Dean Razorback DB Floyd Lightning Electric Guitar  

Bought this guitar from Musicians Friend during the President's Day Sale.  I am pleased with it overall (it looks killer and just oozes that Dimebag charisma) but the build quality is really not up to par for a guitar of this price. My main gripe is that the el-cheapo Floyd Rose Special (think special) has not impressed me.  It stays in tune alright if you're not too aggressive with the dive-bombs, but if you bottom it out much it doesn't hold tune.  The fine tuners are unresponsive at times, then at times a string will jump a quarter-step with a small turn.  On top of that, the thing is mounted slightly off center, the high "e" is a little too close to the edge of the neck.  This actually makes tapping and fast playing a little easier, but it's VERY easy to slip it over the edge of the frets. The pickups are only okay, nothing great.  Pick harmonics don't really happen easily.  Output is, as previously said, higher than a squier strat, but lower than I would like for this guitar.  A pickup change is definitely in this guitar's future (if I decide to keep it).  The traction knobs are a cool idea. This guitar requires a bit of setup if you want to use D-C tuning like Dime, but that shouldn't be any surprise on a floyd-equipped guitar.  I am using Dunlop light/medium strings, and I think I will try the DR Dimebag set as it is reviewed highly.  On the plus side, the neck was setup very well from the factory. The soft case will not last long.  Zippers on guitar cases are always weak links, and this one is already catching. Overall, it is a cool guitar but its a shame that Dean is overcharging customers for Dimebag's name.  Musicians Friend is not to blame for this, as their price is as good or better than anyone else.

This guitar is pretty amazing.  I've had for a couple weeks now and it truely lives up to dime's tone and style.  The only reason it doesn't get a 5 star rating is for two reasons.  I think it could be maybe 50 to 100 cheaper if they wanted to.  I also think they should have slapped the dimebucker in the bridge as well.  Outside of that, it's a killer guitar.  Word to the wise?  If you use amp simulators and have a cheap squier fat strat with a hum in the bridge, turn all that distortion down almost half way. This thing is decibles louder lol.  Took me two days to get the distortion to the maximum level without melt down.  Dimebag squeals are easy for a novice and it plays so fast and like butter.  Match it up with the dimebag DR strings, have it set up for D/C tuning like him and decimate!