- Dean Razorback
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Dean Razorback 
Manufacturer Dean Guitars Period 2004 — present Construction Body type Solid Neck joint Set, Bolt on Woods Body Mahogany, Maple Neck Mahogany Fretboard Ebony, Rosewood Hardware Bridge Floyd Rose tremolo, string thru Pickup(s) 2 EMG, Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio Colors available Black, Black with outlines, Rust, Explosion, Slime Bumblebee, Rebel, Metallic Red, Metallic White, Metallic Black, Flametop, Camouflage, Skulls and Shards style The Dean Razorback is an electric guitar made by Dean Guitars. It is a variation of the Dean ML, and was designed by Dimebag Darrell shortly before his death.[1] The Razorback was at first a USA only model, but has recently begun to be sold as an import model, making it cheaper to buy. Dimebag Did have the chance to use the Razorback in a couple of live gigs, however his death came the night before he was scheduled to have a photoshoot with the "Rust Razorback" model, which was hand made by Dean Zelinsky, and the finish designed by Stephen Jensen.[2]
Due to significant sales of the Razorback, Dean put the Razorback V into production. The Razorback consists of a standard 'Flying V' shape, with the signature points of the Razorback on each of its legs; the Razorback also has the notable headstock, a recognizable feature of the Razorback range and Dean guitars.
Dimebag Darrell also insisted that a special Razorback should be made in the style of Eddie Van Halen's 'Frankenstrat' guitar; this was done, but the standard black, white and red Van Halen style guitar has remained in the Dean Museum at Dean HQ in the USA, the yellow design was given to Van Halen.
2007 saw the addition of three new Razorback designs; the Razorback DB, this is a model with different and lower quality equipment that is aimed for people who feel the Razorback is overpriced but still want the quality and design of a US Razorback, it has Dean pickups instead of the EMG or Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio on the Razorback, it does not have a licensed Floyd Rose or any tremolo, it has a bolt-on neck construction instead of the set-in construction of the Razorback, and is not made of the normal mahogany as is the Razorback; the Razorback 255 is very similar to the Razorback apart from the neck, the neck on the 255 has a 25.5 scale length neck which gives 24 frets and easy access to the higher notes; and the Razorback 7 is very similar in materials and equipment to the Razorback but it has 7 strings (B E A D G B E) instead of the standard 6 on the Razorback and most other guitars. Another trait of the razorback is the double edged razor on the 12th fret of the neck. Similar to Dimebag's necklace and the razor from the Judas Priest British Steel album.
One of the most notable Razorback players is Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde; his Razorback has the 'bullseye' finish his many Gibson Les Pauls (and Flying V) and Epiphone Les Pauls are famous for. Wylde also uses a Dean Split Tail with this design, as the Split Tail is seen as a cross between the standard Gibson SG shape and the 'Flyng V' shape used by many companies.
On January 19, 2008 Dean Guitars unveiled three new Razorback designs, one in tribute of the Pantera song "Cemetery Gates". Written across the body of the guitar are the words from the chorus: "will unlock my door, and pass the cemetery gates". Another is the 10,000th Commemorative Razorback in commemoration of ten thousand Razorbacks sold and features a diamond-plated steel finish. The third Razorback is a left-handed version of the Razorback Explosion.
Notable players
- Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damageplan) [3] (though he was never actually seen with the guitar onstage as it was released by Dean posthumously) He does play it in a few recorded videos however.
- Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
- Matt Heafy (Trivium) [4] Matt Heafy was notable of playing a white/gold U.S.A. made custom Razorback although this model has been made as a limited edition import model, there were approximately 24-48 made of these imported Razorbacks.
- Glen Alvelais (Tenet, Forbidden, Testament)
- Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
- Alex Nunez (Black Tide)
- Edsel Dope (Dope)
- Jonas Kjellgren (Scar Symmetry)
- Dave Rolls
See also
References
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