Starfire's

TaySte_2000 · #1 04-09-2008, 04:00 AM

I've just found a DeArmond RI Starfire and I'm wondering if you've played one and how you thought it compared to either your original or RI Guild Starfire.

Could be my first hollowbody this

I take it yours is strung with flats?

Many Thanks

jmjbassplayer · #2 04-09-2008, 09:38 AM

I bought one of those back when they came out and returned it immediately, unfortunately. The one I got had poor playability and no resonance or liveliness to it. Maybe just a bad piece of wood. I hear a lot about people buying those then putting Darkstar pickups in it and getting a great bass out if it, but I decided to not go down that path because I already have three proper Guild Starfires, one from '66, two reissues.

If it's super cheap, might be worth it, but try and play it first. Yes, I always string those with flats.

JMJ

TaySte_2000 · #3 04-09-2008, 09:50 AM

Well I won't be able to play it first I found it on this forum $500 shipped anywhere in world which is good me being in the UK and all but it is in Korea, just getting the money together, I can afford it and it seems like a good price and I'm sure I can sell it on for the same in the future but thanks for that advice hopefully I'll have better luck.

Might as well give it ago I can't think of a better hollowbody for the money that is available in the uk

Dean Cabbie
Ibanez Artcore (34inch scale, single pickup)

Do you use shortscale flats or just string it up with standard ones?

Thanks

bassman1185 · #4 04-09-2008, 10:28 AM

I would put in a good word for the first generation Artcores with the single humbucker. The tone from those basses is phenominal. It's like a P-bass, but meatier and with that semi-hollow vibe. The necks are pretty chunky, though, so it might not be your thing.

danielfbl · #5 04-09-2008, 11:49 AM

well, I love hollowbodies. I have a giannini diamond, made in brazil in the 70's that really has great tone.
Have you considered the eastwood classic 4? I've always been curious about eastwood basses. I've never seen one here in brazil.

jro · #6 04-09-2008, 12:42 PM

I just got a DeArmond Starfire off ebay. Paid too much but any Starfire is getting hard to find at a reasonable price. Mine is great. The neck is straight and its got a big, big sound. I would like to try the darkstar pickups but buying them would cost as much as the bass did. I also have a Hofner club which is a great bass though its not as versatile. The Starfire can sound more like a solidbody if you need it to. I tried a Lakland skyline hollowbody in a music store and liked it as well, though I did think I would like it a bit more than I did. If I had to choose between them all I would get the Starfire. Good luck finding one.

Justin, do you have the Hagstrom pickups or the smaller Guild ones? Is there much of a difference between the two?

jmjbassplayer · #7 04-09-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jro

I just got a DeArmond Starfire off ebay. Paid too much but any Starfire is getting hard to find at a reasonable price. Mine is great. The neck is straight and its got a big, big sound. I would like to try the darkstar pickups but buying them would cost as much as the bass did. I also have a Hofner club which is a great bass though its not as versatile. The Starfire can sound more like a solidbody if you need it to. I tried a Lakland skyline hollowbody in a music store and liked it as well, though I did think I would like it a bit more than I did. If I had to choose between them all I would get the Starfire. Good luck finding one.

Justin, do you have the Hagstrom pickups or the smaller Guild ones? Is there much of a difference between the two?

I've got a Hofner Club too! I love that thing...it makes it on lots of records. Very crucial to amplify it right. I have Guild reissue with the chrome guild pickups, a Guild reissue with Darkstars, and an original '66 with Hagstrom pickups. They're all in the same family for sure. Guild reissue with stock pickups is kind of my favorite...sounds like cardboard, but in a good way. (That's the bass on Beck "Paper Tiger", for instance).

markjazzbassist · #8 04-10-2008, 03:03 PM

tayste, give a Gretsch a shot too man. I've got one, and it's great.

For other great vintage hollowbodies check out Vox, Univox, and Gibson EB-2D's

Bjazzman · #9 04-10-2008, 04:43 PM

where can you buy a guild starfire reissue? didn't they stop making them?

jmjbassplayer · #10 04-10-2008, 07:48 PM

eBay, Craigslist. They've been out of production for a while.

troyus · #11 04-14-2008, 01:04 PM

Toured and recorded with one of each for awhile. The Dearmond is more faithful to the original than the Guild Reissue. Go figure.

TaySte_2000 · #12 04-14-2008, 01:19 PM

Mine is on it's way can't wait YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jmjbassplayer · #13 04-14-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troyus

Toured and recorded with one of each for awhile. The Dearmond is more faithful to the original than the Guild Reissue. Go figure.

I would humbly disagree with this, but I have a feeling the Dearmond I tried was a dog.

JMJ

TaySte_2000 · #14 04-16-2008, 12:26 PM

Mine will arrive tomorrow

Joe Gress · #15 04-17-2008, 12:57 PM

and the verdict is...

TaySte_2000 · #16 04-17-2008, 01:04 PM

Only tried it through my practice headphone amp but it sounded pretty good going out in a bit to try it through my Mesa 400+ and 2 EA CXL's

Looks AWESOME

TaySte_2000 · #17 04-18-2008, 06:59 AM

Ok tried it through my Mesa and holy cow sounded awesome, just need to get some flats and strap locks sorted, also the silver tops on the knobs have come off so if anyone knows where I can get replacement knobs from that would be great.

Also wondering if anyone has experienced the gold coming off the pickups one side of one of mine is down to the white plastic

I have to say to Justin on of the following has to apply

1. Your Dearmond sucked
2. Mine is the best Dearmond ever and all of them pale in comparison
3. The Guilds are so good that by comparison your Dearmond was awful (Which would make the guilds

crazy good)

But yeah can't wait to get this as thump as possible and get my groove on.

jmjbassplayer · #18 04-18-2008, 09:29 AM

1. My Dearmond sucked

bluesblaster · #19 04-20-2008, 04:44 PM

I have owned a '67 SF II and a '70 JS I, both with hagstrom bi-sonics, to my ears its mostly just hype about these pickups, My '73 M85 w/ stock guild humbuckers just oozes old school tone. I have not played a bass equipped with darkstars so I wont comment where those are concerned, suffice to say the starfire and JS basses are long gone. I think the stock Guild humbuckers have gotten a bad rap lately, but I,ve notice that when they show up on ebay they get alot of attention, so I cant be the only one that feels this way. But hey, if the Bi-sonics and Darkstars do it for you, thats what makes the world go round.

jmjbassplayer · #20 04-20-2008, 08:40 PM

Cool perspective, Bluesblaster. I love my m-85 with stock hums as well! They're good pickups.

JMJ