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NBD Guild Starfire II
- Thread starter PapaBearBass
- Start date
Absolutely gorgeous!!!Trouble with those dang things is, once you let one into your house, they start in t'multiplyin'!!!
Trouble with those dang things is, once you let one into your house, they start in t'multiplyin'!!!
BTW: that's the same, red SF-I in both PICs. The ones loaded with BiSonics are NS (MIK) and the 'burst with the "Guild-buckers" is a Westerly (MIA).
I don't think there is enough difference between the reissue pickups and the replacement ones. I love this bass with TI Jazz Rounds on it, even as an import reissue, they are something special.
Yeah I definitely think a set of TI Flats would sound killer.
If you really want to go all Phil Lesh on this, check out Underhill Bass Guitar Preamps. If I can ever finish the too many projects I already have, I want to get a Starfire II and put filter preamps in it.
I've got TI Jazz FLATS on a couple basses, but the Guild (and 2 others) have TI Jazz Rounds. Same construction but thin round nickel outer wrap. My all time favorite string.
Congrats on yours, it looks killer.
Man that looks cool! Never heard of that one.
If I had the bank i'd love to try the Philter
Osiris Philter — Handcrafted Tone Filters
Handcrafted philtration solutions for musicians who demand authentic sound quality. Premium leather-wrapped tone filters.
osirisphilter.com
Consider adding a strap pin to the upper bout. Helps with neck dive and forward rotation of the body. Several Jack Casady owners—including myself—have done it to our satisfaction.
Beautiful! What's the biggest difference you've noticed by adding the Alembic appointments @EdwardofHuncote?
Nice!
Yeah, @Mustang Surly, my Ric 4005's have had the same multiplying issue!Trouble with those dang things is, once you let one into your house, they start in t'multiplyin'!!!
Yep, TI Flats have been my #1 strings since 2014. I have the long scale sets on my Ric 4005Vs, 4005XC, and 4003 basses, and the short scale set on my Fender Starcaster.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,668
- 2
- 16,475
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
Well, it was modified a long time ago, by a former Alembic employee, well before I got it. They did save the original bridge and parts so it could be put back with some careful luthiery. It would be a job though, and I kinda' like it as-is.
I was telling someone else earlier this morning that had PM'd generally me the same question... the biggest difference was the pickups in those reissue Newark St Starfire basses. They were very good, but did not have quite the range of the old Hagstrom bisonics. As for the heavy brass parts, stoptail, bridge, and nut... I felt they increased sustain where the rosewood bridge saddles of the original design allowed notes to decay a little quicker.
Yep, exactly as I expected.Well, it was modified a long time ago, by a former Alembic employee, well before I got it. They did save the original bridge and parts so it could be put back with some careful luthiery. It would be a job though, and I kinda' like it as-is.
View attachment 7437405
I was telling someone else earlier this morning that had PM'd generally me the same question... the biggest difference was the pickups in those reissue Newark St Starfire basses. They were very good, but did not have quite the range of the old Hagstrom bisonics. As for the heavy brass parts, stoptail, bridge, and nut... I felt they increased sustain where the rosewood bridge saddles of the original design allowed notes to decay a little quicker.
It was really thoughtful for the original owner to keep the original parts, however, I wouldn't expect anything less from someone who owned a beauty like this. Long live your unique bass as it is!Cool backstory - thanks for sharing!
I didn't know the original saddles were rosewood! SweetWell, it was modified a long time ago, by a former Alembic employee, well before I got it. They did save the original bridge and parts so it could be put back with some careful luthiery. It would be a job though, and I kinda' like it as-is.
View attachment 7437405
I was telling someone else earlier this morning that had PM'd generally me the same question... the biggest difference was the pickups in those reissue Newark St Starfire basses. They were very good, but did not have quite the range of the old Hagstrom bisonics. As for the heavy brass parts, stoptail, bridge, and nut... I felt they increased sustain where the rosewood bridge saddles of the original design allowed notes to decay a little quicker.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,668
- 2
- 16,475
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
Yep. Actually, earlier ones were Bakelite. Mine are rosewood though, and the Newark St reissue I had was a darn good representation of the original without being a direct copy. I don't remember ever holding them side-by-side.I didn't know the original saddles were rosewood! Sweet
I've always balked at the expense of the Novaks. I'm not trying to assert that they don't sound better than the newer re-pops, or claim that they're not worth the money. I've just found that for me, both the the Bi-Sonic re-pops (in the NS basses) and the "Guild-'buckers" benefit quite noticeably from adding a good EQ pedal and a pre-amp (in my case, on the pedal board, since I hate messing with on-board batteries and run my pedal board with a single power block) into the signal chain. I find that that really "opens up" both types of pups.
Take into consideration that I'm 77 and my hearing isn't any longer what it once was, so I may not be as sensitive to / perceptive of auditory nuance as others who've posted above.
Take into consideration that I'm 77 and my hearing isn't any longer what it once was, so I may not be as sensitive to / perceptive of auditory nuance as others who've posted above.
Yeah I'm not in the position to start swapping stuff out but I could definitely consider an outboard pre-amp. Any recommendations?
