[Strummerson]

Posted a thread a few days ago about an opportunity to upgrade from a DeArmond M75 in blue with harp tailpiece and goldtone pups to an M75t in champagne sparkle with bigsby and DeArmond 2Ks for $25 and a bit of leg work.

I'd only do this for the sake of the pups. I've heard that the DeArmond 2000s are 80% as pro-line Dynas and the 2Ks, though identical from the outside, are closer to P90s, which I love. I'd love to hear from those who have played the 2Ks. Are they GOOD in terms of their P90-ness? I've been wanting a Dyna guitar AND a P-90 guitar to compliment my Rose with HS Filters.

If these are P90-ish in a good way, I'd keep it stock or be happy enough that I wouldn't mind waiting to upgrade them to T-Armonds. If they simply aren't that good (I've heard they generate a fair amount of single-coil hum) then the whole maneuver is unlikely to be worth it, as I don't anticipate being able to upgrade pups for a good while at this point.

[roadjunkie]

Originally Posted by Strummerson

Posted a thread a few days ago about an opportunity to upgrade from a DeArmond M75 in blue with harp tailpiece and goldtone pups to an M75t in champagne sparkle with bigsby and DeArmond 2Ks for $25 and a bit of leg work.

I'd only do this for the sake of the pups. I've heard that the DeArmond 2000s are 80% as pro-line Dynas and the 2Ks, though identical from the outside, are closer to P90s, which I love. I'd love to hear from those who have played the 2Ks. Are they GOOD in terms of their P90-ness? I've been wanting a Dyna guitar AND a P-90 guitar to compliment my Rose with HS Filters.

If these are P90-ish in a good way, I'd keep it stock or be happy enough that I wouldn't mind waiting to upgrade them to T-Armonds. If they simply aren't that good (I've heard they generate a fair amount of single-coil hum) then the whole maneuver is unlikely to be worth it, as I don't anticipate being able to upgrade pups for a good while at this point.

I heard them referred to as P90 Lites. That ok in my book because I think most p90s coming equipped on production guitars are over wound.

[Strummerson]

Thanks RJ (underwound P90s sound right up my alley, I think Fralin sells a version 5% underwound) and Getbent (for the response on the other thread, I'm okay with the significant weight).

Anyone else round these here parts have direct experience with the 2Ks?

[GentleBen]

I'm not sure I used 2Ks or 2000s on my Epi mod but I think they are great!

[Strummerson]

Originally Posted by GentleBen

I'm not sure I used 2Ks or 2000s on my Epi mod but I think they are great!

Do they sound closer to Dynas or P90s?

[Henrytwang]

I've got 2ks' on a Dearmond Starfire Special and an M77t, I have 2000s' on my Electromatic 5129. I find that I can get more of a Duane Eddy twang with the 2000s' on the 5129 but that might just be the guitar. In the past I've moved pickups from guitar to another, (even the same style), and found that they can sound quite different.

[The Marlin]

I have 2000's on my G3155, I think it sounds wonderfull - similar to a Dynasonic, very 'bell like', chiumey, just sounds great. If you like James Bond, the last chord from the James Bond theme tunes, just before the actions starts - sounds like Dearmond 2000's all the way.

The Dearmond 2K is more of a standard P90 tone.

I would like to upgrade my 2000's to Dynasonics, but can't find a gold pair as a good price. Still, no hurry, it sounds great as it is.

Mr Marlin

[bubblyah]

I have the G5126 with the 2000's. When I first heard the 2000's It was on the red version of my guitar. The store I was at also had a Les Paul junior with p90's that I checked out as well. I found that the P90's were grainier and more of a dirty sound. This could also be because I was hearing a sold body to a hollowbody. The gretsch had more twang but I think thats the guitar not the pickups.
I liked them both but I didn't find them alike. If I had tried both in a hollow body I could give better clarification. I think down the road I want to get a Les Paul gold top with P90's.

[Strummerson]

Actually, the 2000s aren't so relevant at the moment. Pretty sure I would prefer them. But I'm looking for impressions on the 2Ks, which irritatingly are not identical to the 2000s (which are a budget version of the 200s, which are the original Dynas).

[bubblyah]

Oop's... sorry my mistake.
Good luck on the quest.

[TV the Wired Turtle]

those pkups are icy devils man.. nothing like original DeArmonds. not that they are a wrong thing to install just clanky.

T'armonds.. oooh now thats some good DeArmond love. Very close to the originals made for my Dads Coronado II but with waay more balls and not microphonic. (different price I understand hehe)

[Lizardkinged]

I've only used the 2000's... No input.

Hey tavo. Is it possible to buy the wire and slugs and Monkey on a stick thingys and convert them or is it worth it to just buy TV's and keep the 2000's around for some kind of tele mod...

[TV the Wired Turtle]

Originally Posted by Lizardkinged

I've only used the 2000's... No input.

Hey tavo. Is it possible to buy the wire and slugs and Monkey on a stick thingys and convert them or is it worth it to just buy TV's and keep the 2000's around for some kind of tele mod...

well you can alway jimmy anything but each pkup builder has his own winding techniques, potting etc.. So far these T'armonds sound great in both my sugarpine tele and the SSLVO I just raped with them.

if you got 2000's those will sell INSTANTLY on ebay for bloated prices. I had some as well as 2Ks that sold in an hr of being on 'bay

[Bill C.]

The goldtones are somewhere between a gibbie paf bucker and a filtertron to my ears.
Had a set in a DeArmond X155.

The 2ks, which I took out of an M77t and put in a contoured slab, came across in the latter as somewhere between a standard tele setup (particularly the bridge p.u.) and p90s.
The bridge 2k has a reputation among some as being on the shrill side.
And so it can be.
It can also be tamed and well used.

Whether good, bad, or indifferent is up to an individual.

Just my take.

[GentleBen]

Originally Posted by Strummerson

Do they sound closer to Dynas or P90s?

Originally Posted by GentleBen

I'm not sure I used 2Ks or 2000s on my Epi mod but I think they are great!

I have not heard P90s since I swapped my ES330 15 years ago and don't guess I have ever heard Dynas. Besides, 50 years of standing between a drummer and a bass player have left me unable to discern a low E from a loud fart!

[megabutter]

Tav0, how much did you get out of the 2000's? I'd love to put T'Armonds in my 5129. Since I won't be able to get a pro line with super awesome Dyna's for a couple years, it would be worth doing.

Been thinking about stripping the top and finishing it orange. Be a good time to do pickups.

[Big Burly]

I had 2000s in the 3140 that I used to have. They were great! Dyna-like, for sure. Dynas are better, but the 2000s are very good.

2Ks are different, P90-like as the 2000s are Dyna-like. Good pickups in the P90-vein.