logo

NAMM 2020: Dean flashes its metal horns with the USA Kerry King V

More details on the Slayer guitarist’s super-limited-edition Dean guitar.

When you purchase through affiliate links on Guitar.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more.

NAMM 2020: Dean Guitars has officially debuted the USA Kerry King V Limited Edition, with features that truly befit a heavy-hitting thrash metal guitarist.

The USA Kerry King V features a neck-through mahogany body with a maple top, paired with a special C-shaped three-piece maple neck and ebony fingerboard. The fingerboard features custom Kerry King inlays, 24 jumbo frets and a flat 12-inch radius for blazing neck runs and sharp bends. An additional graphic designed by the Slayer co-founder and guitarist is emblazoned across the lower right bout of the guitar.

The guitar’s high output is channeled via an EMG 81 paired with a PA2 Preamp Booster in the bridge position. The pickup’s ceramic magnet and close aperture coils provide a cutting lead tone that can be further boosted by the PA2, going up by as much as 20 dB. Accompanying the EMG 81 is a Sustainiac in the neck position, which can be used for controlled feedback sustain. The Sustainiac’s voicing can also be altered with the Sustainiac Mode switch.

Other features of the USA Kerry King V include a Kahler KFK Signature bridge, a Floyd Rose R2 nut and Grover tuners. This setup allows for sweeping divebombs without getting pulled out of tune. Controls for the guitar include a single volume and tone knob, a three-way pickup toggle switch and separate on/off switches for the PA2 Booster and Sustainiac.

The USA Kerry King V is handcrafted in the USA and will be limited to 50 pieces, each bearing Kerry King’s signature. Regular production import models have been announced but details have yet to be released.

The Dean USA Kerry King V is now available for $8,666. For more information, click here.

Find out more about NAMM 2020 here.

logo

The world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar.

© 2024 Guitar.com is part of NME Networks.