Age of DeArmond Starfire Bass?

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Hi, all! I'm the proud new owner of a Korean-made DeArmond Starfire bass. :D I'm curious about it's age... when did they make these? I've found no good info by searching except a vague feeling that it's probably from the late 90's or so?
 

fronobulax

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Can't help you with a better date, but welcome. This notes that Fender acquired DeArmond in 1996 and then started making the Guild designs which supports the late 90's.
 
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That helps, thank you! A post here that I found by Google said that they were made in Korea for just a couple of years before moving to Indonesia, so that narrows it down if the post is accurate. Wikipedia is suprisingly lacking.
 

Default

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The DeArmonds were imported after the purchase of Guild, by Fender, so you're barking up the right tree.
I'm not a bass player, (yet)< but the general consensus is a pair of Darkstar pickups and a screwdriver and lowend nirvana is yours!
Welcome to the nuthouse!
 
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Thank you! Feels good to finally be here... I've lurked here and there, looking around for a real basket-case Starfire to mod like Phil Lesh's. (still looking if anyone knows one!)

This one dropped in my lap already complete with the Dark Stars in it, plus a D-Tar buffer and a Bartolini EZQ for each pickup. It's awesome!
 

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The serial # prefix on the Korean made basses begin with KC. The first # after that would be the year of manufacture. I have 2, both serial #s KC903XXXX, making them both from 1999. I know this holds true for first digit 8 and 9. Not positive what happens in 2000.
 

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bassmyf said:
The serial # prefix on the Korean made basses begin with KC. The first # after that would be the year of manufacture. I have 2, both serial #s KC903XXXX, making them both from 1999. I know this holds true for first digit 8 and 9. Not positive what happens in 2000.

To add to my previous post..
After a little research I found that the following 2 numbers are the month of manufacture,
making both of my basses built in March of 1999. Also in 2000, the 7 digit serial # became 8 digit, beginning with 00., so a bass built in say June 2001 would have a # like KC0106XXXX.
Instruments made in Indonesia begin with the prefix IC. Hope this helps.

Jeff
 
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