'80s DE-500 Reissues

[parker_knoll]

I'm interested in the '80s DE-500 reissues.

Specifically, the pickups. Was Guild, Gretsch or anyone else making Dynasonics at this point? Are they "real", as in, do they have long magnets?

I note they have little risers which the originals did not have. I'm guessing these are Gretsch made pickups.

 

[GAD]

At the risk of spreading Internet rumors I read somewhere that they were NOS pickups. I don’t currently have a source for that, though.

 

[sailingshoes72]

The pickups are original DeArmond 2000 (Dynasonics) manufactured for Guild by Rowe Industries for the original production run of the DE-500. They were found in the parts store room at the factory in the 1980's. There was a thread over on the Gretsch Pages (no longer available) where Duane Eddy's wife, Deed Eddy, posted some info about the 80's reissue.

"The original DeArmond pickups and hardware were found still available at the Guild workshop, Duane agreed to the reissue soley based on this fact." Deed Eddy.

Here's a couple of references:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/photo-mystery.194827/#post-1786143

Identifying DeArmond 200, 2000, and 2K Pickups | GAD's Ramblings

Originally a part of my review of a Guild X160 Rockabilly guitar. I felt that the subject was asked about enough to warrant its own aritcle. The pickups in Guild X160 Rockabilly guitars are DeArmond 2000s, and yes, this is about to get very confusing. If you’ve done even a little bit of reading...

www.gad.net

 

[Rocky]

That is also corroborated by a contemporaneous (Guitar Player?) magazine article about the reissue.

 

[DjangoLang19]

My 59' X-550 has risers under the DeArmonds similar to those.

 

[chazmo]

The pickups are original DeArmond 2000 (Dynasonics) manufactured for Guild by Rowe Industries for the original production run of the DE-500. They were found in the parts store room at the factory in the 1980's. There was a thread over on the Gretsch Pages (no longer available) where Duane Eddy's wife, Deed Eddy, posted some info about the 80's reissue.

"The original DeArmond pickups and hardware were found still available at the Guild workshop, Duane agreed to the reissue soley based on this fact." Deed Eddy.

Here's a couple of references:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/photo-mystery.194827/#post-1786143

Identifying DeArmond 200, 2000, and 2K Pickups | GAD's Ramblings

Originally a part of my review of a Guild X160 Rockabilly guitar. I felt that the subject was asked about enough to warrant its own aritcle. The pickups in Guild X160 Rockabilly guitars are DeArmond 2000s, and yes, this is about to get very confusing. If you’ve done even a little bit of reading...

www.gad.net

really cool, Bill. Boy, the history of these pickups is ridiculously confusing. Even GAD struggled with that article.

 

[Walter Broes]

The Duane Eddy reissues had leftover NOS DeArmonds.

 

[Shakeylee]

a pair of real rowe dearmonds are a good $1k+ themselves.

 

[parker_knoll]

a pair of real rowe dearmonds are a good $1k+ themselves.

I've got some NOS in a cardboard box

 

[sailingshoes72]

With the black plastic insert or the white plastic insert? Guild used the black ones (like Gretsch) early on, but then switched to white.

 

[parker_knoll]

With the black plastic insert or the white plastic insert? Guild used the black ones (like Gretsch) early on, but then switched to white.

mine are black with the art deco style body as used on the '60s Martin hollow body electrics. There was a guy selling a load of Martin NOS complete with loom and pots. Have a look on Reverb

 

[parker_knoll]

mine are black with the art deco style body as used on the '60s Martin hollow body electrics. There was a guy selling a load of Martin NOS complete with loom and pots. Have a look on Reverb

this guy: https://reverb.com/uk/item/15625467...a-5-new-condition-box-harness-pots-and-switch

hit him up as he had quite a few.

 

[Brian J]

There's one of these reissues for sale on Craigslist not too far from me. I should be downsizing to get ready for retirement, but I may go take a look at it. I'm wondering if it has a very thin neck like the current Gretsch Duane model. Here's a pick of some Martin DeArmonds in my Duo Jet.

 

[Shakeylee]

this guy: https://reverb.com/uk/item/15625467...a-5-new-condition-box-harness-pots-and-switch

hit him up as he had quite a few.

i live driving distance from them, i messaged him

 

[Walter Broes]

Here's a pick of some Martin DeArmonds in my Duo Jet.

Cool guitar, I bet it sounds great with those pickups!

 

[Brian J]

i live driving distance from them, i messaged him

Best of luck with it. I think the earliest I can take a look is sometime next week, and I absolutely don't need it.

 

[parker_knoll]

There's one of these reissues for sale on Craigslist not too far from me. I should be downsizing to get ready for retirement, but I may go take a look at it. I'm wondering if it has a very thin neck like the current Gretsch Duane model. Here's a pick of some Martin DeArmonds in my Duo Jet.

What price? I might be interested if you're not

 

[Brian J]

What price? I might be interested if you're not

Here's the one near me. I saw it in the online offerings forum here first.
https://easternshore.craigslist.org/msg/d/easton-guild-de-500-bld-guitar-1983/7658765868.html
There's one for a similar price on Reverb as well.
https://reverb.com/item/63464341-1986-guild-de-500-blonde

 

[sailingshoes72]

Best of luck with it. I think the earliest I can take a look is sometime next week, and I absolutely don't need it.

Brian, I think that member Shakeylee was referring to the NOS DeArmond/Rowe pickups with wire harness and pots, not the DE-500 on Craigslist. I don't think he was trying to snipe you. A trip to the Eastern Shore is always a day well spent!

I like the way member parker_knoll referred to the wire harness as a loom. Clearly an expression used across the pond!

 

[parker_knoll]

Brian, I think that member Shakeylee was referring to the NOS DeArmond/Rowe pickups with wire harness and pots, not the DE-500 on Craigslist. I don't think he was trying to snipe you. A trip to the Easter Shore is always a day well spent!

I like the way member parker_knoll referred to the wire harness as a loom. Clearly an expression used across the pond!

yes, they're called wiring looms here! https://www.montysguitars.com/collections/wiring-looms

I didn't realise it was Brit thing. You guys get so many things wrong.