Image: SidPhillips, CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Dean Z
| Category | Strings (electric guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | electric guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q5246573 |
Overview
The Dean Z is an angular electric guitar from Dean Guitars, with a body silhouette derived from the . Introduced in the late 1970s, the Z belongs to the first generation of Dean designs — alongside the Dean V and the Dean ML — that established the company’s reputation for Gibson-inspired angular shapes aimed at hard-rock and metal players.
Origin & History
When Dean Zelinsky founded Dean Guitars in 1976, Gibson had only recently reissued the Flying V and Explorer after years during which both were considered commercial failures. Zelinsky saw an opening for high-quality, high-output variants of those angular designs. The Z updated the Explorer silhouette with Dean proportions and Dean’s distinctive V-shaped headstock, paired with through-neck or set-neck construction and high-output humbucking pickups. The model has been produced intermittently since, with both US-built custom-shop instruments and imported budget variants.
How It’s Played
The Z plays like a stage rock guitar optimised for high gain and sustained notes. Its mahogany body and set-neck or through-neck construction yield thick sustain, while high-output humbuckers push amplifiers easily into saturation. The angular body is less comfortable for seated playing than a contoured Stratocaster but balances well on a strap.
Cultural Significance
Together with the V and ML, the Z helped establish Dean’s identity as an American maker of Gibson-inspired angular guitars at a time when Gibson itself was relatively cautious about its own angular catalogue. The Z’s direct lineage with the Explorer has kept it visible as a hard-rock alternative to the Gibson original.
Related Instruments
- – the angular ancestor
- Dean V – Dean’s V-shape sibling
- Dean ML – Dean’s combined V/Explorer design
- Dean Razorback – Dean’s Dimebag Darrell signature
- – another Explorer-inspired metal guitar
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Z the same as a Gibson Explorer?
No — it is Dean’s own interpretation of the Explorer silhouette, with distinct proportions and headstock.
What players are associated with the Z?
A rotating roster of hard-rock and metal artists over the decades; the model has never had a single dominant signature player.
Image: White Dean 79 Z 2, photo by SidPhillips, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
