The DeArmond Starfire is a really decent guitar but I'm was not real crazy about the neck pickup sound that much on that model. I went back to the model M77-T (chambered body) which I really prefer.
@Zuhzuhzombie - Ah, that'd probably sound great too. I dig the 2Ks though. They sound really unique. I ultimately sold this guitar and bought another M77-T, which I really prefer. They're both very nice though.
I have an M-77T and swapped out the 2K's for TV Jones classics. They're great, but definitely brighter and less snarly than the 2K's. They don't hum though, which is nice. Basically it just means they can sound much more chimey but still get plenty nasty if you eq right. Heck, I play crazy metal on them all the time. My M-77 is like the best of both the LP and Gretsch world now.
I've got the exact same guitar - it was something of an impulse buy back brief period they made them and I've always been glad I had that impulse - unlike some of my other impulse buys, I still love that guitar.
I've seen your postings on the Magnatone site & appreciate your willingness to help others. I really enjoy your playing also;WAY better than the blues riffs that everyone seems to think that everyone else likes....Keep up the good work, Jeff Barnett
Excellent playing! I am torn between a Cannabis Rex and a Weber P12Q replica for a 1962 Guild RVT tube combo. What do you think? I think that the tone on this vid is stellar! Is that low end and warm definition here more from those pickups or the Cannabis Rex speakers? Or does that amp simply have a naturally huge sound? I appreciate your advice. You gave me some advice regarding vintage Ampegs a while back that was helpful. If I'm lucky, I'll need some advice on Magnatones someday! Thanks!
Hey thanks very much Norton! The CR has a very nice way of attenuating the most irritating freqs in the top end..but I don't really notice it adding low-end. In this recording, I think it's a result of the amp itself. This amp had just TONS of low-end.
Thank you. I will try to do another video and explain the chords a bit more, but I'm having some problems with my video camera this days so it may be a little while.
What I can tell you now is that I'm playing something pretty close to the arrangement that Howard Roberts did when backing up Julie London back in the late 50s/early 60s. He was a fabulously inventive player and deserves all the credit.
Fantastic, I love how it ends. I have created a group in facebook called dearmond owners and fans, it is for those who want to join and share about our guitars. John Pinilla.
Yeah, i've been warned about amps which are older than 10 or 15 years needing parts swapped out.
Well, if you're selling it, i'm interested, but i'm going to play the one at my local store to see if I enjoy it. I'm in michigan, so the shipping may be alot even if I do choose to purchase it off of you.
Hey Thanks for your interest. It's primarly 6L6s (2) and 6EU7s, IIRC, but i think there may be an OA2 voltage regulator in there as well. If you're interested, I'll probably be selling my Mercury soon. It's in excellent working order, has had all the big electrolytic caps replaced and has a big, grounded AC cord. I won't be asking 500 either. I think that's too much.
I'm in L.A. I don't care for the sound of the amp cranked that much. I think it's real strength is in how good the cleans are and how well it takes pedals. It does great with pedals. BTW, if you find an old one, particularly on that hasn't been used much, be very careful about using it; probably needs to have the electrolytics replaced.
Thanks for listening. Man, I love the Cannabis Rex. It's become one of my all-time favorite speakers. Sounds warm and rich. Great for attenuating really bright amps (Fenders, '60s Gibsons, some Magnatones, 60s Ampegs). I've now got a pair in my PANaramic 1220 (Magnatone 260), and I've got one in my old Ampeg Mercury, Gibson Invader GA-RVT30 and my Franken-Fender as well as in the 2x12 I used in this clip. Love 'em!
Hey thanks! It's a great sounding guitar. Plays very well...however it weighs quite a bit. More than you'd expect for semi-hollow. The amp is no small part of the sound too. I think a lot of folks tend to overlook the old Gibson amps because they were mostly about clean. But the cleans on some of the old Gibsons is just fantastic!
Show off!
brookdalebill 1 month ago
nice guitar but not too versatile. I think it's better to used it on rockabilly or rock 'n' roll music than jazz.
The170460 4 months ago
Thanks.
The DeArmond Starfire is a really decent guitar but I'm was not real crazy about the neck pickup sound that much on that model. I went back to the model M77-T (chambered body) which I really prefer.
leonc1234 6 months ago
Iv gotba gibson merc as well .. Nice playing .. How old is that deArmond guitar ?
parosite 6 months ago
Great stuf. I want one of these, but plan on trading out the 2Ks with something from Mr. TV Jones.
Zuhzuhzombie 1 year ago
@Zuhzuhzombie - Ah, that'd probably sound great too. I dig the 2Ks though. They sound really unique. I ultimately sold this guitar and bought another M77-T, which I really prefer. They're both very nice though.
leonc1234 1 year ago
@Zuhzuhzombie the dearmond pickups are amazing. Better than any tv jones.
The170460 1 year ago
@Zuhzuhzombie
I have an M-77T and swapped out the 2K's for TV Jones classics. They're great, but definitely brighter and less snarly than the 2K's. They don't hum though, which is nice. Basically it just means they can sound much more chimey but still get plenty nasty if you eq right. Heck, I play crazy metal on them all the time. My M-77 is like the best of both the LP and Gretsch world now.
EdPolepsy 10 months ago
Nice playing.
I've got the exact same guitar - it was something of an impulse buy back brief period they made them and I've always been glad I had that impulse - unlike some of my other impulse buys, I still love that guitar.
Twirlyhead 2 years ago
Great tone and great gear! I love the Rex speakers. I use them for high gain and metal and they are sooooo warm and thick. Better than Scumbacks!!!
richedie 2 years ago
Wonderful
wildpinkhorse 2 years ago 2
Thank you very much!
leonc1234 2 years ago
stunning
chrisdene 2 years ago
Thank you all!
leonc1234 2 years ago
Very nice. Would be even better with drums and bass, maybe a piano...
krettere 2 years ago
that guitar is beautiful
restinpeacejimi 2 years ago
you are a great guitarist ! nice sound btw
jeromerocks123 2 years ago
Leon,
You're the coolest guy on the planet...
I've seen your postings on the Magnatone site & appreciate your willingness to help others. I really enjoy your playing also;WAY better than the blues riffs that everyone seems to think that everyone else likes....Keep up the good work, Jeff Barnett
jazznerd4 2 years ago
Hey Jeff--you're clearly a very perceptive person and an excellent judge of character, LOL! Seriously though, thanks...that's a great compliment!
leonc1234 2 years ago
don't be flattered. he is speaking the truth. nice song choice aswell.
thailow117 2 years ago
Excellent playing! I am torn between a Cannabis Rex and a Weber P12Q replica for a 1962 Guild RVT tube combo. What do you think? I think that the tone on this vid is stellar! Is that low end and warm definition here more from those pickups or the Cannabis Rex speakers? Or does that amp simply have a naturally huge sound? I appreciate your advice. You gave me some advice regarding vintage Ampegs a while back that was helpful. If I'm lucky, I'll need some advice on Magnatones someday! Thanks!
NortonNice 2 years ago
Hey thanks very much Norton! The CR has a very nice way of attenuating the most irritating freqs in the top end..but I don't really notice it adding low-end. In this recording, I think it's a result of the amp itself. This amp had just TONS of low-end.
leonc1234 2 years ago
Fabulous!
robertmessore 2 years ago
Great playing Leon - can you do another vid and tell us what you are actually playing ?
hampermill 3 years ago
Thank you. I will try to do another video and explain the chords a bit more, but I'm having some problems with my video camera this days so it may be a little while.
What I can tell you now is that I'm playing something pretty close to the arrangement that Howard Roberts did when backing up Julie London back in the late 50s/early 60s. He was a fabulously inventive player and deserves all the credit.
leonc1234 3 years ago
@leonc1234 Hi--are you still going to make a video going over the chords you've played here? Or did you already make one and i just haven't found it?
reborn1995 1 month ago
Fantastic, I love how it ends. I have created a group in facebook called dearmond owners and fans, it is for those who want to join and share about our guitars. John Pinilla.
amiscatterbrain 3 years ago
John thanks! Sounds like a cool group; will try to check it out soon.
leonc1234 3 years ago
Oł men i love this ! i have gibson titan this things rlz ! awesome amp i like to hear more of your jamming ... regards
MadeByGipson 3 years ago
Yeah, i've been warned about amps which are older than 10 or 15 years needing parts swapped out.
Well, if you're selling it, i'm interested, but i'm going to play the one at my local store to see if I enjoy it. I'm in michigan, so the shipping may be alot even if I do choose to purchase it off of you.
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
Cool. Please the one near you; it'll be interesting to see if it's in good repair and sounds like mine. I'm originally from MI. Where are you?
leonc1234 3 years ago
Elsie.
It's a small town around Saint Johns, which is close to Dewitt.
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
Sounds great!
I think I may pick up a Mercury for a project.
500 bucks for the halfstack. One's at my local store.
All it needs is some TLC, but your clip convinced me to look into it more. It has the original 15/10" speaker setup, and it looks real sweet.
What's the tube layout for it? I know it has 6l6's or 6v6's for power tubes, but not sure what else.
Would you recommend the amp for 500 bucks?
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
Hey Thanks for your interest. It's primarly 6L6s (2) and 6EU7s, IIRC, but i think there may be an OA2 voltage regulator in there as well. If you're interested, I'll probably be selling my Mercury soon. It's in excellent working order, has had all the big electrolytic caps replaced and has a big, grounded AC cord. I won't be asking 500 either. I think that's too much.
leonc1234 3 years ago
Hmm.
Well, where is your location? I don't want to pay too much in shipping. I know you're in the USA.
That would be cool if we could sort a deal out.
Well, what was your opinions on the gibson tonewise? How did your strat sound with it?
What did it sound like cranked?
darkarbiter7 3 years ago
I'm in L.A. I don't care for the sound of the amp cranked that much. I think it's real strength is in how good the cleans are and how well it takes pedals. It does great with pedals. BTW, if you find an old one, particularly on that hasn't been used much, be very careful about using it; probably needs to have the electrolytics replaced.
leonc1234 3 years ago
how you liking the cannabis rex speakers? I've been fighting myself on whether or not to get one... or go with tone tubby
ephixius 4 years ago
Thanks for listening. Man, I love the Cannabis Rex. It's become one of my all-time favorite speakers. Sounds warm and rich. Great for attenuating really bright amps (Fenders, '60s Gibsons, some Magnatones, 60s Ampegs). I've now got a pair in my PANaramic 1220 (Magnatone 260), and I've got one in my old Ampeg Mercury, Gibson Invader GA-RVT30 and my Franken-Fender as well as in the 2x12 I used in this clip. Love 'em!
leonc1234 4 years ago
sweet guitar!what kind of gibson is that?also could you post the chord progression to this tune?
thebsharps69 4 years ago
Nice stuff, Leon. Really enjoyed listening.
Hey - post those chord progressions for a beginner, will ya?
rivenbard 4 years ago
Hey thanks! It's a great sounding guitar. Plays very well...however it weighs quite a bit. More than you'd expect for semi-hollow. The amp is no small part of the sound too. I think a lot of folks tend to overlook the old Gibson amps because they were mostly about clean. But the cleans on some of the old Gibsons is just fantastic!
leonc1234 4 years ago
I love your tone man! Awesome playing too. I've always wanted this guitar.. I have a DeArmond Starfire Custom, but this sounds soooo much better!
marshallkiller 4 years ago