Peacemaker Cavallo V DBZ
versatile, organic, and full-bodied tone. It could hang with
the heaviest rock riffing that I could muster, too, but it really
excelled at fluid lead playing and slower, more refined
melody work. The midrange output of the pickups gives
the guitar excellent tonal balance, with highs that are less
spiky than you’d expect in a guitar of this style and a
full—but not muddy—bottom end. Imagine the natural,
assertive vibe of Warren DiMartini’s guitar tone, rather
than the harder, more acerbic nature of Kerry King’s,
and you have some idea of this guitar’s tonal per-
sona. Lower-gain blues work also sounded and felt
great to play on the Cavallo. It’s almost as if DBZ
were giving props to Albert King, who helped
make the V shape famous.
The Verdict
For many players, the V style is an acquired
taste. And even though the design dates
back over 50 years ago, it still puts off a
lot of players who are quick to associate
it with metal guitar gods. So it’s refresh-
ing that DBZ’s Peacemaker Cavallo breaks
out of that mold. The tones are superb,
and the balanced, lightweight construction
makes it a joy to play. For players looking
to break away from the pack with panache,
it’s a top-quality and expressive instrument
that delivers a thrill every time you take it
out of the case.
Rating:
you need a versatile, quality
instrument with PAF-style tones
and distinctive flair.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you prefer more traditional styling
or a large neck profile.
DBZ Guitars
Street $3999
dbzguitars.com
or use a mobile
device to read
this QR code
to watch a video
review of the
guitar at
premierguitar.com/oct2010
