In the mid-90s when the top bands of the day were Nirvana and Green Day, I was just getting into metal music, and had briefly heard the Pantera cover track on the 'alternative-metal' The Crow soundtrack album and wanted to hear more of this energetic band's music. With a week's allowance saved up, I went to the store and chose the album with the most intriguing cover, Cowboys From Hell. Checked out the tape inlay.. guitars- Diamond Darrell. Popped in the cassette, and... Even to newbie ears it was clear this guy was a cut above the rest. Groovy yet tight, harsh yet melodic, all at the same time. The impact of this record on the 90s metal scene in general cannot be understated, much less to the brain of a newbie metal fan. Vinnie Paul's metallic drum sound changed the game forever, Phil's vocals bringing it to another level, and Rex... well, whatever. I guess every Pantera fan has had a similar moment. Still their very best album in my opinion. Of course the metal masterclass that was Vulgar Display of Power soon followed, and the live Monsters in Moscow video which was another classic, and by then really, their place in history was already cemented.
Unlike many other rock stars, Dime by all accounts, was a really nice guy. It's impossible to come across any unkind comments made by anybody at all about him aside from Phil & Rex. The tragic event of his murder by a crazed assassin was as shocking as the death of John Lennon, to the heavy metal world. One of those moments you surely remember where you were when you first heard about it. For a deeper insight into the man and his last days I would recommend the book, A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa by Tom Armold. It will bring a tear to your eye. Rex Brown's book on the other hand, pretty much puts down the Abbott Bros as bumbling goofballs and paints himself as a humble jazz maestro who was the secret to Pantera's success, so go figure if you need to read that one or not.
Unlike many other rock stars, Dime by all accounts, was a really nice guy. It's impossible to come across any unkind comments made by anybody at all about him aside from Phil & Rex. The tragic event of his murder by a crazed assassin was as shocking as the death of John Lennon, to the heavy metal world. One of those moments you surely remember where you were when you first heard about it. For a deeper insight into the man and his last days I would recommend the book, A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa by Tom Armold. It will bring a tear to your eye. Rex Brown's book on the other hand, pretty much puts down the Abbott Bros as bumbling goofballs and paints himself as a humble jazz maestro who was the secret to Pantera's success, so go figure if you need to read that one or not.
Edwards Dime Far Beyond Driven
Probably late-90s to early 2000s Edwards by ESP Dimebag FBD model. As we are aware Edwards made the lightning bolt model on and off over the years for the Japan market without much due respect for trademark issues. Here is a rarely seen, off-catalog flametop tobacco finish. I don't know why this fan favourite is referred to as the 'Far Beyond Driven' guitar as he was certainly using it well before that album, at least as early as 1992. Edwards artist model copies generally do not disappoint quality-wise, and this epic recreation is no exception. The flametop is tight and grainy and is equipped with an original Floyd Rose, and has been upgraded with Bill Lawrence and Seymour Duncan pickups.
Edwards Dime EP-129DD
Commonly and wrongly referred to as the EP-90 (which is the black one), the lightning bolt style model was released sporadically throughout the mid to late-90s. There appears to have been 2 distinct iterations. The earlier style with ESP tuners, TRS101 bridge, and thinner tapered lightning bolts. The later style though equipped with Floyd Rose original, has markedly inferior graphics i.e. thick clumsy lightning bolts, and no neck binding!
notes on the Washburn USA Dime 3
Man, these are hard to find today. Those who are curious but less inclined to scrutinizing the gamut of Dime guitars may be wondering why the old Washburn USA Dimebag models are more sought after and expensive than any of the Dean models they are based on, and that are still continuously available from Dean today. Well, I guess I've just answered the question. While the Washburns generally had a high quality feel due in part to the presence of famed designer Grover Jackson and a world famous custom shop in the company at the time, Dean has been flooding the market nonstop after Dime's death with all kinds of model variations in his name. Most of them low quality China/Indonesia made imports. Though this in itself is no reason to disparage all Dean product, in fact from a simply business point of view they might be complimented on their market segmentation strategy or whatever, but then they committed a cardinal sin in re-releasing a supposedly limited-edition USA guitar in the Dean From Hell. This dick move ensured that their high-end guitars would never hold their value and afforded the company zero credibility with Dimebag collectors from that point forward.
These Washburn Dimes actually didn't sell all that well over the years before his death because it was so distinctly identifiable with one person, that if you had one it was pretty obvious who you liked and the style of music you played. So there weren't really that many made, and now that he has passed on to icon status it has become a badge of honour for fans to own one. I was also lucky to obtain a highly-treasured signed backplate and promo photo.
Here are some pics of previously owned Washburn D3s for reference.
These Washburn Dimes actually didn't sell all that well over the years before his death because it was so distinctly identifiable with one person, that if you had one it was pretty obvious who you liked and the style of music you played. So there weren't really that many made, and now that he has passed on to icon status it has become a badge of honour for fans to own one. I was also lucky to obtain a highly-treasured signed backplate and promo photo.
Here are some pics of previously owned Washburn D3s for reference.
Washburn Custom Shop Dime3SC Southern Cross
Washburn Dime 3-FL 'Inferno'
