Features: First made in Indonesia around 2000, this guitar is considered pretty rare to find ever since DeArmond was bought out by Fender and discontinued. The DeArmond S-67 was generally made for beginner to intermediate guitarists who wanted an entry level seven string. It features an SG-style, solid Agathis body with a crimson red transparent finish, a bolt-on Nato neck with rosewood fingerboard, 22 jumbo frets with pearl block inlays, and a 25-1/2 scale, giving it a kind of loose, comfortable feel on the strings and the smaller frets. It has 2 passive DeArmond 7-String Humbuckers with 2 tones, 2 volumes and a 3-way toggle. The bridge is a Tune-o-matic style with a Guild style tailpiece. The tuning machines are covered chrome. Essentially, its a copy of the Guild S-100. They also made a six string model the exact same way. // 7
Sound: I use this guitar to play mostly metal and screamo (mostly bands like Unearth). The humbuckers are naturally suited for metal, but can also have a bluesy sound to it, so they suit me well. It plays smoothly and delivers a warm, gushing-like tone to it. The sustain is excellent and the cleans are good to average, but mostly has a heavy, thicker sound to it. I'm currently playing it through my Fender FM 212R with an RP90 custom setting. The tone it gives when soloing is perfectly matched for this style of playing. The thicker tone doesn't overwhelm the highs, but mixes just right with the rhythm tone it gives to keep a perfectly balanced sound. In terms of feedback and noise, I've read it is known to give some buzzing and feedback, but when I'm playing it, I personally don't hear any of it. I don't have any problems with it staying in tune and it can play well in louder volumes. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: The workmanship is certainly not the best. The pickguard is kind of sloppily cut, the nut is inexpertly worked, the wiring looks amateurish, and the gap between the neck and body make it look kind of bulky. I had to raise the pickups a bit because I felt I wasn't getting enough sustain on the higher strings. It sounded much better once I did. The bridge, however, was well adjusted for me. I got this guitar as a Christmas present, so I wasn't there to buy it. I could tell it was used. There were some small scratches on it and the plastic around one of the knobs was sticking out. It was just easier to pull it out than to glue it back on. It's not really noticeable anymore. For a $200.00 seven string guitar, the material may not be the best, but generally, its not bad enough to the point where it won't hold up and it shouldn't affect your general playing. // 6
Reliability & Durability: I'm not exactly one to go out to gigs at the moment, but I believe this guitar would definitely withstand live playing. Though the hardware might be a bit heavy, I believe it is quite reliable and was built to withstand long periods of playing. The strap buttons are definitely quite solid, and, if anything, a tiny bit more bulkier than they really need to be. Even though I feel this guitar is quite dependable, if I were to use it on a gig, I would feel much more comfortable knowing I had some sort of backup. As for the finish, well, I've been playing this guitar somewhat frequently since 2008 and it has no signs of wear to it, so I imagine it is definitely good enough to last. // 7
Impression: As I previously stated, I use this guitar to play metal, and this makes a great match with the DeArmond Humbuckers. Though the material may not be the best, I say it's a fair price for the sound you get. Especially considering this particular line was meant for seven string starters to get their hands on one for a reasonably cheaper price. I've been playing for 4 years now, and if I had to compare it to anything, I'd say it sounds almost similar to my B.C. Rich Avenge, only with an extra string and a slightly heavier tone. Considering the price and how rare they are to find now, I say I would try to find another one if it were lost or stolen. I personally love the retro look it has to it, the low price, and, of course, the tones it gives off. The seemingly sloppy workmanship is about the only thing I do not like about it. But, in my opinion, it is worth tolerating for the DeArmond Humbuckers. Overall, I say it is very satisfying for those who are looking for their first seven string guitar. // 8
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