# Dean Guitars

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American electric guitar manufacturer

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Dean Guitars Type Private Industry Musical instruments Area served Global Key people Pam Rubinson (President & CEO) Products List Guitars Electric Acoustic Resonator Classical Bass guitars Electric Acoustic Banjos Mandolins Ukuleles Amplifiers Pickups Owner Armadillo Enterprises, Inc. Number of employees 100

**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](/source/Tampa%2C_Florida), [Florida](/source/Florida).

Its products include solid-body electric guitars, [bass guitars](/source/Bass_guitar), and acoustic guitars. The company also distributes [resonators](/source/Resonator_guitar), basses, [banjos](/source/Banjo), [mandolins](/source/Mandolin), [ukuleles](/source/Ukulele), [amplifiers](/source/Amplifier), guitar cases, accessories, and custom guitar [pickups](/source/Pickup_(music_technology)).

The company was founded in [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), in 1976 by [Dean Zelinsky](/source/Dean_Zelinsky). Armadillo Enterprise purchased the business in 1997.[1]

## History

Dean Guitars started in 1976 and made instruments used by bands such as [Heart](/source/Heart_(band)), [Kansas](/source/Kansas_(band)), [the Cars](/source/The_Cars), [Molly Hatchet](/source/Molly_Hatchet), [Triumph](/source/Triumph_(band)) and [ZZ Top](/source/ZZ_Top).[2]

Dean artists Michael Schenker and Wayne Findlay with Dean owner Elliott "Dean" Rubinson

With the advent of the [Superstrat](/source/Superstrat) and [grunge music](/source/Grunge), 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.[3][*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*][1]

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](/source/Michael_Schenker_Group), [Uli Jon Roth](/source/Uli_Jon_Roth) and [Michael Angelo Batio](/source/Michael_Angelo_Batio)[4] 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.[4] Rubinson had previously built Thoroughbred Music,[5] a music retail store, music supply, and music clinic. Rubinson sold Thoroughbred to [Sam Ash Music](/source/Sam_Ash_Music) in 1999 so he could focus on Dean.[6][7]

[Dave Mustaine](/source/Dave_Mustaine) with his Dean signature VMNT "Rust in Peace"

After getting a number of endorser-user guitarists (including [Dimebag Darrell](/source/Dimebag_Darrell), [Michael Angelo Batio](/source/Michael_Angelo_Batio), [Michael Schenker](/source/Michael_Schenker), [Leslie West](/source/Leslie_West), [Dave Mustaine](/source/Dave_Mustaine), [Michael Amott](/source/Michael_Amott), [Koichi Fukuda](/source/Koichi_Fukuda) and [Jacky Vincent](/source/Jacky_Vincent)),[8] 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.[1][9] Today the company also assembles guitar pickups[10] and guitar parts.

In December 2016, Elliott Rubinson's son, Evan Rubinson,[11] assumed the position of President and CEO at Armadillo Enterprises (which includes Dean Guitars, [Luna Guitars](/source/Luna_Guitars), and [ddrum](/source/Ddrum)).[3]

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."[12]

## Instruments

Various Dean guitar models

Dean has the line of [electric guitars](/source/Electric_guitar) that includes the [ML](/source/Dean_ML), [V](/source/Dean_V), [Z](/source/Dean_Z), [Cadillac](/source/Dean_Cadillac), Splittail, [Soltero](/source/Dean_Soltero), EVO, Icon, Custom Zone, Vendetta and Deceiver models.

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

The company has also worked closely with [Dave Mustaine](/source/Dave_Mustaine) of [Megadeth](/source/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 [13] 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](/source/Bret_Michaels), [Michael Schenker](/source/Michael_Schenker), [Leslie West](/source/Leslie_West), [Michael Angelo Batio](/source/Michael_Angelo_Batio), [Michael Amott](/source/Michael_Amott), [Rusty Cooley](/source/Rusty_Cooley), and other artists.[4]

Spire 4 USA Trans Red Finishes Custom Shop (2012), with a 7 pieces neck-thru, ebony fingerboard, brass nut and Custom Bartolini pickups.[14][15]

The company's [bass guitar](/source/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 guitars](/source/Resonator_guitar), [mandolins](/source/Mandolin) and [banjos](/source/Banjo).

In 2017, Dean unveiled several new musical instruments[16] to commemorate the company's 40th anniversary.

In 2018, the company formed a partnership between Dean USA Custom Shop and Angel's Envy Bourbon[17] to produce the Dean Envy Series guitars made from whiskey cask barrels.

In November 2019, [Kerry King](/source/Kerry_King), guitarist of [Slayer](/source/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](/source/Luna_Guitars) and [ddrum](/source/Ddrum).

## Notes

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sptimes.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sptimes.com_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sptimes.com_1-2) ["Business: Dean gets new digs, designs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050227190529/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/20/news_pf/Business/Dean_gets_new_digs__d.shtml). 2005-02-27. Archived from the original on 2005-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-09.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["A Brief History of Dean Guitars"](http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/31503/music/a_brief_history_of_dean_guitars.html). *www.streetdirectory.com*. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-musicbizcast_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-musicbizcast_3-1) ["Episode 42: Elliott Rubinson, CEO of Dean Guitars, ddrum, and Luna Guitars breaks down the music biz like few can"](http://www.musicbizcast.com/elliottrubinson/). *www.musicbizcast.com*. Retrieved 2017-03-03.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gigging_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gigging_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gigging_4-2) ["Dean Guitars CEO Elliott Dean Rubinson Talks Gigging with Uli Jon Roth, Balancing Life As a Musician"](http://www.guitarworld.com/dean-guitars-ceo-elliott-dean-rubinson-talks-gigging-uli-jon-roth-balancing-life-musician). *Guitar World*. 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Security Check Required"](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1498809060360758/). *www.facebook.com*. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/1999/04/12/daily3.html"](http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/1999/04/12/daily3.html). *www.bizjournals.com*. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Elliott Rubinson"](https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/elliott-rubinson). *NAMM.org*. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Jim Aardema (2013-04-08), [*Branding and Marketing Planning - Dean Guitars, Luna Guitars, Ddrum Drums*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQoCabuBOno), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/VQoCabuBOno) from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2017-03-03

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** DeanGuitarsVideos (2016-09-28), [*Dean Guitars USA Shop*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3cbXJokaPs), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/o3cbXJokaPs) from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2017-02-09

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** DeanGuitarsVideos (2009-04-29), [*Dean USA DMT Pickups, Live at NAMM'09*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSbckh5T0uw), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/GSbckh5T0uw) from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2017-02-09

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Evan Rubinson CEO"](https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson/). Retrieved 2018-09-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Sam Ash Music Stores on Twitter"](https://twitter.com/samashmusic/status/828724999884308480). *Twitter*. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Dean USA Dave Mustaine Signature VMNT Holy Grail](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XR64WoKf4)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Dean USA Spire - Spire Series Electric Bass Guitars by Dean](https://www.chorder.com/electric-bass-guitars/dean/usa-spire-4503)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Dean Guitars Catalog 2012 p.63](https://guitar-compare.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2012_Dean_Guitars_Catalog.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [new musical instruments](http://www.deanguitars.com/new-for-2017)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Evan Rubinson's vision for the future of the Dean brand has begun with a focus on the unique DEAN USA Custom Shop"](https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson-vision-for-the-future). 22 September 2018.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Dean Guitars](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dean_Guitars).

- [Official website](https://www.deanguitars.com/)

- [Elliott Rubinson Interview](https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/elliott-rubinson) at [NAMM Oral History Collection](/source/NAMM_Oral_History_Program) (2010)

- [Evan Rubinson Article](https://www.deanguitars.com/evan-rubinson-vision-for-the-future) Evan Rubinson’s vision for the future(2018)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dean Guitars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Guitars) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Guitars?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.