This 2002 Dean ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top in Sunburst combines the unmistakable Dean ML body shape with the hot-rodded specification closely associated with Dimebag Darrell-inspired rock and metal playing.

Built around a mahogany body with flame maple top, set mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard, it uses the familiar short 24.75" scale, 22 jumbo frets and a locking Floyd Rose-style tremolo system.

The bridge position has been fitted with a Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker, a high-output ceramic humbucker developed with Dimebag Darrell and designed for aggressive attack, strong harmonics and exceptional definition under heavy gain.

Finished in a classic transparent Sunburst-style finish that allows the flame maple figuring to remain visible, this example is presented in Very Good Condition, weighs 7.96 lbs, and is supplied with a hardcase.

At A Glance

Detail	Specification
Brand	Dean
Model	ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top
Year	2002
Finish	Sunburst
Body	Mahogany
Top	Flame Maple
Neck	Mahogany
Construction	Set Neck
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Scale Length	24.75"
Frets	22 Jumbo
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker
Pickup Configuration	HH
Controls	2 Volume, 1 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Floyd Rose-Style Locking Tremolo
Tuners	Grover
Weight	7.96 lbs
Condition	Very Good
Included	Hardcase

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This Dean ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top is presented in Very Good Condition.

Under the Fair Deal Music grading system, Very Good Condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional and ready to play.

Given the age of the instrument, some light marks, hardware ageing and general signs of use are entirely reasonable.

What’s Included?

✔ Dean ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top
✔ Hardcase
✔ Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker Bridge Pickup
✔ Floyd Rose-Style Locking Tremolo System

No additional accessories are included unless pictured or stated.

The supplied hardcase has not been confirmed as the guitar’s original Dean case, so no claim of originality is made.

Condition Notes

• Very Good overall condition
• Flame maple top
• Sunburst finish
• Mahogany body
• Set mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker fitted in bridge position
• Floyd Rose-style locking tremolo
• Grover tuners
• 7.96 lbs actual measured weight
• Hardcase included

Pickup Modification Note

The bridge position is fitted with a Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker.

This is a highly desirable upgrade for players seeking the aggressive, harmonically rich bridge sound associated with Dimebag Darrell.

The SH-13 should be regarded as the guitar’s current bridge pickup specification rather than automatically assumed to be original factory equipment.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned Dean has been checked for general operation and playability.

Assessment includes:

• Bridge Dimebucker operation
• Neck pickup operation
• 3-way pickup selector
• Both volume controls
• Tone control
• Output jack
• Neck condition
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Fret condition
• Locking nut
• Floyd Rose-style tremolo
• Tremolo arm
• Tuning machines
• General hardware
• Structural condition
• Overall setup
• General playability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are checked for general setup and playability before leaving the shop.

Key areas assessed include:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Pickup operation
• Electronics
• Tremolo setup
• Hardware
• General playing feel

Changing string gauge or tuning substantially may require corresponding adjustment to the locking tremolo system.

What Makes The Dean ML ’79 Floyd Special?

The ML is one of Dean’s defining body shapes and became inseparably associated with Dimebag Darrell through his use of ML-style instruments throughout his career.

The ML ’79 concept revisits Dean’s late-1970s formula with a substantial mahogany construction, large V-shaped body and set neck, while the Floyd-equipped version adds the locking tremolo hardware required for more extreme lead techniques.

This flame-top example adds further visual character, while the fitted SH-13 Dimebucker pushes the guitar firmly towards aggressive modern rock and metal territory.

Mahogany Body

The body is constructed from mahogany.

Mahogany provides:

• Strong midrange
• Full low frequencies
• Good sustain
• Smooth treble response
• Excellent pairing with high-output humbuckers

It forms a substantial tonal foundation beneath the flame maple top.

Flame Maple Top

The guitar features a flame maple top beneath the transparent Sunburst finish.

The figured maple provides the guitar with a more premium appearance and creates the striped figuring visible across the face of the instrument.

Sunburst Finish

The transparent Sunburst-style finish allows the flame maple figuring to remain visible while giving the guitar the classic brown-to-amber look closely associated with many ML ’79 models.

The combination of:

• Flame maple
• Sunburst colouring
• Dean ML body shape

creates an appearance closely linked with the classic Dimebag aesthetic.

Set Mahogany Neck

The neck is constructed from mahogany and set into the body.

Set-neck construction provides:

• Strong neck-to-body coupling
• Good sustain
• Smooth upper-register access
• Traditional ML feel

Rosewood Fingerboard

The neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard.

It features dot-style position markers and a playing feel suited equally well to rhythm work and lead playing.

24.75" Scale Length

The guitar uses a 24.75" scale length.

This shorter scale provides slightly softer string tension than a typical 25.5" guitar and works particularly well for:

• Wide bends
• Vibrato
• Fast lead playing
• Heavy rock rhythm work

22 Jumbo Frets

The guitar uses 22 jumbo frets.

The larger fretwire suits:

• Lead playing
• Wide bends
• Vibrato
• Fast runs
• Heavy rhythm techniques

Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker

The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker.

Developed with Dimebag Darrell, the SH-13 uses:

• Ceramic magnet
• High-output design
• Blade-style pole pieces
• Four-conductor wiring

Its sound is characterised by:

• Very strong attack
• Tight bass
• Cutting upper mids
• Aggressive treble response
• Powerful harmonic content
• Excellent definition under heavy distortion

Dimebucker Bridge Tone

The SH-13 is particularly well suited to:

• High-gain rhythm
• Pinch harmonics
• Palm-muted riffs
• Fast alternate picking
• Lead playing
• Drop tunings
• Metal

It is deliberately brighter and more aggressive than a vintage-output humbucker.

Neck Humbucker

The guitar retains a neck-position humbucker for warmer tones and smoother lead sounds.

The exact neck pickup model has not been specified, so no unsupported model designation is assigned.

Three-Way Pickup Selector

The 3-way selector provides:

1. Bridge Pickup
2. Bridge + Neck Pickups
3. Neck Pickup

This gives the guitar more tonal flexibility than a single-pickup Dimebag-style instrument.

Dual Volume & Master Tone

The control layout uses:

• Neck Volume
• Bridge Volume
• Master Tone

This allows the two pickups to be balanced independently.

Floyd Rose-Style Locking Tremolo

The guitar is equipped with a double-locking Floyd Rose-style tremolo system.

This type of bridge is designed for:

• Dive bombs
• Pull-ups
• Wide vibrato
• Flutter effects
• Harmonic squeals
• Strong tuning stability

The locking nut and bridge work together to secure the strings during aggressive tremolo use.

Dimebag-Style Tremolo Techniques

A locking tremolo is central to many of the techniques associated with Dimebag Darrell.

It allows:

• Extreme downward pitch bends
• High-pitched harmonic pull-ups
• Rapid flutter
• Dramatic chord effects
• Wide lead vibrato

Grover Tuners

The guitar uses Grover tuning machines, a common feature of higher-specification Dean ML instruments.

They provide accurate tuning adjustment during setup and string changes.

Iconic ML Body Shape

The Dean ML combines elements of both V- and Explorer-style guitar design.

Despite its dramatic appearance, the lower body section creates a natural resting point for seated playing, while the extended body shape gives the instrument its unmistakable stage presence.

Dimebag Connection

The Dean ML became one of the guitars most strongly associated with Dimebag Darrell.

His use of ML-style guitars with:

• High-output bridge pickups
• Floyd Rose tremolos
• Extreme gain
• Harmonic-heavy lead techniques

helped turn the design into an icon of modern metal guitar.

This guitar’s SH-13 Dimebucker bridge pickup strengthens that connection considerably.

Weight

7.96 lbs

This is the actual measured weight of this individual guitar rather than a generic manufacturer figure.

For a large-bodied mahogany ML, it remains a very manageable weight.

Who Is It For?

Dimebag Darrell fans – The ML shape and SH-13 Dimebucker provide an unmistakable connection.

Metal guitarists – High-output pickup response and locking tremolo suit heavy playing exceptionally well.

Hard-rock players – Mahogany construction provides plenty of sustain and body.

Lead guitarists – Jumbo frets and locking tremolo suit aggressive solo techniques.

Collectors of early Dean reissues – Early-2000s ML ’79 models have developed a strong following.

Players who want a distinctive stage guitar – Few body shapes are as recognisable as the Dean ML.

Suitable Genres & Applications

Particularly well suited to:

• Heavy metal
• Groove metal
• Thrash metal
• Hard rock
• Classic metal
• Shred
• Heavy rock
• Alternative metal
• Technical lead guitar
• High-gain rhythm
• Studio recording
• Live performance

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Dean
Model	ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top
Year	2002
Finish	Sunburst
Body Shape	ML
Body Material	Mahogany
Top Material	Flame Maple
Neck Material	Mahogany
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Scale Length	24.75" / Approx. 629mm
Frets	22
Fret Size	Jumbo
Position Inlays	Dot
Pickup Configuration	HH
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker
Neck Pickup	Humbucker – Exact Model Not Specified
Electronics	Passive
Controls	2 Volume, 1 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Floyd Rose-Style Double-Locking Tremolo
Locking Nut	Yes
Tuners	Grover
Hardware	Chrome / Metal Hardware
Weight	7.96 lbs
Included	Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Vintage Specification Note

Dean ML ’79 specifications have changed across different production periods.

Later ML ’79 Floyd models can feature different:

• Pickups
• Neck profiles
• Tremolo systems
• Hardware finishes
• Production countries

This listing therefore avoids applying later-production specifications where they have not been verified on this individual 2002 guitar.

Production-Date Note

The guitar is identified as a 2002 instrument.

Published Dean reference material generally places the formal ML ’79 reissue line in the early 2000s, with catalogue documentation becoming clearer from 2003 onwards.

The 2002 date is retained for this individual guitar without implying that every later ML ’79 specification applies to it.

Dimebucker Modification Note

The Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker is fitted in the bridge position.

Because period ML ’79 Floyd guitars appeared with different stock pickup configurations, the Dimebucker is described as the guitar’s current pickup rather than claimed as original factory equipment.

Floyd Rose Setup Note

A double-locking tremolo responds to changes in:

• String gauge
• Tuning
• Spring tension
• Action

Significant changes may require the tremolo to be rebalanced and the guitar re-intonated.

Hardcase Note

A hardcase is included.

The supplied case has not been confirmed as the guitar’s original Dean hardcase, so no claim of originality is made.

Power Requirements

None.

The Seymour Duncan Dimebucker and neck humbucker are passive.

No battery or external power supply is required.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

This 2002 Dean ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top in Sunburst delivers exactly the combination that makes the ML platform so appealing to heavy-rock and metal players.

Its mahogany construction, flame maple top, set neck and short 24.75" scale provide a substantial, sustain-rich foundation, while the Floyd Rose-style tremolo opens the door to aggressive pitch effects and Dimebag-inspired lead work.

The fitted Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker is a particularly appropriate bridge pickup for this guitar, offering the cutting attack, strong harmonics and high-output response required for modern high-gain tones.

At 7.96 lbs, it remains manageable despite the large ML body shape.

Presented in Very Good Condition and supplied with a hardcase, this is a distinctive early-2000s Dean with a highly desirable Dimebag-oriented pickup upgrade.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Every pre-owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually assessed so its condition, modifications, measured weight and included accessories are represented clearly.

On this Dean:

• Very Good condition
• Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker bridge pickup
• 7.96 lbs actual measured weight
• Hardcase included
• Pickup modification clearly identified

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987
• Birmingham’s largest independent music store
• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews
• Expert musician-led advice
• Extensive experience with pre-owned electric guitars
• Pre-owned instruments individually assessed
• Clear condition grading
• Modifications clearly disclosed
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing guitar could help towards the cost of this Dean.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your current equipment could be worth towards this Dean ML ’79 Floyd Flame Top.

Frequently Asked Questions

What condition is this Dean ML ’79 in?

It is presented in Very Good Condition, showing cosmetic signs consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional.

What year is this guitar?

It is identified as a 2002 Dean.

What finish does it have?

It has a transparent Sunburst finish over a flame maple top.

What is the body made from?

The body is constructed from mahogany with a flame maple top.

What is the neck made from?

It uses a set mahogany neck.

What fingerboard does it have?

It has a rosewood fingerboard.

What is the scale length?

It uses an approximately 24.75" scale length.

How many frets does it have?

It has 22 jumbo frets.

What bridge pickup is fitted?

It has a Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker.

Is the Dimebucker original?

The SH-13 is confirmed as the guitar’s current bridge pickup, but it is not claimed as original factory equipment.

What does the Dimebucker sound like?

It is a high-output ceramic humbucker with tight bass, cutting upper mids, strong treble response and pronounced harmonics.

Was the Dimebucker designed for Dimebag Darrell?

Yes. The SH-13 was developed by Seymour Duncan with Dimebag Darrell.

What neck pickup is fitted?

The guitar has a neck humbucker, but the exact model has not been specified.

What controls does it have?

It uses two volume controls, one tone control and a 3-way pickup selector.

Does it have a Floyd Rose?

Yes. It uses a double-locking Floyd Rose-style tremolo system.

Is it suitable for dive bombs?

Yes. The locking tremolo is designed for wide pitch movement and aggressive tremolo techniques.

Does it have Grover tuners?

Yes.

How much does it weigh?

This individual guitar weighs 7.96 lbs.

Are the electronics active?

No. The pickups are passive.

Does it require a battery?

No.

Does it come with a case?

Yes. A hardcase is included.

Is the hardcase original?

The supplied hardcase has not been confirmed as the original Dean case.

Is this suitable for Pantera-style tones?

Yes. The ML design, locking tremolo and SH-13 Dimebucker make it especially well suited to aggressive high-gain and Dimebag-inspired playing.

Can I request a video demo?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo service is ideal if you would like to see the flame top and individual condition or hear the SH-13 Dimebucker before purchasing.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers trade-ins and part exchanges across a wide range of guitars and other musical equipment.