Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Chris
Table of Contents
Left Handed Dean Guitars
Dean guitars are pretty good when it comes to catering to left handed guitar players. In the current lineup there are five different instruments from across the different Dean range. Sadly, Dean has removed five electric models from their 2021 catalog.
I’ve included the missing guitars here, as some online retailers still have them in stock, but they may be a little harder to find.
So, let’s check out which models from Dean Guitars are offered to us left handed folk this year.
If you like, you can go straight to the electric guitar section.
If you’d prefer, you can go and see the acoustic section.
Or you can go straight to the bass guitar section.
Read on to find out more about Dean Guitars.
Who Are Dean Guitars?
Dean Guitars was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky, a guitar luthier from Chicago, Illinois.
He already had experience of building and repairing guitars, and had wanted to create a new guitar design that wasn’t yet available. So after taking some Gibson factory tours to find out what machinery was needed, Zelinsky was able to set up his own guitar company.
Dean began making the first guitars V-shaped and pointed, which Zelinsky believed would enhance his guitars’ tone. A number of bands and artists started using his guitars, including Heart, Kansas, and The Cars.
Zelinsky sold the company in 1986 to Oscar Medeiros of Tropical Music, who focused on selling overseas, until Dean Guitars were largely absent from the US market.
It wasn’t until 1997, that Elliott Rubinson and his company Armadillo Enterprises, then bought the Dean trade name. Rubinson himself was a touring musician having played bass with the likes of Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, and Michael Angelo Batio.
Dean Guitars went on to provide guitars for a huge roster of artists such as Kerry King (Slayer), Michael Schenker (Michael Schenker Group), Michael Amott (Arch Enemy), and Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), among many others.
In December 2016, Elliott Rubinson’s son, Evan Rubinson, took over as President and CEO at Armadillo Enterprises.
Sadly, after battling long and hard with brain cancer, Elliott “Dean” Rubinson passed away on 5 February 2017.
In August 2021, the estate of the late Dimebag Darrell (Pantera) announced that it was taking legal action against Dean Guitars, and as a result, the relationship between Dean Guitars and Dimebag is over.
In July 2022, Dean was ordered to stop making its V-Series, Z-Series and Gransport Series, as they were found to infringe on some of Gibson‘s guitar shapes.
What Do I Think of Dean Guitars?
I first became aware of Dean Guitars, when I first saw some live concert videos of Pantera on TV back in the early ’90s. Their guitarist, who I later found out was Dimebag Darrell, had a very unusual-looking and eye-catching guitar, and later still, I found out that he played a Dean ML.
One of my fave guitarists, Miyako Watanabe (Lovebites) is a Dean artist and plays a striking Dean V USA, as well as an Icon USA and a custom ML Switchblade.
There are three things that come to mind when I think of Dean Guitars; first of all, is the shape of that ML range that Dimebag liked to play. They have such a distinctive look, unlike anything else out there!
Secondly is the V-shaped headstock on many of their guitars. Again, so different from everything else, that it stands out and sticks in the mind.
Finally, the Dean logo; the winged emblem, which is, again, very memorable, looks like a bird of prey soaring through the sky!
Ever since I’ve always associated Dean with rock and heavy music, and I just love the combination of those three things, which perfectly align themselves with aggressive heavy music!
Different Types of Dean Guitars
Electric Guitars
- USA Series
- Artist Series
- Select Series
- Classic Series
- Standard Series
Bass Guitars
- USA-Bass Series
- Select-Bass Series
- Standard-Bass Series
- Acoustic-Bass Series
Acoustic Guitars
- AXS Series
- Bluegrass Series
- Espana Series
- Exhibition Series
- Exotica Series
- Flight Series
- St-Augustine Series
If you’ve deeper pockets than the average Joe, then you could always build your own.
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase when you click through I may get a small commission. If you do buy something, then I’d like to say “thank you so much”! It really does help me keep this website going.
Left Handed Dean Acoustic Guitars
At the time of writing, there are two left handed Dean acoustic guitars available. Check ’em out below!
Exhibition A/E Black Satin Lefty
Made in China
MSRP – $549.00
Specs:
- SCALE: 24 1/4″ (616mm)
- TOP: Mahogany
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Black Satin
- NECK: Set-Neck Mahogany with Dual Action Truss Rod
- PROFILE: D
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Pearl Diamond inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1 11/16″ (43mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech NuBone
- FRETS: 21
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- TUNERS: Grover
- BRIDGE: Ebony
- PRE-AMP: DMT G05 with Built-in EQ and Tuner
Check price/availability at:
Exotica Quilt Ash A/E GN Lefty
Made in China
MSRP – $349.00
Specs:
- SCALE: 24 1/4″ (616mm)
- TOP: Quilt Ash
- BODY: Quilt Ash
- BODY FINISH: Natural
- NECK: Set-Neck Mahogany with Dual Action Truss Rod
- PROFILE: D
- FINGERBOARD: Balsamo with Pearliod Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1 5/8″ (41mm)
- NUT TYPE: Daeil Chemical (Plastic)
- FRETS: 21
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- TUNERS: Sealed Die Cast
- BRIDGE: Balsamo
- PRE-AMP: DMT I2NR 4 Band EQ with Tuner
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Dean Basses
There are two left handed Dean bass guitars available at the time of writing, as shown below.
Acoustic/Electric Bass CAW Lefty SN
Made in China
MSRP – $319.00
Specs:
- SCALE: 34″ (863mm)
- TOP: Select Spruce
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Satin Natural
- NECK: Set-Neck Mahogany with Dual Action Truss Rod
- PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1 5/8″ (41mm)
- NUT TYPE: Urea (OEM)
- FRETS: 24
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- TUNERS: Die Cast
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Piezo
- PRE-AMP: DMDean Preamp with Built-In EQ
Check price/availability at:
Edge 09 Classic Black Lefty
Made in China
MSRP – $209.00
Specs:
- SCALE: 34″ (863mm)
- TOP: Basswood
- BODY: Basswood
- BODY FINISH: Classic Black
- NECK: Bolt-On Maple with Dual Action Truss Rod
- PROFILE: C
- FINGERBOARD: Walnut with Pearl Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 16″ (406mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1 9/16″(39.7mm)
- NUT TYPE: Polymer (Plastic) (OEM)
- FRETS: 22
- HARDWARE COLOR: Black
- TUNERS: Sealed Die Cast
- BRIDGE: Die Cast
- BRIDGE PICKUP: DMT Design
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Dean Electric Guitars
Unfortunately, at present, there are no longer any left handed Dean electric guitars, which is in stark contrast to a couple of years ago and before when there were several models, including the ML, V, and Z shapes all available to lefty guitarists.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. Just four left handed Dean instruments in total. Not a great selection for us lefties, especially compared to what the Dean lefty range used to be. It’s a massive disappointment that Dean removed all of their electric models from 2022, and still hasn’t replaced them with anything!
There are countless right handed Dean electric guitars; it’s a real shame we couldn’t have a few in left handed configuration. Hopefully, Dean will decide to produce some very soon.
There are, however, a couple of acoustic models, an acoustic bass, and one electric bass, so we haven’t been totally forgotten. These models were all available last year as well, so there’s no change in Dean’s left handed range this year.
What do you think of Dean guitars? How about their lack of lefty electric guitars? Let us know in the comments below.
Image credits: deanguitars.com