Guild Starfire I or Höfner Verythin

[Deleted member 132197]

The last few weeks I've been looking for a new short scale and after trying the basses available to me (Squier Mustang, Gretsch G2220, Höfner Ignition Club, G&L Tribute Fallout, Höfner Verythin) I narrowed my choice down to two basses:
The [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and the Guild Starfire I.

I tried the Verythin now twice and I liked the neck and it sounded good in the store.

Sadly, I have nowhere to test the Guild, but as it's a bit cheaper and a bit prettier and the fact that I really liked the sound of it in @LowEndLobster 's review, it's a strong contender.

So, opinionated people of Talkbass, help me doubt more, which one would you pick and why?

 

[Jeff Mock]

I had also been on the search for a short scale semi-hollow, and I narrowed my choices down to the Ibanez AGB200 Artcore and the Guild Starfire 1. I played the Artcore at the local guitar shop, but no one seems to carry the Starfire to try. The Artcore was poorly set up, a lot of fret buzz, but the neck was comfortable and it played fast. I did not care for the two tone wood color, natural on top and dark stain on the back. So, a Guild Starfire 1 in walnut is showing up to the house Thursday (July 15th). I will let you know how it compares to others I have played. Love the style, hope the sound lives up to the looks. I also made my choice after watching Lowendlobsters review. I'll be trying the Starfire out through my Gallien-Kruger 1001RB and a Genz Benz Uber 212T-UB.

JM

 

[jd56hawk]

Well, the Guild looks better, but...

 

[Lowbrow]

As a Precision person, the Starfire I looks like a very good way to expand my bass collection to include a hollow body that I would actually like the sound of.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

As a Precision person, the Starfire I looks like a very good way to expand my bass collection to include a hollow body that I would actually like the sound of.

that was also my conclusion

 

[Mustang Surly]

Not that I have a prejudice, but...

 

[Lowbrow]

that was also my conclusion

View attachment 4335565

Very nice! So the question is, how is it working out for you?

 

[Katoosie]

If it was ME picking up one of the two, I think I would go for the höfner because of the pickup config. I assume it would have more tonal options than just one split p of the guild.

BUT

If I had more basses with a lot of tone options I would go for the guild because it's prettier, simple as that.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

25462887[/URL], member: 116172"]Very nice! So the question is, how is it working out for you?

I absolutely love it. It sounds amazing, looks amazing, is very light and responds well with pedals

25462962[/URL], member: 367619"]If it was ME picking up one of the two, I think I would go for the höfner because of the pickup config. I assume it would have more tonal options than just one split p of the guild.

BUT

If I had more basses with a lot of tone options I would go for the guild because it's prettier, simple as that.

yeah. Style did influence my choice but I'm also a simple 'set and forget'-person and already noticed when trying out the Höfner there was one, maybe two, sounds I liked and wouldn't be using the tonal flexibility it offered

 

[Lowbrow]

yeah. Style did influence my choice but I'm also a simple 'set and forget'-person and already noticed when trying out the Höfner there was one, maybe two, sounds I liked and wouldn't be using the tonal flexibility it offered

Two pickup basses ... especially those with one tight to the bridge and one tight to the neck heel ... drive me just nuts! In my opinion, neither pickup sounds good solo, nor do they combine well. If pressed I'd make do soloing the neck pup. I've tried to work with these types several times as I think they LOOK REALLY COOL but have always ended up selling or returning them. The Epi Allen Woody I kinda liked for awhile with its mid + neck configuration, and I may have kept it had it not been for that obscene 3-point bridge.

 

[Relyick]

Even though the Starfire I has less Knobs and ways to tweak your sound I've found myself playing around with the two options it does have more than my other basses that do have more variety. Most basses I find that one sound and it stays there but with the starfire I find myself thinking, :Oh this will sound good with some vintage to it or I'll go with that low bass thumb."

 

[mongo2]

I'm not a fan of the Starfire aesthetic with the P style pickup and I already have a great P bass sounding short scale in my Mustang PJ LE. I also have the Hofner Club and I'm no longer comfortable playing wide bodied basses so I wouldn't use the Guild or the Verythin. Of the basses you've tried I'd go with the Hofner Club.

I guess that doesn't help much but there it is.

 

[RubyTuba]

After watching Emily Elbert demonstrate it in the video on the Guild site, with flats and without, I'm tempted to dump all my other basses and just have one Starfire I. In the demo, she NAILS both the sounds I use 90% of the time. (I'd keep my fretless, but I could play all my other gigs with just a Starfire I.)
Nothing will ever be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm sure impressed.
Caveat: I haven't played one in person yet.

 

[jazzman64]

Not that I have a prejudice, but...

View attachment 4335575

Do you think the Guild starfire with just the bridge pickup will be versatile a sound woody?

 

[flashgod]

I had the same dilemma. Could not choose between a Starfire and a Verythin. So I bought a Sire P5 instead, modded the pickups and put Labellas on. Looks and plays like a 4K Pino.

 

[blacktocomm]

I have a Verythin and a Starfire (single bisonic). I like the Hofner, but prefer the Guild.
The Verythin needed a complete fret level when I got it. The Starfire was good to go right out of the box.
The neck on the Hofner is a bit more chunky. Tone is excellent. I just like the neck and the way my right hand naturally feels on the Guild more.

 

[mellowgerman]

Obviously the OP has already made his choice and it seems to have been the right one in his case. Retroactively, congrats! Especially since you seem to be into pedals, I don't know if you would have been stoked with the Höfner... I just get the impression that the voicing of those Staple pickups, combined with the floating bridge may not produce the most ideal signal for a lot of the processing. I'm sure it could be made to work and some might even prefer it, but I think pedal designers have to consider the fact that the P-style split coil is found in what I would venture to say is a majority of basses in existence. So when it's time for the pedal company to test and fine-tune a new pedal designs, it's probably a good idea to do it with a P pickup in the middle position -- unless maybe if a core part of the design IS versatility, via something along the lines of a powerful EQ section.

That said, just in case anybody else ever finds themselves debating between a Starfire and a Verythin, I'm a long-time Starfire user and just picked up a Höfner "Contemporary Series" Verythin recently, after a few years of playing with the idea of getting one. I definitely don't regret picking it up. Even though it has the center-block, it does a great job getting that McCartney type of tone. I'm still running it through it's paces, but the first impression is very good. My only complaint so far is that the frets do have a few sharp ends and need some light leveling to get truly low action without buzz. I really don't mind medium-low action, especially on a short-scale with inherently lower string tension, so I'm in no immediate rush in that regard. It does set up quite comfortably as is. Finally, below are two photos that really show you the physical similarities and differences. Looking at them from the front, they may appear more similar than they are... the biggest differences become apparent from the side view.
Please note though, this is a 1970 Starfire, of which the specs will be more similar to the Newark Street series with the Harp style bridge and Bisonic pickups. The new Starfire I with the split-coil does have somewhat different specs in regard to string spacing, how far the neck is set into the body, etc.

 

[blacktocomm]

Obviously the OP has already made his choice and it seems to have been the right one in his case. Retroactively, congrats! Especially since you seem to be into pedals, I don't know if you would have been stoked with the Höfner... I just get the impression that the voicing of those Staple pickups, combined with the floating bridge may not produce the most ideal signal for a lot of the processing. I'm sure it could be made to work and some might even prefer it, but I think pedal designers have to consider the fact that the P-style split coil is found in what I would venture to say is a majority of basses in existence. So when it's time for the pedal company to test and fine-tune a new pedal designs, it's probably a good idea to do it with a P pickup in the middle position -- unless maybe if a core part of the design IS versatility, via something along the lines of a powerful EQ section.

That said, just in case anybody else ever finds themselves debating between a Starfire and a Verythin, I'm a long-time Starfire user and just picked up a Höfner "Contemporary Series" Verythin recently, after a few years of playing with the idea of getting one. I definitely don't regret picking it up. Even though it has the center-block, it does a great job getting that McCartney type of tone. I'm still running it through it's paces, but the first impression is very good. My only complaint so far is that the frets do have a few sharp ends and need some light leveling to get truly low action without buzz. I really don't mind medium-low action, especially on a short-scale with inherently lower string tension, so I'm in no immediate rush in that regard. It does set up quite comfortably as is. Finally, below are two photos that really show you the physical similarities and differences. Looking at them from the front, they may appear more similar than they are... the biggest differences become apparent from the side view.
Please note though, this is a 1970 Starfire, of which the specs will be more similar to the Newark Street series with the Harp style bridge and Bisonic pickups. The new Starfire I with the split-coil does have somewhat different specs in regard to string spacing, how far the neck is set into the body, etc.

View attachment 4597923
View attachment 4597924

That’s a sweet pair. I haven’t run my Hofner through any pedals but after reading your post I’m intrigued on what it would sound like. I love the tone just running it straight to the amp. Much different voicing than the Guild for sure. Both are very fine basses though and different enough that I’m glad I own both.

 

[rictrose]

That’s a sweet pair. I haven’t run my Hofner through any pedals but after reading your post I’m intrigued on what it would sound like. I love the tone just running it straight to the amp. Much different voicing than the Guild for sure. Both are very fine basses though and different enough that I’m glad I own both.
View attachment 4597928

how do you describe the difference in voicing between the two?

 

[HoHumbucker]

Folks, jumping on a ghost thread here, but this is exactly a question I am having. I would like to add a semi-hollow to my collection since I am starting to play out with some acoustic/bluegrass/jazz folks and think that both the sound and appearance of a S-H fits better than my solid bodies.

I had narrowed my choices down to the Starfire I and the Ibanez AGB200. Then I found the Hofner Verythin. I think that is about the top of my budget for this particular guitar, but might be the leading candidate right now.

• I so far seem to prefer thinner necks (+1 for the VT).
• I think I prefer 2 pickups to 1 for the variety of tones (+1 for VT and Ibby).
• I think I would prefer the thinner body (+1 for VT).
• I assume that the VT would take the Hofner strings (I likely would put LaBella Beatle flats on it)
• I do not have a bass with a floating bridge. Are there challenges/pitfalls/advantages with that setup?

In the time since this thread was living, has anyone changed or added to their thoughts? I do not live in a location where I can try any of these before buying so I try to ask all the questions I can before deciding. Thanks.