PRODUCT REVIEW
DBZ
Peacemaker
Cavallo V
Dean Zelinsky might not be a household name among guitar nuts. But the company he
started in 1976, Dean Guitars, is familiar to anyone who’s tracked the development of
the electric guitar over the last 30 years. Zelinsky’s creations—undoubtedly some of
the most visually striking guitars ever built—have been played by high-profile guitar
heroes including Billy Gibbons, Michael Schenker, Elliot Easton, and the late, great
Dimebag Darrell.
After leaving Dean, Zelinsky started DBZ Guitars. His aim was to build highly
individual instruments with a custom feel—but in numbers that would make
them more widely available to players. Since then, DBZ has created guitars
ranging from relatively traditional (but luxuriously appointed) axes to designs
that could fairly be called otherworldly. One of DBZ’s latest, the Peacemaker
Cavallo, sits somewhat in the middle of this spectrum. It combines the basic
V body style that Zelinsky has favored over the course of his career with
stylistic elements that manage to seem timeless and radical all at once.
Saddle Up!
There’s always a rush of anticipation that comes with popping open a
new guitar case, and the 24 3/4" scale Cavallo is not a letdown. The
incredible, intricate etching on its maple top simultaneously evokes
Old West leatherwork and the spooky art of H.R. Geiger, and it’s
impeccably cut with absolute precision. Both of wings of the V
feature a snakeskin-like dimple pattern, and I was extremely
impressed to note that each one of the hundreds of bumps was
rolled off and smooth to the touch. In a way, the design is in
the spirit of cowboy guitars of the ’50s or Clapton’s psyche-
delic SG, where each small section of the guitar tells a story.
But while the whole instrument is an eyeful, I was astounded to see that it weighed in at only 6 1/2 pounds—despite
