In Dime We Trust, the Texas-based trust and intellectual property organization established to protect the assets of the late Pantera icon “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, has officially launched Dime GuitarZ.
This new enterprise will now serve as the exclusive manufacturer for all authorized Dimebag instruments. The venture was founded through a direct partnership between celebrated luthier Dean Zelinsky and the guitarist’s longtime partner, Rita Haney.
Rita Haney commented on the purpose of the new brand:
“The mission is simple. To build the guitars Dimebag Darrell would be playing today.”
“There seems to be a misconception that Dime had a relationship with the Dean Guitars of today. It simply isn’t true… Darrell never had a relationship with them,” she continued. “He was killed three weeks after signing the deal. He had a relationship with Dean Zelinsky. He went there because DZ brought him there. That was Dime‘s only relationship. Dean Zelinsky built the beloved guitars he played including the Dean From Hell. That is who Dime wanted building his guitars and he stated that many times throughout his notes. In this case, imitation isn’t flattery; it’s a crime! Dime played Dean Zelinsky‘s MLs when he had braces on his teeth and he died with one in his arms. Dime‘s innovation for tech, his love and trust of DZ‘s brilliance, THIS is what the direction of this company is, to fulfill those wishes.”
Adding essential historical expertise to the project is Grady Champion, who served as the dedicated guitar technician for the Pantera legend throughout his entire career.
He shared his excitement for the operation:
“What can I say about my passion for all things Dime… he brought me into his world, taught me everything he liked and everything his sound was about. It all started with the guitars! The most important part was the guitar, and how it felt to him. I am honored to help bring Dime‘s feel to these, plus to continue in that innovative spirit.. Dime would be proud.. This is my purpose!”
The inaugural product line from Dime GuitarZ will revive the highly coveted Culprit model. Recognized by fans as one of the musician’s earliest proprietary designs, the guitar initially saw a very limited production run. The updated USA Culprit series will debut in several classic signature finishes, including Dime Slime, Dime Bolt, and Black Jack. Additionally, the instruments will feature modern build technology engineered by Dean Zelinsky, utilizing laser-engraved snakeskin bodies and his patented friction-reducing Z-Glide Neck.
Explaining the Z-Glide design, Dean Zelinsky noted:
“We remove 72% of the necks surface. Your hand only comes in contact with 28%, the rest is AIR.”
Every Culprit guitar will also come equipped with the innovative DimeBooster circuit. By activating a push/pull tone pot, players can instantly engage up to 15 decibels of clean gain. Operating entirely without traditional batteries, the DimeBooster requires only a 60-second charge via a USB-C cable to deliver more than 20 hours of continuous performance.
Reflecting on the profound personal and professional significance of the launch, Dean Zelinsky stated:
“I’ve been fortunate to have a long and incredible career in the guitar business. I’ve had the opportunity to design guitars for some of the world’s greatest players, build successful companies, and spend my life doing what I love. At this stage of my career, there is nothing I would rather be doing than building the Dime GuitarZ line.
“Darrell did so much for my personal brand,” Zelinsky continued. “Playing my guitar so prominently helped to introduce my designs to players all over the world. More importantly, Darrell was one of the most unique individuals I ever met. Authentic, loyal, passionate, and completely dedicated to his craft. I am actually most proud to call him my friend.
“This project is all about continuing the legacy of one of the most influential guitar players who ever lived. If there’s one thing I know for certain, Dime would never want us standing still. He’d be sitting right beside me, pushing boundaries, constantly taking his original designs to the next level to create the ultimate metal guitars,” he added.
“Keeping Darrell‘s guitar designing legacy alive is an opportunity to give back to a friend who gave so much to me. His guitar playing fans throughout the world deserve to be able to get the real thing. After all the smoke clears from this 20-year saga, Darrell‘s guitar designing legacy will still be important to millions around the world. After everything I’ve accomplished in this industry, helping carry Darrell‘s legacy forward may be the most meaningful work I’ve ever done,” he concluded.
Fans looking to purchase the new instruments can find them through Dimeguitarz.com, Thomann.de in Europe, and a growing network of global retailers. Moving forward, the official website and its affiliated retail partners will remain the only authorized sellers of fully licensed “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott guitars.
The long-running legal dispute between the trust overseeing the estate of late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott and Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, parent company of Dean Guitars and Ddrum, has taken a major turn following a court ruling that largely favors Armadillo. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by In Dime We Trust, the estate trust overseen by Darrell Abbott‘s longtime girlfriend, Rita Haney. The suit centered on a disputed endorsement deal between Dimebag and Dean Guitars covering signature instrument lines, including the Razorback and Stealth models, both developed in collaboration with the guitarist before his death in 2004. The trust accused Armadillo of breach of contract, alleging the company failed to honor multiple terms of the original agreement, and also brought claims of false endorsement, false association, fraud, and violations of Florida’s deceptive trade practices act, along with allegations tied to trademark ownership of the guitar designs.
In April 2026, a judge in Tampa, Florida, issued a summary judgment that largely sided with Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, dismissing the majority of the claims brought forward by the trust. On June 5, the trust, headed by Dimebag‘s long-time significant other, Rita Haney, issued a comprehensive press release formally responding to the decision and outlining their intent to appeal.
In the statement, the trust expressed strong disagreement with the court’s interpretation of the 2004 contract, providing the exact contractual language they believe proves ownership was never transferred to the guitar manufacturer:
“The Company [Dean Guitars/Armadillo Enterprises] shall acquire no rights in the tradenames or designs ‘Stealth Guitar’ or ‘Razorback Guitar’ by virtue of this Agreement, and upon termination of this Agreement shall cease the production of Stealth and Razorback style guitars.”
To further support their position, the trust referenced a Non-Disclosure Agreement signed by then-Dean Guitars CEO Elliott Rubinson two months prior to the 2004 endorsement deal. According to the press release, the NDA explicitly acknowledged the origins of the guitar shapes:
“The design constitutes a specific body shape of a guitar and specific headstock shapes that were designed by ‘Dime,’ known as the ‘Razorback,’ a slightly modified ‘Stealth’ guitar, which is also a design of ‘Dime’s,’ and the ‘Razorback Headstocks 1 and 2,’ and are to be used in creating his own signature line of guitars.”
Addressing the ongoing legal battle, Rita Haney provided a lengthy, unbroken statement detailing her stance on the manufacturer’s actions and her commitment to reclaiming the designs:
“The Agreement Darrell signed in 2004 stated Dean Guitars shall acquire ‘NO’ rights in the designs Stealth or Razorback Guitar, and…No means ‘None.’ It’s the ultimate negative: it means ‘not any,’ or ‘not at all.”
“Darrell would never have signed away ownership of his designs, and the documents clearly support that. He had Dean Guitars sign an NDA to even look at his Razorback Guitar. His Stealth guitar was previously sold during his relationship with Washburn, and when that relationship ended, Darrell retained his designs and expected the same arrangement to be upheld by Dean Guitars.”
“Dean Guitars did not make or sell a single Razorback nor Stealth before their formal relationship with Darrell. They never used the shapes without Darrell’s endorsement and in no way should be allowed to make these guitars after the relationship was terminated.”
“We believe this company has repeatedly misrepresented the facts, and we continue to fight for the return of Darrell’s guitar designs as well as their unauthorized use of Darrell’s name, likeness, and intellectual property.”
Beyond the breach of contract claims, the trust alleges that Dean Guitars and its affiliates made false representations to the US Trademark Office in 2007, three years after the guitarist’s death. The trust claims the company attempted to trademark the Razorback shape by falsely stating they designed it posthumously:
“After his death in 2004, Applicant designed a unique Dimebag Darrell signature-design guitar line reminiscent of the classic Dean ML guitar used during Abbott’s early career as a tribute to Abbott. One of the designs features ‘razor’ like edges symbolic of the razorblade worn by Abbott around his neck.”
Despite the recent summary judgment, the trust emphasized that the litigation is far from over. They plan to appeal the court’s decision while continuing to pursue additional claims regarding the unauthorized use of the guitarist’s intellectual property, including the famous “Dean From Hell” artwork. The trust has published documents related to their case on the official Dimebag Darrell website for public viewing.
The press release concluded with a final statement summarizing their motivation for continuing the legal fight:
“This case represents a broader issue faced by many artists and creators — the protection of their intellectual property and legacy against greedy corporate interests with greater financial resources. We remain committed to protecting Darrell’s legacy and ensuring that one of the most influential guitarists in music history receives the respect and legal protections he deserves.”
