John Henry De Armond; Musician, Businessman

John Henry De Armond, a musician and businessman whose accessories for guitars and other musical instruments revolutionized the industry, has died. He was 70.

De Armond died Thursday at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia of complications from cancer, according to his son, Paul De Armond of Canyon Country.

Born Aug. 5, 1925 in Hugo, Okla., De Armond spent his childhood in Little Rock, Ark. He was 10 years old when he disassembled a coil from a Ford Model A and fashioned it into a device, which, when attached to his electric guitar, amplified the sound of the strings.

The device--essentially a small microphone that turns vibrations into an electrical signal--became the foundation for a company he later founded with his older brother Harry. De Armond did not invent the device but he improved it, and his pickup became an industry standard.

“He was a force to be reckoned with,” said Ritchie Fliegler, marketing manager for Fender Musical Instruments Worldwide.

At 14, De Armond hopped a freight train to Santa Monica, where he earned a living playing his guitar on the street. He also fronted a swing band called Johnny De Armond and the Armondites.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, De Armond married, and established his company, which had grown to produce foot pedals, amplifiers and pickups for a variety of stringed instruments. The brothers sold the company in the late 1970s.

Fliegler said the De Armond pickup is still highly sought by players and collectors alike.

“The De Armond guitar pickup was really the quintessential jazz pickup from the late ‘40s through the ‘50s,” he said. “It had a lot of character, it sounded good, and it was well made.”

After selling the company, De Armond moved to Dallas. In the late ‘80s, he returned to California, living in Canyon Country and the Anza Borrego Desert.

About three years ago, in response to demand he began producing the De Armond guitar pickup again. He was also the featured entertainer--a one-man band--at the Palm Canyon Resort in Anza Borrego, according to his son.

De Armond is survived by another son, Douglas De Armond of Tehachapi; a brother, Harold De Armond of Toledo, Ohio, and two sisters, Christine Laquer of Phoenix, and Alline Seymour of Border, Texas.

A funeral service was held Tuesday at Santa Clarita Mortuary. Burial will be today at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Andrews, Jean C., 82, of Palmdale, retired teacher for St. Eugene’s Catholic School. Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, Palmdale.

Buckley, William E., 72, of Woodland Hills, retired accountant for Arco Co. Gates, Kingsley and Gates Mortuary, Canoga Park.

Chvojka, Andrew E., 51, of Los Angeles, formerly of North Hollywood, word processor. Bastian & Perrott Mortuary, Northridge.

Franchino, Dominic, 74, of West Hollywood, retired furniture upholsterer for Paramount Studios. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Hillier, Rose, 89, of Burbank, retired dance studio owner and teacher. The Valley Funeral Home, Burbank.

Jorgenson, Robert Norman, 72, of Burbank, retired computer operator for the city of Burbank. The Valley Funeral Home, Burbank.

Lane, Mildred L., 94, of Glendale, homemaker. Kiefer and Eyerick Mortuary, Glendale.

Marine, Julia Victoria, 67, of Northridge, retired computer operator for the Automobile Club of Southern California. Lorenzen Mortuary, Reseda.

Mata, Carlos R., 24, of Canoga Park, salesman. Lorenzen Mortuary, Reseda.

Pirner, Peter, 55, of Northridge, retired chief executive officer for the textile division of Adidas. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Taylor, Zaven, 86, of Acton, retired produce clerk for Smith’s Food King. Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, Palmdale.

Thornton, Eileen M., 84, of Riverside, formerly of Burbank, homemaker. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Tobin, Dale Daniel, 73, Granada Hills, retired maintenance superintendent for 3-D Systems Inc. Eternal Valley Mortuary, Newhall.

Walker, James Lawrence, 44, of Lancaster, bus driver for Honolulu City Bus Lines. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Lancaster.

Wetzel, Will Thomas, 29, of Lancaster. Murphy Mortuary, Lancaster.

Wilson, Margaret, 91, of Lancaster, homemaker. Murphy Mortuary, Lancaster.

Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. They are based on information provided by mortuaries.