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Description

For musicians seeking an electric guitar that seamlessly blends style with performance, the Dean MKH Signature Guitar is an excellent choice. Designed in collaboration with renowned guitarist Matt Heafy, this solid body electric guitar offers exceptional playability and a sound that's both powerful and versatile, making it perfect for a range of musical genres.

The Dean MKH Signature Guitar features a mahogany body paired with a set-in mahogany neck, providing a rich resonance and sustain. The rosewood fingerboard enhances the guitar's tonal depth, while the 22 jumbo frets offer superior action for both rhythm and lead playing. Equipped with EMG 81 and 85 active pickups, this guitar delivers a high-output sound that's perfect for heavy riffs and intricate solos.

The black hardware adds a sleek, modern touch to its aesthetic, complementing the instrument's overall design. On the technical side, the guitar comes with Grover tuners for reliable tuning stability and a Tune-O-Matic bridge for precise intonation. Whether you're performing on stage or recording in the studio, the Dean MKH Signature Guitar provides the reliability and sound quality that professional musicians demand.

Key Features:

  • Mahogany body and set-in mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets
  • EMG 81 and 85 active pickups
  • Grover tuners for stable tuning
  • Tune-O-Matic bridge for precise intonation
  • Black hardware for a modern look
Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

Trivium's Matt Heafy Signature Dean Guitar

Video thumbnail for Trivium's Matt Heafy Signature Dean Guitar by Premier Guitar

Trivium's Matt Heafy Signature Dean Guitar

Premier Guitar

Premier Guitar

Video thumbnail for TRIVIUM new DEAN GUITARS SIGNATURE 2008 by DeanFan72

TRIVIUM new DEAN GUITARS SIGNATURE 2008

DeanFan72

DeanFan72

Video thumbnail for Dean Trivium Signature Guitars  -  MKH and CBV1122 by Guitar Gear Guy

Dean Trivium Signature Guitars - MKH and CBV1122

Guitar Gear Guy

Guitar Gear Guy

Video thumbnail for Trivium Dean Signature Guitars In Stock at Neal's Music by RJ Blaze

Trivium Dean Signature Guitars In Stock at Neal's Music

RJ Blaze

RJ Blaze

Video thumbnail for Dean MKH ML Rising Sun 2008 Matt Heafy Signature Trivium Floyd Rose guitar 4K close up video by Oxford Guitars

Dean MKH ML Rising Sun 2008 Matt Heafy Signature Trivium Floyd Rose guitar 4K close up video

Oxford Guitars

Oxford Guitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Dean MKH Signature Guitar.

Build quality

  • Owners report poor QC, including headstock fragility and issues with the Floyd Rose system.

    Source
  • The neck on the Dean MKH is notably wide, feeling similar to an acoustic guitar and wider than some 7-string models.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Many prefer the EC 1000 over the Dean MKH due to durability and playability concerns.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • A used Dean MKH Rising Sun can reach up to $3900, though quality issues deter some buyers at that price point.

    Source

User experience

  • Some owners find the guitar worth holding onto long-term despite its flaws, citing sentimental value and rarity.

    Source
  • Despite poor initial build quality, with professional setup and part replacements, the guitar can achieve satisfactory performance.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar's unique design is highly valued for its iconic look, despite its practical issues.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Frets near the inlay can feel rough; professional setup may involve fret replacement and fingerboard adjustments.

    Source
  • Out-of-the-box tuning stability is poor; potential causes include cheap Floyd Rose systems and subpar tuners.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Replacing the stock pickups is recommended due to poor sound quality, with neck pickups noted as hollow and bridge pickups similar in tone.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

5 star
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1 star
conorsomers

Great guitar!

I'm a big Trivium fan so my review may be biased, but one thing I certainly can't be biased about is that this guitar is so comfortable to play and hold either sitting down or standing up. The sound is very nice also, great metal tones yet also very nice clean tones, which is cool considering there is only a volume control and nothing else. Personally I don't really play Floyd Rose tremolos so using a Jenga block I locked the tremolo bridge in place.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Matt Heafy uses Dean MKH Signature Guitar

Matt Heafy

Podcasters & Streamers, Guitarist

Trivium

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:22 in this video about Matt Heafy's signature Dean guitar, he starts talking about the creation of this Dean Guitars manufactured signature series guitar. It is based on the Dead Guitar ML guitar, and he says "So I decided to take something I love, the ML, and basically hot rod it and customize it to my specs." Some of those specs include 24 frets, a carved away neck for maximum playability, one master volume knob, and an input jack on the side.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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    austinmw
    austinmw

    Gear IQ 5227