DeArmond

(Originally written by ebenofrancky/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Guitar made in Korea. I don't know its manufacturing date. This instrument is a Guild copy. Good manufacturing quality. I didn't notice important problems in the finish or the electronic components. Bolt-on neck with 22 frets, no-name active humbucker pickups (they require a 9-volt battery). The sound is quite versatile if you consider what the price of the instrument six years ago. A fine detail is that the battery compartment is separated from the electronics compartment with a threaded hole for the screws. The instrument has a volume control, a pickup balance control and a 3-band EQ (it's a pity that the mid frequency range is not semi-parametric), which provide a very large sound range. I chose the ash body version with nice blue/green transparent varnish that becomes brighter as time goes by (I noticed it when I compared the back and the front of the instrument and also when I removed the small plastic plate covering the truss rod access). The hardware has a brushed aluminum finish. UTILIZATION Wide and easily playable neck, but not so wide as a 6-string neck. It's still far from the playability of a 90's Status but the width is partly compensated by the thickness. You'll get used to it... The wide neck leads to high strings spacing which is an advantage if you want to change to a 5-string bass and to learn slapping. Good access to the upper frets up to the 18th fret. Just plan one hour to adjust the neck and tune the overtones with a chromatic tuner to optimize the instrument. I couldn't adjust accurately the B string above the 15th fret. The instrument is very ergonomic and I can play it more than three hours without feeling any pain in the shoulder. The shape is also very ergonomic, even when sitting down (but that's subjective). I recommend you to keep the strap on the shoulder while seated because the instrument is not perfectly well-balanced (the head is a bit too heavy). You'll get the sound you want very quickly, even though the low B sounds a bit too thin... Perhaps you think that I just have to turn the bass control fully up, but if I do I get distortion (only with this extreme setting)... So the instrument must be played with an amp with enough headroom and controls to balance the sound. I play electro-metal, pop and blues in a band, sometimes also jazz with a good CD as playback, and many more music styles. I always get the sound I want. This instrument is really good considering its price. SOUNDS The instrument is very versatile. So it's perfect for the music styles I play. I used to play it at home with a small Laney BC50 combo. I also owned a 150-watt Peavey TNT 115 with a 15" speaker and 7-band graphic EQ. It was a real delight. I sold it when I quit playing live. I've started to play live again so I just ordered an Ashdown Mag300 EvoII that I will use with a home-made speaker cabinet (I'm a carpenter) equipped with an Eminence Delta 15" speaker. I also have a small Digitech BP50 multi-effect. I only use the compressor and the EQ since the instrument sounds good and it doesn't need any effects. I get many different sounds from aggressive to round, metallic and smooth... From powerful sounds for heavy metal to clean and round sounds with strong mids for jazz... This instrument is definitely versatile! Of course, you can find better sounding or more specialized instruments... It's normal when you consider the price of some models... OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for six years (and I never had a single problem). I previously owned a 4-string Kramer, which I kept six years before buying the DeArmond. I like most of all its finish (that's what actually motivated me to buy it). I find the electronics could be better. I also tried out a 5-string Mexican Fender Jazz Bass (good instrument), a 5-string Ibanez BTB (wonderful finish) and a 5-string Status from the 90's... and I still dream about it! I don't know if I would buy it again... The market currently provides many different instruments. Based on my experience, I would probably look for a high-end model. And for the price I paid six years ago, I would now have lots of other choices. But do consider this instrument if you see it in a secondhand market.

I tested the DeArmond Guild with a Crate amp, on both dirty and clean channels. I've been playing Guild acoustics since 1970 and have the highest respect for Guild quality. This is my first experience with a Guild electric and it's exactly what I'd expect. Near perfect workmanship. Electronics are smooth & broad; fit & finish are precise; intonation is easy to set; and the neck, well, it's a Guild neck. Superb for my Chitlin Circuit and Blues Rock styles. I've loved DeArmond pickups since I got my '60 Harmony Stratotone Jupiter. Nine ohms neck and 10.2 bridge... talk about raw power, Iggy? The range of clean,from twangy to jazzy; crunchy; Woman Tone; mighty dirty and even harsh Metal tones is exceptionally broad. Direct through the Crate mind you. No pedals. With very nice balance. The neck sits solidly in my hand; frets are trimmed, medium height, comfortable and fast. Scale enables easy, swoopy bends. The translucent cherry red is a beautiful finish. It's just a tad heavy for my taste, having gotten spoiled by BluesHawks, a vintage Mustang, and Les Paul Specials. But feels just about 9 pounds. Must say, the "gumby" shape is not at all to my taste but as wonderful in every other respect as the DeArmond Jetstar is, the unique shape makes a unique statement and might become endearing were I privileged to own one. Doug Pratt Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Purchased this guitar on closeout. Paid 250 american currency, Clean bright sound replicating a decent ES-335, sturdy semihollow Jazzbox, above average construction for an imported semihollow design guitar, excellent Pickups, great action solid setneck design, sharp looking guitar, very comparable to the Epiphone Sheriton. Nicer pickups I've done head-to-heads with the semihollows, imports, as well as american-made models, this is along the top of the line, and given it's low pricetag, a real "bang for the buck" This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I didnt buy the bass, my dad did just to play,so i dont know how he picked it out and stuff, but i know that when i picked it up, for 150, it was my first experience with a bass Being an experienced bassist now, this bass is pretty good for its low price.It has a Great Shape and color, and it has a nice sound. The bass has 4 pickups, and 5 knobs, so its pretty easy to find your way to play The bass has a hard neck, and it's hard to slide your hands on for that fast feeling The bass is a strong bass which lasts for a while. I've probaly had the bass for for about 3 years now, and its still going strong. A pretty good bass for its price. Great for beginners, and its a beutiful blue color. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was wanting a guitar for a while , It would be so cool to play , and my dad bought me a vox amp . He says the his buddy has a nice little guitar that he had just fixed that he wanted to sell. So I had been working for a little while and got the money . I bought it for $120. This is definatley the coolest thing I have ever seen. HMMMM.. thats a hard one ..... NOT! This guitar is so cool black and ivory, sound great , very comfortable and easy to learn on. It's the coolest thing I own. The one thing I don't like is it's sound is too smooth doesn't provide enough distortion but you can change that with a pedel . So ha. The unit is very nice kinda heavy but comfortable . Looks awsome and pickups are great. This guitar is great. Bottom Line this guitar is awsome and since the its discontinued I'd get one NOW! So with that I give this baby a 5. END OF STORY! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased the guitar for $435.00 used on eBay including the hardshell case and shipping. When I received the guitar, both it and the case were virtually like new. It has a rich vintage sunburst finish over lightly figured laminated maple with a DeArmond copy of a Bigsby vibrato. The body and neck are bound with a nice cream colored binding. The one-piece mahogany neck is nice and chunky and has a 20 fret rosewood fingerboard with a 24 3/4" scale. The body of the guitar is a thin, single florentine cutaway archtop measuring about 16" across the lower bout. This guitar has some of the best sounding pickups I have ever experienced. They can go from bright and jangly to warm and subtle with just a twist of the tone knobs. I use Thomastic-Infeld .011 flatwounds and the tone of this guitar is to die for. It is without a doubt the most versatile guitar I have ever played and the construction is as good as it gets. You can get any sound from a Brian setzer rock-a-billy to a Barney Kessle smooth jazz tone. I have a medium-light action set up on it and it plays effortlessly. The only complaint I have is the weight of the guitar. It is a semi hollow body with a big block of mahogany right down the middle of the guitar like a 335. Combining that with the maple body, and you get a guitar that weighs as much as the heaviest Les Paul. If I had to stand up all night and play it, I would need a very wide, heavily padded strap. The other issue I had with the guitar was the stiffness of the vibrato spring. It took a very health push on the lever to get a response. I replaced it with a light tension genuine Bigsby spring and it made a world of difference. As I said before, the build quality and finish of this guitar is exceptional. I have played other DeArmonds and this seems to be the rule rather than the exception. It is a shame that Fender discontinued the brand, but I'm sure that guitars of this quality at the bargain prices they were selling for probably put a dent in the sale of higher priced, higher markup Guilds. I haven't played many guitars that equal the quality of this one at any price and I've been playing for over forty years. If you can find one of these and love the sound of true vintage single coils, this is a guitar you will own for the rest of your life. I wouldn't part with mine at three times what I paid for it. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this hollow body archtop in Cornwall ON Canada At Rainbow Music for $952.00 CDN!! I always wanted a guitar with such a warn & rich sound,...oh I know if the cost is nOT a factor one could get a great guitar anywhere!! However,...for the price that I paid,...I got a terrifc guitar,...lots of bang for the buck!! I love everything about it!! It has this great sound, humbucker(duel goldtone) the wood on this instrument is above average as is the construction!! To top it all, the finish is flawless!! Playability is superb and easy! You just get so much for what you pay for!! Fret board inlay is not real mother of pearl,...but the rest of the guitar by far makes up for that little deficiency!! Awesome construction and finish!! I highly recommend this model to anyone interested in an archtop that kicks!! Great for blues, jazz, rockabilly, 50's, 60's and big band sound! A real beauty to look at!! The last of the great deals!!! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was on vacation in Toronto Canada and happened across a Lefty M75T in Steve's Music. I purchased it because i was hooked after trying it out for 5 minutes. This guitar sounds and feels great! I paid about $390 U.S. No way would i spend $1500 on a Gibson. Pretty much everything! The appearance, the workmanship. The block Inlay work. The DeArmond name on the headstock i believe is in mother of pearl. I first tried it plugged into a Marshall tube amp cranked up with plenty of distortion......this guitar screams and has guts. This guitar looks well built, its heavy but not too heavy.This guitar should not come as close to its Gibson $1500 counterpart as it does in my opinion. Definitely a keeper!! For less than $400 there is nothing to dislike about this guitar. Constuction is solid, put together very well.Its heavy like a Les Paul but comfortable easy to hold and very playable. The neck feels great!! The fish is also very nice, the pick-ups and the bridge give it a great look. Again, this guitar is a great buy for less than $400 I picked up this guitar thinking it was a cheap rip-off of a Gibson. 5 minutes later i owned it. Its built well, sounds great and looks fantastic. Mine is an m75t lefty w/brown sunburst finish. If you try one you will be surprised at the quality of this guitar. If you just want a Gibson,spend the money. If you want to get pretty damn close and save a grand or more check out the DeArmond. If they made a car I'd buy it!! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com