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Interested in Semi Hollows
- Thread starter PizzaBall
- Start date
How's that bridge p/u is it music manny? Can you coil split?
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I'd vote Guild
I had one and boy did it sound good, throw some DR Black Beauties on it and it's got thump and sizzle, those strings make that bass sing. Only reason I didn't keep it was I just wasn't playing music where I picked it up enough. Those pickups and fuzz are amazing though.
I had one and boy did it sound good, throw some DR Black Beauties on it and it's got thump and sizzle, those strings make that bass sing. Only reason I didn't keep it was I just wasn't playing music where I picked it up enough. Those pickups and fuzz are amazing though.
No coil splitting, but it sounds very good. One of the few basses I have with a bridge pickup that I don't mind using solo.
I don't really get to participate in this -- being left-handed always means less choices ... but the Starfire is one of my options (the other being the Epi Casady). My first bass was a cheapie semi-hollow, and I sorta miss it; the Starfire looks like a fun and decent upgrade.
A gentleman on the Guild website was just told by Sweetwater that the Starfire II has been discontinued.
By the look of their inventory this could be true. The SPG factory in South Korea that built them was closed down in February.
Yamaha Guitar Group owns Guild and hopefully they will bring back mfg to the states. Japan would be good too.
My Starfire II Special
By the look of their inventory this could be true. The SPG factory in South Korea that built them was closed down in February.
Yamaha Guitar Group owns Guild and hopefully they will bring back mfg to the states. Japan would be good too.
My Starfire II Special
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
My Starfire, a '67 with Alembic guts, has been my #1 bass for 15+ years now. It's got so much character and with these electronics, gets a very wide variety of tones, even a good slap tone with Pyramid flats (better with rounds). I have many basses, Fender, Modulus, Gibson, custom David King, etc., but this is the one that gets the nod about 85% of the time. Sounds deep, clear, and crisp through the PA.
Remember that most Alembic basses are hollow, including the ones Stanley Clarke plays.
Remember that most Alembic basses are hollow, including the ones Stanley Clarke plays.
My first bass was a cheap catalogue semi hollow, just like the local bass heroes. I am still looking for another. I'm also heavily slanted towards the Guild.
Never could find what I wanted in a semi hollow so had to create my own.
Hey folks,
Just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice, adding to the discussion and also welcoming me to TB. I appreciate all your kindness.
Just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice, adding to the discussion and also welcoming me to TB. I appreciate all your kindness.
Not exactly. That was a body design issued by Gibson in the early 70's as the Les Paul Signature Bass, and was essentially a flop back then.
Jack may have had some input on Alembic development as his Guild was a vessel of experimentation and modding for them in their early days, but in recent times when Epiphone struck an endorsement deal with him and revived the LPSB layout to have his name applied, I'm not so sure about what he had changed, if anything.
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A little under the radar, I picked up a couple of these when they were still being made, the Waterstone Meaden…
32" scale, the spawn of a three-way between a Rickenbacker 4005, Framus Starbass, and Hofner. They had an even more Ric-ish model, the name escapes me…
32" scale, the spawn of a three-way between a Rickenbacker 4005, Framus Starbass, and Hofner. They had an even more Ric-ish model, the name escapes me…
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If you wanted to go vintage there is an early 70s epiphone EA260 in the talk base classifies right now for half the money that you're looking to spend on those other bases. Those epiphones get a great hollow body tone..
