DeArmond Starfire

Made in 2000 in Korea. Features covered by other reviews. Mine is black, with a high gloss poly finish that is super shiny, but which is very durable. I think it's maple throughout the body. I actually would love to have a blonde one!

The neck is kind of flat on the back, which took some getting used to, but now I find it extremely comfortable. The medium-jumbo frets are also comfortable, although they needed a little finishing.

The pickups are a little bright (I play mostly jazz) but they are very punchy and full when played through a warm amp. I usually use either a Fender Blues Junior (retubed for more clean headroom) or a Roland VG3 modeling amp, set to Jazz Chorus clean. You can get most sounds you'd get from a semi-hollow, from warm jazz to blues to twangy country. They've got a slightly Gretsch-like quality to them which is distinctive.

The electronics are very quiet and high quality and the pots are clean and smooth.

I actually raised the action a bit when I got it, since I use 11s with a wound G, and lowered the neck pickup slightly to make it less hot. This is a very comfortable instrument to hold and play, although it's a little heavy. The workmanship is excellent overall, and the equal of much more expensive guitars.

I have gigged with this somewhat over the past 9 years, and have no doubt this guitar would hold up on the road. The volume/tone knobs are kind of cheap, but those are easily replaced. The frets seem especially durable.

I've also noticed some of the binding discoloration others have reported, but it's not a real problem.

Never needed any repair. DeArmond was made by Fender (for the few years it existed as a brand), but it's long out of warranty.

This has been a great value for the small amount I paid for it. I've been playing about 30 years, gigging semi-regularly for about 7. I also have a 1999 DeArmond X-155 hollowbody (same pups), which is also very good, especially for jazz. I have a number of acoustics, including Giannini Craviolas and classicals, as well as a couple of Chinese-made Saga Gitanes. I got this guitar for remarkably little money and would find it hard to replace, even if I spent $1000, if it disappeared. It easily beats the Epiphones and other similar lower=priced instruments, and compares favorably to Gibson and Heritage. I've recently started playing it again, and am remembering how much fun it is.

Stock blonde MIK model, unsure of year. All maple, with rosewood f/board.

I play all kinds of styles on this guitar: rock, blues, soul/funk, afrobeat, fusion, even 'classic'(pre-90s) metal. Currently it serves as #1 gigging guitar in my rock band, where I run it into a couple of G2D overdrives and a Victoria Double Deluxe or Mesa Blue Angel head w/2x12 (occasionally both amps in tandem).

My Starfire has a very nice all-maple 335-like tone, dimensional and warm with enough brightness to cut through without sounding annoying. I occasionally consider upgrading the stock pickups, but never get round to it, which suggests they sound just fine.

This guitar is incredibly well made. The only flaw the guitar has is a slight discolouration in the binding at the 20th fret on the low-E side, and as this has become worse over time I suspect it's playing wear rather than a flaw. The frets are nicely seated, the binding is perfect and the finish is superb. I have owned several US-built guitars that were nowhere near as well put together as this guitar. The only guitar I have owned that had better build quality was a flawless mid-90s PRS CU22.

I received my Starfire from the previous owner with a buzzy ultra-low action and flatwounds, and immediately set it up with roundwound D'addario 10-52s and a more sensible take on low action. I once I had performed my quick 'setup' I quickly realised I had a superb player on my hands. I'd go so far as to say it's the best playing guitar I've owned.

After two years of solid gigging (3-8 gigs a month) and recording (1-2 records a year plus sessions), the only wear and tear I can notice is some fret wear, a spot of extra binding discolouration from my pick attack, and two tiny cracks in the neck pickup's mounting ring, again probably from pick attack over time. I'm pretty physical with this guitar and it still looks nearly mint and plays as good as when I first set it up. I replaced the strap buttons with Dimarzio clip-locs, just for that extra bit of safety. I have gigged it without backup, though usually I take another guitar along.

I have been playing for twenty years, and I own a handful of other guitars: Tele Custom, Reverend Flatroc, Custom strat-style. Over the years, I've gone through a ton of gear, including several MIA fenders, custom built guitars, Gibsons, Fernandes, Ibanez, and PRS. These days, I'm more of an amp guy, and the availablilty of killer MIK, MIJ and MIM guitars like this Starfire enables me to cover a few different 'food groups' with great sounding, easily replaceable guitars while freeing up limited resources for nicer amps.

I have to give this guitar a 10, considering the value for money, playability, ruggedness and tone. You could easily refinish the headstock with a Guild logo and experienced players would think they were hearing/playing a handbuilt MIA instrument. It's a shame they were discontinued, though they do pop up used fairly often. If lost/stolen I'd pick up another as soon as I could.

Occasionally I entertain thoughts of getting a 90s or fender-era Guild Starfire, but it'd have to be a very nice one to replace this DeArmond. I've compared my Starfire to 335/45/55s, lucilles, Epis, Tokai 335s and 60s and 70s Starfires, and while a couple of the Gibsons and old Guilds were perhaps a tiny bit more nuanced in terms of tone, the DeArmond aquits itself very well in all areas.

dont know the year, crafted in korea, maple neck and body rosewood neck 2 goldtone pups..335 style double cutaway...mine came with a bigsby style trem.

wow let me tell ya...I once owned a gibson 335 and this trashes that at a stroke the only thing the gibo had in its favour was a nicer action and neck. I play through a fender deville playing blues and garage rock and surf. those goldtones are to die for in my opinion, quite trebly but full sounding..turn down the tone on your pups if its a little to much. jazz, blues, rock, rockabilly (with the bigsby!)indie, country...probably not metal, but who cares

action is quite good, thickish neck, but I found with many guitars they need wearing in a bit before they feel right. I sorted out the action and intonation..very good even with the bigsby someone's fitted. the finish is execellent, love the art deco scratchplate pots could be better but you can change em easily.

only just got this and set it up...had borrowed one from a mate..thats why I was on the lookout for one. have used one live sounded fantastic...guitar number one is a 72 reissue telecaster thinline which i love but this guitar sounds so full....I feel like Im cheating on another woman...but I will be using it definately sooon!!

Extinct!!

been playing for about 20 years on and off, have owned gibson 335 and sg's and juniors, telecasters, epiphone sheraton,blah blah. various amps fender twin, bassman, deville, marshall bluesbreaker, vox ac30. I would hate to lose this guitar and would pay a kings ransom to get it back! Love everything about it especially the pups. I never thought I'd buy a guitar with a bigsby, and thought initially about searching for an original tailpiece, but the trem really works and ads to my style....great great, great!!!!!

Features have been completely covred by other more competent reviewers, I had all I needed, but I have to say that it was too bright for the jazz sound I was expecting. Then serendipity struck, the saddles were pretty cheap and were cutting through the strings.....I installed graphite saddles and althought the volume crashed, the sound got just to the right color.

I guess I expanded on the sound in the wrong part, but after the above modifications it played real nice, but needed a lot of amplification when trying to rock out with the kids.

I got seduced by the price and the finish, really a cool looker (but I have yet to see a guitar that I don't like the looks of). The string breakage got me sort of pissed off but after finding tossing those guillotine saddles I was pretty happy.

I'm sure that mine will last forever.....I've stopped playing it since I'm going through my second childhood and only play my Heartfield RR now. The DeArmond is in the case under the bed awaiting a reawakening of more 'mature' tastes.

N/A

What I wish I would have asked before buying it was a steeper discount! Should check out this site BEFORE buying a new ax to see what others are paying. I've been selling off the superfluous, but so far I find it hard to part with the DeArmond, I feel sometime down the road I'll be glad I kept it.

2000 01, 02, not sure they only made them three years. Natural Blonde Maple top back and sides, Korean ES335 copy very very nice. You have read the other reviews the purpose of this is to just confirm what others have said. How do you rate features on a guitar? It included a built in espresso machine a cigarette holder? What?

Boy Oh Boy! I have owned and played about everything and you know what? Just because it says Gibson made in USA and cost over $2,000 doesn't mean a thang. This guitar with the USA gold tone DeArmonds can go head to head with any, and I mean any Gibson ES335 for sound and playability, you name the place and the time. Sound wise it is a 10

Very well constructed as well as guitars costing eight times the money. The natural maple top and back is very plain no flame or curl. It is still quite attractive. If you get a black one, who cares and the sunburst are beautiful. Like I said cosntruction wise it is built as well as other "high end" guitars. For your extra $2000.00 you will get a prettier fancy top but it will not sound any better. So for what it's worth it's action fit and finish with the materials they cosntructed it with gets a 10 but because they put on some real cheap looking volume and tone knobs it gets a 9. I replaced them for les than $10.00.

It does withstand live playing. What kind of question is that? Say as opposed to dead playing? The finish I think is a urethane or something real hard.

Playing forever. If you want a es335 type guitar that has quality and is a real buy this is it. If you get a chance to get one these you won't be dissapointed. Why Fender stoped with the DeArmonds is not a mystery to me. They just were to good and the DeArmon solid bodies were just to close to the Gretsh solid body line and Fender has the Guild name to use for the Starfier es335 style.

Laminated top 335 type semihollow... comparable features to decent quality semihollow imports. Boasts DeArmond goldtone HB's, Have little means of comparison, yet they sound decent. Prefer this guitar to Washburn, and Epiphone Dot, Casino and Reviera models.. Sounds comparable to heritage, Still prefer the actual 335. Purchased a few DeArmond on closeout 2003, around $200 per guitar

Decent sound. Certainly not a cheap sounding guitar. Preferable to the Ibanez Arstar series IMHO

Good action, decent finish, nice weight

Too new to determine

Nonexistant

I'm a professional middle-aged musician. This is a fine example of how todays Korean imports are much better quality guitars, than the imports of 30 years ago... I'm satisfied with the guitar so-far

Maple neck (set) and body, sunburst finish, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, 2 stock humbuckers. Very nice construction for the price.

I am a guy from Denmark, who bought this guitar 3 years ago. I play almost everything that can be described as "Pop/Rock". I bought this this instrument for its good "clean" sound. The brigde pickup is full and bright and perfect for clean cutting rhythm guitar. I mainly use the neck pickup for leads (not metallica solos!!!), but every other kinds of clean lead guitar. As good as it is played clean, this is NOT the guitar for distortion though...you can get an okay crunch/overdrive sound with the bridge, but the neck pickup is WAY too Muddy, and sounds horrible when distorted. No attack at all, even if you try playing leads! But thats only to be expected with a semi-hollowbody. Overall I'm satisfied with this instrument.

The finish is VERY nice!!!Everything looks and feels beautyfull, and it seems to be solid like a rock! The neck is large so this is not a "fast action" guitar, but thats okay...its a matter of personal taste. The only negative thing is that the instrument is very heavy because its pure Maple (heavy Wood sort).

Rock solid!!!

I belive this is a very well buildt guitar for the price...sounds good too, as long you're not playing distortion based music.

Red semi-hollow-body copy of a Guild Starfire, itself a copy of an es-335. Specs basically the same as below. NOS pre-Fender.

Some people have complained that these pickups are too bright, but damned if I don't find them absolutely perfect. If I were a jazz player I might be irritated, but I play rock and roll. I'm playing small clubs, mostly solo indie-rock, through a Gibson Skylark. The sound is full, sound, cutting and beautiful. Piano-like, a bit like a solidbody through P-90's.

I like really high action, so that's where it's at. The bridge is at the very top of its range! Everything was too low when I bought it. The finish is really nice--I think it's poly, but it is even and deep, and lets the grain show through just a little. Fretboard fast and comfy, and though I generally prefer narrow high frets, these medium jumbos feel good.

Seems solid to me. I hated the knobs--they were obviously cheesy as hell--so I replaced them with some genuine 60's Guild Starfire black speed knobs. They look and feel great. I don't gig hard, so I can't tell you if the axe would withstand armageddon, but it feels very good. By the way, the Squier version of this guitar happened to be standing right next to my stool when I was trying this baby out in the store... Comparatively, the Squier is a piece of crap. Lousy finish, lousy binding, completely inapproproate pickups, snaggy frets. Why in the name of Pete did Fender do this? DeArmond was making some great guitars on the cheap!!!

They are n'more.

It seems impossible that this guitar is this good. For the money? Forget it. Grab one on eBay or ask your Fender dealer if he's got one up in the attic.

The one I bought was made in 2000 from Musician's Friend for $449 and came with a plush case. Overall it is a good quality instrument from Korea. It has the solid sustain block down the inside of the body and laminated top, back and sides. Good quality adjustable tension tuners are installed and the guitar stays in tune. The neck is chunky but not too much, actually just right for my playing. My Starfire is blonde, and affectionately named 'Helga'.

The GoldTone humbuckers are surprisingly good sounding and powerful. The volume and tone pots are very smooth sealed / fluid damped and not scratchy at all. The toggle is of fair quality and makes a little noise occasionally. No issues with the input jack; it is solid. Good humbucking bite on the back pickup and nicely mellow on the front pickup, about what you expect from a thinline archtop.

The finish is good; mine has 3 birdseye marks between the pickups, rather unique for this model. The f-holes are a bit rough edged and I had to gently smooth the edges with a fingernail file to remove some danglers. The action is light and responsive with the trapeze / harp tailpiece. The tailpiece was poorly mounted with the three screws not put in straight; this was easily corrected however.

I have played this guitar alot and it is very durable. The bridge, tuners, and frets are still in new condition after 3 years of use. The finish shows no signs of wear yet so good here. I replaceed the strap buttons with Dunlop straplocks and they are the weakest point of the guitar; they seem to wear out too fast; maybe should switch to another brand.

no data here

Overall I would recommend this guitar to anyone. I played it side by side with the american made Guild Starfire ($1200) and the important differences were negligible. In fact, the hardware on the Guild was inferior to the DeArmond. This is a player's guitar, not worth collecting but it has it where it counts to gigging musicians.

nice guitar...the build quality is incredibly good ,esp fer the
price. the usa goldtones to the binding ,neck etc., all fine quality.this axe is a sleeper in a guitar flooded market.try one
to really know its got the basic workin axe features and thats all a guitar player needs.

the sound,...well at first i thought it was going to be too bright for my tastes,....but then i discovered the brightness excess was coming
from the trapeeze style (harp) tail piece.one option was to change
it to a bigsby or a stop bar,but i tried a slab of leather under the
strings at the tailpiece where the string ball end goes.......woe...
it instantly became warm and nicely full while eliminating the odd
overtones(high pitched too),from the tail. man it works for me and i
didn t have to alter the original perminantly.
now the only other deal you need is a DSL100 half stack...deep
swith in and adjust yer eeqq. this axe can make better use of the
bass in an amp than any axe i have put to er. a fender fat strat(american), ..way too muddy, had the bass at o and no deep use.

way better than epiphone sheratin,and dot....tones better than squire
and even better than guild starfires......i even seen a gibson es335
not as clean on build q.

so far...very good

playin 35 years...i like it a lot. its a keeper
thanks Girard for the great axe and good service at surrey long and
mquade. .............
catfish steve