Dean Guitars: Just Like Gibson

[@PastelComGini]

Oh man, imagine if Fender sued for every strat-ish guitar.

[@impossivel2006]

Now I really want a Strat with the Dean headstock. And a Bigsby too.

[@victorcuebas3053]

It’d be a messy market but Leo didn’t trademark anything really it wasn’t tell cbs bought the company that they started trademarking things and they barely got their headstock and that was about it from the beginnings of fender

[@j_freed]

The Strat head is not an original Leo or Fullerton or Bill Carson design, it’s derived from Croatian instruments… Fender owning that shape is about as silly as somebody owning the traditional shape of a violin or a Dreadnought steel string. But the more companies drag things down the rabbit hole of petty legal protection, throwing around corporate bully-money, the less of a product price you pay will be for the quality of the instrument and the more of it will be to pay the lawyers.

[@seinmstudio3646]

Oh man, if they did that the entire guitar economy would probably collapse.

[@justsomedude5727]

Fender is confident in its own products, Gibson knows other companies can do their guitars better

[@playdelay]

Shame on Dean. The goodwill they earned by being unfairly targeted by Gibson has been squandered.

[@FortressofShred]

Dean guitars suck any way. Their necks are garbage.

[@aureliusandthespiral]

Unfair, not necessarily. Untimely, most absolutely

[@DovydasMusic]

Just watched the whole thing. Excellent investigation. I really want to get a Machado to play in my busking videos. I'm not joking. Can someone link it if there's one for sale or if I could borrow? I'll make a ton of videos, post it on my channel and make Dean Lawyer letter unboxing video too

[@Leemuzhko]

Nice trolling ) ЖГИ, БРО )

[@GuitarGuy4647]

Based

[@shelbyavant5081]

Great idea, and love your stuff bro!

[@rodanone4895]

this would be sweet!

[@theodorerooding3536]

Dovydas is 🔥 Press on brother!

[@terriblecj]

Good job Dean, you just increased Machado's used value and even more people are going to be looking for them...

[@caiusmadison2996]

Yep. I will be. If I ever become famous, I'll us it exclusively.

[@Skelterbane69]

I'd put a "Fuck you, Dean" sticker on it.

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

Disgusting hypocrisy from Dean. Totally agreed with you on this it's absolutely scandalous that they see fit to target this person just because they own an instrument that looks superficially similar to a product they sell. The Streisand effect is out in force with this one.

[@sleepdeep305]

As well as the fact that they own TWO DEANS. I mean, come on, Dean really is chugging a fat one.

[@jeffreyhutchins6527]

@@sleepdeep305 I'd square cut the points on the bottom legs. then tell them to eat a bowel of richards

[@WilDBeestMF]

@@jeffreyhutchins6527 Yo Jeff. You wanna start a band and call it "Bowl Of Richards" ? 😂

[@DMSProduktions]

@@jeffreyhutchins6527 Bowl!

[@zephirol4638]

His arbitrary arguments are irrelevant though. If there is some part of that guitar which was trademarked and they copied it then they have a justified argument. An his silly argument about because they argued this they can't argue that is just that, ridiculous. Because there may be differences within the realm of adequate change to make their build viable. But that is for the courts to decide not some silly music youtuber. Where as in this case it was apparently proven or at least the creator new it was an issue and willingly ceased his operation. It also isn't "just because they own a superficially similar instrument yadda yadda" It's because they were able to prove that A. the creator made counterfits of their own and got him to stop and B. the person who now owns it knew of such issue via the pics in the email sent. That is FAR FAR different than the nonsense you're insinuating. All pushing this nonsense will do is create a false outrage from morons who do not understand the law. There are ways to go about this which resolves the problem and is legally sound without complying to the ridiculous demands in the letter. However this is not one of them.

[@oyhe94]

2 things to add here against Dean. While the Stealth shape is a variation of the ML, it was first used by Washburn, not Dean, and has always been a "Dimebag signature shape" rather than a regular prduction shape like the ML. The fact that the custom Stealth has a single coil in the neck position is also like some 90's Washburn Stealth models, and to me indicates a Washburn influence on the guitar rather than a Dean one. Second, the neck and headstock on the custom Stealth seems to be based on James Hetfield's EET FUK explorer, with the middle finger inlays. A guitar made by ESP.

[@robashley2860]

Did Washburn register the trademark the guitar shape though? Its not who made the guitar shape, its who has it trademarked. However if I were to fight Dean over this shape, this is the first defense tactic that I would use. Unfortunately it still would end up in the hand of a jury to decide if you are right and if Dean will lose that shape as a trademark.

[@oyhe94]

@@robashley2860 While I can't find any information regarding Washburn trademarking the "Stealth", in documents regarding the "Dean vs Dime" case it is specified that Dean does not get trademark rights for both the "Stealth" and "Razorback" shapes. As ot is widely known that Dimebag drew the original concept for the "Razorback" on a napkin, this leads me to believe that Dimebag himself owned the trademark for the "Stealth" shape when he was with Washburn, and now his estate owns the trademark, along with other body shapes trademarks, after his death. While I understand that whoever made the body designs does not mean that the same person/company owns the trademark, the "Stealth" was designed by Dime at the time he was with Washburn. That trademark being registered by any other guitar company than Washburn seems (morally?) wrong to me, regardless if it would be legal or not. If anyone can find any information regarding trademarks for all the different Dimebag shapes it would be greatly appreciated. This includes the Washburn Dime shape (slightly modified ML), the Stealth, Culprit and Dime V, and Dean Razorback, Razorbolt and Razorback V.

[@mikefarrell734]

I knew Dean Zalinski (the original owner and manufacturer Of Dean guitars located in Evanston IL) I went to the factory looking for work and this was back in the 70s the ML was very much a part of his designs his guitars were like Gibson he told he took several tours through the Gibson factory to learn their manufacturing techniques which he applied in his manufacture of his products Dean made a really good guitar but he was not a good businessman I suggested a number of things he needed to do to get his product known and out there he just wouldn't listen I acted as a salesman and would go to concerts to get to talk to performers and get them interested in his guitars I had several established artists interested but after speaking with him they wouldn't do business with him Since I couldn't make sales I soon left I saw Dean a few years later and found out he sold the business and like the saying goes the rest is history Dean guitars took off I also noticed they incorporated some of the suggestions I made to Dean like changing his ads working with artists etc he made a good instrument but it's too bad he didn't achieve the success he might have wanted

[@jjerg]

Dimebag (now his estate) owns the trademark for the stealth shape. They're suing Dean currently to stop Dean from making them.

[@oyhe94]

@@mikefarrell734 .

[@DavidNwokoye]

Bro this is so messed up. I can't believe Dean went this hard on a guy just vibing with his custom guitar. This is literally what they're defending themselves against. 🤦‍♂️

[@tehalexy]

no, as said its worse. gibson goes for a big company, dean goes for a OWNER of guitars. big difference

[@ianboylan1981]

@@tehalexy have to agree it is worse because of this. I used to own a Dean Edge bass for years and it was my main gigging bass. Don't think I'd buy another again due to this.

[@Maddgoose666]

I’d buy a knockoff before I ever buy a dean

[@MrMatt9793]

@@ianboylan1981 modern Dean's are junk unless you go the US route, and they cost more than Les Paul's at that point. Its silly. Plus ya know, they have 1 big artist, and he's been dead for 17 years. Dime left the company to go to Washburn, "came back" long enough to make a prototype guitar, died, and they've been riding that out for almost 2 decades. Hell, they even started making amps and pickups with his name on it lol

[@ianboylan1981]

@@MrMatt9793 the dean edge bass was pretty decent to a lefty up and comer about 14 years ago when I first started gigging at 18. It was one of the only 5 string left handed basses on Thomann in my budget. Thankfully I'm older now with much more expensive gear 😂😂😂

[@InsomniacMatt]

I love how you couldn't say "Gibson's strict quality control standards" with a straight face

[@gibsonfan159]

I doubt the guy who made that statement has a straight face.

[@boshi9]

It’s kind of creepy that their lawyers literally stalked this guy across multiple social media platforms, recording his posts and comments, simply because he happened to own a certain guitar and voiced his personal opinion on a dispute between two third parties.

[@mallninja9805]

First time on the internet?

[@nckhed]

@@mallninja9805 That doesn't make a difference. The fact that scumbag lawyers can scout around doing shit like this is disgusting. No wonder they're usually viewed in a negative light. It's like cops who set up drug stings by SELLING drugs to citizens. Committing crimes to "stop" crime. They aren't even worthy of a job salting the fries at McDonald's.

[@jasmine2501]

And yet, that's exactly what I would want my lawyer to do if someone was actually ripping off my ip.

[@relicboxing]

@@jasmine2501 Which was not the case.

[@Viper-dz2kw]

That’s what a good lawyer does tbh, the shit those guys dig up is impressive, they’re basically social media detectives

[@dreamlifter2701]

I can’t believe someone who literally just owns something that’s copyrighted can get in troubled for it! Unbelievable congratulations Dean I won’t be buying one of your guitars!!!

[@mikekelly1771]

Dean are crumbling anyway. They won't be around in 5 years.

[@Kawika_stone]

Something funny is that dean doesn’t even own the stealth trademark

[@caiusmadison2996]

I've had some incredibly crap guitars in my life. All of them, where DEAN reissues. Terrible. Played an original 70's. Not sure who signed off on the cheap reissue line, but the legacy players and fans looking to buy in, where devastated by those pieces of crap. They take 2 times the money to make them good, than they even cost.

[@mattb.2740]

I guess it somewhat makes sense. You can get in legal trouble for receiving and owning stolen property. In this case, it would be the trademark that's stolen.

[@jonessii]

@@mattb.2740 It's not stolen property, shut the fuck up.

[@CavemanWithAStringStick]

Haven’t finished this yet, but just want to say you usually go above and beyond in your research and I was quite literally forced to subscribe to keep up

[@nckhed]

@@creamwobbly The word "literally" is about as overused as "underrated".

[@carrterdinkins7977]

Hey stop stealing my pfp

[@nckhed]

@behindspace666666 pa dam dishoom 😋

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Oh god, please make it stop! Damn whippersnappers and their trendy words! 😅

[@JavaoftheLava]

Same here. I don’t like him on a personal level but I still sub for the work he outs j.

[@ryderr7914]

Hold on, isn’t the stealth a Dime design? One of the designs such as the Razorback that dean ILLEGALLY copyrighted, as it was directly stipulated in their contract with dime and his estate that they were not to copyright shapes originally thought of by dime? They’re literally getting sued over this shape and they’re trying to enforce it, when it’s not even theirs!

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

no one owns copyright on a guitar design because copyright is not for that type of thing. you can own a trademark which is what rita is claiming. where she will lose that case is the fact Dimebag did not and was not planning to manufacture and sell the guitars himself which you have to do to be able to hold a trademark (that's why it is called a trade mark) you also can't hold a trademark if your dead. dime could have owned a patent for a guitar design that could be past to his estate. but it does not look like he did other wise that would be the case not rita claiming trademarks. dean will simply say the ml has been in production since 1977 and the razor back and stealth are just variations on the theme of the ML (which they are). and the fact they are the company that actually manufacture and sells the guitars they are with in their legal rights to take a trademark out on them and would be stupid not to in order to stop other companies producing copies of them. all that will happen from that lawsuit is dean may just take dime's name of the guitars.

[@petercallear9535]

Washburn made the stealth first! Dime played washburn stealths. Dean only started making them after Dime's death.

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

@@petercallear9535 that is true but dean hadn't been producing or trading them for years meaning they could lose the trade mark also Dime had signed a contract with Dean to produce those guitars. and the only people that can own a trademark are the people trading them. so technically the only people that could have the slightest case against dean over the stealth would be washburn and even then dean would just go. well it is just a pointy variation of our ML design anyway.

[@J.C...]

And that's part of why Rita left Dean and sued them. Evan tried to convert Dime's trademarks and copyrights to belong to Dean, without anyone's knowledge or permission. They tried to take the Stealth, the Razorback?, another guitar, the Dime logo, Dime's likeness, and everything else, IIRC. I believe it's all laid out in the lawsuit Rita filed against them. Guitar shapes CAN be trademarked and that's what Dime did. That's what Gibson is attempting to protect when they sue people. That's what Fender lost when they failed to take action on people for the first 40 or 50 years of their existence.

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 yes, but that crumbles as long as you can show 'prior art'.

[@millsjonah]

Last time I checked, it is not remotely illegal to purchase or use a counterfeit good. It only constitutes a crime if you are the manufacturer or seller of the good. There is absolutely no precedent for him facing legal action for simply owning the guitar.

[@snap-off5383]

yeah that was a total stretch. As long as I'm not selling the counterfeit, I don't even have to acknowledge that it is one. Its fully legal to pretend that its a legitimate one too.

[@NWTMasterWolf]

That's what I was thinking. I believe he should tell them to go fuck themselves and get a lawyer to sue them for undue process and false persecution.

[@pigpenclymer6098]

@@NWTMasterWolf malicious prosecution and abuse of process to be exact

[@nckhed]

Iniquity shall abound, indeed.

[@Wesquire]

This is just a misunderstanding of what is going on here. These are civil issues. Criminal law has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[@LukeJackandWill]

Unbelievable from Dean. Never was interested in their guitars, and will totally boycott them from there out.

[@kdoe85]

Personally, I think Jackson forcing ESP to change their headstock was a blessing. ESP inline headstocks are the coolest looking headstocks ever.

[@nckhed]

Yeah, I like ESP/LTD's inline headstock, especially reversed. Jackson's inline headstock looks much better non-reversed, in my opinion.

[@deviltronix]

Agreed, it's one of my favorites.

[@pigdick2233]

I think it’s neat they turned that design inside out and made it even more metal

[@JohnDoeWasntTaken]

Agreed, ESP is the king of inline headstocks. They are the only manufacturer that makes an 8 string superstrat with an inline headstock, because otherwise it wouldn't look much like a superstrat. Ibanez makes 8 string inlines but they just look bland. The ESP guitar is called the Raiden-8 if you wanna see it yourself.

[@beardedslavbrew615]

Best thing ever that happened to ESP

[@peterkraus1072]

One thing that's missing from this video: Copyright (and the DMCA) laws are a completely different set of laws from the trademark laws. I'm not sure how a DMCA notice is even legal when they openly admit they're protecting their trademark, not copyright.

[@BlackPhillip666]

Intellectual property rights prohibit a sorely needed Renaissance.

[@cheesefruit200]

So scummy to go after the owner. Lawsuits on the company... whatever, business is business... but to go after some normal guy with a guitar is disgusting

[@thomasswoodward]

Way to go Dean. I for one, will never purchase one of your guitars, directly as a result of this petty and spurious action. Perhaps invest in a better PR department with some of that legal budget. What absolute hypocrisy.

[@jralanmorgan]

I'm glad you do this. The community thanks you. Audits are my favorite.

[@EytschPi42]

Well Done!

[@megatyaesree]

_thats what she said_

[@clintn6677]

There is something going on with Dean. There has been a mass Exodus of most of their signature guitarist then the Dimebag thing. I have to say this was a pathetic attempt and quite possibly something that will eventually hurt them regarding their complaint with Gibson.

[@dwaynejessome1728]

Clint Norwood - you should watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/noulpXWJl5mVp8U Guitar Max gives a very clear explanation of the nonsense going on at Dean Guitars - if the link doesn't work - titled Dean Guitars: On the Road to Ruin

[@clintn6677]

@@dwaynejessome1728 yeah I saw that along with some of the other reports. My guitar tech used to be head of QC and Artist Relations at Dean and he has been saying they were doomed since I met him. A lot of his predictions have come to pass.

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

i wouldn't call Dave Mustaine and MAB a mass exodus. the dimebag thing is rita trying it on and trying to get more money by claiming dimebag owned trade marks on a guitar model dean was making before dimebag ever owned one. i agree this case is stupid on deans part as if they took the guy to court and won they would create president in law that would cause them to lose the gibson lawsuite

[@clintn6677]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 you forgot Rusty Cooley, Andy Larqoque, Vinnie Moore, Tracii Guns

[@jackkay4310]

@@clintn6677 Meanwhile Dean have signed on Kerry King (with his variation on a V shape) and most recently Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (with their version of his Annihilator) but those are just two guys. The majority of the rest of Dean artists get custom guitars that aren't available to the public unless they were custom-ordered, so from that aspect they wouldn't be making Dean that much money either. And who knows how Evan is undermining them too.

[@macbruce7562]

If Gibson were suing Tokai they’d have a point, the headstock is incredibly similar. Granted I don’t think they’d want a quality comparison, lately the rosewood fretboards on Tokai have been next level. A 335 from Tokai is about 1/2 the price, made in Japan and has scary good build quality. Dean guitars have always been really ugly to me, I hate the headstock. When Schecter started it’s mid 2000s push, I questioned why anybody would purchase a Dean.

[@fabronaut7478]

it's partly why the whole "Orville by Gibson" thing exists. they can't compete directly with any of the Japanese companies that make killer Les Paul etc. copies on price due to the exorbitant markups Gibson charges and import taxes. wouldn't be remotely surprised to find that Orville is probably a far more consistent and generally superior product (not least for the price).

[@erojerisiz1571]

The last ones you should ever sue are Japanese manufacturers

[@gregc8483]

Unacceptable! I can not support Dean at all, after this.

[@NWTMasterWolf]

Me either. I own two "Mustaine United Abominations V" and a "Lime Green Custom Shop" that I just put some bucks into. Now I want to sell them and buy a Gibson.

[@andrewhernandez3330]

@@NWTMasterWolf Not gonna lie the Mustaine Gibson’s look sick and I can’t wait for them to release more and maybe even a Mustaine Explorer 😂

[@gregc8483]

@@andrewhernandez3330 The new Gibson Mustaine limited edition looks awesome. Man Dean really screwed up. I love the Dean Dimebag guitars but they will never get a new sale from me.

[@inevitableveganfuture3915]

@@NWTMasterWolf Be careful you don't accidentally buy another Dean instead of a Gibson.

[@gregc8483]

@@inevitableveganfuture3915 🤣

[@the92project]

Dude, I don’t even know you but I want to hug you. This must be one of the most brilliant KZbin videos I’ve ever watched. You nailed your arguments, your research, your delivery. You are one terrific journalist/ researcher. I hope Dean sees this video, cause you just nailed them with reason! 👊

[@TheShinyShow]

"Gibson's strict quality control standards." Nice meme Gibson

[@snap-off5383]

there's gotta be a reason no gibson G string has ever stayed in tune. . . its a requirement of their strict standards!

[@Rowe4900candymachine]

@@snap-off5383 It's actually really easy to fix that problem too. All they need is a string tree.

[@caiusmadison2996]

Lol

[@caiusmadison2996]

@@Rowe4900candymachine exactly. Gibson needs to copy a certain accessory for 17° angle heads you can get for about 20 bucks on Amazon that does that for all 6 strings, by clipping onto, then redirecting them to be a better angle on the nut to tuner.

[@Rowe4900candymachine]

@@caiusmadison2996 I have the thing you're talking about on my epiphone sg, also had a luthier set it up and put a gotoh bridge along with a graphtech nut and hipshot tuners plays as good as any gibson I've picked up.

[@ashleybailey5244]

Please don't change, followed you're channel for a good while now, you make no-biased informational videos that is great for the music community to show the other side of our industry/passion. Dont let anyone take that from you because you're a diamond in the rough, especially through all these shell channels that only do videos for the money. 💯😊👌🎸❤️

[@DarrenWaters75]

Seems like the new owner is doing everything to kill the company after losing all of their endorsed artists, and being sued by Dime's estate.

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

dave mustaine and MAB are not most of their endorsed artists. they may have lost mustaine but gained Kerry King they still have Amott and Shenker and all the others. the dimebag thing is rita trying it on to try to get more licencing money off dean but she will lose because she is claiming dimebag owned trademarks on a guitar shape that existed before dimebag owned one. and also dimebag never sold or planned to manufacture or sell guitars himself therefore he can't own a trade mark . he could own a patent for an original design that could pass to his estate but not a trademark

[@MickH60]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 They aren't the only 2 they lost bud, do a bit of research, they've lost a pile of artists and some have even done you tube vids explaining why they left, like not being paid....

[@AdamGtr86]

Understand: Dean has new management. Michael Angelo Batio left Dean and said he didn't like working with their new people. So this may be the new Dean. Its a tough world with guitars now. More and more brands are out there. Profits are probably down. There was a very good man named John Carmack who made the Doom games and owns id software. He was against ALL forms of software patenets. The guitar people should learn. Dean should have actually offered him a free Dean if he is good at guitar to promote their guitar.

[@Scott__C]

Yeah, that would've gained them some goodwill.

[@sinnersdwarf7138]

this is why I saw both sides to the Gibson Vs Dean Lawsuit, Gibson had they not waited years to file had a genuine case for filing a lawsuit as Dean did play fast and loose with the Gibson designs even down to the names. Dean are hypocrites great video as usual 🤘🏻

[@thepatriot4355]

Rickenbacker and Epiphone actually own a lot of these pattens especially with the early days of the Electric Guitar

[@shysstasnubben]

Even after watching the whole video, I still don't understand Deans claims. Claiming infringement just by owning and using is a new level of mental gymnastics

[@rezolution6272]

After this, I would never consider buying a Dean guitar. This seems like corporate bullying.

[@slupot]

What these guitar companies are forgetting, is their customers. Guitar players like you and I. We are the ones who buy them. It is insulting to insinuate that we cannot read or recognize basic headstock shapes. Not one time ever have I picked up a jackson and confused it with a fender, or a gibson with a dean, ect. Every single guitar company for the most part copies other companies shapes. How many "strat" styles are out there? Flying V? Explorer? Single cut gibson?

[@Ryan-lz8zm]

I was going to buy 2 Dean guitars for a teen charity for Christmas and now I think I’ll buy something else. This is not the type of company I want to do business with.

[@dirgmario]

Buy them some fenders/Squiers or LTDs. Way better stuff than most things Dean has done.

[@Highrollinhunter]

Yep I was about to buy a Dean Metalman Z bass I'm keeping my Ibanez Roadstar II rb650 bass screw Dean basses I rather buy a used Ibanez destroyer.

[@BessieBopOrBach]

Fantastic breakdown of an outrageous situation. Dean's actions give the impression that the owner(s) desperately want to sell but, in the wake of the Gibson suit and all the lost endorsements, are terrified that the brand may have lost most of its value.

[@Illuminationsfromtheattic]

Gotta say, after this I would think twice about ever buying a Dean guitar. Companies that behave in such a fashion don't deserve our business.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

i just gotta say.... i'm glad i'm a Fender guy.

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

Im no lawyer...but if I was on a jury for this trial..you'd make a great argument. Also...Counterfeit is very clear, since Dean and Machado didn't exactly copy and brand their "variations" with the "other companies" logo...it's not a counterfeit.

[@Andyanddiana467]

Dude, you are the Ralph Nader of Guitar! Love your videos.

[@CarcPazu]

I find these types of videos of yours highly entertaining. Keep em coming!

[@raysmetaltracks6782]

In a time when the guitar/amp sales are not what they used to be, its sad that this is what they are resorting to. Dean could have used this as a marketing piece, gave credit to the guy for a great build (and for buying his other 2 Dean guitars), and came out the hero. All this over the shape of a piece of wood.

[@b0nel0rd]

Actually, guitar and amp sales are higher than they've been in decades :)

[@matthewa2412]

big brain tinfoil hat theory: Dean wants to intentionally lose this new lawsuit in hopes that it'll help make a case against the Gibson lawsuit. it's a hell of a stupid thing to do but it wouldn't surprise me thanks for the great content man

[@axmnstrbnd]

You actually might have a point here. I never looked at it this way, and that actually might be the big dick, chess move they're doing/going for.

[@KimonFrousios]

To lose it would first have to actually go to court. Chances are that a random guy with some guitars and a small YT/IG channel does not have the means to stand in court against a big corporation.

[@rietheguyschannel]

The ML is literally half a flying V and half an explorer taped together anyway. Copyright laws are wild, dean has like one original design lol.

[@PeteHawthorne]

Amazing work as always KDH! I've never liked Dean guitars and back in 2009 had been in talks with some of their UK reps for possible endorsement with my old band, but their attitudes were far from welcoming or professional and we decided against it. That little gut feeling / intuition never left me and I just can't look at them or their ugly headstocks at all. THIS is just a whole new level of contradictions layered with some deep fried hypocrisy and bitterness on top. What a joke of a company.

[@allstopblue5717]

So this is your response to this? “I never liked Dean anyway screw them!” Lol cmon dude at what point does any of this ever stop then? We just let every company rip off every other company forever and ever? Each company down the line investing less and less into actual R&D and more and more into straight up copying. Idk. I understand the hypocrisy from Dean, I truly do. Which is why I personally agree with Gibson from the start. I’m not down with blatantly copying other peoples intellectual property. I’m just not. Especially with the direction economies are trending at the moment. Should we all give up and let China produce literally everything? As long as it’s cheap for us to buy?

[@PeteHawthorne]

@@allstopblue5717 Haha, I know what you mean but back in music college I tried a friends Dean and it just didn't connect with me. I had never liked the aesthetics of their entrustments and after being in talks with their reps, sales people and now seeing this mind blowing footage find the company to be just as ugly as their headstocks.

[@michelangeloboldri9893]

I really loved my Dean Dime O Flame. I miss it, dearly. I regret ever selling it. If I could buy one today, it would be a trans brazilia, instead of a Flame but I wish for every other part of it to be the same - the heavy, full, unchambered mahogany, the beautiful, big, very well resonating headstock, the quality of the work on it ( I believe it was a pre-2008) - I loved everything about it. So while I cannot really comment on anything else - I just do not know - I couldn't call that headstock ugly. I love them. Dime was right - its the most comfortable shape ever.

[@LysanderLH]

As a direct result of Gibson’s crass attempt at market control via Mark Agnesi reading an altogether bizarre threat letter, like some threatening crack dealer, I have never owned a Gibson guitar and never will. Dean seems to be waving the ‘even bad publicity is publicity’ banner and so is added to the list of ‘give me one and i’ll burn it’ companies.

[@mynameismok8424]

I recently saw a video in which Michael Angelo Batio talked about how he didn't like the new management at Dean, which is the main reason he and other artists have left. Sounds like they are sinking their own ship.

[@Scott__C]

I saw that too. Since MAB is nice guy, he was about as diplomatic as he could be while still getting the point across.

[@MrNickRowe]

Can Gibson use this video against Dean? Since Dean made the argument for Gibson lol

[@MarcG7424]

I hope so and I hope they do

[@AlexDemaree777ShreddDredd]

That Machado is badass 24 fret too. I cant find nothing on that brand, pretty weird...

[@NWTMasterWolf]

Man this is sad. I loved Dean but I won't buy anymore of them. I have had issues with them arriving in shit packaging and destroyed on arrival. I have heard a lot of stuff like this already and it saddens me to say that I have lost my love for Dean Guitars. I may even sell the one's I have. I won't support a company that is so immature about their practices. And they just aint worth the money anymore. Think I'm gonna buy a Jackson and enjoy my Epiphone. Seems like Dean is Squirming over the Dimebag lawsuit JMO.

[@arthurmckay4202]

Just got myself a 2021 Jackson, plays great

[@johnwick3269]

Hey Jackson makes some amazing guitars I started using Jackson when I couldn't afford a dean guitar man Jackson had some guitar in the $500 price range that completely blew away most dean guitars but they will lose the lawsuit Rita Haney has and Gibson will mop the floor with them hopefully Rita takes dimes guitar designs to a other big guitar manufacturer not Gibson they would be way too expensive

[@JonathanHiller]

As someone who was a dealer for them for years, Dean was a MUCH nicer company in terms of from a dealer point of view, and just in general, when Elliot was still alive and running the company.

[@chriswareham]

The absolute masters at this kind of thing are Rickenbacker. They even threatened to sue a popular British bass guitar forum for posts that linked to things like eBay listings for Japanese made guitars from the 1970s. In the communication with the forum administrators, there was some bizarre Walter Mitty like stuff from Rickenbacker's owner where he said he had worked for the British government, presumably to insinuate he had some leverage with them.

[@Jay-st6sl]

"My dad INVENTED copyrights!" - Rickenbacker's owner probably

[@twenty3electronics]

Rickenbacker harassed me on eBay over a one off hand made pedal called the Pick A Round because they said it infringed on Rick O Sound. They waste their resources ruining their own name with no benefit to themselves. Brilliant

[@chriswareham]

@@twenty3electronics it's often a small group of Rickenbacker owners who report "infringing" listings on eBay. If you look on the Rickenbacker forum it's something they take great delight in doing. There's brand loyalty, and then there's the almost cult like behaviour of some Rick fans...

[@marvinstorm9153]

Hall of Rickenbacker is a miserable prick. One trick pony guitars.

[@kalasmar3288]

Just found this channel and can't help but add all the videos to my watch later. Super interesting coverage and well explained. Thanks!

[@nacktheslayer9882]

You should also delve into dean's treatment of artists and how they don't pay them

[@nacktheslayer9882]

@@NeungView doubt it but it was in their contracts

[@lisaferrara8120]

Your research and points of arguments are impeccable. Thanks, as always, for your intelligent posts!

[@MetalThrashingMan13]

Dimebag would be so ashamed of Dean, Dime was all about the fans and wanted them to be happy

[@dylansmith880]

So I’m thinking about trademarking and or copywriting the note “E flat” any suggestions???

[@Malum09]

I thought that the Stealth was Dimebag’s design? Either way, this has not been the year of Dean

[@GT-yw8ue]

You’re an absolute hero for calling out this bullshit and sticking up for the guitar owner. Amazing content. Subscription earned.

[@WarheadOne]

Dimebag's estate own the Stealth (and Razorback) designs. Dean Guitars tried trademarking them a few years ago, which is one of the reasons behind the lawsuit against Dean. I believe they might be doing this to have some kind of evidence/proof of them owning the design to dismiss the claims when brought up in the courtroom. Either this is hypocritical and shady AF.

[@RuinsOfMetal]

Wasn't Washburn the creator of the Dimebag Stealth?

[@RandyWillcox]

Dean just shot itself in the foot. I hope it screws up the outcome of their Gibson suit. I loathe Gibson and their behavior and still think Dean is right in their suit with Gibson. But to spew the same "counterfeit" BS here that they are defending against Gibson should be enough to ruin their argument in the Gibson case. And that would be their deserved karma. Fingers crossed!

[@vorpalblades]

This is why Gibson lost that suit, they did not actively protect their products. Dean has to do it, legally, or the trademark is not valid.

[@Mattormus]

@@vorpalblades but it's extremely ironic and just straight up pathetic that the threats they're making are exactly the same claims that they are actively trying to defend themselves from, from Gibson

[@vorpalblades]

@@Mattormus reading comprehension isn't one of your strong suits, huh? They are legally bound to do it to protect themselves. That's where Gibson failed, hence they lost their lawsuit.

[@KimonFrousios]

@@vorpalblades But the guy doesn't even make or sell these guitars and they already won against the manufacturer. There is no illegal or infringing activity to protect from in this case and they are also abusing and misrepresenting the copyright system since they own neither the image nor the sound in his videos.

[@vorpalblades]

@@KimonFrousios I wasn't aware he wasn't the builder.

[@JamesPetroff]

You are right that the counterfeit argument is objectively frivolous. I always thought that the shape could not be trademarked. Tons of manufacturers make a similar single cut shape.

[@dustinmhill]

So, it seems like most of the big guitar and amp/effects companies are awful and would rather maintain their profits through lawsuits and suppressing competition instead of focusing on the quality of their product and customer satisfaction. Are there any good commercial manufacturers of this gear, or do I just have to go local ($$$) if I want to support a decent company?

[@mrnauseouz]

Support brands started by modem musicians, not just sponsored by.

[@dinosoarskill17]

Man, I just got done looking at those Victory heads on Reverb, now I have two staring right at me in your video...

[@christophervaldez8746]

Dean is the Eric Clapton of guitar manufacturers.....

[@banjoman44]

Very good comments.

[@Kookiebiskit]

Wow, I have never seen KDH so angry. Dean done fucked up.

[@TheChikyChiky]

So just supporting reason for Mr Artist to not advise the purchase or use of Dean / Armadillo equipment.

[@CrowaX]

Wait. It's illegal to post a picture of a guitar? Has Dean gone crazy?

[@nckhed]

I imagine one day it will be illegal to breathe, therefore illegal to exist.

[@kmatax9237]

Here's one for ya, I knew a Luthier/fan who made a washburn n4 style guitar and gave it to Nuno after a concert ...few weeks later, got a letter from washburn...

[@nathansguitars328]

Seems like such a bully move. Personally, I don't think Dean will be around 10 years from now. At least not in a serious capacity. I can't even name one active Dean artist anymore.

[@Quusikko]

Active ones that comes to mind: Eric Peterson, Michael(s) Amott and Schenker & David Vincent... Four, whoop-de-doo! Of course, like someone said; Kerry King. But what, he's going to promote the guitars from his home? Going to start streaming soon? 😂

[@nathansguitars328]

@@Quusikko For sure, there are SOME. I don't know of many of those names though. Not that I'm the gold standard of guitar knowledge, but I used to know a few who have all left in the last few years.

[@Quusikko]

@@nathansguitars328 They have to try to keep a couple of names in the house. A guitar brand without artists is not looking too good. :D I just cheked Dean's site, which atleast to me works atrociously, they seem to have retained some names atleast. But I do get your point 100%, in the early to mid 2000's I used to see Dean's everywhere. Now I didn't almost remember its existence before this video. The way they seem to work, I bet it's going to go back where it was for me pretty quick. :P

[@simonpark843]

Thank you for drawing attention to this.

[@GravesoftheInnocent]

Man this stuff is all getting beyond a bit ridiculous from some of these companies. So hypocritical by Dean unfortunately.

[@montikore]

Ay KDH, love the vids. Much respect from Missouri USA

[@guyfromnj]

We are watching the destruction of dean guitars

[@DarrenWaters75]

On the bright side they will be valuable again like they were before Zalinski brought the company back from the dead. 😂😂😂

[@devonaupurok6920]

Always appreciate your investigations. This is where I first come for what’s going on with guitars and amps and such. Thank you.

[@jasin1441]

I will not buy another dean just like gibson. Schecter and ESP it is...

[@BadMotivator66]

the stealth shape is owned by the dimebag estate. and now dean's being sued by the dime estate for trying to trademark dime's shapes. ironic.

[@deadinsidemcgee411]

I want a machado stealth now

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

only if it has a double locking trem as looking at the string break at the nut to the tuning pegs on that gibson style headstock looks like it would have the usual gibson tuning stability issues if it didn't have a locking nut

[@deadinsidemcgee411]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 I want a Kahler hard tail bridge.

[@guitarforall]

such an underrated youtube channel, best content. keep up the great work .. you deserve thousands and thousands of subscribers and views

[@KingGrio]

I think Dean is scared because they know everyone wants whatever version of their guitars that doesn't have their horrendous headstock.

[@1337million]

Why not let Ibanez and Jackson in on the lawsuit gangbang for the 2012 Dimebag Concrete Sledge for the very similar upside down Ibanez headstock, and the shark fin inlays that are so common on Jacksons. While they're at it they can have a go on each other for the Dinky Pro MT 7 and the RGD71ALMS for being superstrats with beveled edges and having multiscale necks. Maybe Ibanez can get some action on ESP with the carved top superstrats RGA vs Horizon. Maybe Fender can finger ESP over the Snapper being too similar to the Stratocaster. And ultimately to finish it all off invite Schecter and Charvel so they'll all simultaneously bust a fat lawyer nut over their one common friend; The T-style body shape. It's ridiculous.

[@ashleyjohansson230]

Ive always wanted a dean cadillac but the heastock ruined it so bad, their dumb fork headstock thingy.

[@michaelbrand1173]

haha nice

[@narrow_pepsi]

Clicked on this thumbnail expecting Glenn Fricker, pleasantly surprised to see KDH

[@bryonkidder6199]

Without Darrell Abott, Dean Guitars wouldn't be in business today...lol

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

really what about Mustaine who endorsed dean till this year. same with MAB or Michael Amott. or Michael Shenker, Or leslie west or Jackie vincent or rusty cooley and brett michaels. funny thing when i see a small band anywhere i go in the country or see online and they have dean guitars it is rarely a dimebag model it is usually a V, Z or Cadillac

[@dylanlemke3057]

I own one Dean 7 string V, I love it and it is one of my easiest to play guitars. Not sure if I'll be purchasing anymore after this

[@myballzaremadeofcryztal3463]

I’ve never been much of a Dean fan but now I’m even less of a fan. This shit is absolutely ridiculous. They really need to ‘pick their battles’ and leave this poor guy alone. Fucking pathetic.

[@arvetemecha]

"Dear Armadillo Inc. shareholders, now I feel very ashamed as I own one of your former products. As long as you keep threatening "boutique" guitar owners and luthiers, I will never ever buy another product from you, and will advocate fellow guitarists to boycott your brand." :-)

[@sidneyslack7991]

Dean Does not own the right to the Stealth Dimes Estate Rita has gone after them as Dime designed them. Also Dean did not go after Washburn when they made the stealth and the D3. I have lost respect for Dean because I was friends with Dime. Also in American you have the right to make a guitar for personal use Dean should of never gone after the the owner of the guitar but the builder but I can build copies all day if I don’t sell them as the original like a Dean or Gibson.

[@terryosborne272]

That is correct Dime and Washburn made the Stealths, the Culprits and also Dime made the Razor Back even though he never used it.

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

dean didn't go after washburn back then because dean was practically out of business back then. when it comes to trademarks dimes estate and rita own shit. because in order to own a trademark you have to actually be or planning to be manufacturing and selling said item. to my knowledge in the last 17 years Dime's estate have not manufactured or sold guitars of those designs. and it could be argued that the razorback and stealth are just variations on the theme of the ml that dean have made since 1977. the only people that could possibly have a tiny chance of a trademark case against dean for the stealth would be washburn as they are the only other company that produced and sold that model before dean. so unless Rita cam come up with a Patent that was that was granted to Dimebag for those 2 designs. leagally speaking she won't have a leg to stand on and will be leaving court empty handed. seem's suspect to me that after over 17 years of dean holding those trademarks rita is only now claiming anything.

[@sidneyslack7991]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 you are wrong I am a luthier and designs can be trademarked. Dime designed them. I have friends that work at Dean and Dean has admitted that they trademarked Dimes Designs by mistake. Dean was in biz and making guitars while Dime was with Washburn. I was good friends with Dime so I know more then you do but I am not going to get into it as it hits me harder then I bet it does you.

[@stevepetersmusic9262]

@@sidneyslack7991 I never said they can't be trademarked i stated that to hold and to hold on to that trade mark you atually have to be trading using that trademark neither dime nor his estate ever did or had plans to do so. there are many cases where people have lost the right to hold a trademark because they were not trading. trademarks don't work like copyright. and if Dime did hold a trademark that would have ended when he died and it would be up to his estate to renew that trademark to protect it. Just look at Behringer they made a fortune exploiting that loop hole. yes dean was in business at the time Dime was with Washburn but were practically non existent on the US market at the time due to then marketing more to the Latin market. and we need to be fair and honest and say that the Stealth and the Razorback are variations on the theme of the ML that Dean had been making since 1977.

[@sidneyslack7991]

@@stevepetersmusic9262 dude most of the stuff you are talking about is not correct Sam Ash and Guitat Center carried Dean so did smaller stores. I had a 1998 Dean ML USA Custom. With regards to the trademark and copyrights I am not going to get in to it with you. But I will say I have been in the music Biz for over 35 years I have allot of friends that work at allot of the companies like Fender and Gibson. In my phone I have Artist I can call right now if I want to. So when you get in a discussion with someone make sure you know who you are taking to as you only know why you know and I am telling you your info is not 100% correct. Thank you for your comments but I am done with it I have stated the info I know is correct and can prove. By the way go read the law suite Rita filed.

[@Scott3x3x3]

seems very odd to me because the stealth body shape was made by washburn guitars first, back when dimebag was endorsed by them.....

[@Deca_dent1999]

Who tf even buys dean guitars anymore?

[@adamg.manning6088]

I appreciate the Les Paul copy on the wall for this video.

[@adamg.manning6088]

Oh shit, you actually mentioned it. Fair play.

[@patrickriarchy6054]

@@adamg.manning6088 I appreciate you not switching accounts to reply to yourself.

[@adamg.manning6088]

@@patrickriarchy6054 umm. I commented when I was one minute into the video. Then I had to do something around the house for ten minutes, after which I actually sat down to watch and the Ibanez was mentioned. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@patrickriarchy6054]

@@adamg.manning6088 I'm just messing with you

[@thomasconrad2630]

DEAN FOUND GUILTY OF TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT. Todays date...6/3/22.

[@thisdyingsoul76]

I would argue that you cannot go after a person who owns a lawsuit guitar for posting pics of said guitar. The owner of the trademark has to just accept that even if they successfully stopped the manufacturer from producing more of them, the ones prior to the lawsuit are out there.

[@cobaina9506]

hello

[@KDH]

Hi

[@martincabeza3008]

Greetings

[@keesketsers5866]

I'm sort of confused. Wasn't there a lawsuit in the past from Fender, where the judge decided that only the headstock shape could be seen as a trademarkable shape? Thats the reason there are thousands of strat and tele copies with slightly different headstocks. So.....as long as the headstock is different, they don't really have a case do they? Or is Fender just very easy on the competition??

[@livingabovethe12th]

Just imagine a world where ppl focused their energy on doing something useful. Dean gets bullied by Gibson and the Dime estate so dean has to go out to the playground at recess and find a smaller kid to pick on so they can look tough too. What a colossal waste of energy that could be focused on positivity and creativity. Now I have 2 gtr manufacturers on my no-fly list.

[@alanvalido2548]

Threaten a kid for owning a guitar with the same shape that they are currently being sued over themselves

[@axmnstrbnd]

Fantastic breakdown and perspective. It's insanity that this is even a thing.

[@warrior4949]

If I’m not mistaken, the Stealth originated with Washburn before Dime went back to Dean

[@McGheeOH]

you are correct sir dean is just sad at this point

[@mishaladara]

A Dean Flying V I picked up this guitar and it was f#cking amazing I asked the guitar shop guy why this particular guitar sounded better than a Jackson he said it was probably the end but I think he knows that there's no substitution. This was a truly amazing instrument. I am infatuated I have to own one

[@mishaladara]

Store shop guy said it was probably the amp. It's well put together like a Gibson but better it's a it's a truly amazing instrument

[@patrickleslie1991]

Excellent reporting. Keep up the good work KDH!

[@deanmlshredder]

The stealth was a Washburn before it was a Dean and Dimebag's estate owns it's TM. Along with the Razorback and Razorback V.

[@Axess-sv8nq]

By the way, KDH, what happened to your Glenn Fricker video? Did Glenn get you to take it down?