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New 2013 Guild Starfire Bass Reissue
- Thread starter Patski
- Start date
Thankfully, I get to say that mine has now been shipped.
I can barely wait to get this in my house, strung up with a decent set of flats (I like my TI JF's) and checking out the tones. It has been too long since I had any version of a Starfire bass in my hands.
I can barely wait to get this in my house, strung up with a decent set of flats (I like my TI JF's) and checking out the tones. It has been too long since I had any version of a Starfire bass in my hands.
My Newark St Starfire showed up today, but it had cracks in the finish on the back of the neck extending from the forward lower corner of the nut towards the center.
I got an RA and they are replacing it.
Sad, because the bass played and felt great. It also sounded almost perfect (just needs flats).
I'll update when my replacement arrives.
I got an RA and they are replacing it.
Sad, because the bass played and felt great. It also sounded almost perfect (just needs flats).
I'll update when my replacement arrives.
sigh, more bad feedback on this bass.
Please update us when you get your new bass. Could you post a video so we could hear it? Im really interested in getting one of these but it seems there is not a single store that has one of these in my state. I really dont want to spend $1,100 only to try the bass out.
Who did you order this from?
Please update us when you get your new bass. Could you post a video so we could hear it? Im really interested in getting one of these but it seems there is not a single store that has one of these in my state. I really dont want to spend $1,100 only to try the bass out.
Who did you order this from?
Coulda happened to any bass. I'm hoping it was just a fluke. Like I said, it played and sounded great.
I ordered it from AMS. They sent me a RA and UPS return label and as soon as they saw it shipped, they had my replacement out the door. And, depending on the weather in the North East, I should have it in the next day or 2.
There is another video of it here:
Link Removed
And a good sound clip here:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19701-guild-starfire-bass-review
First, let me start off by saying I waited to do this build until I found a Starfire that was already messed up. The one I found had the finished stripped, the pickup and electronics replaced, the headstock veneer removed, and the fingerboard replaced with a very bad fretless board. I didn't want to mess up a nice, vintage instrument. K, with that disclaimer stated:
I'm trying to recreate Phil Lesh's Alembicized Guild Starfire as close as possible, within reason
I'm having Alembic put on an ebony fingerboard with gold tinted mother of pearl oval inlays, red LED side markers and an Alembic crown headstock. They'll put in the regular Alembic bridge with sustain block underneath. The pickups will probably be the bisonics by Curtis Novak. I had a friend build the wooden control cover for the bottom half of the body and I'm going to try and put rack mount Alembic Superfilter inside the bass (like Phil's).
I've long had a fascination with that early, embryonic stage of the Alembic company, and Phil's modded Starfire.... so, building this bass is a project I've had on my mind for a long time and I felt it was finally time to pull the trigger! Hopefully it will turn out ok!
Thanks! Very sorry to see your Starfire showed up damaged like that. That must have been very frustrating to say the least!
My new Newark St. Starfire arrived today unscathed.
Changed the strings and set it up after letting it come up to house temp.
I love it. Totally worth the $.
And the single Bi-sonic is plenty and in the perfect position. Good even response across the spectrum.
scars, any chance you could post a video or audio link of you playing the bass? with the pickup knob at 0 and 10 preferrably.
I had a chance to try one of the new Starfires out today through a small Fender combo amp at a local music store. I already have a Dearmond Starfire from the 90's, so I was looking forward to seeing how much difference there would be.
Visually, I think they nailed it. The cherry finish was very nice, and the bass felt very comfortable. The neck was a little faster than my Dearmond, but the large Grover tuners made it neck dive slightly more. (I play T-birds so I know all about supposed neck dive). A set of Hipshot UltraLites would help I'm sure. I was worried the single pickup in the bridge position would be too bright - but with the tone rolled off it thumped quite nicely. Overall, thumbs up on looks, sound, and playability.
Despite all of that - it didn't seem to be any better a value than the Dearmond. It still feels like any other Korean made bass, and hanging on the wall next to all of the other import instruments, it just made me wonder what justify's the price tag. The name on the headstock? The Dearmond and the new Guild are so close to the same quality - it's not like comparing a Gibson to an Epi. Another thing I noticed - is that the Dearmond seems to resonate more- and have more of a woody-acoustic sound that the Guild didn't. My guess is the difference in woods used (Maple vs. Mahogany).
The new Starfire is a looker, plays great, and sounds good too- But just not enough to get me to trade my Dearmond in or add the Guild to my collection at the moment.
Visually, I think they nailed it. The cherry finish was very nice, and the bass felt very comfortable. The neck was a little faster than my Dearmond, but the large Grover tuners made it neck dive slightly more. (I play T-birds so I know all about supposed neck dive). A set of Hipshot UltraLites would help I'm sure. I was worried the single pickup in the bridge position would be too bright - but with the tone rolled off it thumped quite nicely. Overall, thumbs up on looks, sound, and playability.
Despite all of that - it didn't seem to be any better a value than the Dearmond. It still feels like any other Korean made bass, and hanging on the wall next to all of the other import instruments, it just made me wonder what justify's the price tag. The name on the headstock? The Dearmond and the new Guild are so close to the same quality - it's not like comparing a Gibson to an Epi. Another thing I noticed - is that the Dearmond seems to resonate more- and have more of a woody-acoustic sound that the Guild didn't. My guess is the difference in woods used (Maple vs. Mahogany).
The new Starfire is a looker, plays great, and sounds good too- But just not enough to get me to trade my Dearmond in or add the Guild to my collection at the moment.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
just a quick recording intro and first verse with tone full open, second verse with tone knob rolled all the way off.
Note: I had already swapped the stock strings for TI Jazz Flats (JF324)
Stiles- I'll agree that the 90's DeArmonds were great values, and if I still had one (with DarkStars in it) I might not have been tempted to buy this. However, these Newark St models are just a hair closer to the originals (correct bridge, "bi-sonic" pickup and no binding on neck) and given the non clearance price tag of the DeArmonds was around $800, if you add inflation the price point for these is about right.
The ones that kill me are the GSR's that are selling for more than the vintage ones and don't have any form of bi-sonic pickup in it.
Mongo- the Epi Casady is a different beast altogether. And also a fantastic bass.
I Like Short scale basses. I love Starfires Basses. So this one is just right for me.
just a quick recording intro and first verse with tone full open, second verse with tone knob rolled all the way off.
Note: I had already swapped the stock strings for TI Jazz Flats (JF324)
Stiles- I'll agree that the 90's DeArmonds were great values, and if I still had one (with DarkStars in it) I might not have been tempted to buy this. However, these Newark St models are just a hair closer to the originals (correct bridge, "bi-sonic" pickup and no binding on neck) and given the non clearance price tag of the DeArmonds was around $800, if you add inflation the price point for these is about right.
The ones that kill me are the GSR's that are selling for more than the vintage ones and don't have any form of bi-sonic pickup in it.
Mongo- the Epi Casady is a different beast altogether. And also a fantastic bass.
I Like Short scale basses. I love Starfires Basses. So this one is just right for me.
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The new ones are great basses and sound sweet, and yes do look more like the original. Great sound clip too!
I must have just got a hell of a deal on the De Armond back in the day then... I only paid $450 brand new with the case to the local mom n pop music store, which was their asking price.
Typically, I can't make short scale basses work for me. I had a Gibson SG bass once that felt small and guitar-like, so I had to send it back. With a Starfire however, the body is much larger so the overall length of the instrument is more comparable to a 34" bass which makes it feel much more at home.
I must have just got a hell of a deal on the De Armond back in the day then... I only paid $450 brand new with the case to the local mom n pop music store, which was their asking price.
Typically, I can't make short scale basses work for me. I had a Gibson SG bass once that felt small and guitar-like, so I had to send it back. With a Starfire however, the body is much larger so the overall length of the instrument is more comparable to a 34" bass which makes it feel much more at home.
