Dean Guitars

{{Short description|American electric guitar manufacturer}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox company |name = Dean Guitars |logo = Dean Guitars logo.svg |logo_size = 180px |type = [[Private company|Private]] |area_served = Global |key_people = Pam Rubinson (President & CEO) |industry = [[Musical instruments]] |products = {{collapsible list| * Guitars ** [[Electric guitar|Electric]] ** [[Acoustic-electric guitar|Acoustic]] ** [[resonator guitar|Resonator]] ** [[Classical guitar|Classical]] * Bass guitars ** [[bass guitar|Electric]] ** [[Acoustic bass guitar|Acoustic]] * [[Banjo]]s * [[Mandolin]]s * [[Ukulele]]s * [[Amplifier]]s * [[Pickup (music technology)|Pickups]] }} |revenue = |operating_income= |net_income = |owner = Armadillo Enterprises, Inc. |num_employees =100 |parent = |subsid = |footnotes = |vector_logo = |foundation = {{Start date and age|1977}} |location = [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]], [[United States]] |homepage = [http://www.deanguitars.com/ deanguitars.com] }}

'''Dean Guitars''', commonly referred to simply as '''Dean''', is an American importer and maker of stringed instruments and musical products with its headquarters in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]].

Its products include solid-body electric guitars, [[bass guitar]]s, and acoustic guitars. The company also distributes [[resonator guitar|resonators]], basses, [[banjo]]s, [[mandolin]]s, [[ukulele]]s, [[amplifier]]s, guitar cases, accessories, and custom guitar [[pickup (music technology)|pickups]].

The company was founded in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], in 1976 by [[Dean Zelinsky]]. Armadillo Enterprise purchased the business in 1997.<ref name="sptimes.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/20/news_pf/Business/Dean_gets_new_digs__d.shtml |title=Business: Dean gets new digs, designs |date=2005-02-27 |access-date=2017-02-09 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050227190529/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/20/news_pf/Business/Dean_gets_new_digs__d.shtml |archive-date=2005-02-27 }}</ref>

== History == Dean Guitars started in 1976 and made instruments used by bands such as [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[Kansas (band)|Kansas]], [[the Cars]], [[Molly Hatchet]], [[Triumph (band)|Triumph]] and [[ZZ Top]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/31503/music/a_brief_history_of_dean_guitars.html|title=A Brief History of Dean Guitars|website=www.streetdirectory.com|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref>

[[File:Michael Schenker Group Live NYC 2012.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Dean artists Michael Schenker and Wayne Findlay with Dean owner Elliott "Dean" Rubinson]] With the advent of the [[Superstrat]] and [[Grunge|grunge music]], Dean Zelinsky sold the business to Oscar Medeiros of Tropical Music, who gained ownership of the brand from 1991, and until 1997 focused on selling to Europe and Latin America. The company had all but disappeared from the American market at that point.<ref name="musicbizcast">{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicbizcast.com/elliottrubinson/|title=Episode 42: Elliott Rubinson, CEO of Dean Guitars, ddrum, and Luna Guitars breaks down the music biz like few can|website=www.musicbizcast.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref>{{dead link|date=October 2025}}<ref name="sptimes.com"/>

Armadillo Enterprises, under the leadership of Elliott Rubinson, then purchased the business in 1997. Rubinson, a musician who toured as a bass player for the [[Michael Schenker Group]], [[Uli Jon Roth]] and [[Michael Angelo Batio]]<ref name="gigging">{{Cite news|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/dean-guitars-ceo-elliott-dean-rubinson-talks-gigging-uli-jon-roth-balancing-life-musician|title=Dean Guitars CEO Elliott Dean Rubinson Talks Gigging with Uli Jon Roth, Balancing Life As a Musician|date=2014-06-02|newspaper=Guitar World|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref> expanded Dean's products to include acoustic, electric and bass guitars; mandolins, banjos and ukuleles with prices from less than $99 to more than $13,000.<ref name="gigging" /> Rubinson had previously built Thoroughbred Music,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/1498809060360758/|title=Security Check Required|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref> a music retail store, music supply, and music clinic. Rubinson sold Thoroughbred to [[Sam Ash Music]] in 1999 so he could focus on Dean.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/1999/04/12/daily3.html|title=www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/1999/04/12/daily3.html|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/elliott-rubinson|title=Elliott Rubinson|newspaper=NAMM.org|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref>

[[File:Dave Mustaine.JPG|thumb|170px|[[Dave Mustaine]] with his Dean signature VMNT "Rust in Peace"]] After getting a number of endorser-user guitarists (including [[Dimebag Darrell]], [[Michael Angelo Batio]], [[Michael Schenker]], [[Leslie West]], [[Dave Mustaine]], [[Michael Amott]], [[Koichi Fukuda]] and [[Jacky Vincent]]),<ref>{{Citation|last=Jim Aardema|title=Branding and Marketing Planning - Dean Guitars, Luna Guitars, Ddrum Drums|date=2013-04-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQoCabuBOno |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/VQoCabuBOno| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-03}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Dean Guitars' popularity increased. Under Armadillo Enterprises the company outgrew its Clearwater site and moved to a larger building that includes a custom guitar shop.<ref name="sptimes.com"/><ref>{{Citation|last=DeanGuitarsVideos|title=Dean Guitars USA Shop|date=2016-09-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3cbXJokaPs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/o3cbXJokaPs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-02-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Today the company also assembles guitar pickups<ref>{{Citation|last=DeanGuitarsVideos|title=Dean USA DMT Pickups, Live at NAMM'09|date=2009-04-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSbckh5T0uw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/GSbckh5T0uw| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-02-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and guitar parts.

In December 2016, Elliott Rubinson's son, Evan Rubinson,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson/|title=Evan Rubinson CEO|access-date=2018-09-19}}</ref> assumed the position of President and CEO at Armadillo Enterprises (which includes Dean Guitars, [[Luna Guitars]], and [[ddrum]]).<ref name="musicbizcast" />

In February 2017, Elliott "Dean" Rubinson died from cancer. Richard Ash, CEO of Sam Ash Music Stores, said, "Elliott was a true genius. He would have been successful in any business but he went with his passion for music and built his business around it... He was truly one of my heroes. RIP Elliott Rubinson."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/samashmusic/status/828724999884308480|title=Sam Ash Music Stores on Twitter|newspaper=Twitter|access-date=2017-02-09|language=en}}</ref>

Dean also has many signature electric guitar models. The company offers a number of custom [[Dimebag Darrell]] models.

The company has also worked closely with [[Dave Mustaine]] of [[Megadeth]] on a line of guitars. These cost from around $300 for imports to over $6000 for USA-built instruments. The Dean USA Dave Mustaine Signature VMNT Holy Grail <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XR64WoKf4 Dean USA Dave Mustaine Signature VMNT Holy Grail]</ref> electric guitar, a more recent incarnation of the V introduced in 2016, is an example of the brand.

Dean also makes signature models for [[Bret Michaels]], [[Michael Schenker]], [[Leslie West]], [[Michael Angelo Batio]], [[Michael Amott]], [[Rusty Cooley]], and other artists.<ref name="gigging" />

[[File:Dean Bass Guitar model Spire 4 USA Trans red finishes Custom Shop 2012.png|thumb|right|300px|Spire 4 USA Trans Red Finishes Custom Shop (2012), with a 7 pieces neck-thru, ebony fingerboard, brass nut and Custom Bartolini pickups.<ref>[https://www.chorder.com/electric-bass-guitars/dean/usa-spire-4503 Dean USA Spire - Spire Series Electric Bass Guitars by Dean]</ref><ref>[https://guitar-compare.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2012_Dean_Guitars_Catalog.pdf Dean Guitars Catalog 2012 p.63]</ref>]] The company's [[bass guitar]] models include the ML, V, Z, Cadillac, Edge, Metal Man / Demonator, Hillsboro, Entwistle, EVO, Razorback, Spire and Custom Zone. Dean also imports and markets other string instruments such as [[resonator guitar]]s, [[mandolin]]s and [[banjo]]s.

In 2017, Dean unveiled several new musical instruments<ref>[http://www.deanguitars.com/new-for-2017 new musical instruments]</ref> to commemorate the company's 40th anniversary.

In 2018, the company formed a partnership between Dean USA Custom Shop and Angel's Envy Bourbon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson-vision-for-the-future|title=Evan Rubinson's vision for the future of the Dean brand has begun with a focus on the unique DEAN USA Custom Shop|date=22 September 2018}}</ref> to produce the Dean Envy Series guitars made from whiskey cask barrels.

In November 2019, [[Kerry King]], guitarist of [[Slayer]], joined Dean Guitars, and in 2020 they made 2 models: limited edition and standard version

== Affiliated companies == Armadillo Enterprises, the parent company of Dean Guitars, also owns [[Luna Guitars]] and [[ddrum]].

== Notes == {{reflist|group=note}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} * {{Official website}} * [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/elliott-rubinson Elliott Rubinson Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2010) * [https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson-vision-for-the-future Evan Rubinson Article] Evan Rubinson’s vision for the future(2018)

[[Category:Dean Guitars products|Dean Guitars products]] [[Category:Guitar amplifier manufacturers]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Florida]] [[Category:Dean guitars|Dean guitars]] [[Category:Electric bass guitars by manufacturer|Dean bass guitars]] [[Category:Mandolin makers]]