DeArmond(R) Guitars And Basses Now Available To U.S. Market

DeArmond Starfire Special

January 28, 1999 -- The Guild(R) Guitar Division of FMIC(R) announces the arrival of it's new line of DeArmond(R) guitars and basses to the US market. The DeArmond brand of musical instrument pickups was purchased by Fender(R) two years ago, and then combined with unique Guild guitar designs to develop an alternative line of affordable high quality guitars and basses.

These instruments have undergone the most extensive field testing ever undertaken by a guitar manufacturer. Fender first marketed DeArmond in select European and Asian markets for a year, before making them available to the US and Canadian markets. The success of DeArmond in these test markets is unmatched by any guitar line in recent memory. Great Britain's, The Guitar Magazine, rated DeArmond's M75T a top ten best buy, while Guitarist Magazine hails DeArmond's M75 "the winner" in it's "Head to Head" article. Reviewers in Germany, Italy and Japan had similar reactions when testing the new DeArmond models. Even well known artists like Chrissie Hynde and John Jorgenson have acclaimed the DeArmond line by adding these instruments to their arsenal of guitars.

DeArmond consists of two separate series of guitars and basses. The first series includes the M75, M75T, X155, Starfire(TM), Starfire Special(TM) Starfire Bass(TM), Jet Star (TM) and Jet Star Bass(TM) . All of which make use of venerable Guild designs of the fifties and sixties and feature American made DeArmond pickups specially designed for visual and sonic appeal. Each of these DeArmond's are a set neck instrument with deluxe appointments styled from their Guild parents. Guild's Marketing Manager, Bill Acton states, "DeArmond guitars are built by our manufacturer in Korea and then inspected to ensure that the products meet certain critical standards. After initial inspection, the guitars are sent to California where they are set up and reinspected by Fender's staff before shipment to the dealers."

DeArmond's second series is a low cost series consisting of the M55, M65, M65C, Jet Star Special(TM) and Jet Star Special Bass(TM). These are bolt neck instruments which have been styled from our set neck series. "Just as the higher costing guitars of this line, each one of these guitars must pass inspection by Fender's staff overseas and again at our California facility before they can be shipped out," said Marketing Manager Bill Acton.

DeArmond is a unique product and a unique business opportunity.

For more information, visit http://www.guildguitars.com/