Why have Dean guitars seemed to have fallen so far out of the spotlight?

[STRHelvete]

I remember when they said "Hey..let's modernize the ML! We'll give it bevels and make it thinner and lighter! The kids want Fender scale? Give em that! They want 24 frets? Got it! It's sleek, it's new, it's modern! This will be the ML that catches the new generation!"





And then they made this


I actually own one of these though since I wanted a Modifier and it's the only one they made that didn't have a trem. I HATED the graphic but after a while I got over it. It's unique. Don't love the graphic or anything but I'm okay with it. Again, Cringe Era Dean but the guitar is surprisingly well made.

Oh and this is the series 2 headstock which is the 2nd biggest iteration. Kids didn't like the headstock so they put the 2nd biggest they had instead of the series 3 or even a 6 in line style. Oh Dean...you so crazy

 

[Emperoff]

They can do custom modifications, too. A great way to prove your ownership in the case of theft, but also a great way to hurt resale. 😅

View attachment 122868

Please stop

 

[CTID]

I remember when they said "Hey..let's modernize the ML! We'll give it bevels and make it thinner and lighter! The kids want Fender scale? Give em that! They want 24 frets? Got it! It's sleek, it's new, it's modern! This will be the ML that catches the new generation!"





And then they made this
View attachment 122870

I actually own one of these though since I wanted a Modifier and it's the only one they made that didn't have a trem. I HATED the graphic but after a while I got over it. It's unique. Don't love the graphic or anything but I'm okay with it. Again, Cringe Era Dean but the guitar is surprisingly well made.

Oh and this is the series 2 headstock which is the 2nd biggest iteration. Kids didn't like the headstock so they put the 2nd biggest they had instead of the series 3 or even a 6 in line style. Oh Dean...you so crazy

man, if TapOut or Affliction had made a guitar....

 

[gabito]

It must be because Dimebag Darrell, the guy people associated the most with this brand and also the guy in charge of selling most of their guitars, died like 20 years ago.

And - as much as love Pantera- he (they) happened to have horrendous taste, too Look at the band’s albums covers FFS…

Also people’s taste seems to have changed and we buy different stuff than 20 or 30 years ago (not that I’d ever buy a Dean).

 

[v1nter]

I remember when they said "Hey..let's modernize the ML! We'll give it bevels and make it thinner and lighter! The kids want Fender scale? Give em that! They want 24 frets? Got it! It's sleek, it's new, it's modern! This will be the ML that catches the new generation!"

And then they made this

I actually own one of these though since I wanted a Modifier and it's the only one they made that didn't have a trem. I HATED the graphic but after a while I got over it. It's unique. Don't love the graphic or anything but I'm okay with it. Again, Cringe Era Dean but the guitar is surprisingly well made.

Oh and this is the series 2 headstock which is the 2nd biggest iteration. Kids didn't like the headstock so they put the 2nd biggest they had instead of the series 3 or even a 6 in line style. Oh Dean...you so crazy

You posted / bought the worst model of the line lmao. But i guess you had no other choice given that the matt black and red were FR only.
The Modifier was amazing, and i would even consider this the best attempt of "modernising" any of their own shapes - if you can call it that. They made the body thinner and removed the flat top you always find on MLs which removes a lot of bulkiness. I agree what you said about the headstock (not the 6 in line, it looks shit on MLs) though.
They even had Wayne Static (RIP) as artist for it.

But yes, compared to their current lineup this is not what you would call catered to a modern audience.

 

[SalsaWood]

If a textured surface reduces friction, why do tyres have tread instead of being smooth?

Kind of a can of worms, but because it helps maximize grip on imperfect surfaces or in imperfect conditions. Like on the road, where you don't need very high traction limits but need them to perform safely in different situations.

Rainy or rough terrain treads are a big help, but direct tire to road surface you want soft slicks like in racing- where traction forces at the tire are immensely intense. There's more to it than that, tires are a can or worms like I said.

 

[v1nter]

They managed to go international with that shit too lol

Thats the Matt Heafy signature (made in Korean version), he has japanese roots so that paint job kinda made sense.

Since it was brought up here aswell - im still not buying the argument that they left Dean because of quality. The guitars they recorded Shogun (their best album, after that it went downhill but thats another discussion) with were specially made USA models. Like this one = https://reverb.com/ca/item/17198219-dean-matt-heafy-custom-7-2008-faded-white
Should be one the first 7 string MLs made maybe ever ? Im not quite sure on that, but i would defend the quality of these guitars for sure.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Thats the Matt Heafy signature (made in Korean version), he has japanese roots so that paint job kinda made sense.

Since it was brought up here aswell - im still not buying the argument that they left Dean because of quality. The guitars they recorded Shogun (their best album, after that it went downhill but thats another discussion) with were specially made USA models. Like this one = https://reverb.com/ca/item/17198219-dean-matt-heafy-custom-7-2008-faded-white
Should be one the first 7 string MLs made maybe ever ? Im not quite sure on that, but i would defend the quality of these guitars for sure.

The Deans barely kept tune according to Matt in the Shogun documentary. Couple that with the vid I posted of his headstock breaking from falling over and it's not hard to see that the customs weren't that good. Matt and Corey both left Dean after less than a year.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

dbl

 

[STRHelvete]

You posted / bought the worst model of the line lmao. But i guess you had no other choice given that the matt black and red were FR only.
The Modifier was amazing, and i would even consider this the best attempt of "modernising" any of their own shapes - if you can call it that. They made the body thinner and removed the flat top you always find on MLs which removes a lot of bulkiness. I agree what you said about the headstock (not the 6 in line, it looks shit on MLs) though.
They even had Wayne Static (RIP) as artist for it.

But yes, compared to their current lineup this is not what you would call catered to a modern audience.

I wanted a backup to my Modifier but couldn't find one for years. I've had that tribal for a while and I have NEVER seen another one pop up for sale...so then I got the red one. My guitar tech still tries to buy it off me

 

[Rob Joyner]

I wanted a backup to my Modifier but couldn't find one for years. I've had that tribal for a while and I have NEVER seen another one pop up for sale...so then I got the red one. My guitar tech still tries to buy it off me View attachment 122882

I mean, judging by that glass, crystal adorned alien shrine, I can understand why you have two Deans.

 

[STRHelvete]

I mean, judging by that glass, crystal adorned alien shrine, I can understand why you have two Deans.

It isn't mine. But it matches the Dean level of tacky. Very appropriate.

 

[bracky]

Tacky but it’s one of my favorite albums. I love this guitar.

 

[Matt08642]

I wanted a backup to my Modifier but couldn't find one for years. I've had that tribal for a while and I have NEVER seen another one pop up for sale...so then I got the red one. My guitar tech still tries to buy it off me View attachment 122882

That red one is fucking cool. It's a shame Dean didn't keep making the Wayne Static modifier ML:

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

That red one is fucking cool. It's a shame Dean didn't keep making the Wayne Static modifier ML:

View attachment 122896

The sad part is they never even released a Wayne Static sig model. They did release a couple of Modifier models, but they never did one that was similar to Wayne's specs. Would have been cool to see the purple one hit the market.

 

[STRHelvete]

That red one is fucking cool. It's a shame Dean didn't keep making the Wayne Static modifier ML:

View attachment 122896

Yeah I really would have liked a satin black with chrome hardware sort of guitar. I wonder if they'll ever bring the Modifier back. Perhaps not.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Tacky but it’s one of my favorite albums. I love this guitar.
View attachment 122895

As much as I love that album, for me that guitar belongs only onstage with Megadeth.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Yeah I really would have liked a satin black with chrome hardware sort of guitar. I wonder if they'll ever bring the Modifier back. Perhaps not.

I hope they do, given they're gonna need to start throwing shit at the wall and hope something sticks lol

 

[bracky]

As much as I love that album, for me that guitar belongs only onstage with Megadeth.

It lives hanging on my wall. It was a really good album. 😀

 

[STRHelvete]

I hope they do, given they're gonna need to start throwing shit at the wall and hope something sticks lol

Yeah they've been trying to break into the modern market by taking their "iconic" shapes and stepping them up. Stainless steel frets, Fishmans, swamp ash bodies, burled tops, extended scale, etc. I could see them bringing back the Modifier and giving it a modern take. Or maybe they'll bring back the "baby" ML for people who'd want something smaller. Personally I hate those but the Xiphos/Stealth crowd may prefer those more.