Dean E'lite Braziliaburst 1980 OHSC and paperwork

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1980 Dean E’lite in Braziliaburst is an early example from Dean’s Chicago-era golden period—complete with its original hard shell case and paperwork.  Some call this the Cadillac E'Lite because Dean started calling this body shape the Cadillac, but when it was launched in the late 70s this model was simply the E'Lite.

The E'Lite was Dean Zelinsky’s bold fusion of Les Paul-style sustain with the aggressive styling and upper-fret access of a V or ML. Featuring a mahogany body, bound rosewood fretboard, and the unmistakable long Dean headstock, this guitar delivers the punch, presence, and attitude that made early Deans legendary.

The original DiMarzio pickups provide thick output with beautifully defined mids—ideal for classic rock, metal, and saturated lead tones. The comfortable medium-C neck profile and ebony board offer fast, smooth playability, while the sustain and resonance from the mahogany body rival anything Gibson was producing at the time. The guitar is light and resonant, and that translates to the tone when it is plugged in.  The cool tailpiece seems to be a contributor, the way it is bonded to the top of the guitar.

The guitar has seen a fair amount of play, evidenced by some light wear through the finish and some dings here and there.  The frets are in great shape, and the action is low and super playable.  The neck is straight and there is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments.

I'm pretty sure the pots are changed - I don't think they used Japanese pots in these guitars.  I added the pair of 80s DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups as the guitar arrived here with a set of non original humbuckers.  I've personally never been a big fan of these pickups, but they work really well in this guitar.  The pickup rings are also not original to the guitar.  

Players consistently rave about vintage Deans: “Chicago-era Deans are built like custom shop instruments” (The Gear Page), “Top-tier fretwork and huge sustain” (Reddit r/Guitar), “DiMarzios sound massive in these” (Harmony Central), “One of the coolest shapes of the late ’70s/early ’80s” (MyLesPaul Forum), and “Serious collector-grade guitars” (Ultimate Guitar).

Early Deans found their way into the hands of players like Zakk Wylde, Leslie West, and Dimebag Darrell, helping cement the brand’s reputation for high-output, high-attitude instruments with boutique-level craftsmanship.

For more vintage electrics, visit our Vintage Fender Guitars, Gibson Guitars Collection, or Sell or Trade Your Gear page. Every guitar at Mahar’s Vintage Guitars is inspected carefully, photographed accurately, and professionally set up.

• Color: Braziliaburst
• Weight: 7lbs 14.5oz
  
• Body: Mahogany
  
• Neck: Mahogany
  
• Neck Profile: C
  
• Fretboard: Rosewood
  
• Inlays: Abalone Dot
  
• Frets: Original
  
• Fret Count: 22
  
• Nut: Original
  
• Nut width: 
  
• Radius: 12"
  
• Scale: 24.75'
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .87"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .99"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Overall Length: 40-1/2"
  
• Lower bout: 12-7/8"
  
• Waist: 12-1/4"
  
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-7/8"
• String gauge: 10-46
  
• Hardware Color: Chrome / Nickel
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: DiMarzio DP-100 Exposed Humbucker
• Pickup Reading: 14.09k
• Original?: No
• Neck Pickup/Brand: DiMarzio Exposed Humbucker
• Pickup Reading: 13.39k
• Original?: No
  
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: 3 Per Side Grover
• Knobs: Original
  
• Switch: 3 Way
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: OHSC
• Notes: 

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