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 psychedelic
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
its mahogany-slab and maple-cap construction.
Many DBZ instruments are very thin
and contoured, and the Cavallo represents
a very effective evolution of that design
philosophy—it’s one of the most comfortable
guitar bodies I’ve ever played.
The chrome-covered pickups are customwound
DBZ units controlled by a 3-way
selector switch and single Volume and
Tone knobs. The neck pickup is similar in
specification to standard PAF-style pickups,
with a moderate output of around 7.95
kilohms resistance and an alnico 5 magnet
for a sweet tone. The bridge position is a
different beast altogether, with a whopping
15.10 kilohms and high output. Not satisfied
with single-magnet construction, DBZ
designed this particular bridge pickup with
three ceramic magnets for added punch
and attack.
The 12"-radius mahogany neck is topped
with DBZ’s signature dual-horn headstock
and features an ebony fretboard and a
deep-carved heel that flows flawlessly into
the ornate body. The fretboard felt flawless,
and there were no pores, dimples, or visible
cracks, and the mother-of-pearl inlays—the
largest of which is a Mark of Zorro-like “Z”
at the 12th fret—were set with jeweler’s perfection.
Further, despite the Cavallo’s oversized
headstock, the balance was perfect
while standing up, and the
body’s rear contours were comfortably
snug against my midsection.
And the Cavallo’s smooth,
ergonomic feel didn’t stop at the
body. The neck’s soft, v-shaped
profile felt fantastic for chording
and lead work.
Fistful of Tone
To test the Cavallo, I rounded
up a Dave Friedman Naked
100-watt head and a Bogner
2x12 oversized cabinet and got
to work. One of the first things
I noticed was that, for such
drastically different resistance,
the pickups’ volume balance
was surprisingly even. With the
guitar’s aggressive looks, I’d
been expecting a fire-breathing
metal monster. But what I
heard was a surprisingly
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 persona.
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 refreshing
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.
Buy if...
you need a versatile, quality
instrument with PAF-style tones
and distinctive flair.
Skip if...
you prefer more traditional styling
or a large neck profile.
Rating...
