New tailpiece/bridge for Guild Starfire I

[Eternal Day]

I purchased a Guild Starfire I a couple of months ago and it's a great instrument, but after replacing the stock rounds with flats, I noticed some pretty substantial buzz coming from the body (or at least being amplified there, hard to locate), which is also noticable through the amp.

I tried a different set of flats with the same result, tried damping the tuners, cables (the ones I could reach), pickup, bridge, straightened/loosened the truss rod, which all made no difference. Damping the tailpiece made a slight difference and I'm pretty sure it's the culprit, but that's not the only reason I want to get rid of it.

https://my.guildguitars.com/bass/starfire-i

While it looks pretty, its angled design is highly unpractical since it limits you to just a few sets of strings. Most short and even most medium scale strings are too short, while with long scale strings, the G and, depending on the brand, the E windings end up on the tuning post. Also, the ball ends are stuck in one of two possible positions, so freeing up a twisted string can be impossible.

A tune-o-matic style tailpiece would make sense and fit the bridge, but that would require precise, large diameter drilling into a curved top. I don't have the equipment for that and also don't wanna spend a lot of €, but I'm keeping that option in mind. There's also tune-o-matic bridges like this one which also hold the strings: 4 String Bass Guitar Tune O Matic Wraparound Tailpiece Bridge. Wonder if LaBella flats would survive the wrap.

The easiest option would be something like this: Warwick Bridge 30118 4C. Haven't found tailpieces like these sold without the bridge so far.

I hoped Guild would perhaps try and fix this issue for me, but they basically told me to see a tech, if I don't manage to find the buzz myself.

What kind of tailpiece/bridge would you choose?

 

[GIBrat51]

I purchased a Guild Starfire I a couple of months ago and it's a great instrument, but after replacing the stock rounds with flats, I noticed some pretty substantial buzz coming from the body (or at least being amplified there, hard to locate), which is also noticable through the amp.

I tried a different set of flats with the same result, tried damping the tuners, cables (the ones I could reach), pickup, bridge, straightened/loosened the truss rod, which all made no difference. Damping the tailpiece made a slight difference and I'm pretty sure it's the culprit, but that's not the only reason I want to get rid of it.

View attachment 7347802

https://my.guildguitars.com/bass/starfire-i

While it looks pretty, its angled design is highly unpractical since it limits you to just a few sets of strings. Most short and even most medium scale strings are too short, while with long scale strings, the G and, depending on the brand, the E windings end up on the tuning post. Also, the ball ends are stuck in one of two possible positions, so freeing up a twisted string can be impossible.

A tune-o-matic style tailpiece would make sense and fit the bridge, but that would require precise, large diameter drilling into a curved top. I don't have the equipment for that and also don't wanna spend a lot of €, but I'm keeping that option in mind. There's also tune-o-matic bridges like this one which also hold the strings: 4 String Bass Guitar Tune O Matic Wraparound Tailpiece Bridge. Wonder if LaBella flats would survive the wrap.

The easiest option would be something like this: Warwick Bridge 30118 4C. Haven't found tailpieces like these sold without the bridge so far.

I hoped Guild would perhaps try and fix this issue for me, but they basically told me to see a tech, if I don't manage to find the buzz myself.

What kind of tailpiece/bridge would you choose?

Personally? Other than doing the "globs of epoxy in the upper bout to move the front strap pin" thing? I don't plan on doing anything to my Starfire 1. Other than the front strap pin thing (which is livable as is, but... annoying), it's fine, just the way it is. I would have preferred a Starfire 2, but... sadly? No left handed ones...
It's possible that you're getting what electric hollow-body guitar players call "wolf notes/tones", where the strings behind the bridge are resonating loudly enough to be heard acoustically -and sometimes amplified, as well. It's fairly common with the Gretsch's that rockabilly players prefer. They make that problem go away by weaving something (like a piece of leather) between the strings, behind the bridge. My '93 Gretsch Broadkaster bass (which is essentially a Gretsch "Tennessee Rose" guitar) used to have wolf tones. Very noticeable ones, too. I made them go away by using a piece of moleskin - trimmed to be invisible - in between the body and the tailpiece, right where it folds over the heel of the body. That was... about 20 years ago, now. Haven't heard a wolf tone since... As for finding flats for it? Well, yes; the selection of Medium scale flats is fairly small - compared to short & long scale flats. But, I have several basses that use them (and all but 3 of my 29 basses wear flats), and have had no trouble finding ones that I like. My Guild wears Rotosound RS77M Monel Flats. I had no problems installing them at all. And, for what I play with the Guild? I'm very happy with them, too...





'

 

[Eternal Day]

I made them go away by using a piece of moleskin - trimmed to be invisible - in between the body and the tailpiece, right where it folds over the heel of the body.

This is something I actually wanted to try, but I thought, if jamming a piece of dense foam under the strings behind the bridge didn't change much, that also won't. Gonna give it a try and report! If this should not fix the issue, I'll probably go for this here and find a drill stand: T6 Four String Bass Tailpiece - CH Guitar Parts and Accessories

the selection of Medium scale flats is fairly small - compared to short & long scale flats. But, I have several basses that use them (and all but 3 of my 29 basses wear flats), and have had no trouble finding ones that I like.

Unfortunately, LaBella's medium scale 760FS set is juuuust short. I have a long scale set lying around and the thought of winding another G around the tuning post triggers my OCD. LaBella explicitly states you're not supposed to do that or they'll send a bounty hunter... or something. Right now the Starfire is actually strung up with LaBella LTF's and the G is still kicking. Don't tell them.

 

[Lowbrow]

For quick & dirty I’d wrap a strip of gaffer tape around the strings between the bridge and tailpiece and see if that helps. If it does, suggest you live with it just like that.

 

[Eternal Day]

@GIBrat51 @Lowbrow

I cut a piece of microfibre cloth to size, stuck it in between the tailpiece and body and.... no change at all, the buzz is as intense as ever. No kind/amount of damping of the tailpiece/strings behind the bridge changes much. Only the overtones and sustain of the buzz change slightly. I'm not sure about the tailpiece being the culprit anymore and don't feel like it would make much sense to install a different one.

I recorded the buzz coming from the body with my phone. Maybe someone has an idea:

It's so intense, I really doubt it's just some cable somewhere. My current suspect is the truss rod, but as I stated, adjusting it didn't really make a difference either. A bit clueless right now.

 

[geirsve]

I have this bass and the exact same problem. I found the solution by putting a small piece of felt between the E string and the A string and the saddles. After this I was able to lower the action without any rattling at all. Copilot says this is a good workaround, and that a possible permanent fix would be to raise the string angle above the saddle.

 

[geirsve]

I have come up with an even better fix today, which allows me to have low action without clanking/rattling and without felt on the saddles. I put about 2 mm of felt knobs under the tailpiece at the back bottom edge so that the angle of the strings over the saddles increases.