Although maybe best-known as a player of Gibson Flying Vs, German guitarist Michael Schenker has recently switched allegiance to Dean Guitars.
Schenker, who is famous for his work with Scorpions, UFO and his own band the Michael Schenker Group, has a whole range of signature V-shaped guitars in the famous half-black, half-white finish which adorned all his old Gibsons.
These stretch from the lower-end bolt-neck model which can be found for under £300 to USA-built models costing upwards of £2000. We will start with the cheapest model in the Michael Schenker range.
Dean Michael Schenker Standard
• Michael Schenker Classic Black and White Finish
• Dean Series II Classic “V” Headstock
• Basswood Body
• Maple Neck
• Grover Tuners
• Bolt-on construction
• Suggested. Retail $499.99
Another model in Schenker’s series of guitars is the Schenker Custom, commonly selling for £700.
Dean Michael Schenker Custom
• Michael Schenker Classic Black and White Finish
• Schenker custom wound pickups “USA MADE”
• Dean Series II Classic “V” Headstock
• Mahogany Body and Neck
• Binding on Body and Neck
• Set Neck Construction
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Zebra Pickups
• Case Included
• Sug. Retail $1374.99
This next model is the recently released Flame V.
This guitar, also selling for about £700, has a variant of Schenker’s iconic finish, being half-black, half-white with flames in contrasting shades on either half of the body.
Dean Michael Schenker Flame V
• Mahogany Top / Body
• 24-3/4†Scale
• Set Mahogany Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Pearl Block Inlays
• Grover Tuners
• Nickel Hardware
• Tune-O-Matic Bridge
• USA Dean DMT Michael Schenker “Lights Out†Neck & Bridge Pickups
Now we come to Schenker’s USA-made models, which are available in the half-and-half finish and the flame finish, but there are some unique custom finishes, including the Schenker Brothers V, a natural finished V with a flame maple top and a laser-engraved graphic of Michael and his brother, Scorpions guitarist Rudolf.
Another is the limited-edition Yin Yang V, another natural finish model, but with the half-and half finish done by two contrasting woods. The white half of the top is made of maple, and the black half is made from ebony. The neck and fingerboard are also of the same woods, carrying on the half-and-half theme.
Here is the specification for the Yin Yang model.
• Mahogany Body
• Maple / Ebony Top
• 24-3/4†Scale
• Set Mahogany Neck
• Maple / Ebony Fingerboard
• Custom Yin Yang Inlays
• Grover Tuners
• Nickel Hardware
• Tune-O-Matic Bridge
• USA Dean DMT Michael Schenker “Lights Out†Neck & Bridge Pickups
• LIMITED EDITION – Only 50 to be produced worldwide.
Dean have long been renowned for the quality of their stock pickups found on their guitars, and they have recently turned to making their own pickups as aftermarket replacements. DMT (Dean Magnetic Technology) have made signature pickups for Leslie West, Michael Angelo Batio and Vinnie Moore, as well as a tribute pickup for Dimebag Darrell.
However, they also produce a signature pickup model for Schenker, the “Lights Out†unit. This pickup is available in bridge or neck position, or as a matched set.
The Lights Out is named for the UFO album on which Schenker played guitar, and is featured on most of his signature Deans.