I have had strait up many Dean Guitars for years. When DBZ production guitars came out I bought a Bolero, Then the Dean Zelinsky Guitars came out and I am generally skeptical of direct-to-consumer business models, I would see that as just a marketing term. Mr. Zelinski raised his game yet a third time, now after having many multiple era orig Dean guitars and 1 DBZ. I thought I would not invest in another venture, after all how many guitars does a guy need... Well apparently 1 more. So at first sight I fell in love with the radical quilts that Mr. Zelinski was doing, and he had a new twist a Zglide neck. And my curiosity got the best of me so I ordered it. I was told it was going to be a bit over a month to fill the order... Ok I hoped it was worth the wait. On a whim I sent an odd request. Could Mr Zelinski personalize my guitar and sign it and write my name on the guitar I order. I got an email back the next day. No problem it will be done.... Ok so they actually care and really do read emails. This is great. About 5 days later they emailed me and said they had one Guitar that was planned else where and it did not go and it was the model I ordered and would I like that one because It would ship right away. I asked back for pix of the actual guitar so I could see the Quilt. No prob later that day just as promised multiple pix of that guitar show up in my email... It is beautiful.. You bet go for it and it was shipped right away. When I got the guitar right away I opened the box and the first thing I see is a way above class case. It was fab tweed like a high end fender with the spider logo, I open it up and it has a beautiful velour guitar cover like a Gibson High end case.. Mr Zelinski skipped no detail. And the Guitar fit like a glove! I was very impressed, I slip back the covers and just as promised was the thing of beauty from the pix, they are good for their word. First thing I do is pick it up and flip it to see the back of the head stock and it was personalized to me with the date! Ok all the boxes were checked for what meets the EYE, how does it sound and how does it feel. Ok it balanced great, no head stock dive. after playing about every BC Rich that was a plus. That Z neck is terrific and it is quite fast!!!! Ok another plus. The trem works like a champ,,, And DOES STAY TUNED.... Check that box. The set up perfect, this is not a Guitar center set up, that the second you get it, you need to hand it over to your favorite tech to actually set it up. Nope this guitar is still in tune from Zelinski to me. And with the string gauge I asked for. Why set it up and change the string gauge right away only to have to tweak your set up. Another point of detail. I start to look at the details like high-end hardware, locking tuners, great knobs, smooth pots, no crackle nut set up and material. Good Plug. It is basically flawless. Ok Looks Check, Feel check, set up Check, components check. But a guitar is only as good as it sounds.. The most fab looking guitar is still junk if it sounds like garbage. So into the mesa amp it goes. At first I thought it sounded fine,,,, In the neck position great,,, but the bridge pup was kinda thin! I was just about to kick my self for going with that single coil pups. I should have done the humbuckers.... I was just about to email with what is required to swap the bridge for a humbucker pup. I was working in the studio on a song I had written and frankly got side tracked in the studio... I had been having a hard time getting a guitar tone that would cut this thick milkshake of a mix, this track had a lot going on. So I grabbed my new tool, plugged it in and recorded that part... That single coil cut through that mix like a LAZER. The guitar was perfectly heard, every note, but not irritating. I had to do NO EQ. It was exactly the tool I needed. But My new Tagliare cut right through and cleaned up the whole vibe.... saved my mix, made my mix job easier. So if you think crap this is just a bit thin,,, befor you grumble, try it with other musicians or in the studio! This may be a tad thin for noodling alone. But when it is time to actually work and not noodle in the bedroom this monster COMES ALIVE. Over all this is one of my faves and will not cycle out and be traded off as other guitars have. She is a keeper.
