Dean Guitars are a unique blend of craftsmanship and technology whose lutherists build some of the finest guitars in the world! From electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, cases, banjos, mandolins to related gear and accessories.

Dean Guitars was created in 1976 by luthier Dean Zelinsky who began building guitars at an early age. The first Dean guitars were released in the mid-1970s and featured designs including "pointy" guitar bodies and large V-shaped headstocks. These designs quickly gained in popularity because they looked great, were designed and engineered to improve the tone and sustain of the guitar.

Dean's marketing campaign, which featured sexy female models holding the guitars in provocative poses, was widely copied by other guitar manufacturers until the onset of the grunge rock movement in the 1990s. Dean has since revived this practice, and once again many manufacturers employ women [including porn actress Jenna Jameson] to model their instruments.

In the late 1990s, Dean introduced the Exotica series of acoustic guitars, many of which feature exotic hardwood tops and modern electronics. The Exoticas have been one of the reconstituted Dean's most successful products.

Since the murder of its flagship endorsee "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott of Pantera, Dean has been working with Abbott's surviving friends and family to create a memorial fund. The Razorback model came about due to Dimebag’s designs with Dean Zelinsky. Several modified models of the popular ML style guitars have also been released as Tribute Models.

Today Dean builds the most sort after and anticipated guitars ever which are now available in South Africa. Magna Carta Instrument Distributors, home of Dean Guitars South Africa, offer a comprehensive range and full backup service.

CLASSIC DEAN GUITAR DESIGNS

• Z DESIGN
  Inspired by the 1973 Hamer Standard
• V DESIGN
  The classic flying V.
• ML DESIGN
  This guitar is perhaps the most well-known Dean model. The mass of the guitar is spread out over a wider area than most guitars in order to maximize sustain.
• CADILLAC DESIGN
  This model is almost as famous as the ML. This offers better upper-register access than the Les Paul, among other benefits.
• BABY SERIES
  These guitars are smaller, less cosmetically detailed versions of the V, ML, and Z. They are popular among guitarists who like the aggressive styling of the classic Dean designs, but prefer a lighter guitar.
• The "V"-shaped headstock and "string-through-body" design are also used to increase sustain and improve tone. In a 1994 article on 1970s musical equipment, Guitar Player famously derided the ML's appearance as "Gene Simmons 69ing with a midget.