Crew, my apologies this did not arrive as usually scheduled at 7:15am Monday morning. It was there, but didn’t get delivered for whatever reason. Enjoy!
From disassembling electronics to repairing and flipping busted guitars Dean Zelinsky was employed by his local music store as a guitar “repairman” by the time he was 16.
Before he graduated high school Dean had a legit storefront repair shop, Doubleneck Dean Custom Guitars in Northbrook, IL. However, the repair shop wasn’t going to support the lifestyle Dean had in mind. He had to build guitars.
So...
By the time he was 19, Dean Guitars unveiled their first three models at the 1977 winter NAMM show.
Those models were the V, Z, and ML and started shipping in 1978. The first order he wrote at the show was for Jerry Ash (owner of Sam Ash Music). Three guitars, one of each model.
Later in 1978 Dean introduced the second of his original designs, the E’lite and Cadillac. Both featured a glued neck and a molded heel. It gets a little murky in this time frame too… whether or not the Cadillac landed at the same time, but it certainly appeared in rapid succession behind the E’lite if not in tandem.
There was also the Golden E’Lite that had similar higher-end options as the Cadillac and often the lines are blurred with a general reference to this body style as a Cadillac regardless of the truth.
However, without a doubt the Cadillac was the fanciest and sported a trio of Dimarzio humbuckers and 24-karat gold plated hardware.
1979 Dean Cadillac: Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Multi-ply fully bound, Ebony Fingerboard, Mother of Pearl Block Inlays, DiMarzio Super Distortion, Super II, and PAF pickups, Built-in pre-amp
Thanks for reading and have a great Wednesday! “See you” Friday!
Best, -David
Thanks. I love these history lessons.