For over 30 years, platinum-selling Grammy-winners Deftones have blazed a unique path in the world of alt-metal with their blend of moody, hazy atmosphere and blunt, bone-crushing riffs. Now, the fine folks at Kiesel Guitars are celebrating the band's guitarist Stef Carpenter with their new Dope Guitar—and just in time for 4/20. A special variant of his signature limited edition Vader model, the Dope Guitar features all of Carpenter's regular mods along with LEDs and resin-sealed cannabis in the body. The latter is reminiscent of the company's Sushi Bento Box Guitar for Dan Jacobs (Atreyu).
Check out the full statement from straight from Kiesel:
Stef Carpenter's new Vader takes dope to a whole new level. Putting genuine, freshly cut buds and leaves on full display, the "Dope" guitar joins the likes of the Sushi guitar as a resin-filled, themed instrument. Further outfitted with LEDs — a first for Kiesel Guitars — and top-tier woods, Carpenter's Vader stands out among the other Custom Shop creations.
The Mastergrade Buckeye top is "reverse" bookmatched to optimize the center cavity. The Roasted Swamp Ash body features a custom center route with a purple/holographic metal flake base and is lined with an app-controlled LED system. An accompanying knob — a nug suspended in resin above the purple/holographic metal flake — brings the artistry above the surface.
Expanding beyond the middle cavity, the engraved Kiesel logo matches the desired center color. Powering both the active pickup and LED system are rechargeable batteries in a standard and a specialized Fishman battery pack, respectively.
Elevating the aesthetics further: a 7-Piece Maple/Walnut/Mahogany neck, Royal Ebony Pickup Bobbin, electronics cover, Fingerboard, and Tung-Oiled Bevel, Back, and Side. Without the dozens of hours put in by Kiesel Guitars' president, "Dope" wouldn't have seen the light of the stage.
Get the full specs plus info on the special flash sale running from the 20th to the 21st here. Check out Deftones' upcoming tour dates and the full making of The Dope Guitar below.
private music is out now on Reprise/Warner Records. Read up on it and the other Best Nu Metal Albums of 2025 here.
05/02 Sydney, AU @ Qudos Bank Arena
05/03 Sydney, AU @ Qudos Bank Arena
05/06 Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
05/07 Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
05/09 Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
05/10 Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
05/13 Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
05/18 Tokyo, JP @ Tokyo Garden Theater
05/19 Osaka, JP @ Zepp Osaka Bayside
05/20 Nagoya, JP @ COMTEC PORTBASE
08/16 Wien, AT @ METAstadt
08/18 Berlin, DE @ Parkbühne Wuhlheide
08/20 Charleville-mézières, FR @ Cabaret Vert 2026
08/22 Hasselt, BE @ Pukkelpop Festival 2026
08/23 London, UK @ Deftones at All Points East presents Outbreak 2026
08/25 Dublin, IE @ Irish Museum of Modern Art
08/27 Edinburgh, UK @ Royal Highland Centre
08/29 Saint-cloud, FR @ Rock en Seine 2026
08/30 Lisboa, PT @ Meokalorama 2026
10/24 Fort Worth, TX @ Sick New World Texas 2026
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