Darrell Abbott, aka Dimebag Darrell, was associated with Dean guitars through most of his career, starting as a hotshot contest guitarist in his home state of Texas and continuing for over 20 years (1981-2003) with the heavy metal band Pantera.

Washburn’s growing reputation as a maker of heavy metal guitars was enhanced considerably when Dimebag Darrell switched his allegiance in 1996.

Washburn made nine different “Dime” models with body shapes based on a Flying V or a four-point star. The cherry stain finish on this 1999 model, the Dime Culprit, has one of the series’ more subdued treatments; others featured green slime and lightning-bolt finish effects. Dimebag also had his own special humbucking pickups, called Dimebuckers made by the Seymour Duncan company.

In December 2004, just a few months after he renewed his association with Dean guitars, Dimebag Darrell was shot dead onstage at a concert in Columbus, OH. In 2004, Dean put a new line of Dimebag tribute guitars into production.