DeArmond Starfire bass -US assembly question

[Yggdrasil]

An ebay listing makes the following claim - how accurate is he? (after all, he also claims it's medium scale):

"inspected and set up in the U.S. (Corona, CA) where genuine American DeArmand pickups were added. "

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170618396898&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[fronobulax]

I'll give the seller a pass on the scale. There are basses out there with a scale length less than 30.5 inches and if you run into enough of them you kinda need another word for 30.5. That said, the real problem comes from labels on string packages. In addition to the vibrating length the sting has to have enough length to go from the bridge to the end pin and from the nut to the post. That leads to cases where a "short scale" string is too short for a bass with a 30.5 inch scale.

As for the seller, I have heard, but cannot find where, that "DeArmond by Guild" meant that the instrument was set up in the U.S.A where the electronics were added. I don't know whether the seller is right or wrong but we have both picked up the same piece of (mis)information. assuming that a USA set up did happen, I might guess it was done in Corona given what little I know about Fender factories.

 

[Yggdrasil]

Thanks,Frono

Since I have one of these for sale, I'd include that info in my "promotional blurb", but only if it is correct.

So I'll wait for additional comments from the host of experts.

 

[Happy Face]

As I recall, they used to put that legend on the "Madeira" line. Up on the truss rod cover or something? Do not recall seeing it on my D'A SF.

 

[fronobulax]

There is always the possibility that the seller and I have confused Madeira with DeArmond. However, I have a vague sense that DeArmond is treated with a little more respect in today's market which could be due to extra added attention between import and the trip to the dealer. (<veer> Which is a far cry from buying a computer from a U.S. company that makes them in China. The FedEx tracking starts in China and ends at my house).

This says all of the bass PUs were made in the USA although is silent about where they were installed.

This says

Fender had purchased the DeArmond brand of musical instrument pickups in 1997, and then combined the company with Guild to produce an alternative line of high quality, affordable guitars and basses that are modeled after Guild designs. The guitars themselves are built and assembled in Korea before being sent back to Corona, where they are fitted with American-made DeArmond pickups.

So either might be enough to make a claim on a for sale item and not be accused of lacking honesty.

 

[Happy Face]

"There is always the possibility that the seller and I have confused Madeira with DeArmond."

Again, I was speaking from hazy recollection only.

"However, I have a vague sense that DeArmond is treated with a little more respect in today's market which could be due to extra added attention between import and the trip to the dealer."

That is certainly true. Also noticed some sellers pointing to the fact the SFs were made in Korea as a plus. I guess Chinese or Indonesian-made are now the low men on the totem pole.

 

[Yggdrasil]

(snip)
This says all of the bass PUs were made in the USA although is silent about where they were installed.

This says

Fender had purchased the DeArmond brand of musical instrument pickups in 1997, and then combined the company with Guild to produce an alternative line of high quality, affordable guitars and basses that are modeled after Guild designs. The guitars themselves are built and assembled in Korea before being sent back to Corona, where they are fitted with American-made DeArmond pickups.

So either might be enough to make a claim on a for sale item and not be accused of lacking honesty.

Thanks, Frono!