DBZ Venom..
A Heavy Metal Weapon

DBZ USA Venom Snakeskin

The DBZ Venom from the Darkside of Dean series is a fabulous take on the classic V design. Available in a number of materials, color and graphics combinations there is definitely a version to satisfy every taste. The DBZ Venom is definitely a no holds barred, take no prisoners Heavy Metal weapon. Like its Darkside brother, the Bird of Prey, the Venom has pointy, yet flowing lines. Its design allows easy access to all 24 of its frets.

The Venom is impeccably balanced, is available in a range of solid colors, as well as available with two graphics finishes (Thoracic-X and Watchers). The DBZ Venom electric guitar is available with EMG pickups or DBZB/DBZ5 on the Venom II. All Venom electric guitars come with original Floyd Rose tremolo systems, 24 frets, DarkSide inlays on an Ebonized rosewood fret board, volume/tone/three-way switch and Grover Tuners in either black, nickel, or gold hardware.

For 2010, the DBZ Venom comes in 9 killer versions:

USA Venom Snake Skin

USA Venom FM Trans Green

USA Venom Red Flame

Venom Matte Black

Venom

Venom Thoracic X

Venom Watchers

Venom White

Venom Gunmetal Metallic

Most of the DBZ Venom models are relatively affordable. Typically, they can be had online for prices ranging from roughly $900 to about $1100. However, there are Custom and USA versions of some of the models that you are going to have to have deep pockets to buy. Either way you decide to go, you are going to get your money's worth.

DBZ Venom Specifications...

If you are like me, you want to know exactly what a guitar is made of and what kind of neck and bridge construction is used before you even consider buying the guitar. You also are going to want to know what kind of pickups are used. If you are an experienced player, you know that all of these factors determine how a guitar sounds and plays. There is a bewildering array of specifications for all 9 models, so I spent a good bit of time going back and forth between the models to determine what specs go with which model. I think I finally got it all straight and this will hopefully save you some time if you're interested in one of these babies.

I pulled all these specs from the official DBZ Guitars site and I hope I got them all right. If I've goofed somewhere along the line, please don't shoot me. Check out the site and you'll see what an undertaking this was. Anyway, here we go.

Thoracic X, Watchers, Venom White, Venom Gunmetal Metallic, Venom Red Flame...

Construction/Scale: Set Neck 25.5"
Body: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Mahogany/Ebonized Rosewood
Frets: 24
Inlays: Dark Side Series
Pickups: EMG81/EGM85
Electronics: Vol/Tone/3-way
Tuners: Grover
Hardware: Black(Gold with White finish)
Bridge: Original Floyd Rose Tremolo

Venom, Venom Matte Black...

Construction/Scale: Set Neck 25.5"
Body: Alder
Fingerboard: Mahogany/Ebonized Rosewood
Frets: 24
Inlays: Dark Side Series
Pickups: EMG81/EGM85
Electronics: Vol/Tone/3-way
Tuners: Grover
Hardware: Black
Bridge: Original Floyd Rose Tremolo

USA Venom Snakeskin, USA Venom Trans Green...

Set Neck/25.5"
Mahogany Body
Maple Top
Mahogany Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
24 Frets
12th Fret Arrow Pearl Inlay
EMG-81/85 Pickups
Sperzel Tuners
Nickel Hardware
Floyd Rose Original Bridge
Floating DBZ Emblem

USA Specs - Venom, Venom Red Flame...

Features:

Mahogany body
set maple neck w/ ebony fingerboard
12th Fret Z inlay
EMG pickups
nickel hardware
floating DBZ crest emblem
Original Floyd Rose Tremolo

Colors:

Black
Matte Black
Midnite Blue
Red
White

Upgrades:

Black hardware
Gold hardware
DBZ Custom Pickups
Graphic (Choose from all Graphics currently offered on Venom)
Custom finish (Call DBZ Guitars for Custom Colors)
Flame maple top (with scrape binding standard)
Choose from F40 Red, Trans Black

For the USA Thoracic X the features are the same as above but the only available color is the Thoracic X graphic and the only upgrades are black hardware and DBZ custom pickups. For the USA Watchers everything is the same as for the Thoracic X except for the color which is limited to to the Watchers graphic.

Finally, the USA Snakeskin and Trans Green have the following custom options:

Custom FM:

Adds 5A Flame Maple Top
Transparent Finish

Finishes:

Amberburst
Cherryburst
Faded Denim
Fireburst
Tiger's Eye
Tobacco Burst
Trans Black Burst
Trans Green
Trans Teal
Trans Wine
Vintage Natural
Vintage Sunburst

Metallic Finishes:

Black Metallic
Dark Blue Metallic
Ferrari Red Metallic
Gold Metallic
Gunmetal Metallic
Lambo Yellow Metallic
Pearl White
Sapphire Blue Metallic
Titanium Metallic
Topaz Metallic

Snake Skin:

Adds Custom Etched Snake Skin Finish (Gold Hardware Included)

Upgrades:

Exotic Top Quilt Maple
Burled Maple
Burled Redwood (Available for Custom FM only)
Dean B. Zelinsky Signature Pickups
Black Hardware
Gold Hardware
String Thru Body
Matching Headstock - Custom FM or Exotic Top (No Charge for Metallic)

WHEW! Like I said, a bewildering array of options. Anyway, I hope this list will save you some time and confusion if you're looking to buy one of these beauts.

Now that I've sprained your brain with all the technical stuff, relax and enjoy this cool video of a Darkside Venom: