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Getting one to try out. I know the specs, I know Guild's history. Newly owned by Cordoba now. Starfires go way back. But what's the verdict on the new(er) ones coming out of Korea?
Last edited by wmachine; 12-11-2017 at 03:29 PM.
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11-30-2017 01:12 PM
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I haven't played one of the new ones. I used to play one of the vintage ones from the 60s--like the one that Jerry Garcia used to play.
It was a great guitar. I liked the III the best, but all of the Starfires--IV, V (I never played a VII)--were really great guitars.
I'd like to get out and try the new ones.
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I used to own x175 Korean made. Pretty good guitar, but the best thing was the neck. Narrow, 1 5/8 nut width, and 9.5 radius. Just like on vintage Guilds. I loved it, super comfortable.
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My only experience with one was a ‘98 which I really liked and unfortunately had to sell when I got separated. I couldn’t get into the pickup 100% so I put in a Burstbucker that I had sitting around from a jazz telecaster build and it suited the guitar very well. It was a grew sounding and comfortable guitar.
(this was a Starfire II now that I think about it)
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I have several Guilds including Starfires, solid bodies, hollow bodies and an acoustic, 1960's -2000's One thing I have noticed is all of them play extremely well and sound great. Nice to have something different from Gibsons and Fenders although I like them all. I think you will really enjoy the experience of owning a Guild.
Thanks John
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The thing I find with Guilds is, they are very often GREAT. But... you have to adapt to different pickup response, (sometimes), or different necks (sometimes).
I've owned, and enjoyed a X170, Nightbird, Studio 302, and a 1961 Starfire III. On the former 3, I've had to change pickups. Period. Guild pickups in the old days were weak, thin sounding. Changing them really really helped. They were then sold off because I cannot play small necks.
The good news is that I still have the '61 Starfire. It was made for my ears and hands. Dynasonics, yeah baby!
Hollow, thin mahogany body, that crackles with tone and response. The neck is the best, chunky but fast.
So, you have to play them. You can find your dream guitar in a Guild, or you can keep looking.
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Actually a lot of folks love those old Guild pickups. I'd say brighter and clearer rather than 'thin sounding', compare to an average Gibson. But so is Gretsch!
The necks are not necessarily smaller, they are just narrower, but again, that could be a great thing, thats what old school jazz guys preffered. Perfect for fast chord playing with a pick.
I think all comparisons are made with Gibson as a standard, but it shouldn't be like that. Guild offers a better alternative IMO.
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I was hoping a flood of owners would reply to this thread as there are none locally to be found I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on one.
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I've not played the newer MIK SF IIIs. Have played many vintage ones, and owned a 90s Westerly made SF III with P-90s. The oldies can be really fine. Yes, not a wide nut, but when you find a good one of these, it's just as responsive as the best vintage 335s. The older Guild humbuckers are a personal taste it seems. I have that taste. They're remarkable. Somewhere in the PAF zone but not at all the same.
I'd seen a used Westerly SFIII with P-90s. Struck me as sort of an ideal hollow body. When I finally found another one and lived with it, it was and wasn't. So much to like, but a woody something was missing in the modern one. More heavily built than the older ones. Seemed less feedback resistant. When I started jazz lessons, it just did not work for that. Maybe the bigsby bridge was part of it. Not sure. (That bridge sure does not sound or feel wrong on the, to me, far better for jazz Dearmond T400.)
Found a Heritage H525, which turns out to be in every way a much better instrument. Better than the westerly made modern ones I mean. Not better than the vintage SFIII.
MD
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Thanks for the reply, guys.
I know exactly what you mean. In this case, I'm buying it from Walmart so I can just return it to the store if for any reason I don't like it.
Originally Posted by GNAPPI
Okay, before you think I lost my mind (which may be true anyway), I did indeed buy it online from Walmart. And not from a third party seller, it is "sold and shipped by Walmart". Should be ready for pickup today or tomorrow. It was actually the last one at the closeout price.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Guild-Sta...y-Red/54964583
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Wow who would have known? Thought you were joking. Good luck with it, hope it is a good one. Not much to lose with the return policy. If there is something not quite right but no major issue, try calling, they may knock off some $. That's what Amazon does anyway. Originally Posted by wmachine
I had an early 70's Bluesbird when I was in high school. All I can remember was the inlays had big gaps where they met the fretboard wood.
Actually, the last guitar I bought was at Wal Mart. On a bench right in front of the entrance. CL deal on an Eastman 812 acoustic. Odd place to meet but that's what the seller wanted and I didn't know the area, I assumed it would be in the parking lot. We even had an audience.
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Do you like the guitar?
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I picked up my Walmart purchase yesterday. Only time for a once over, a quick plug and play, and a quick obligatory pic.
No shipping issues.
The case is excellent (5 latches, all working as they should). The guitar fit in the case is excellent too.
Great wow factor when you open the case. This is one beautiful guitar. Fit and finish are impressive. Up there with the best of the Koreans, and better than some US. Very nice mahogany wood grain unnecessarily the same front and rear. In my hands, it has a really nice, familiar, and comfortable feel. Tuned up nicely, and though smallish, the Grover tuners are smooth and solid.
A couple strums put a big smile on my face, as it played smooth, up and down the neck, and unplugged it really sings out acoustically and with impressive sustain. At 6-5/8 lbs, it feels very solid, but obviously not heavy. The strings it comes with don't send me running out to change them right away, either.
My excitement was tempered a bit after I plugged it in, though. The only problem of any real significance was the toggle switch. (These toggles are about the only real problem I've had with any of my new guitars. Don't know why that seems to be my "problem of choice". But compared to everything else, I'll accept that, especially if it is the only problem)
"Either" worked okay, but "both" was one only (middle position not working correctly). Same as my other toggle problems ironically.
But additionally, the toggle was so loose in the switch housing, I thought it was a joystick at first. So that gets replaced. (Not as easy on a hollow body, though.)
The pups are fine and I like them. Nice range and flavor. I'd have to play them more to define them better. The pots are bit of a concern though. Don't like the apparent taper, or should I say lack of. I'll have to give them some more time to evaluate too.
After playing it a little, I looked closely at the setup and was surprised it was visually off a lot more than it felt. So it should be even better playing when dialed in. The neck needs just a little truss rod adjustment along with the bridge.
I'll have my guy replace the switch and do the setup.
The initial verdict? Very nice, and a keeper. In fact I was thinking that even if all the electronics were ripped out and replaced, it would still be worth it. The guitar itself is that good.
Last edited by wmachine; 12-12-2017 at 08:05 AM.
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My first exposure to Guild gits was on the Steve Miller band album Sailor I fell in love with that sound. Fast forward some 40 years and I got a D'Armond / Guild X155 and still would like a Starfire IV and right now they are pretty nicely priced.
Last edited by GNAPPI; 12-12-2017 at 01:25 AM.
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Sailor was/is a great album. The SMB was excellent in those days.
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the photo disappears.....
I love Guilds, I had a Savoy (new one) for a brief period of time but I had to sell it
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Luckily, I saw the photo earlier, when I had less time. It looks like a sweet deal to me. Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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Available without the Bigsby ?
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Only with, IIRC. The Starfire II has a stop tailpiece but probably has a center block.
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That would be Starfire II, same thing with no bigsby. Originally Posted by Robertkoa
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Yes, Bridge block. There are other trim differences too. The III is the only true hollow body. Originally Posted by Greentone
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Close, not exactly the same. Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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Where does it say it has a bridge block? Historically, Starfire II and III are absolutely the same, except for Bigsby. Otherwise no difference at all. Since when it changed? Originally Posted by wmachine
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Guild webpage. Look at the specs. There are a number of differences. Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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I did, but I didn't see anything about bridge block. I see the stop bar and fixed bridge, which is unusual, so maybe they started making it with tone block or something, like X-170... Originally Posted by wmachine
TBH, I'd rather buy a proper Starfire II from the Westerley years , which you can get for just a few more, and it's a fantastic guitar. Or get III and take off Bigsby and you can buy a Guild tailpiece aftremarket. That would be my choices. This new Satrfire II looks fishy.
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