Strangely it is difficult to find information about this DeArmond M55 - though it's an internet era guitar released in the 2000s! Even though it's been discontinued and DeArmond don't produce guitars anymore, Fender (who owns the DeArmond brand) could have kept a website about these guitars!
Anyway, the design of this guitar is based on a Guild model - DeArmond were just making the pickups and sign - and as you can notice, the original humbucker has been replaced by a Filtertron copy. I like the absence of stoptail and the turn-o-matic / string-through-body combination, it always feels to me that it's the best way to transmit the strings vibration to the body.
Bertram D
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Very minimalist looking. I too like the lack of a stop-tail. It makes it look like the strings are almost hanging in thin air.
ReplyDeleteNeat point, almost as if they were drawn in as an artist's conception, not a working bluprint. Given how much player's attitudes have changed, if released today, this little one might have more of a fighting chance to gain acceptance.
DeleteHowever limited, there IS a certain pure joy in picking up an electric sans knobs, switches and "endless tonal variations..!" and just playing the damned instrument for change! Might be nice for composition without all the distractions?
Can't tell you how many times I've picked up a Strat w/ every intention of trying to create something from a clean slate, clearing your mind only to wind up putzing around w/ the trem?
you know my philosophy: one sound, one guitar!
DeleteExpand on that. I'd be interested to learn more. Townshend once said; "Start with the amp ( then find the guitar that goes with it! )" (para) That always made sense to me.
DeleteMore Craigslist/Ebay sellers offer the explanation "I'm selling this ____ because I've decided to change genres" or this just wasn't the sound/tone they were looking for! or they're moving on to the bongos, castinets or concert pianist. Firstly, most of us, the overwhelming majority, are lucky to be proficient in (1) 'genre'! Not there aren't exceptions but not enough to fill the Classifieds daily.
I tend to read that as; it's harder than they thought and can't justify a single guitar, let alone multiple. So we're supposed to bail out their impulse purchase...
also searching for a specific sound is nonsense, the guitar decides the sound, so it better to choose it for its good looks and let it do its job!
DeleteForget your strat and buy a tele...
ReplyDeleteNot an entirely bad idea? Prior to being one of Gavin's regular readers I'd have never considered it! Now, a fixed bridge makes more sense every day. My point from the orig. post was there's a time to focus on straightforward composition of actual notes, phrasing, melodic content and getting that aspect down!
DeleteTime enough later to add the bells & whistles.
very similar to the Gibson Midnight Special from the late '70's. Had the same string through the body design. Had one and sold it, I still miss it.
ReplyDelete