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Fender Coronado Wildwood v Guild Starfire

O

octopoli

Apr 20, 2011
3
0
#1
Hi Justin.

I had a question about your Wildwood Fender Coronado (I hear its green) and the Guild Starfire.

Can you explain the differences between the two in build quality and sound (including feedback issues).

Also if you notice that if there are differences between different basses in the same model range (eg are some better than others or are they pretty much uniform sounding).

I seem to be one of the few that really likes the sound of the Wildwood basses as much as the look.

I would like to hear your take on them..

all the best

Dino
 
#2
My Coronado is far more feedback prone than my Starfire, which is innate to the fact that the Coronado is completely hollow, whereas the Starfire has a center block. However, the Starfire, as a result, is less resonant and a bit more "choked" sounding. Not in a bad way, just less "open".

I love the Coronado. BUt it has far less output, is noisier, is more prone to ground hum, and is feedback prone with loud amps. Even with that, I toured with Beck using it in front of two SVT 8x10's, and it always worked out somehow.

Entirely unique. I will say, in spite of their relative lack of popularity, that nothing sounds like one.

The only other time I heard a Coronado live was with Steve Kilbey of The Church. Fell in love, for sure.

JMJ
 
#4
Thanks

Yes, I think its the open sound that I like and I like a little loss of control, its nice to let the instrument have some creativity like the Coronado!!

Which Beck tour did you use it?

I have yet to see photos.

In my experience the Wildwood Coronados tends to be a little brighter sounding to me than the standard maple Coronado. I think its the only bass I can think made from Beechwood, which is great sounding in drums (Rogers even made a wildwood version in '67 from the same coronado wildwood), but never used in guitars. (I think Fender made some necks out of Beech in the 60s at one time). I think its not a popular guitar wood because the trees are not thick enough to make easily make a body out of it.

I have one Cornado body that I put the Darkstars in (the Guild starfire Hagstrom copy) and that gave it a boost in out put which was nice too but I never seemed to be able to set that one up properly.

Thanks again Justin. Really great you take time out to talk here.

Look forward to more great music from you too.
 
#5
Nice!

Had it on Midnite Vultures tour '99-'01. I know I made some TV appearances with it, e.g. TOTP, Jools Holland, etc.

Sitting in my garage now, waiting for the next chance to get ill.

JMJ
 

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