duncan Dimebucker bridge pickup
• DiMarzio neck pickup
• Floyd Rose tremolo bridge
• Grover tuners/Black hardware/Dimebag Tribute crest on the headstock
• Comes with certificate of authenticity and Dimebag tribute photo

The guitar is definitely too expensive for my taste, but if you ask me it screams Dean and Dimebag. It would be a great performance guitar.

Read the other posts in this series:

1. Guitar Reviews: March Metal Madness
2. Fender Stratocaster Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Guitar
3. ESP KH-2 Kirk Hammett Signature Guitar
4. ESP Ninja 600 Michael Amott Signature Guitar
5. Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde CAMO Signature Guitar
6. Jackson RR1 Randy Rhoads Signature Guitar
7. Dean USA Razorback Tribute Dimebag Darrell Signature Guitar
8. ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Guitar

Related posts:

1. Jackson RR1 Randy Rhoads Signature Guitar
2. ESP KH-2 Kirk Hammett Signature Guitar
3. ESP Ninja 600 Michael Amott Signature Guitar Review
4. Fender Stratocaster Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Guitar
5. Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde CAMO Signature Guitar