DeArmond Pickups

Overview

DeArmond Pickups is a manufacturer of guitar pickups and related guitar parts and accessories, founded in the late 1930s by industrial designer Harry DeArmond. The company is recognized for pioneering the first commercially available detachable guitar pickup and for producing iconic pickup designs including the Dynasonic, Gold Foil, and Rhythm Chief models. DeArmond pickups were widely used by major guitar brands including Guild, Gretsch, Epiphone, Harmony, and Silvertone throughout the 1950s-1970s, establishing the brand as a significant player in vintage guitar electronics. Today, DeArmond pickups are considered cult classics valued for their retro aesthetic and vintage tone characteristics.

History

Harry DeArmond, born in 1906, invented the first commercially available attachable guitar pickup in the mid-1930s and established a working relationship with Harold 'Bud' Rowe's company to manufacture these products, initially located in Toledo, Ohio. The first DeArmond models were produced in 1939, featuring removable RH (round-hole) and FH (F-hole) designs with guitar microphones. The Dynasonic Model 2000 pickup, introduced in the early 1950s and used by Gretsch, became so influential that Gibson developed the P-90 as a direct competitive response. The company was eventually acquired by Yamaha Guitar Group, which currently owns and distributes DeArmond pickups through authorized Guild dealers worldwide.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

DeArmond pickups are manufactured and distributed by Yamaha Guitar Group from their headquarters in Calabasas, California. The company emphasizes easy-to-install designs that allow for straightforward retrofit into existing guitars. Current manufacturing details regarding in-house versus outsourced production are not publicly specified.

Notable Products

• Rhythm Chief 1100 - Adjustable archtop guitar pickup introduced in 1954, widely regarded as one of the three best pickups ever produced
• Dynasonic Model 2000 - Innovative pickup design from the early 1950s used by Gretsch that prompted Gibson to develop the competing P-90
• Gold Foil Pickup - Vintage design from the 1950s-70s era now reissued as a cult classic for its distinctive tone
• RH Soundhole Pickup - Original removable design from 1939 fitting inside flat-top guitar soundholes
• FH Archtop Pickup - Original 1939 design mounted via pressure rod for archtop guitars

Reputation

DeArmond pickups are highly regarded by vintage guitar enthusiasts and professionals for their historical significance as pioneers of detachable pickups and for the sonic characteristics of their classic designs. The brand benefits from strong nostalgia and collector interest, with models like the Rhythm Chief 1100 and Dynasonic commanding respect among archtop and vintage guitar communities. The pickups are valued for authentic vintage tone and retro aesthetics rather than modern high-output specifications. Current perception reflects appreciation for heritage and vintage character, though the brand operates as a niche player within the broader pickup market dominated by contemporary manufacturers.