Which is Larger: Guild Starfire or Epi Jack Casady?

[Geogio]

Ibanez AFB200 it is a short scale and hollow with bound f-holes, laminated top.

The Höfner is hollow and short-scale but sealed, some chinese Höfners are chambered.

I like the Casady but... I was playing one several months back and just wasn't that impressed, like I always imagined I would be. I enjoy my AF 200 it's been real good but I think the pickups on that are a just little weak but it's fine for what I use it for which is acoustic kind of sets, nothing rocking out. I use medium flats on that.

I'm not a big fan of Höfner Bridges, or those vintage tuning machines... I have had the 500/1, which now resides with the brother of my brother-in-law. He absolutely loves it and it is German, it was set up with the Labella's for the Höfner in .096 flats. I get to play it fairly regularly at family events.

 

[mellowgerman]

My 1970 Starfire in a Casady case. Literally a perfect fit. The Casady is often mistakenly thought to be larger but the bridge is set farther back to accommodate the longer scale.

I've also owned various specimens of other years 1966-1969 and every one of them was at some point transported in a Casady case, as all of their original cases were worn out from years of use. As far as I know, all Bisonic-equipped Newark Street reissue Starfire basses have the same body dimensions as vintage Starfires. Only difference is that the headstock is slightly smaller on the reissues.
The new, low-cost import split-coil Starfire basses are different in physical dimensions though. At the very least, I know the neck is set farther into the body. Should still be pretty close in size to a Casady though.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

I am only 5 foot 8 tall and played a Casady bass for 18 years. No problems with the size or reach. By the way, Jack's not very tall either.

I also played a Hofner 500/1 for over 50 years. No problems.

Unfortunately,I developed right hand problems, and now can only play the Hofner with a pick, as that guy from Liverpool does.

I sold my Jack Casady bass, but I believe it was one of the best sounding and playing basses ever, regardless of price.

 

[creaturegods]

I had the Jack. I'm 6' and had no trouble reaching the 1st position. I would play one of you could. Wish I had kept it.

I am only 5 foot 8 tall and played a Casady bass for 18 years. No problems with the size or reach. By the way, Jack's not very tall either.

I also played a Hofner 500/1 for over 50 years. No problems.

Unfortunately,I developed right hand problems, and now can only play the Hofner with a pick, as that guy from Liverpool does.

I sold my Jack Casady bass, but I believe it was one of the best sounding and playing basses ever, regardless of price.

Thank you both! These testimonials are causing me to lean towards the Casady even if it might not be a huge downgrade, size-wise. Might just be a matter of finding the right strap - It looks like Jack liked to play his with the body sitting off the hip a little bit to make reaching the lower frets easier.

Now I just gotta decide on a color and find a good deal!

 

[rickdog]

Be aware that there have been some reports on the Jack Casady Club megathread that recent ones (MIC) are a little bigger in the body than older (MIK) basses.

I have a 2014 MIK, IIRC it's exactly 16" across. I'm 5'8" and don't have any trouble reaching the first fret. Jack Casady isn't exactly a big dude, and he seems to like playing it

 

[MynameisMe]

Thank you both! These testimonials are causing me to lean towards the Casady even if it might not be a huge downgrade, size-wise. Might just be a matter of finding the right strap - It looks like Jack liked to play his with the body sitting off the hip a little bit to make reaching the lower frets easier.

Now I just gotta decide on a color and find a good deal!

Make sure to get straplocks.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Be aware that there have been some reports on the Jack Casady Club megathread that recent ones (MIC) are a little bigger in the body than older (MIK) basses.

Must be the Char Sui vs. Bulgogi.

 

[GIBrat51]

Hoping a Full/Semi-Hollow Bass enthusiast will chime in, here...

I have an old Japanese copy of a Gibson Ripper, based on the earlier design with the more rounded horns. I love the bass but the body is comically large on me.

I'm hoping to relegate it to the bench and pick up an Epiphone Jack Casady bass to be my "stage bass" since I love the body shape, but I'm afraid that these will be equally enormous.

I've played a Guild Starfire bass and know that they're pretty large on me as well - Would anybody be able to post a photo with both a Starfire and a Jack Casady bass in it so I can see how similar or different the body sizes are?

Thanks for the help!

Just so happens I own both the Starfire I and the Jack Casady Bass. The JCB is currently sitting in my living room right now; I'm breaking in the La Bella 760FGS Gold flats on it. Yes, the JCB is bigger than the Guild Starfire - but, other than the neck length? Not by all that much. And, no I don't particularly like one over the other. They're quite different basses; I just like them... differently.
As for the Hofner Club Bass? Well, I own one of those, too. A German-made 500/2; I'm a lefty, and the Chinese-made Club Basses aren't. Yes, it's quite a bit smaller than the other two. And, at 4.9 lbs., ridiculously light, as well. As it comes from the factory, I wouldn't say it was a very versatile bass - at all. Any more than a Hofner 500/1 violin bass is. But, it's a joy to play; and what it does, it does very, very well. However...
if you want a very light, short scale semi-hollow bass that - depending on the strings it wears - is pretty versatile, and is exactly the same size as a Epi/Gibson 335 guitar? Get a Danelectro Longhorn. It's one of the short scale basses I have, that gets played a lot - sadly, to the detriment of the others I own...