Dean Guitars Dean From Hell/CFH

I really like the lighter weight of this Chinese import. I am told that Chinese Mahogany is lighter but I really don't know. My FBD and my Dime Slime ML cuts are made in Korea and are a bit heavier in weight and they are not quite as smooth as this DFH in some minor craftsmanship. On all three of these ML Imports I have replaced the Tremolo systems with Original Floyd Rose systems,springs Claw and all. I have pulled the lesser 1/4" studs with a stud puller and by hand bored out the holes to a perfect 3/8'size fit for the Floyd studs. On the Korean models I have had to level a few frets for a couple of buzzes for my super low action but the intonation on all three of these Deans are on the level with me! They stay in tune and intonate very nice unlike a few Gibson Standard Les Pauls and American Made Fenders I have owned. The L500XL Laurence Pick up on the DFH is sweet. The Seymour Duncan Dimebuckers on the FBD and Slime Burst ML's are close to the Bill Laurence and worthy but not quite as sweet. I will probably replace those with L500XL's along with EVH 1978 Seymour Duncan custom shop pick ups for the Neck pick ups. My favorite feature of the DFH though is the V Neck! The back of the neck has a V contour as opposed to the FBD and Slime Burst have a round 50's cut shape. The V feels really nice! I wish all three ML's were like this in the neck department. Usually thats a seperate feature advertised all by itself. Before this DFH I did buy one of these before and did the same mods to it and later I sold it for some drum equipment. I regreted this shortly after. So I purchased another one and Im glad to see it was still made in China since I was so pleased and surprised with the first one. The only difference was they put a slightly different Licensed Tremolo in it but that really didn't matter since I was going to pull it anyway.
I realize these imports don't have select woods from a temp controlled environment. I realize the finish isn't a hand crafted work from a finish department within their department. It also doesn't have Dimes Gold Autograph with a USA serial Number on the back of the Head between the Groovers either but it still has Groovers! It still does what the other model does as long as the hardware is the same and pick ups are hot. To my knowledge they only made 150 of the Signature USA models anyway. Sometimes we have to make the most of what we can get. After my work on it I am real pleased with it's ability as a tool. It's a great guitar. I will not sell this one! Oct 2008. Hope they keep making em.

People talk about Music and style. Really there are more things that play a roll with this such as your amps, speaker types and how they are adjusted or modified and what other gear is applied with it. But for the DFH,... it's a metal mans axe for sure. The Bill Laurence pick up is very nice. Install what you like or experiment with it as needed.
Later I might replace the Neck pick up with a Bill Laurence Neck Pick up as opposed to the fairly decent one that is in it. Everyone always talks about a Bridge pickup but few ever seem to mention the importance of a decent Neck Pick up mixed with a decent Bridge pick up. So later I will probably deal with this during a routine string change at my bench.
For the record of sound I am running these Deans through two EVH 5150 III heads, Two Krankenstein Dome Signature Cabs. One EVH Greenback 4X12 cab. In the rack I have an MXR Flanger Doubler,MXR-113 Digital Delay. Korg SDD1000 Digital Delay for short echo. I plan to loop also some Rane PEQ55 Parametric EQ soon. On the floor I have the Whammy Pedal,Zakk Wyld Overdrive,CFH Waw and a Fulltone 69.
American or Chinese when set up properly will not sound any different.

I covered this a bit with my first paragraph.
I am happy with what it is. I know the differences and I am very pleased with this Chinese imports finish. If you have ever seen Dimes and how tore up it is and know the history behind it and how he had someone paint it blue like this because he didn't like Burgandy which was it's original finsih from that contest he won as a kid.... well the finish on this is very nice.

I covered it really...
Except maybe the guitar itself is no better than the guy holding it.
For this thought I give the guitar a 10. Set up right it's only a tool.

Never dealt with Dean. Their my favorite manufacturer.
I purchased both of these DFH's along with my Slime Burst and FBD from Musicians friend and they are very good about returns if you decide you don't like it. I think you have 45 days to think it over.
Can't go wrong with that.

I give this guitar and my two other Dean ML Imports a 10! I am very happy with what they do. They stay in tune after going crazy with squeals and lots of bending and pulling or diving. The intonation is shocking to me. Infact it was so nice it made me sell my Fenders and Gibsons. After playing my Dean for about 30 minuets I realized how much trouble my American made jobs were giving me. I like American and I think each guitar regardless should be analized case by case.
I know I didn't pay $5000.00 just for a more durable paint job or some choice wood craftsmanship because some American worker had to work. And I am an American and I am a Gulf Vet. Some imports are worth investing. I think Deans are some fine off shore quality control.

Standard ML features V V T. 22 frets. 2007 china import. painted mahogany with set neck. Bill Lawrence is the only bright spot. Heavy case, but cheap materials, paint real thin , many cosmetic problems from mass production in china. I ordered 2 and both were blemished. the weight was light and the CHEAP ASS licensed Floyd Rose are never worth a shit. REMEMBER THAT. When you play a REAL Floyd Rose then you will know what I mean. I regret ever trying to buy a chinese guitar, and i never will waste my time agaiun, break the bank, suck it up and BUY AMERICAN DEANS, They BLOW AWAY everything.

The Bill Lawrence XL 500 saves its ass. The only Thing on it made in USA besides the Grovers and Strings

BULL SHIT Floyd, china manufacturing, For the Money its a total shame. Should be $599 or less. You better set it up before you try playing it.

Its a mass produced chia guitat, great wall hanger. but dont think your gone shred day in and day out with this, it wont last. BUY AMERICAN. I bought a USA DEAN ML WAR DIME. Shipped throuh 5 states, from south to north, and was in exact tune withe the REAL Original Floyd Rose. The workmanship is second to none on DEan USA made models. I have a Gibson Zakk LP #2550 (EXCELLENT GUITAR) but the USA Dean is Better in all catagories. I love My LP's, but have a new Love For USA DEANS, ML DIMES.

Dont need it

ITS a CHINA MASS PRODUCED COPY, NEVER WILL I BUY A OR ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT OF BUYING A NON USA MADE GUITAR.

Basically everything you need to know has been already said...

But mine is the Made in China version, and I replaced the Dean Floyd Rose with an Original, and am planning to exchange the pickups for a Dimebucker/Dimarzio Super Distortion eventually.

I love the traction knobs.

I play metal most of the time, lots of Pantera, and this guitar does it for me. Lead? Screaming. Rhythm? Chunky with great punch. Clean? Either pickup by itself doesn't do too good, but if you do the middle switch setting, with the right amp (mine is an epiphone Blues Custom) I can get almost single-coil sounds; real punchy. The Bill Lawrence by itself can get quacky on clean. The Bill Lawrence is also VERY noisy, but that is the price of Dimebag's TONE

This guitar came perfectly set up, IN TUNE, and ready to play RIGHT out of the box. No flaws whatsoever. I have had to do NO work on this guitar.

I gig regularly with this guitar, and it has never let me down. However, being that it has a Floyd Rose, even an original, I always have a backup. In this case, it's another Dean (I will never buy another brand again) A flying V with the Zakk Wylde EMG set on it. My true love is the DFH though. I did install straploks, but the pegs are nice and large so you can headbang even without loks.
I break strings every now and then, but it's no more than any other guitar I own.

I have a 3 year warranty (I got the extended Musiciansfriend.com warranty), but I don't think I will need it.

The only thing I wish it came with for $1000 was an original floyd rose, but the finish and shape and everything else more than make up for that deficiency. The only other one that I was looking at was the ESP Richard-Z guitar, that one had EMG-81/85 AND an original Floyd Rose for $980, but it felt terrible to play. Like cheap Telecasters; that "2x4" feel. This thing feels like it was made for ME.

the paint is awesome, the ML body is perfect i mean everything was perfect.... if it only had 24 frets i would be a prostitute to get money and buy it

the sound is just so awesome... you put distortion and its like man i want to marry this guitar.. its such a thin and sharp sound.. perfect for the panterish tone... very bright sound. the same without distortion

the first thing that i found weird in this guitar is when i played it i put my fingers on the strings and i said.... wait... what the f*** this strings are so loose.... and the neck is so thin... is such a flexible guitar...

dont know cause i still cant buy it

just played it on guitar center and they were great

maybe i am not an expert in expensive guitars but....i think im selling my house to buy it

FEATURES
Reproduction of Dimebag Darrell's Cowboy From Hell Guitar
* Set neck construction
* Mahogany body
* Fully bound Mahogany neck
* Rosewood Fingerboard
* Custom Lightning Bolt paint job
* Licensed Double-locking floyd rose
* Bill Lawrence XL500 bridge pickup
* DBD Traction Knobs
* Item will be professional packed in original boxes from Dean

I bought this guitar a few days ago and i have to say that it is the best I have ever played. In terms of its features it is probly the best example of a signature guitar i have ever seen. every thing down to the last detail on dimebags guitar has been reproduced onto this.

the bill laurence pickup in the bridge is really ballsy and has a lot of a guts for metal. i use a 120 watt jade amp and a digitech multi effects pedal and it sounds 10 times better than any of the other guitars i own. the only downfall of the sound is the neck pickup gives feedback if your amp is kranked loud and you are close to it. the clean sound is perfect for just about any style.

the action is very low and suprisingly there is no frett buzz. the pickups are adjusted perfectly and the neck pickup even has electrical tape on it to match what dimebag did. the floyd rose brisge is awesome for doing signature dime squeels and it is soooo easy to do zakk wylde style pinch harmonics compared to any other guitar i have played.

this guitar would easily stand live playing and the hardware looks really good quality and it should last ages. the lightning bolt paintjob looks awesome.

i have been playing for 6 years and i also own a kirk hammett esp guitar and i have to say that dimebag's dean from hell guitar shits all over it. it plays better, it sounds better and overall it is a much cooler looking guitar. the ml body combines a V and an Explorer which makes it so easy to play sitting down and it is easy to get up to the higher frets for soloing. the only other downfall of this guitar is where the strap clips in it is behind the neck so when you solo standing up, the strap gets in the way a bit.

The Dean USA DFH has the trademark Lightning Bolt graphic. It is a replica of the guitar Dimebag used for the most part on Cowboys From Hell, Vulgar Display Of Power and Far Beyond Driven.

The model I own is the - limited to 150 worldwide - USA version.

Specs are as follows:-

Mahogany ML shaped body
Mahogany V shaped set neck (NOT neck thru as mentioned above)
22 jumbo fret rosewood fretboard
24.75" scale length
Original Floyd Rose tremolo system
Grover machine heads
DiMarzio Super Distortion Zebra finish neck pickup
Bill Lawrence L500XL bridge pickup
2 volume (traction knobs), 1 master tone, 3 way toggle

This guitar came with a very durable Dean hardcase. Also supplied was a Certificate Of Authenticity and a Cowboys From Hell album cover poster.

If these are the specs you desire, definitely consider the USA Dean line - the quality of the construction and materials is excellent. Fretwork was incredible and the rosewood looks and feels so alive!

As - predominantly - a metal player (both rhythm and lead) - this guitar caters for my needs greatly.

I use this guitar with my ENGL Powerball. It has such a fantastic, thick sound thanks to the mahogany. Very full and well rounded. Brilliant for chunky rhythm playing and also for scorching leads.

The L500XL can seem a bit noisy at times but a simple noise gate (I personally use the Boss NS-2) clears that up.

Surprisingly - given it's name! - the Super Distortion at the neck handles cleans well. I've used cleaner pickups before, but for my requirements, the Super Distortion does the trick!

I have quite a one track sound so have not tested the DFH with 'crunch' type settings on an amp. My sound is usually very full on with the amount of distortion and bottom end I require both in a band situation and at home. For these - I can't fault this guitar.

Factory set-up was great! The strings seemed slightly lifeless but hey, it isn't like they can't be easily changed! As for the action, it's nice and low but not too low that it's buzzy. No faults with regards to that.

Pickup height was just what I needed. I'll maybe have a mess about at a later stage but, again, I have no problems with how they came!

No problems with the electronics of the guitar (so far at least!), no crackly pots, selector switch troubles etc.

All hardware was in immaculate condition. No scratches on any of the machine heads nor the bridge. The frets - as I mentioned previously - were astonishing. The quality of the mahogany and rosewood used is very high, thus contributing to the great sustain and general richness of the tone I get from this guitar.

This guitar has already withstood live playing and will continue to do so! It is the best guitar I currently own (IMO) and will be gigged often and also will be used to lay down tracks in the studio alot of the time too.

I've been using floyds for a long time and so hopefully shouldn't have any issues with this one. Never have before so fingers crossed!

I gig with 2 guitars all the time - thanks to 2 different tunings - but don't feel the requirement to take another guitar in the same tuning as this one. I feel that I can rely on this one without worry.

I've never had to deal with Dean regarding this guitar but through various queries and such they have been very helpful. I can only imagine the same would be the case if I had any issues with this product.

I also own an ESP KH-2 Neck Thru custom shop model and a hand crafted one of a kind Jimmy Moon custom Explorer. The KH-2NT is the better of those 2 and was always my 'benchmark' guitar to which I would compare anything I contemplated purchasing - or not as the case may have been. The DFH surpasses the ESP. It's close, and as they are 2 very different beasts (the specs aren't nearly the same), it's hard to judge. I just feel that overall craftsmanship, playability and tone of the Dean exceeds that of the ESP.

If this guitar was stolen - I would be very upset. It took me a long time to find this one (I am from the UK - there were only 6 sent here!). I don't know that I'd be able to source another. I don't see how it could get stolen though as it is almost always in my view!

I love the look and tone of the guitar! I sometimes think that people will just turn their noses up when I'm gigging it as I'm just "trying to be Dime" but the fact is that, despite seeing Dime as my idol, this guitar is of immense quality and sounds amazing! My love for the finish helps too! But, at the end of the day, on a dark stage, I can't really see the finish. I keep guitars for the sound of them. People can't see it on CD now can they ;)

This guitar is most definitely not my last USA Dean.

Best of luck if you decide to try and find one of these guitars for yourself and congratulations if you already have one!

dime signature on back of headstock, stunning signature dimebolt finish, v neck profile,dime traction knobs for total volume and tone control even in a sweaty situation,mahogany ml star shapedbody very well balanced,1 dimarzio hum in neck pos 1 bill lawrence in the bridge pos ,22 fret rosewood fingerboard ,neck thru body,grover tuners,floyd rose recessed floating tremolo,electrical tape on each side of the dimarzio is not just for looks , keep high and low e strings from getting caught up on the sides from doing maniacal dive bombs and heavy ass riffing, for those of u who didnt know, best purchase i ever made ,ive seen a couple at 5 grand get ur hands on one if u can, u wont regret it.

i play metal but it gots a good clean & blues sound coming from neck reversed dimarzio pu, and a thick heavy distortion sound coming from the bill lawrence xl-500 bridge pu also does well in a clean setting. using it thru a triple rectifier w/ an isp decimator noise reduction to cut highgain feedback, nothing else in between, all guitar and amp brutal tone doesnt get any better.......

action ,fit and finish was excellent, i did have an issue with a lil ground hum due to shipping so blame that on ups...........

its so nice u dont even want to play it live , its a work of art, all good components, floyd rose,grover tuners,dimarzio and bill lawrence pick ups,very durable,heavyduty.....i would gig w/ it but i have other guitars , id rather not bang my dfh up.

the guys r good , when i told them my problem w/the ground problem they found me a local dealer near and they fixed it within a couple hours the same day ,free of charge and sent me a dime baseball cap on top of it all. very cool

ive benn playing 15 years owned many guitars , alot of highend axes,gibson ,usa fender, ibanez,esp,usa bc rich,usa parker and this blows em all to hell, if this were stolen id be going to prison the rest of my life for killing the thief. it was a lil pricey very well made ,high quality and only 150 made in the world .

Purchased brand new in 2006. Body does not specify where it was made. I'm assuming Korea, although I've heard this particular mdel was made in China. I can't confirm.
ML shaped mahogany body and neck (neck thru body construction), rosewood fretboard, 22 frets with cream colored binding, Grover tuners with V shaped headstock, Bill Lawrence L500XL bridge humbucker, Dean brand neck humbucker, 3 way pickup selector, neck volume knob, bridge volume knob, master tone (both volume knobs are the traction knobs), nut width is 1 13/16ths inches across, abalone pearl dot inlays, and the famous black/blue finish with lightning bolts. Licensed Floyd Rose tremolo. The back of the body, neck and headstock are all painted blue. The back of the neck has a soft V taper all the way up the neck.
Also comes with an extremely nice, very plush, oversized professional hardshell case.

Obviously, this is a metal machine.
My distortion rig is a 5150 II with Mesa Boogie Recto Cabs. In the effects loop is a series of Boss and MXR stomp boxes. And my clean rig is a 100w Fender Twin with a t.c. electronic G-Major.
The sound is definitely amazing. Fills the whole house. Of course, a mahogany guitar with a rosewood fretboard is gonna have a super rich tone, and the Lawrence L500XL pickup, with its top end, makes for a balanced overall tone.
The bridge pickup is very aggressive. It's the most aggressive, GOOD sounding pickup I've used this side of my EMGs. Again, the high end freqs seem to be accentuated, but still packs a heavy mid range punch. But it also has enough low end to make for some heavy low E string chugging. If you think you want more aggression than this, you'd have to put EMGs on a chainsaw!!
The Dean brand neck humbucker has a smooth, even, fluid tone that is a nice contrast to the Lawrence. However, when you flick the toggle switch back to the Lawrence, you get a lot more power. So while it doesn't sound very balanced, volume-wise, between the 2 pickups, the neck pickup still sounds good. For metal music, this definitely has that on-the-money-sound. Tried the guitar clean, too, to try and get that sound from the opening of Cemetary Gates. But it was kinda lacking as far as a pleasing clean tone in that department, but decent enough to get the job done. Last but not least, you can get harmonics any where on this guitar. You can squeal for days.

Very impressive. Suprisingly, the action/intonation were very low but no buzzing. So it was super playable right out of the box. It's set up with .009 thru .042 strings. So if you like heavier strings, another set up will be needed. I go .010 thru .052. Actually, I think you'd have to go pretty heavy on the string gauge to get the most out of this guitar. No problems at all with the fretwire, all smooth and even. The neck plays like butter. A shredder's wet dream. The licensed floyd is smooth and responsive. The whole of the guitar is, suprisingly, very balanced. When played standing with a strap, there's no neck drag or anything like that. So you can concentrate on playing your ass off and not worry about the guitar flying all over the place. And when you want to dig in and get that jaw-dropping lick in, just do a semi-squat and anchor the lower horn onto your leg, and that puppy ain't goin' nowhere! BTW, this guitar looks so much better in person than you'll ever see in pictures. Great job on the finish.

I think most any decently made guitar will withstand continuous live playing if taken care of. And this guitar is no exception. It's a bit lighter than I thought it would be for a solid mahogany guitar. I'm told that Asian mahogany is markedly lighter than American mahogany, anyway. The hardware seems dependable, although the 3 way selector switch looks like one of the el-cheapos that you find on an epiphone. But it does it's job and there's no static or switching problems. Down the road, I may replaced the tremolo for an original FR system, if the routing is compatible.

N/A

I went in the store to purchase this guitar primarily to honor Brother Dime. But I'm very pleased with the sound and playability of this guitar. Really great.
It's been a few years since I've purchased an all American made guitar (with prices the way they are). And admittedly, I think I prefer the sound of my Epi Zakk Wylde model over this one in terms of aggressive metal tone. But don't misunderstand me, this guitar is a beast. Besides, when an audience sees a Dimebag guitar coming at 'em, they know your ass means business!
I felt really comfortable buying this guitar at the shop, knowing full well that this guitar had past through the U.S. Dean factory's QC department. And they have stringent standards for the Dime imports. Dean got really screwed by the Korean factorys with the first batch of FBDs, Dime-o-flames, and Razorbacks. Dean then gave the contracts to another factory, and has been doing ok now. If the guitar I got is any indication, then I don't see very many problems in the future.