{"id":9738,"date":"2025-04-14T15:31:24","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T14:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thestoryinst.com\/?p=9738"},"modified":"2025-04-15T10:46:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T09:46:36","slug":"dave-mustaine-guitars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thestoryinst.com\/en\/2025\/04\/14\/dave-mustaine-guitars\/","title":{"rendered":"Dave Mustaine Guitars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Well into the late 1970s and early 1980s, an underground new wave of heavy metal was brewing with some of the most remarkable guitarists, each inevitably ascending to Rock legend status. One of the most notable of the era was a young and energetic Dave Mustaine<\/strong>. Also known for his short tenure with Metallica<\/strong>, Mustaine<\/strong> is revered for founding yet another band of metal\u2019s Big Four, Megadeth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Throughout the years, Dave<\/strong> has remained not only the band\u2019s frontman and guitarist but also its main engine in terms of composition and image, leaving no room for debate when the band is referred to as his solo project.<\/p>\n

\n

Dave Mustaine is best known for playing Jackson King V and Jackson Y2KV model guitars. In 2007 he partnered with Dean Guitars to produce the VNMT Dave Mustaine Signature model, and in 2021 he became a Gibson ambassador, with a full product line of signature Gibson guitars.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GIBSON<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In early 2021, it was revealed that Mustaine<\/strong> was teaming up with Gibson<\/strong> for his new signature line of guitars. Once again, the main model is a V-style electric guitar. However, compared to the classic Flying V, this one will have a \u201c6-in-line\u201d kind of headstock, very similar to the one on Gibson\u2019s<\/strong> Explorer model.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was also announced that Krammer<\/strong>, Now under Gibson<\/strong> Brands ownership, will be included in the product catalog as will Epiphone, each will have its exclusive models. Additionally, Gibson<\/strong> will also release a special single-cutaway acoustic six-string with Mustaine<\/strong>, the CF-1000 model.<\/p>\n

Gibson<\/strong> is set to innovate the game along with Mustaine<\/strong>, taking notes and blueprints from his previous signature models over the years, both parties have shared that this collaboration has been a long time coming. Aditionally Mustaine<\/strong> has said in a few exclusive interviews that the reason behind this delayed partnership was due to the fact that when he started, he was running on a humbler budget that prevented him from getting a Gibson<\/strong>. After a few years into notoriety, he had already gone down a different road, but this time it seems that both Megadeth<\/strong> and Gibson<\/strong> have got it all covered, and it is just thrilling to see whats next.<\/p>\n

\n

JACKSON AND DEAN<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Since 2007, this particular model has become Mustaine\u2019s<\/strong> weapon of choice for basically every studio album and live performance. Although he didn\u2019t entirely discarded the use of his previous Jackson<\/strong> Y2KV models, Dave<\/strong> figured it was time for an upgrade. For the design of this new signature line, he brought in some ideas that didn\u2019t fully come through back in 1999 when he signed off his deal with Jackson<\/strong>, and so this particular V became the guitar that Dave had been longing for since the 90s.<\/p>\n

Teaming up with Dean<\/strong> really marked a big change for metal musicians, but this fashion became rather noticeable in the late 2000s. One of the first guitarists to make it trendy was in fact Dave Mustaine<\/strong> along although not a pioneer with Dean<\/strong> guitars, he certainly made it big time when he got involved in creating the VMNT.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This particular model is based on his preferred Jackson<\/strong> King V models from the 80s. However, the main difference in design and specs from the original King V, are the pickups. This time around, Dave had partnered up with Seymour Duncan to release a heavy signature set of humbuckers called\u00a0Live Wire<\/a>, they\u2019re rather similar to his previously trademarked SH-4 JB and SH-2N but they come\u00a0with an active preamp and attack.<\/p>\n

As expected and per usual, <\/span>Dave<\/strong> has various VMNTs in his catalog, some of the most iconic ones are his \u201cHoly Grail\u201d and \u201cGears of War\u201d custom-painted models,\u00a0<\/span>which served as the pinnacle of the series<\/a>\u00a0back in 2016 when celebrating 33 years of <\/span>Megadeth<\/strong>. Present-day, however, has seen <\/span>Mustaine<\/strong> using mainly his all-black V-shaped Dean and one of his all-time favorite models in a natural Korina finish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mustaine<\/strong> used in fact his Korina VNMT to promote Megadeth\u2019s<\/strong> 2020 world tour, as well as for the band\u2019s opening performance in Bloodstock 2017.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After starting his collaboration with Jackson<\/strong>, new guitars started rolling in, including one black King V Custom model in black finish. Made back in 1986, the instrument featured Seymour Duncan<\/strong> JB and Bill Lawrence 500L pickups, as well as a fixed Kahler bridge. Additionally, there was also the JE-1200 active mid-boosting circuitry.\"\"<\/p>\n

The instrument was also easily recognizable due to the Megadeth<\/strong> logo on the front of the body. The instrument also saw some heavy modifications over the years, including a completely new silver finish as well as a new neck. With these modifications, it later became known as the \u201cNumber One.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was a part of his regular rig all the way until 1992 or 1993 when Dave<\/strong> got new Jacksons<\/strong>. However, some of these new guitars were practically identical to the original King V, so it\u2019s hard to determine when exactly he started and stopped using it.<\/p>\n

Regardless of its siblings and particular use, it\u2019s hard to think of Mustaine<\/strong> wielding something else than a black V-shaped six-string, and that iconic image of this meta god is largely due to this particular guitar. It became even more memorable when it appeared on the music video for \u201cIn My Darkest Hour\u201d back in 1988 when Megadeth<\/strong> was rising to prominence and status as one of metal\u2019s big four.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n
\n

Timetable Showing Each Guitar Dave Mustaine Has Played at Each Point of His Career<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Make<\/th>\nModel<\/th>\nColor\/Finish<\/th>\nYears<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ibanez<\/td>\nDestroyer II D400<\/td>\nCherry Sunburst<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

1981 to Unspecified<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B.C. Rich<\/td>\nBich Perfect 10<\/td>\nNatural Koa<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

1982 to 1986<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\n1986 King V Custom<\/td>\nBlack\/Later Painted Silver<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

1983 to 1994<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\nKing V Double-Neck<\/td>\nBlack<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

1987 to Present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\nKing V Pro<\/td>\nCherry Sunburst<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

1993 to 2005<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\nKV1<\/td>\nBlack\/Brown\/White<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n

1995 to Unspecified<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\nY2KV J6442 Prototype<\/td>\nNatural<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

1996 to 2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jackson<\/td>\nY2KV<\/td>\nBlack\/White\/Natural Korina\/American Flag<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

1999 to Present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ESP\/LTD<\/td>\nAxxion<\/td>\nBack<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2003 to Unspecified<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ESP\/LTD<\/td>\nDV8<\/td>\nSilver\/Black\/White<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2004 to Unspecified<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dean<\/td>\nVMNT<\/td>\n\u201cHoly Grail\u201d\/Black\/Korina\/White<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2007 to Present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dean<\/td>\nV Dave Mustaine Double-Neck<\/td>\nCustom Black\/Diadem<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2010 to Unspecified<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dean<\/td>\nMako Dave Mustaine<\/td>\nFaded American Flag Custom Artwork<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2011 to Present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gibson<\/td>\nCollaboration<\/td>\nN\/A<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n

2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well into the late 1970s and early 1980s, an underground new wave of heavy metal was brewing with some of the most remarkable guitarists, each inevitably ascending to Rock legend status. One of the most notable of the era was a young and energetic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[678,622,620,575,786,574],"tags":[627,309,787,319],"class_list":["post-9738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dean-en","category-ephiphone-en","category-gibson-en","category-guitar","category-jackson","category-metal-en","tag-dean-en","tag-gibson-en","tag-megadeth","tag-metal-en"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t