Re: Dave Mustaine dropped the ESP endorsement!
Dean certainly is the endorsement "whore" right now. Whether its modern metal acts like trivium or "has-beens" like Schenker & West or "on the edge of being a has-been" like Cantrell. I could see them offering Dave big bucks. The Dime thing is played out, and IMO has been in rather poor taste. I'm not a fan of Dime or his music, but it's obvvious in life and in death he's a big influence, and they really are raping his legacy for all it's worth. When you have a dozen different import models and as many USA versions..that's (IMO) disrespectful to the guy and taking advantage of the fans. Then again, if the fans are OK with it, then..who am I to say it's a bad thing? :shrug:
Dean could do it..he'd be able to get an equally top notch instrument as his ESPs/Jackson with the Dean USA custom shop, and samick or whomever could pump out the MIK/MIC versions, and IME they are the best MIK imports out there for the $. It would be a win/win for everyone (i.e the Fans, Dave, and Dean).
But Dean himself has always preferred the Gibson style instrument, and when Super Strats came into vogue that was one of the reasons he sold off to Tropical. He didn't care much for the trend at the time. Though I don't believe Dean Z has that kind of say anymore in the company...at least not to that degree. IDK tho.
Though it appears Dean is "raping" Dime's memory and image for profits, I have to disagree....
There is a video on the Dean web site of Dime backstage with Dean Zelinsky, where Dime is glorifying Dean guitars, telling how much they've meant to him, they were his first guitar, he played them for years, and he was happy to be back with the original maker. Each of the new Dime designs that have come out were designed by Dime before his death- there were sketches by Dime to prove it. He was mostly interested high quality in the middle and low budget guitars so young guitarists could have quality affordable instruments.
Dime was impressed with the Dean '79 series since they played better than his USA made Washburns. Dime wanted the huge Dean line in his name- he had their logo tattooed on his arm, there's the video I mentioned, I beleive Dean is doing just what Dime would have wanted.
That being said, of course Dean has to get some new, more relevant endorsers, but again, so does Peavey after EVH left (the guitar line, their amos are doing fine). I go on their web site and I'm not impressed by the endorser list, and most of their endorsers aren't loyal either. Cantrell still plays his G&L's, Rudolph Schenker played Gibsons and Dommenget, and soon Leslie West will be back to a Les Paul Jr.
I've played USA and Korean made Deans, the USA models are every bit, if not better than PRS, and the Korean guitars have been better setup and better built than every new Gibson Flying V's and Explorers I've played. They make a great guitar for the money.
