Diamond Guitars
 | |
| Formerly | DBZ Guitars, DBZ Diamond |
|---|---|
| Company type | Privately held company |
| Industry | Musical instrument |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Dean Zelinsky, Jeff Diamant, Terry Martin |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Electric guitars, amplifiers, pickups |
| Owner | Jason Struble |
| Divisions | Diamond Amplification |
| Website | diamondguitars |
Diamond Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer owned and operated by Mountain High Holdings LLC, Jason Struble, the president and CEO, along with Jeff Diamant of Diamond Amplification.
The company has gone by 3 names throughout its history (DBZ, DBZ/Diamond, Diamond) and was purchased and moved from Houston, TX[1] to Muncie, Indiana in late 2018.[2][3][4] The DBZ brand was rebranded in 2013 into Diamond Guitars.
History
On August 26, 2008, Dean Zelinsky announced the launch of his new company, DBZ Guitars, in partnership with Diamond Amplification owner Jeff Diamant, and Diamant's Texas partner, Terry Martin.[5]
On January 9, 2009, DBZ Guitars' founders announced the official launch of their debut website in order to premier their new electric and acoustic guitar models.[6]
Rumors about Zelinsky leaving the DBZ Guitars company began circulating in January 2012.[7] On February 9, 2012, a lawsuit was filed by DBZ Guitars against Zelinsky for a breach of fiduciary duties.[8]
On April 19, 2012, it was reported that Zelinsky was founding a new company, "Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars",[9] further signaling his shift away from the DBZ company.
At some point between Zelinsky's departure in 2012 and the following NAMM show in 2013, the company was rebranded to DBZ/Diamond.[10] This shift in branding coincided with new headstock designs and models.
By December 2014, the company dropped DBZ from their branding and began going solely by the Diamond moniker.[11][12]
Guitars
The company has produced a full line of electric and acoustic guitars, throughout its history.[13]
When the company was initially founded, they sold both USA-made models, as well as imports such as their Japanese-made Infinity lineup, and Chinese-made Barchetta and Venom models.[14][15] This era of manufacturing lasted until at least 2011, when they were still releasing models from "DBZ USA Custom Shop Guitars".[16]
In 2013, the manufacturing of many models was moved to South Korean company World Musical Instrument Co, the same factory where many other manufacturers such as BC Rich, Gretsch, Ibanez, PRS, and Schecter have had guitar models made throughout their history. [17][18] This short-lived partnership coincided with the transition period between the company rebranding from DBZ to Diamond, resulting in a limited run of headstocks bearing both the DBZ and Diamond branding.[19]
At some point after the rebranding to Diamond, manufacturing was shifted to Indonesia.[20]
References
- ^ "DBZ Guitars Announces The Making of a Guitar Company". PR.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ "Sight and Sound Music Center Expands To New Location". Muncie Journal. August 26, 2008.
- ^ "Lookup Business Licenses in Indiana - DBZ/Diamond". Indiana State Government.
- ^ "Trademark Application Details - Diamond". USPTO Report. January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Dean Founder Starts Over". Premier Guitar. August 26, 2008.
- ^ "Dean Zelinsky Unveils DBZ Models on New Website". Premier Guitar. January 9, 2009.
- ^ "The Name Behind the Guitar: DBZ Guitars and Dean Zelinsky Battle It Out in Court". Premier Guitar. March 17, 2012.
- ^ "DBZ Guitars, LLC v. Zelinsky". U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. February 9, 2012.
- ^ "Dean Zelinsky Launches Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars". Premier Guitar. April 19, 2012.
- ^ "DBZ Diamond Hailfire SM Electric Guitar Review". Premier Guitar. May 1, 2013.
- ^ "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's ZOLTAN BATHORY Announces Signature DIAMOND Guitar". BlabberMouth. December 2, 2014.
- ^ "Diamond Guitars Introduces Zoltan Bathory Signature Model". Premier Guitar. December 8, 2014.
- ^ https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/23162147/dbz-diamond-2013-catalog-download-dbz-guitars
- ^ "Dean Zelinsky Unveils DBZ Models on New Website". Premier Guitar. January 9, 2009.
- ^ "DBZ Guitars Collection for Mobile Users". www.dbzguitars.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Default, PremierGuitar. "DBZ Guitars to Unveil Z-Glide Neck at NAMM 2011 - Premier Guitar". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Carroll, Paul (May 29, 2021). "World Musical Instrument Co Korea". Jedistar. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Kelleher, Brian (November 19, 2022). "Guitars Made by World Musical Instrument Co. Ltd, Korea". Killer Guitar Rigs. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ "DBZ Diamond Hailfire SM Electric Guitar Review". Premier Guitar. May 1, 2013.
- ^ LLC, Blues City Music. "Diamond Guitars formerly DBZ Diamond guitars are the best made guitars". Blues City Music LLC. Retrieved January 30, 2026.