Successive versions of some early fold-outs, including the 1948 Green and the 1955 Red, were reprinted to show price changes some items’ prices being increased, while others were reduced.Guild Guitars was formed after the old Epiphone Company was sold to Gibson in the early 1950s. Dates shown marked are estimated. DeArmond’s own catalogs are presented in date order as much as possible, with the year of issue shown, where known.Perhaps us hooman beans really aren’t as clever as we seem to think we are (shock, horror – hold the front page!). At the end of last year, we had no inclination as to what was about to befall, yet here we are now. While there may be glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel for COVID‑19, there is still a long way to go and there will be profound ramifications that it will leave in its sizeable wake. We are now half way through an extraordinary 2020 and the world is still turned upside down in so many concerning ways. The guitars are usually fitted with great-sounding DArmond Pickups or DiMarzios on later models.WELCOME BACK ONCE again guitar fans and hello to any new visitors.
![]() Secondly, after 18 months, most of the 42 repatriated guitars have now been properly assessed and worked through as far as I am able. Firstly, I mentioned in my December 2019 article that I had bought some gear (big surprise… not) during last year but I didn’t go any further than to list what they were, without any indication as to the whys and wherefores behind the spending spree. I said at the very end of the last article that I would get back to pontificating about ‘cool & rare American vintage electric’ guitars and, at last, I can deliver on that promise/threat (delete as applicable).There are 3 themes on which I’d like to embark this month. I was wondering if anyone could give me any kind of price idea i could sell these for, i would greatly.Well, here we are and no more historical facts, quotes or predictions on which to ponder this month. Due to circumstances, I started out not anticipating much in the way of guitar purchases. Then, we’ll begin… 2019 CRAVE Guitars’ PurchasesAn Introduction to the 2019 CRAVE Guitars2019 was certainly an interesting year. Sitting comfortably? Good. Thirdly, there have been a number of purchases during the first half of 2020 and in due course I can reveal what those are and how they relate both to the existing ‘collection’ and to the ‘wanted’ list from that same December 2019 end‑of‑year/look‑forward roundup.I think that there is more than enough material to occupy one article, so without further ado, let us begin at the beginning. Open setup fileIn fact, 2019 resulted in nine new additions to the CRAVE Guitars family, spanning five decades (1940s‑1980s with at least one from each). What actually happened was a bit more fruitful than I foresaw and I think it deserves some rationale to indicate why they weren’t random purchases. These had all featured on the target list for more than one year, so it seemed a fairly realistic expectation. ![]() ![]() Judging it on its own terms, this is really not the cheap Stratocaster imitation it may seem at first glance. As a result, like the Fender Leads of the time, they weren’t manufactured for long. The early USA‑made Bullets were misunderstood and tend to attract a lot of unfair criticism from purists. The diverse sounds available from this guitar are nothing short of remarkable and it makes me wonder why this particular unique configuration hasn’t been widely used since. Like the earlier Bullet, the H2 has a very nice standard Telecaster neck. Thankfully, it was a weak connection between the coil and pickup lead, so easily sorted. Unusually, I bought this one from a retailer, so I probably paid more than I normally would have considered but it was worth it. There is very little similarity between the two models but as there are very few semi‑acoustic electrics in the brand’s history, I was once again curious. This Bullet H2 came with its original (if battered and stickered) Original Hard Shell Case (OHSC).The Fender Starcaster (and, no, that isn’t a spelling error) has been a long‑standing ‘wanted’ guitar, ever since I got a 1960s Coronado. I never envisaged that it would be so fascinating and collectable while still being affordable. Dearmond Guitars For Sale Plus Master VolumeWhen going over the guitar on arrival, I found it was a rare very early 1975 (pre‑production?) model. The vintage Starcasters are instantly recognisable because of the distinctive bridge assembly and the 5 controls (2 volume, 2 tone plus master volume). Both the Coronado and Starcaster were reissued by Fender in 2013 although neither are a patch on the originals. While both the Coronado and the Starcaster use bolt on maple necks, they are, again, very different and the latter is unique to the model with a maple fingerboard. While the Coronado has DeArmond single coil pickups, the Starcaster uses the sublime Seth Lover ‘wide range’ humbuckers as used on several Telecaster variants from the 1970s. Surprisingly, the Starcaster has through‑body stringing like a Telecaster. The Starcaster didn’t prove popular on its original release and wasn’t produced for long before being quietly discontinued in 1982. Even better, it doesn’t play or sound like any other Fender, ever made. It is also a fantastic guitar to play with a great neck and I really like the (in‑vogue) offset body shape. The tobacco sunburst and sunburst flame maple is just gorgeous. The case, while vintage, is not an original Fender Starcaster case. This beauty is not to be confused with cheapo far‑eastern Strat imitations from the 2000s that unfortunately carried the ‘Starcaster by Fender’ moniker. Make no mistake, the Starcaster is a high quality instrument just waiting to be rediscovered. Along the way, I became distracted by the 1979 Anniversary Stratocaster. Seems I got this one just about in time‑ish.I already have a 1977 Stratocaster hardtail and I was kinda looking around for one from the early 1970s with a vibrato before they become unaffordable (rapidly heading that way now). These babies are now becoming extortionately expensive on the vintage market, as the ‘collectorati’ are now cottoning onto them. Whether one can regard a massive 10,000 examples as a ‘limited edition’ is debatable. I was attracted by the classic look of silver, black and maple fingerboard. The Anniversary is distinctive in that it was Fender’s first foray into limited edition commemorative models, celebrating 25 years since the original Stratocaster’s introduction in 1954. It looks cool, sounds great and plays very nicely, although the action is a little high. Like all Anniversary models, this one is heavy at 10lbs (4.6kgs) but I can live with that because of the part this model plays in electric guitar heritage. This one comes with its original certificate of authenticity and most (but not quite all) of its case candy, as well as its ABS OHSC, all of which is nice to have. These aren’t especially rare instruments and many purists would say they aren’t cool. This guitar is in excellent, almost mint condition, which suggests that it was kept as a memento rather than an instrument to be played, which in my view is sacrilege.
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