Dean Ml Guitar article
Common Dean Ml Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
The V shape and locking hardware create specific ways to get a Dean ML guitar wrong. Here are the mistakes I see most often, and how to sidestep them.
The Dean ML's V-shaped body and locking hardware make it a genuinely great guitar, but they also create a specific set of ways people manage to buy the wrong one, set it up badly, or damage it without realising. I've pulled together the mistakes I see most often — some obvious once you know them, some genuinely easy to walk right into.
1. Buying on Looks Alone
The V shape is striking, and it's tempting to buy the first one you see purely because it looks brilliant on the wall. But specifications vary enormously across the range — bolt-on versus set neck, fixed bridge versus Floyd Rose, budget pickups versus Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio units. Two guitars that look almost identical can play and sound very differently. Check the actual spec sheet against what you need, not just the silhouette.
2. Ignoring Floyd Rose Maintenance
A Floyd Rose tremolo is brilliant for dive-bombs and pitch effects, but it isn't a "fit and forget" bridge. Skip proper maintenance and you'll end up with a guitar that won't hold tune, springs that are out of balance with your string gauge, or a locking nut that's been over-tightened and damaged. A common related error is changing string gauge or tuning without rebalancing the spring tension in the tremolo cavity first — the bridge will pull out of level almost immediately, and you'll spend longer chasing the symptom than it would have taken to do the adjustment properly. If you're not prepared to learn how the system actually works, a fixed-bridge model will make your life considerably easier — our complete buyer's guide explains the trade-off in full.
3. Assuming Graphics Prove Authenticity
Dimebag-style graphics, signature artwork or a "USA" label in a listing description don't automatically mean the guitar is what it claims to be. Genuine provenance is established through the headstock branding, the serial number, and any original case or certificate that comes with it — not through how convincing the finish looks in photos. Treat unverifiable claims with real scepticism, especially on the secondhand market.
4. Overlooking Neck and Joint Wear When Buying Used
The sharp points of the ML's body and the neck joint underneath them are worth inspecting closely on any used guitar. Look specifically for:
- Cracks or stress marks around the neck joint or body points
- A neck that isn't straight, or a truss rod with no adjustment left
- Fret wear concentrated where bends happen most, usually the first several frets
- Non-original pickups, tuners or hardware that suggest undisclosed repairs
None of these are automatic dealbreakers, but they should affect the price you're willing to pay, and a seller who's cagey about answering questions on them is a warning sign in itself.
5. Using the Wrong String Gauge for Your Tuning
The ML's typical 24¾-inch scale (24⅝ inches on some USA models) already runs slightly lower tension than a longer-scale guitar strung the same way. Drop the tuning further without adjusting gauge, and strings can start to feel floppy, buzz against the frets, or lose clarity — particularly on the lower strings. If you're tuning down regularly, a heavier gauge than you'd use in standard tuning keeps things playable and in tune. It's a genuinely easy mistake to repeat, too — plenty of players change tuning for a new song, notice the strings feel loose, and blame the guitar rather than the mismatch between gauge and tuning.
6. Underestimating the Ergonomics
New buyers often don't think through how the shape behaves off stage. The pointed lower horn doesn't rest naturally across the leg while seated, and the wings make the guitar more awkward in tight spaces — a small practice room, the back seat of a car, or a crowded rehearsal space. None of this makes the ML a bad choice, but it's worth trying one seated, with a strap, before you commit, rather than being surprised by it once it's home. Beginners in particular should read our beginner's guide to the Dean ML guitar before their first purchase.
Avoiding These Mistakes Overall
Most of these come down to the same underlying habit: check the actual specification and provenance of the specific guitar in front of you, rather than assuming the name "Dean ML" guarantees a fixed set of features. Our guide to the Dean ML guitar covers how the range is actually structured, and if you're deciding which price tier to buy into, our roundup of the best models for the money is worth a read too.
The Bottom Line
None of these mistakes are complicated to avoid once you know they exist — they mostly come down to slowing down, checking the spec sheet properly, and not taking a seller's word for anything you can verify yourself. Do that, and a Dean ML guitar is a genuinely reliable, striking instrument that'll hold up for years.
Comments