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Dean Dave Mustaine Vehement £269
When Dean met Dave, metal happened
Total Guitar, Wed 23 Jan 2008, 12:24 pm UTC
Dean Zelinsky's hand was on the bandsaw when Dime created the Razorback and the luthier's talent for getting hellraising metallers to knuckle down and deliver the goods continues with Mustaine's beast.
The lowdown
If you've got Dave's face tattooed on your kneecaps, you'll want the USA Vehement at £3,439 – or at least the Korean version for £799. Those who just 'quite like Megadeth' will be satisfied with this Chinese equivalent, which slashes the price to £269, but doesn't suck the blood from the spec.
In use
Mustaine proudly proclaimed that he designed the Vehement shape himself, but it's not so far removed from other V-style electrics, albeit with cool 'notches' that give the basswood body the look of a barbed arrow. We expected something more from the most outrageous man in metal.
Things get better fast when you pick up the Vehement though. As the only Dean model to feature the thin-as-a-broomstick neck profile specified by Mustaine, this is an absolute belter for technical play and equally satisfying for thrash rhythms at the bottom end.
It's inevitable that the Seymour Duncan LiveWires of the US model are AWOL, but these own-brand humbuckers were enough to seal the deal - supplying a thick and complex tone that'll hit you like a right hook from the big man himself. You'd have to be (ahem) mega-deaf not to appreciate this.
Verdict
The best of the big four.
MusicRadar rating:
Where to buy
Buy similar products from Andertons Music Company
Buy product from Thomann
Buy similar products from Wood Brass
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User comments (18)
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Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
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Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
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Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
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Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
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Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
-
Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
-
Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
-
Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
-
Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
-
Could someone please tell me if this guitar is the same as the VMNTX bolt on?
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MusicRadar rating
Pros
Great thrash sounds. Superb ultra-thin neck.
Cons
Not the most radical design.
Verdict
The best of the big four.
Review Policy
All MusicRadar's reviews are by independent product specialists, who are not aligned to any gear manufacturer or retailer. Our experts also write for renowned magazines such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music, Future Music and Rhythm. All are part of Future PLC, the biggest publisher of music making magazines in the world.
User rating
Where to buy
Buy similar products from Andertons Music Company
Buy product from Thomann
Buy similar products from Wood Brass
Specification
Dave Mustaine Vehement
- Price:
- £269
- Available Controls:
- 2 x Volume, 3-way Pickup Selector, Tone
- Available Finish:
- Metallic Silve, Classic Black
- Bolt-on Neck:
- true
- Fingerboard Material:
- Rosewood
- Guitar Body Material:
- Basswood
- Hardware:
- Black
- Inlays:
- Dot
- Neck Material:
- Maple
- Pickup Type:
- 2x Dean-designed open humbuckers
Ozzie987
Sun 13 Dec 2009, 9:19 pm UTC
User rating 4 of 5