DAMAGEPLAN's DIMEBAG DARRELL Parts Ways With WASHBURN GUITARS

After a successful 10-year partnership, Washburn Guitars and Randall Amplifiers are parting ways with DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

U.S. Music Corp. is shifting its focus toward new product development that will appeal to a wider variety of musicians. "We've had a great working relationship with Dimebag over the past 10 years," said Rudy Schlacher, President and Owner of U.S. Music Corp., whose brands include Washburn and Randall. "Dimebag has established his unique guitar shape and headstock as his own which cannot be associated with any one guitar brand."

With the recent acquisition of Parker Guitars, U.S. Music Corp. is investing significant resources toward manufacturing Parker Guitars and applying these new methods to Washburn's entire USA product line.

"Dime has established a consistent, definable tone that makes his singular style instantly recognizable to his legions of fans. Randall is continuing its product development strategy of providing flexible high gain tube and solid state amplification." Mr. Schlacher continues. "We are finding the variety of recently developed products appeal to everyone from the heavy metal guitarist to pop rock artists."

"We are extremely proud of our partnership with Dimebag Darrell; he has established himself as the premier guitarist of our generation. He is focused on developing a variety of new Dimebag products to be made available to his legions of fans around the world. We wish him nothing but the best for the future," said Mr. Schlacher.

Washburn Guitars, Randall Amplifiers and Parker Guitars are divisions of U.S. Music Corporation, located just outside Chicago in Mundelein, Illinois.