DeArmond M-68

Features have aready been stated by others. Pretty basic guitar with outstanding pickups - DeArmond 2K single coils. Those pickups transform this into a pretty special instrument.

THe M-68 sounds great. I have played guitar since rock was in Pampers, and i mostly play rock and blues. The 2k pickups can go from warm to raucous. They make a very nice complement to my other humbucker-equipped guitars. Individual tone and volume controls give this guitar a fairly wide range of tones. I love the sound that the neck pickup puts out. I think this guitar can do just about anything but, like a P-90 guitar, it really shines for blues or classic rock. The M-68 and other DeArmonds, are probably not pointy enough for metal, but you would probably be surprised if you heard this through a distortion pedal and a larger Marshall.

I have had quite a few DeArmonds, and I have played a bunch more. They were all fine, well appointed guitars. This M-68 is no exception. It tunes and intonates well, and the doggone thing holds its tuning very well. Frets work is typically very nice. Mine is a nice candy apple red with the tastefully cheesy clear transparent pickguard. The harp tailpiece gives it a stylish retro look. Very classy looking guitar. I can't speak about the factory setup because I bought mine second-hand. Feels, looks, sounds, and plays beter that the $500+ guitar it was originally designed to be.

This guitar feels real solid. am sure that it would withstand any reasonable use. The hardware like the bridge and tuners function extremely well. If you treat it like the fine instrument it is it should last a lifetime or three. Even though DeArmonds are notorious for strap buttons that pull loose and control knobs that chip and crack, mine was in remarkably good shape. I don't gig, but if I did i'd take a backup - as would any responsible professional.

Never dealt with them. I understand that Fender will service DeArmonds. As a second-hand instrument there is probably no warranty.

I have been playing since 1964. I own a few guitars: DeArmond M-70, 1964 Epiphone Granada thinline hollowbody electric, Gibson CS-336, and a Martin D12-20 twelve string. I bought the M-68 because I loved the sound of the 2K pickups. For what I paid, this guitar was a steal. IMO the quality and the great tones of this guitar make it easily worth twice (or more) what I paid. Basically, I got a pretty nice guitar for the preice of a pair of pickups. If this was lost or stolen I'd replace it in a heartbeat with another M-68 or, better still, a Starfire Special Someday (soon, I hope) I am going to get that Starfire Special anyway -- anybody have one they want to trade for that Martin???.

Bolt on neck, LP style, metal flake finish. 2001 model, two Dearmond 2k single coil pickups. Stop tail piece, tune-o-matic bridge, sealed tuners, two tone, two volume pots, three way switch. Bound top.

Basic 2 pickup guitar, but WHAT PICKUPS!!!

These pickups twang like Elvis with a case of Mountain Dew. I love this guitar! Bright and cutting single coils, very old school.

Action was fair...playable out of the box but better with a setup. Looks nice, finish is pretty good. No other problems

Tough little guitar, finish is hard to put a mark on. Always have a backup!

Never dealt with, but Fender has a good rep.

If you're just looking for some twang, but either don't need a tele or can't afford a real one, this will do it in spades. Nice light weight, LP styling, at twice the price I would call it a deal. If you didn't get one when they were this cheap, too bad.

Made in 2001 in Indonesia. 2 volume 2 tone. Agathis body, Nato neck. Pickups are DeArmond 2k Alnico- single coils. The body a little like a LP and a little like a Bluebird.

Here comes the surpises. I play mostly old rock, ie Petty, Young, Dead mixed in with new "Alt-rock". This guitar was purchased to be a cheap back-up to my Am Std Tele (my baby). A guitar to trash on to put it delicately. This thing doesn't fit that mold, it sounds too damn good.
To my ears I can get this thing to sound like either a LP or a Tele depending on pickup settings.
Theses pickups rock. No question. They do have some hum, as with most singles, but not an excessive amount.
They can go from clean to dirty without much tinkering with the knobs. Distorts better than my Tele.
I can nail a twang and jangle as well as a full throated scream with this thing.

Ok, heres the downers. Paint and finish look great from a far. But blemishes are evident under scrutiny.
The nut wasn't completely filed down on the neck side, shavings still attached.
The trapeze tail piece is permanently blemished.
Pickup are adjusted well though, as with action.
Opened the box and only had to tune the low E. Rest near perfect in tune.
But for $159, all is forgiven.

Too early to tell, seems solid

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I would replace if stolen. A true bargain of a guitar. This thing will not be a guitar to trash on, unfortunately, will have to find another one for that. I would not replace my Tele with it, but a great, great second guitar.
Been playing over 10 years and have tried 100's of types of guitars and this thing, all things considered, ranks among the greatest bargains I have ever seen. Paid $159 for a good guitar, amazing nowadays.