DeArmond Guitars were produced for a short period from about 1999 through 2002. Fender bought the DeArmond trademark in 1996 and decided to revive DeArmond pickups in a line of guitars. The end result was to have DeArmond American made pickups to be produced in guitars similar to many popular Guild designs, and they were to be built in Korea. However, the models were not just "cookie-cutter" designs that are typically pulled off of the shelf. Tooling and other devices were built specifically for these instruments under the supervision of Guild employees. It was almost a Fender/Squier type of operation, where FMIC could offer traditional Guild designs at entry-level prices.
DeArmond only lasted a few years when Fender decided to stop producing. It was about the same time the Guild factory shut down in Rhode Island. DeArmond guitars also follow standard Fender numbering with 035 and 036 starting most models. There were also some models that were only available in Europe, and they never carried a U.S. retail price. The only European models to carry over to U.S. Distribution were the Starfire, Starfire Special, and X-155. It is possible that DeArmond produced guitars longer than the years described in the models. The years represented in the following models are from the price lists in which DeArmond is listed. For more information on DeArmond, contact Fender as they still support their products.
Instruments previously produced in Korea from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Distributed by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) in Scottsdale, AZ.