For Dearmond M-75T, 2K lovers

[mad dog]

After owning this cool guitar for several years, I discovered something new yesterday. A more or less amazing sound.

The middle p/u position has long been my favorite on this guitar. It minimizes noise, which can be considerable with these pickups, and sounds better to my ears than either pickup alone. I usually roll tone down a bit on the bridge p/u, but leave the neck tone up. Yesterday got messing around. Playing through TIM clean boost into a rather gainy tweed pro type amp (Sewell Wampus Cat.) So even in the middle p/u spot, I was hearing that P90 type noise. Turned the bridge tone down further. To just before when it lost all treble edge. Then for kicks turned the neck tone full off.

That toned the noise down quite a bit. Not expected was how good it sounds. What a beautiful tone. Dense, thick, easy to get on the edge and into drive with just a bit of extra volume. Sustain everywhere, but still clear. My pots and caps were changed, so that might be part of this. RS guitar pots, .022 cap on the bridge, .015 on the neck.

Anyway, worth a try if you have one of these guitars.
MD

 

[Default]

Thanks for the tip! I've been piddling with mine as time allows, and replaced the drag-o-matic bridge with a lower profile roller from Stew-Mac. I had some Planet Waves lockers that I bought from a member a while back.

A very nice little guitar.

 

[sgmypod]

Just got a 11year old one of these..great guitars getting roller bridge..and prob later a tvjones pickup for bridge

 

[mad dog]

SGM:

Yours looks just like mine. IMO, no roller bridge needed. What worked for me is a new, graphtec nut, a good setup including generous nut sauce (or whatever) on contact points. Very tuning stable now. The Digsby is stiff, but precise and quite effective.

Hope you enjoy that cool new guitar.
MD

 

[sgmypod]

great guitar especially for the money....although still love the big brother bluesbird

 

[Walter Broes]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

 

[mad dog]

Walter:

There's always the rare fender telesonic. Though somehow I have this feeling it would be relatively disappointing as a telecaster ... if you can even find one.

MD

 

[Default]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

 

[jp]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

Hear hear! Any chance that you might have checked out the Hofner Club 50 or regular Hofner Club, Walter? I haven't had a chance, but the closed hollow construction may be the closest thing to it.

 

[sfIII]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

I suspect that these are very close to a M-75... with Jazz pickups of course.

 

[tele4tone]

Walter:

There's always the rare fender telesonic. Though somehow I have this feeling it would be relatively disappointing as a telecaster ... if you can even find one.

MD

I own a telesonic

I don't think it sounds anything like a Bluesbird. I do however think it is a fantastic guitar. It took getting used to, but the 2K pickups are very versatile.

 

[Default]

As much as I hate to say it, it shouldn't be too difficult for the Terada factory to build one. Like Walter mentioned in another thread, Thr Gretsch Jet models are very similar.


John Lee never played one, though.

 

[Walter Broes]

I have that same JLH record Steve, used to have it in a frame on my wall even!

Yep, a 50's Gretsch Duo Jet was about as hollow as a 50's M75, except they had a small soundpost under the bridge. As time progressed, Jets became a little more solid.
I'd love a DeArmond-equipped Jet, but I'd prefer a Bluesbird!

I've played Hofner's small hollowbodies, but I never liked the pickups.

 

[jp]

As much as I hate to say it, it shouldn't be too difficult for the Terada factory to build one. Like Walter mentioned in another thread, Thr Gretsch Jet models are very similar.


John Lee never played one, though.

Alas, so true! Gutbucket cool factor is lacking!

I have that same JLH record Steve, used to have it in a frame on my wall even!

Yep, a 50's Gretsch Duo Jet was about as hollow as a 50's M75, except they had a small soundpost under the bridge. As time progressed, Jets became a little more solid.
I'd love a DeArmond-equipped Jet, but I'd prefer a Bluesbird!

I've played Hofner's small hollowbodies, but I never liked the pickups.

The Hofners are pretty close in size too, though I think the scale is shorter. Never played'em but I would assume the pickups don't have near the personality of the Franz PUs. However, I have a '64-64 Club Bass that I love to death. The Gretsch Duo Jet Bass also looks badass.

 

[mad dog]

Tele4tone:

Loving the 2k pickups in my dearmond m75t, I wanted the telesonic for the longest time. They are rare. Over time, I've come to appreciate the more standard tele tones, with that longer scale. So kinda gave up the telesonic hunt. Maybe someday. The closest dearmond came to that (simple mahogany solid body with 2k pickups) was the 12 string version of the S-73. And that's another one I'd love to have.

MD

 

[tele4tone]

Mine came by way of my brother. We oogled one at Mars music for a year or so. I moved away from home and my brother bought one off of Ebay for a lot less than they go for now. I didn't play it for a year or so, but started to when my Tele needed fret work. I love it now. My brother passed on in 2007. I have it now, but wish everyday he was still around to plink on it.

Cheers, Jeff

 

[mad dog]

Jeff:

I'm sorry to hear about your brother. You must think of him all the time when you play it.

MD

 

[Guildenstern]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

Hear hear! Any chance that you might have checked out the Hofner Club 50 or regular Hofner Club, Walter? I haven't had a chance, but the closed hollow construction may be the closest thing to it.

I think the new Hofners are better built than they were in the '60s (Beatle basses excepted).

 

[Guildenstern]

I wish Guild would build something like this again, with the DeArmond pickups and a proper M75 hollow body...sigh...

I suspect that these are very close to a M-75... with Jazz pickups of course.

MSRP: $2950

 

[Guildenstern]

After owning this cool guitar for several years, I discovered something new yesterday. A more or less amazing sound.

The middle p/u position has long been my favorite on this guitar. It minimizes noise, which can be considerable with these pickups, and sounds better to my ears than either pickup alone. I usually roll tone down a bit on the bridge p/u, but leave the neck tone up. Yesterday got messing around. Playing through TIM clean boost into a rather gainy tweed pro type amp (Sewell Wampus Cat.) So even in the middle p/u spot, I was hearing that P90 type noise. Turned the bridge tone down further. To just before when it lost all treble edge. Then for kicks turned the neck tone full off.

That toned the noise down quite a bit. Not expected was how good it sounds. What a beautiful tone. Dense, thick, easy to get on the edge and into drive with just a bit of extra volume. Sustain everywhere, but still clear. My pots and caps were changed, so that might be part of this. RS guitar pots, .022 cap on the bridge, .015 on the neck.

Anyway, worth a try if you have one of these guitars.
MD

The middle position is my favorite, too. I'll try the tone settings you suggested.