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| Young Dean Zelinsky |
His father, Robert Zelinsky, owned a company that manufactured custom industrial fasteners. When young Dean was only 12 years old his father was killed in a plane accident.
Dean had always been curious about how things work. He took apart radios, he even took apart a Gibson Flying Vee guitar and sawed it in half, hoping to make a better instrument.
After graduating from high school, Zelinsky got a job at local Chicago music stores repairing guitars and doing custom paint jobs. He had toured Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory and learned what he could about their process for building electric guitars.
In 1977 Dean started his own company building custom guitars. His first model was called ML. The initials were a tribute to his best friend, Matt Lynn, who had passed away from cancer when both were in high school.
This unique instrument combined the sharp lines of a Flying Vee and an Explorer. A number of well-known Rock and Metal players soon took up this instrument as their choice on stage.
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| ZZ Top Dean Guitars |
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| Dean Zelinsky |
Dean Zelinsky was only 20 years old when he started his company. Through his dealings with music stores, and well-known artists he became adapt at marketing his instruments.
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| 2004 Dean NAMM Booth |
Within a year at age 21 People Magazine did a story about him. To promote his guitars at NAMM shows, Zelinsky hired Playboy models to hang out at his booth.
In 2008 Zelinsky left Dean Guitars. By then corporate advisors had entered the scene, and Dean felt he could no longer be in control.
He sold his company, married a Playboy model, and had a family. He left to spend more time at home.
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| Elliot Robinson |
These artists included Dimebag Darrell, Leslie West, and Dave Mustaine.
After a 3 year absence, Zelinsky returned as a consultant in 2000 to design new instruments. Most notably was the “Razorback” guitar played by Dimebag Darrell Abbott.
In 2017, Robinson unexpectedly passed away. Control of the company went to his son Evan.
In preceding years, Dean continued to produce guitars in the USA, carving out a niche among the heavy metal guitar community, and diversifying into Asian-made budget instruments.
In 2019 Gibson Guitar filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Armadillo Enterprises/Dean Guitar inferring they had used Gibson’s proprietary shapes (the Vee, the SG, and the Explorer). In 2022 the court found in favor of Gibson, however Dean continued producing and selling these instruments.
Dean Guitars were found in contempt and ordered to pay $4,000 in damages, and the entire cost of Gibson’s legal fees, which amounted to well over $100,000.
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| Dimebag Estate vs Armadillo |
Evan Robinson left the company in 2022 leaving his mother in charge.
By 2023 Dean Guitars had a debt of 4 million dollars and filed for foreclosure.
Recently Dean Guitars filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The current owner is Pamela Keris-Robinson, mother of Evan.
Chapter 11 allows the company to create a plan for restructuring and settlement of its debts. You may recall Gibson Guitars, and Guitar Center filed for Chapter 11, and came back stronger. Dean Guitar sent a letter out to its dealers advising them that orders are being fulfilled and the company is sill in business.
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| Dean Zelinsky Private Label |
These are beautiful, well designed instruments, with remarkable features including the Z-Glide neck, and custom pickups. Price range is $2,200 to $7,000.
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only) 2026
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