New 2013 Guild Starfire Bass Reissue

[swamp2]

Is there anyone else out there who got excited about this, then lost complete interest because it's not US made? I hate to sound like a snob, but... I'm a huge Guild fan - have an old JS1 bass and a few guitars (Bluesbird, Starfire III, Blues 90, D25). I've had others over the years too. But to me Guild is synonymous with US made instruments. And no, I never liked the idea of the GAD acoustics either! I have a DeArmond M75T which isn't a bad guitar at all, but it isn't a Guild and i appreciate they didn't confuse the identity.

I guess it just bugs me that this is probably rolling down the same assembly line as countless other "brands".

I'd buy a Gibson Midtown long before even looking at this. I realize many will think this is a pig headed perspective, but so be it....

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

Weren't the Darkstars more like reproductions of the San Fran mods to the bi-sonics?

The only thing I see is that Jack Casady said he added the second magnet. I have seen photos of the Bi-Sonics with one magnet, but I've also seen photos of them with two magnets.

So I think the only difference with the DarkStars was the second magnet. The other mods back then were electronic. Alembic added transistor buffers to the pickups. They had tested them out and said they had a very wide frequency response.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Is there anyone else out there who got excited about this, then lost complete interest because it's not US made? I hate to sound like a snob, but... I'm a huge Guild fan - have an old JS1 bass and a few guitars (Bluesbird, Starfire III, Blues 90, D25). I've had others over the years too. But to me Guild is synonymous with US made instruments. And no, I never liked the idea of the GAD acoustics either! I have a DeArmond M75T which isn't a bad guitar at all, but it isn't a Guild and i appreciate they didn't confuse the identity.

I guess it just bugs me that this is probably rolling down the same assembly line as countless other "brands".

I'd buy a Gibson Midtown long before even looking at this. I realize many will think this is a pig headed perspective, but so be it....

Doesn't bother me too much.

A lot of the guitars on the market are made in South Korea. Even some that say they are made here (they are assembled here). They do good work there, and their labor is cheaper. It's the only way to get a bass like this that isn't Gibson prices. And Gibson quality is no better than Epiphone when it comes to the woodworking, and sometimes Gibson cuts too many corners. They are quick to leave off binding and shiny finishes to save on labor.

I like this new Guild much better than the Gibson. I never liked the ES-335 shape, even though I owned an EB-2DC. I think the shape of the Midtown is way out of proportion.

My old Gibson:

[swamp2]

I have no problem with guitars made in Korea or China or Indonesia anywhere else for that matter. I have several non-US instruments. And I agree that the quality can be very good. I really just don't like that FMIC doesn't put much value on the Guild name. I just wish they'd call it something else, that's all. It's no more a Guild than a Squier is a Fender.

BTW, I've played a Midtown a few times and liked it quite a bit...

[fjadams]

My local music store was at NAMM and he checked them out for me, plus all the other new Guilds. He said the fit and finish is first rate, plays incredibly well. Have one ordered as soon as he can get one.

Also said the new offerings from Orange are incredible. He has a bunch of different models ordered from them.

So far I haven't heard anything bad from the people that have actually seen and played them, just the ones who haven't. Go figure.

[KeithKlaxwell]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Is there anyone else out there who got excited about this, then lost complete interest because it's not US made? I hate to sound like a snob, but... I'm a huge Guild fan - have an old JS1 bass and a few guitars (Bluesbird, Starfire III, Blues 90, D25). I've had others over the years too. But to me Guild is synonymous with US made instruments.....

It's a good thing to be selective which people confuse with picky.

[Mungi]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

The only thing I see is that Jack Casady said he added the second magnet. I have seen photos of the Bi-Sonics with one magnet, but I've also seen photos of them with two magnets.

So I think the only difference with the DarkStars was the second magnet. The other mods back then were electronic. Alembic added transistor buffers to the pickups. They had tested them out and said they had a very wide frequency response.

DS and BS are very different. Bisonics have one magnet for the neck and two for the bridge. They have ceramic magnets, very thin thread and very high impedance. DS has two Alnico V, thicker thread and a lot lower impedance. Bisonic has more punch and focused mid range. A Darkstar is more flat and I would guess they have an even wider frequency rate.

[Mungi]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

They are supposed to be about 6 k. The other ones might be wound the same, but use thinner gauge magnet wire.

Are you sure about 6 k, David? A friend of mine also meassured a couple of bisonic and they were also around 14kohm. So out of five bisonics I know, four were above 14k and only one around 6.

He re-wound one. You are right about the thread. Very thin.

[Avezzano]

SGD, the bridge on your EB2 is original? And the bridge PU?

[ahc]

Originally Posted by Mungi

Oh yes, the Coronado! Not the Fender though. Hagström Coronado - the original bisonic bass!

This was the bass I lusted for as a teenager. There was a Jersey Shore band that used to play at my high school and the bass player played one. It made an indelible impression on me. Great band, too. My first bass was a Hagstrom F-400, but now I know it was the Bi-Sonics that put a spell on me.

If the Guild pups turn out to be akin to the real thing, I see them in my future.

[Mungi]

Originally Posted by ahc

This was the bass I lusted for as a teenager. There was a Jersey Shore band that used to play at my high school and the bass player played one. It made an indelible impression on me. Great band, too. My first bass was a Hagstrom F-400, but now I know it was the Bi-Sonics that put a spell on me.

If the Guild pups turn out to be akin to the real thing, I see them in my future.

They are very cool looking basses. 32" scale length. It would be interesting to know the story behind how Guild picked these pickups for the Starfire. It's not like Hagström was a very big name back then.

[ahc]

Originally Posted by Mungi

They are very cool looking basses. 32" scale length. It would be interesting to know the story behind how Guild picked these pickups for the Starfire. It's not like Hagström was a very big name back then.

True enough!!!

[Mungi]

Originally Posted by ahc

True enough!!!

Btw, I am the proud owner of a Hagström Coronado. Fantastic bass!

[ahc]

Eggcellent!!! Wish I could find one. But I'll have the Guild pups if they're the real deal.

[mellowgerman]

Originally Posted by Mungi

It would be interesting to know the story behind how Guild picked these pickups for the Starfire. It's not like Hagström was a very big name back then.

Guild got a lot of their hardware from Hagström as well as all of their bass pickups pre Guildbucker. There was actually a smaller single coil before the bisonics... pretty sure one of them is listen in the classifieds right now. Not sure how they sound, but I'm sure they don't sound like a bisonic

[timber22]

So, when will this baby be available?

[Jim Ingraham]

Originally Posted by timber22

So, when will this baby be available?

April

[JoeWPgh]

Same for the "bi-sonics"?

[Patski]

I've created a petition to get a Justin Meldal-Johnsen signature Bass made in the Guild US Custom Shop. Please sign if a vintage accurate, 2 pickup American Starfire Bass tickles your fancy


http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/g...starfire-bass/


Mike from Guild has been frequenting the letstalkguild forums recently, so my plan is to pass this onto him. Please spread the word!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by mellowgerman

Guild got a lot of their hardware from Hagström as well as all of their bass pickups pre Guildbucker.

This was fairly common back then. Carvin used to use Höfner necks.

Hagström was more well known in Europe. I always wanted a Hagström Suede bass.