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Anyone know anything about Guild Starfire basses?

#41
I have the new Guild Starfire I (in Walnut). Neck dive is there but no worse than on a Casady. I must say that I'm very tolerant of neck dive, I like oddball instruments and I currently have *only* basses with neck dive issues, haha. Get a strap with a coarse texture and the issue sort of goes away (you do feel the pull on your shoulder though). One day I will have a custom bass made with two or even three Bisonics (in a smaller form factor though) and that bass will be a 32" hollowbody (Casady style, with some heavier bracing along the back and possibly a solid portion for the bridge) but it won't dive. I wonder whether it is possible at all (I'm thinking of a longer solid upper horn).
 
#42
DFAE8F9F-8441-4A08-9BA0-92249792D96B.jpeg
I picked up a Starfire last year. I removed the crappy PBass pickup (what?!?) it had and put in a Novak BS-DS with a coil tap. It’s a killer bass, especially for the money that I originally spent. Highly recommend.
 
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#43
I have the new Starfire I and I love it! Lightweight, smooth neck, great (IMHO) sound

Might need to save up for the Starfire II though

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#44
Matt R. said:
View attachment 4699738 I picked up a Starfire last year. I removed the crappy PBass pickup (what?!?) it had and put in a Novak BS-DS with a coil tap. It’s a killer bass, especially for the money that I originally spent. Highly recommend.
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Honestly I don't find the split coil pickup to be crappy. I mean, what's wrong with it?
 
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#48
A 2-pickup Starfire is on my wish list. I've played a few, including the newest version, and it is everything I'm looking for in a hollowbody instrument. I didn't think the neck dive was unmanageable on the ones I picked up, and I thought the neck profile was very playable. It's good to know there are good replacement pickups available like the Novaks, if the stock pickups don't measure up.

+1 on the Lakland Hollowbody, although I've only played an earlier 34" scale Skyline version, which I liked a lot.
 
#50
1971 Guild Starfire II - 1.jpeg
1971 Guild Starfire II - 4.jpeg

I've got a 1971 Starfire II that's a terrific instrument. It was in pretty good shape when I got it for a great price. Had to stabilize the binding at the base of the neck and make some new rosewood saddles. The pickup covers were missing when I got it. Body's in nice shape and the 3-piece neck is very stable. With the short-scale neck, there's significantly less dive than with my Jack Casady. The tones are excellent, especially the bridge pickup. One singer I've worked with, who ordinarily pays no attention whatsoever to bass or bass tone, declared that he *loved* this bass. It really penetrates through a mix.:laugh:
 
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#51
ad9000 said:
A 2-pickup Starfire is on my wish list. I've played a few, including the newest version, and it is everything I'm looking for in a hollowbody instrument. I didn't think the neck dive was unmanageable on the ones I picked up, and I thought the neck profile was very playable. It's good to know there are good replacement pickups available like the Novaks, if the stock pickups don't measure up.

+1 on the Lakland Hollowbody, although I've only played an earlier 34" scale Skyline version, which I liked a lot.
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I have the Starfire I. For like a year, I'm not a pro bass player, just do my own recordings at home.
It is light weight, very good build.
 
#52
tb-player said:
I have a Guild Starfire guitar in emerald green. It is such a fun guitar to play. I enjoy it so much. It makes me wonder if the Starfire semi-hollow basses are just as fun.

Anyone own or ever play a Starfire? I am intrigued.
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I bought the walnut Starfire I last year. Love the sound, the short scale neck. I'm a thinner dude so this body style is a bit bigger for me. It's going up for sale or trade. But if you like the semi hollow, try one out. I usually play it unplugged while around the house. It's loud enough to plunk on. Have not gigged with it yet, so can't comment on any on stage feedback issues, being semi hollow. Worth a shot to play one though and see.
 
#53
I have used my for recordings, never play live.
I think, the sound that comes from it, is similar to an upright bass.
The neck, at the.nut, is even narrower than the jazz bass.
Mine is walnut too, almost black, should have.gotten the red one
 
#54
tb-player said:
The one with the two bisonic pickups is what I'm looking at. I've watched a bunch of YouTube videos and the tone is nice. I just don't know anyone who's played them. It's a sound I don't really have in my arsenal.
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I use a 1980ish M-85 hollow body with dual Bisonics (the originals) for recording. The studio engineer absolutely loves to record that bass. "It gives me so much to work with!"

The other night I happened to listen to a recording we made. Just an amazing tone.
 
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#58
I'm currently looking for a new semi-hollow. I'm really tempted to order a Newark SF II. Will I miss something compared to the US models from the 90's and the vintage ones? I plan on using labella flats with it. Also, do the Novak pickups improve a lot the tone of the bass? Are they close to a vintage if I decide to upgrade the pickups?

I know it's not possible to completely reproduce the vintage tone and vibe, but if I can get something that feels as similar as the JMJ mustang compared to a real 60's mustang, I'd be pretty happy !!
 
#59
I have a circa 1967 Starfire II. Lovely bass and fun to play, but a few things are not optimal for me: narrow string spacing compared to a Fender, which is an adjustment for me, and relatively large body with a shorter scale neck, which is not as comfortable as my Lakland USA Hollowbody. I think the Asia made Lakland Skyline Hollowbody (out of production, but not hard to find used for $900 - $1200) is really nice option. More comfortable sculptured body shape than the Starfire, comfortable string spacing for finger style, well balanced, decent (not great) pickups. Lakland Skyline Hollowbody 4-String 2010s - Three Tone Sunburst | Reverb
 
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#60
My 2017 Guild Starfire II was a great bass and the stock pickups did not need replacing at all based on my gigging experiences with it. I only sold it after I bought an Epiphone Jack Casady which I ended up preferring due to the long scale and tones available from it. The Korean-made Newark Street Guilds are a nicer, higher quality build in comparison but the long scale Jack bass delivers the sounds I prefer as a long time mostly P bass guy and is easier to play as a finger style only player.

That said, I didn't have any issues with my newer Starfire II and highly recommend them (I liked it more than the JMJ Mustang that I had for a much shorter time). I moved it though as I didn't have need for more than one semi-hollowbody bass.
 
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