Angd!

[duhvoodooman]

Almost new guitar day....as in we've made the deal, but the guy wouldn't take a personal check (can't blame him, really) so I have to stop back with cash to complete the deal. This is the DeArmond Starfire Special that I asked for some input about in a previous post. Played it yesterday at the seller's home through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb RI and a 1966 Ampeg Gemini II (which was a cool amp, but that's another story). Played great, sounded great (I can understand the reputation of the DeArmond 2K pickups now), and is in absolutely mint condition. Tried it both clean and through a Bad Monkey for some overdrive--really nice, articulate tones. Nice OHSC, too. Will pick it up sometime this week. Here are some photos the seller posted on the local Craigslist:

 

[Robert]

Sweet! Congrats!

 

[markb]

Ooh!! And what's this about a Gemini?

 

[guitarhack]

Congratulations. I bet that Gemini sounded awesome. I play my Special through a '65 Rocket 2 at times and the notes are really full and round. Just incredible.

 

[Tig]

Wow, veeeeery nice! I'd have bought it too.

 

[Duffy]

Nice. I hope you are able to reel that one in. Very beautiful. How old is that guitar?

 

[Spudman]

I like that. Very classic and classy looking. Dearmond made some great Korean guitars a few years ago.

 

[Monkus]

that looks awesome !!!!! congrats !!!!

 

[Katastrophe]

Gorgeous! I'll bet those pickups sound incredible... Congrats, DVM!

 

[duhvoodooman]

I bet that Gemini sounded awesome. I play my Special through a '65 Rocket 2 at times and the notes are really full and round. Just incredible.

That's a good characterization of how the Gemini II sounded--very full and round. Gorgeous clean tone. It had a single 15" speaker in the cab--not sure exactly what kind, because the guy said he had removed & stored the original JBL because of its value (smart move). He said he'd had it for many, many years and loved it, but commented on what a PITA it was to change tubes, because it uses weird types. Almost none of them are made anymore, and the NOS versions cost a fortune. He also commented that he owned a Reverb Rocket, but that his son (also a player) had appropriated that one some time ago. BTW, his main guitar is a Gibson CS-336, basically an ES-335 with a scaled down body. Didn't get to see that, though....

 

[Ch0jin]

(almost) Congrats! That looks real nice, right up my alley as it were.

 

[marnold]

Looks like a sweet buy there, DVM! With a whammy bar, no less! I don't know if I'd recommend dive-bombing with it though.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Looks like a sweet buy there, DVM! With a whammy bar, no less! I don't know if I'd recommend dive-bombing with it though.

Yeah, prolly not the right guitar for "Eruption". Actually, this will be my first guitar with a Bigsby vibrato. Not planning this guitar to be a mod platform, but I very well might install a tune-o-matic bridge with roller saddles. I doubt that dragging the strings across the V-notched saddles is very good for string life....

 

[duhvoodooman]

Picked it up yesterday. NICE guitar! Sounds great both clean & dirty.

Couple of my own photos:

 

[Algonquin]

Looks great DVM! :AOK
I think you're on the right track with a roller bridge to go with the Bigsby... just makes sense for those subtle vibrato's!

Enjoy!

 

[marnold]

I'm really surprised to haven't realized the benefits of NOS siding yet, DVM. oke

That guitar even looks better in your pics. Congrats!

 

[tjcurtin1]

What a beauty - cool looking guitar! I'd love to hear what it sounds like...

 

[duhvoodooman]

I think you're on the right track with a roller bridge to go with the Bigsby... just makes sense for those subtle vibrato's!

And when I got it home and looked carefully at the bridge....it already has roller saddles! :AOK This guitar has a lot of nice features and aesthetic appointments. About the only thing I'm not to keen on are the pot knobs, which strike me as rather chintzy looking. But that's a really minor point and easily addressed....

 

[Ch0jin]

That's real nice. Exactly the vibe I'd be looking for should I decide that two hands and four guitars aren't enough

My first reaction the the knobs is the same as yours. Maybe something like these? (I have these in Silver on my ZeroDot and Black on my BB1200 so I'm a bit of a fan of the style)

 

[guitarhack]

Sweet-looking guitar. Enjoy!

 

[tjcurtin1]

I dunno - I think those original knobs are a good match...

 

[duhvoodooman]

I dunno - I think those original knobs are a good match...

Well, I just couldn't bond with them. Switched to a set of amber Gibson-style bell knobs. Likin' these much better on the guitar:

 

[Ch0jin]

Well played sir. Those look very much at home on that guitar. How are you enjoying the Bigsby?