One of Dimebag Darrell’s guitar designers is suing Dean Guitars for allegedly using his work without permission. Musician Buddy Webster (aka Buddy Blaze) apparently came up with the “lightning storm design” Dean continue to manufacture on their "From Hell" model.

Dimebag’s lighting storm Dean became one of his most iconic guitars during Pantera’s career. According to a complaint filed by Webster, he painted the design on a Dean ML that Dime had won during a contest. Dime eventually sold the axe to the singer of Webster’s band, but Webster bought the guitar himself so he could present it to Pantera’s axeman with a custom paint job of a “unique blue background with lightning emanating from the center of the guitar body.”

Webster’s complaint also points out his pedigree in custom guitar work, having created designs for Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell, Twisted Sister’s Eddie Ojeda, former Pantera vocalist Terry Glaze, Great White’s Mark Kendall, Barry Dunaway of Yngwie Malmsteen’s band and many others. Webster has also collaborated with Dean officially in the past, creating the Buddy Blaze signature model in 2008 and 2009.

As for Dime’s Dean "From Hell" model, Webster became alarmed and disappointed that Dean Guitars was continuing to profit from his design without giving him credit or any payment. These guitars are available at dozens of retailers throughout the United States and have been used in extensive advertising campaigns for the Dean Entities.

You can see the design in question on Dean’s website, with the "From Hell" and "Dimebag Commemorative" guitars featuring lightning designs on a black and blue body. Lightning can also be seen on the Dimebag "Black Bolt" models.

Check out the full complaint against Dean Guitars below. [via Digital Music News]

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