What Pickups Should I Buy for My DeArmond?

indytone · Post by **indytone** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:39 am

I have a DeArmond M75-T just like this one: [url=http://cgi.ebay.com/Dearmond-M75T- ... 51515449QQ[/url]

I'd like to swap out the pick ups for something that has a bit of a clearer, glass-like tone and hum control. I play a lot of chords and the current pick ups don't keep the notes clear enough when strumming. Plus, unless I have them in the middle position (both on) there's too much hum. Who makes some pick ups that could deliver on something like that?

While I haven't measured the pickups currently in my guitar, I've been told by its previous owner that they are of a "wierd" size.

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:11 am

Those are DeArmond 2K pups which are more like beefy P-90s than the old Gretsch/Guild DeAs. Dearmond does make another pickup (DeArmond 2000) that looks almost the same but sounds more like the classic DeAs. The 2000s are used on some current Gretsch and have been used on certain Fenders like the Telesonic. I had a M77-t with the 2ks and I didn't like the sound either, although they did sound better on a DeA Starfire Special I had. Now I have a hollow Gretsch 5127 with the 2000s, and I love them. Bright & twangy, so if you're looking for a Gretschy sound, you might want to hunt down a pair of these if you can.

Another option is GFS pups. They have a DeArmond style pickup that you can check out. I haven't tried those, but I have used several other pickups from them that are fantastic, and super resonable pricewise. Guitar fetish sells them on eBay.

BTW, a way to tell a 2K from a 2000 (they sure made it confusing using similiar names for pups that look almost identical) is that 2ks have DeArmond and USA engraved on the side while 2000s have no such engraving. I believe 2ks were only used on DeArmond guitars hence the engraving.

Hope that helps.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:24 am

I've gotta whole passel of the 2000s and the GFSs for various projects I'm working on. I love the 2000s, and use them on my Gretsch specials all the time. The GFSs are a terrific buy for the bux. You can regularly get them on eBay for less than $20.00 each, and they sound very nice and twangy with more presence than the originals. (You didn't read this here, but they are virtually identical in case size and height to Rick toasters and Hi-Gains. Hmmm.)

Occasionally a vintage 2K will come up on the 'Bay, and people fight over them. Last one I saw went for about $85.00 and it was missing the leads.

indytone · Post by **indytone** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:37 am

Thanks Jerry and Paul. I just sent an email to GFS asking which specific models have the tone I am looking for and will fit in my guitar without me having to mod it.

indytone · Post by **indytone** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:02 pm

GFS Just emailed me back. Looks like I'll have to do some routing. I'm thinking I'm going to do it. It will be cheaper than buying another guitar, and I've had that itch lately.

Now I just need to figure out what pick ups to get. From GFS:
_____
Tony

The problem with the Dearmonds is the surface
mounted Dearmonds- and the heavy and not so toneful Agathis body-

The best way to get some real tone is to route them out- pt a set of our Dream 180's in with a push-pull pot for single coil/humbucker performance-

You can sort of retrofit our "New York" pickups and they'll look cool and have more of that Rickenbacker zing- but not muc more meat-

It's all about what you're willing to do to get some
tone

Jay
____

I'm torn between getting two 180s: http://store.guitarfetish.com/dr180vihuch.html

Or getting a 180 for the bridge, and a New York for the neck: http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfsnyodestsu.html

What do you guys think?

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:49 pm

Tony,

I've got 180s on two of my guitars, one is a Squier M-77. They're awesome pickups, you wouldn't go wrong with them as long as you're comfortable with doing the routing.

Jerry

indytone · Post by **indytone** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:27 am

Jerry,

How would you describe the tones you're able to get from them? They don't have sound samples on their site and I don't know anyone who's tried their product.

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:59 am

Tony,

I emailed you some sound clips of my Squire M-77 with the GFS 180s.

Jerry

indytone · Post by **indytone** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:07 am

Danke! Just mailed you back. I think I'll get a New York for the neck. I really liked the 180 in the bridge position.