Looks like Dean is done?

[Thumpin6string]

Other than the neon green firewood basses Dean has collecting dust in every Guitar Center, do they have anything else for bass players?

The body on my Frankenfretless came from a Dean and is definitely not firewood.

 

[Against Will]

According to the lawsuit, the Dean name is licensed to Armadillo, from a separate company owned by the son. So it is entirely feasible that even if Armadillo goes under they could find another person willing to license it. What that will look like, however, is anyone's guess.

 

[J Wilson]

I often think there's a course in Marketing that's waiting to be outlined and taught in Business Schools in how brand names and identity carry through many ups, downs, change of ownership and yet the brand rep barely changes.

Of course, this doesn't happen only in the musical instrument business but across many consumer labels, but interesting to see how new owners of a known name either build on it or wreck it or just kind of slog along.

 

[Bass Ape]

Not that Dean has had anything to do with the Brand for many many years. The founder now runs a small boutique shop and has a pretty cool neck design. He only builds guitars, but I keep checking to see when he releases his first bass build.

Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars | Buy Factory Direct, Z-Glide Neck

 

[roccobass]

From Guitar World
The fate of Dean Guitars hangs in the balance as Armadillo faces demands to surrender all equipment and inventory – inside the Succession-esque drama determining the future of the US guitar brand

Rest of article:
The fate of Dean Guitars hangs in the balance as Armadillo faces demands to surrender all equipment and inventory – inside the Succession-esque drama determining the future of the US guitar brand

The top of my head blew off reading the article and just trying to sort this all out!
.

 

[B-Mac]

Not that Dean has had anything to do with the Brand for many many years. The founder now runs a small boutique shop and has a pretty cool neck design. He only builds guitars, but I keep checking to see when he releases his first bass build.

Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars | Buy Factory Direct, Z-Glide Neck

Old news. These are assembled in USA not made in USA. Zelinsky, besides starting Dean in 1977 and selling Dean to Oscar Mederios in ‘87 also was hired by Elliot Rubinson from 1998 to 2007 after Rubinson bought Dean in ‘97.

Zelinsky was also involved in DBZ starting in 2008. Zelinsky left DBZ (which I believe became diamond guitars) and started Zelinsky Private Label in 2012. He did make a bass called ‘the Mule Bass’
Dean Zelinsky Guitars Mule Bass Review

 

[roccobass]

I often think there's a course in Marketing that's waiting to be outlined and taught in Business Schools in how brand names and identity carry through many ups, downs, change of ownership and yet the brand rep barely changes.

Of course, this doesn't happen only in the musical instrument business but across many consumer labels, but interesting to see how new owners of a known name either build on it or wreck it or just kind of slog along.

Back in the 70s, I seem to remember at my local JC, they offered courses on Music Business and Music Marketing. Wish I’d taken them.

 

[Bass Ape]

Wow thanks. I didn't realize he made a bass. I played a DBZ axe and it it felt amazing.

 

[Nuage420]

I bought a Hillsboro used frim GC and it was a pretty sweet bass, but nothing phenomenal. Some brands can die out and that's ok.

 

[watspan]

love my Czech-built Dean Edge 4 Improv!

"DEAN EDGE IMPROV 4 EUROPEAN CUSTOM SELECT 4 STRING BASS

Very RARE bass designed by Dean Zelinsky (Early 1990's production-only available for a few years) and handcrafted in the Czech Republic by the same Luthiers who manufactured all of the mid to late 1990's Stuart Spector NS4-CRFM bases (aka= "Euro" series) AND the MTD (Michael Tobias Designs): "Grendel" and "Beast" basses (pre Kingston series)."

 

[Nuage420]

Do I have this right... the guy is suing his mom? Or is she like an evil stepmom?
Whatever happens I hope when all the dust settles the employees still have jobs.

I don't think she is the evil one, the son took over while it was struggling and decided to buy himself exotic sports cars and embezzle money.

 

[B-Mac]

love my Czech-built Dean Edge 4 Improv!

"DEAN EDGE IMPROV 4 EUROPEAN CUSTOM SELECT 4 STRING BASS

Very RARE bass designed by Dean Zelinsky (Early 1990's production-only available for a few years) and handcrafted in the Czech Republic by the same Luthiers who manufactured all of the mid to late 1990's Stuart Spector NS4-CRFM bases (aka= "Euro" series) AND the MTD (Michael Tobias Designs): "Grendel" and "Beast" basses (pre Kingston series)." View attachment 5195507

Just a correction. You got the time line wrong. These were not available until late 90’s after ‘97 when Elliot Rubinson bought Dean from Oscar Medeiros (Tropical Music Era of Dean). Rubinson hired Dean Zelinsky in ‘98 as a consultant. Zelinsky stayed until ‘07. Zelinsky wasn't involved in anything 'Dean' from '87 to '97.

The Select series made in Czech Republic are simply awesome.
Here’s some Catalog Info

The Euro Select Series didn't appear until the 1999 catalog

2000-2001 catalog

2001 Catalog

There was a Select, Custom and Custom PZ (no Improv) in the ‘98 catalog but they didn’t have the ‘filled in headstock’ and weren’t made in the Czech Republic (Made in South Korea).

1998 Catalogs

 

[Space Pickle]

i'll be back when i can think of a good dean pun

 

[J Posega]

i'll be back when i can think of a good dean pun

Can't de(a)ny a good pun.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'll be surprised if the Dean name survives this. The ddrum name might be worth a partial purchase to someone, but only if the amount is right.

 

[wintremute]

If Dean survives, I think they should come out with a new model and call it "Firewood".

 

[watspan]

Just a correction. You got the time line wrong. These were not available until late 90’s after ‘97 when Elliot Rubinson bought Dean from Oscar Medeiros (Tropical Music Era of Dean). Rubinson hired Dean Zelinsky in ‘98 as a consultant. Zelinsky stayed until ‘07. Zelinsky wasn't involved in anything 'Dean' from '87 to '97.

The Select series made in Czech Republic are simply awesome.
Here’s some Catalog Info

The Euro Select Series didn't appear until the 1999 catalog
View attachment 5195566 View attachment 5195567 View attachment 5195568

2000-2001 catalog
View attachment 5195572 View attachment 5195573

2001 Catalog
View attachment 5195634

There was a Select, Custom and Custom PZ (no Improv) in the ‘98 catalog but they didn’t have the ‘filled in headstock’ and weren’t made in the Czech Republic (Made in South Korea).

1998 Catalogs
View attachment 5195628 View attachment 5195629 View attachment 5195630 View attachment 5195631 View attachment 5195632 View attachment 5195633

great info!

 

[hrodbert696]

According to the lawsuit, the Dean name is licensed to Armadillo, from a separate company owned by the son. So it is entirely feasible that even if Armadillo goes under they could find another person willing to license it. What that will look like, however, is anyone's guess.

This. Unless I misread the article, Dean isn't a company that could fail. It's a brand, that this Armadillo company owns. If the owners default, presumably what will happen is that the company will have to sell off its assets, some of which are the brand names they own. So someone else will wind up owning the Dean brand, and can continue making instruments under it if they wish.

 

[B-Mac]

great info!

 

[abarson]

Not that Dean has had anything to do with the Brand for many many years. The founder now runs a small boutique shop and has a pretty cool neck design. He only builds guitars, but I keep checking to see when he releases his first bass build.

Dean Zelinsky did release the Mule bass, decent reviews but I guess sales haven't been spectacular.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Dean Zelinsky Guitars Mule Bass Review - Premier Guitar