Deftones’ Stephen Carpenter Receives Custom Weed-Themed 8-String Guitar For 4/20

Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter has never hidden a few well-known interests: extended-range guitars, unconventional theories, and a deep appreciation for cannabis culture.

Now, just in time for this year’s 4/20 celebration, Kiesel Guitars combined two of those passions into one custom build.

The company unveiled a one-off illuminated Vader model made for Carpenter, featuring 8 strings, embedded cannabis leaf and bud inlays, plus themed knob detailing. The custom instrument has reportedly been nicknamed “Dope.”

The build keeps in line with Carpenter’s long-running preference for heavily customized extended-range guitars, which have become a signature part of his sound with Deftones over the decades.

Kiesel also released footage showing how the instrument was assembled, alongside demo clips of the finished guitar in action. Outside of this novelty project, Carpenter also maintains official signature models through the company.

For fans of custom gear, it’s another highly specific and unmistakably on-brand instrument tied to one of modern heavy music’s most distinctive guitarists.

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