Guild Starfire IV

[velorush]

I was perusing Dave's and landed upon this.

Ad says, "Made in Westerly, RI., With hardshell case, EC"

Too many questions, but here are the top:

1. anyone have or played one of these recent models?
2. the Guild site lists the neck as "Vintage Soft U" - can anyone elaborate on that? Outside of a square-necked Dobro, I have yet to find a neck that's "too big."
3. there are some very prestigious advocates of the older Guild pickups (including our own Murkat), can anyone speak to the version in this guitar (LB-1)?

The Starfire IV ST page on the Guild website shows a MSRP of $1,475.00 - would the actual price of this guitar have been more than (as much as?) the $1,350.00 price being asked by Dave's?

Outside of the price, I find this a pretty appealing proposition.

[murkat]

it is a "modern version of'.

when guild was going for the Gibby, Heritage market share... Trying.

Modern bridge, T/P, Duncan 59's (probably).

if you dig it, Hit it.

if your tempted, patients in your gas attack. Give it a day or two.

But if you want a 335 type, get a 335.

But the older guilds have its own thing going on. (70's, etc.)

Kinda like the evolution of Hamer.....

In the beginning ( sustain block, etc.) To later ( TOM / stop tail ) etc.

If you want a semi hollow with 335 fun and throw some gain on it, es 139.

[SSII x 2]

Wasn't one of the Guilds constructed without a center block?

Is this that model?

[velorush]

But if you want a 335 type, get a 335.

Sir, I believe you to be a psychic!

Actually, I saw the Guild, read their description of the neck and pickups and though to myself, "self, maybe this would be a satisfactory but cheaper 335 alternative!" to which I replied, "self, a 335 is a 335 and a jackass is a jackass. You are a jackass!" (I don't cut myself a lot of slack).

All of that was, of course, after wiping up the drool covering my desk on viewing this CS '59 Reissue on the previous page:

Yep, it's 2.6 times as expensive as the Guild. But, man, just look at it!

Feynman's recent purchase has brought back a flood of college-era memories of my old 355. Gotta move on and let the GAS subside!

Deep nose breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

[JohnnyB]

The Starfire at Dave's appears to have a mahogany body. This would have a different tonal balance (fuller sounding, less midrange) than a 335, which has a maple body and accounts for that slamming midrange.

The $1475 current production Starfire of which you speak is from their Korean-made Newark Street collection. These also appear to have a mahogany body, but also have the Guild "harp" tailpiece instead of the Westerly's stop tail. Although they list at $1475, they are available for $1100-ish on Amazon. These MIK Guilds are built to a very high level. Since Fender closed down the New Hartford plant, I think it means that current Guilds are made offshore.

Speaking of the MIK Newark St. series, I'm sort of jonesing for their Starfire Bass, which also lists for around $1500 and streets at $1100. Before the closedown, there were about a dozen USA-made Starfire basses, and the remaining few go for around $3K.

Among Guild enthusiasts, the Westerly, RI ones convey a certain desirability, but generally not enough for their value to rise to vintage Gibson prices except for those Starfire basses, which is what Phil Lesh and Jack Casady were playing when they first came on the scene in the '60s. Other than that, vintage Guild prices generally aren't as high simply because of a much smaller customer base and minimum endorsements. I have two Westerly, RI Pilot basses, however, and they are well made and play and sound great.

[Thundersteel]

I used to own a Westerly-made Bluesbird. I really liked it, except for the small frets. I don't know if the Starfire has the same frets, but it's something to consider.

[JohnnyB]

I used to own a Westerly-made Bluesbird. I really liked it, except for the small frets. I don't know if the Starfire has the same frets, but it's something to consider.

The pictures on Dave's website sure look like vintage thin frets to me. Personally I don't consider that a bad thing, but it's definitely a vintage thing. You have to play a bit more precisely but you're rewarded with a less metallic sound.

[LucSulla]

I really, really dig Starfire IVs. Johnny is right; there is no Guild USA anymore. Westerly is, at the very least, in the original shop, and possibly prior to the FMIC buyout if it dates before 96.

If you want a 335, get that. It would be like buying an Hamer Artist when you really want a 335 - great guitar, but not what you wanted. If you are looking for a really awesome semi-hollow that isn't going to break the bank, they are pretty bad ass. When I can start collecting guitars, a Starfire, Bluesbird 90, and S100 are all on my list.

[velorush]

I meant what I said in that Murkat absolutely nailed it.

I have an awesome semi-hollow (Howard Roberts Fusion III), but it isn't a 335. Not better or worse, just not.

Thanks a lot, Feynman!

[murkat]

your Howard Roberts ain't no slouch fiddle either

[Feynman]

Reverb recently ran this little article:

https://reverb.com/blog/thirteen-335s-under-1300-dollars

My guitar instructor has an Ibanez AS93, and it cops a very good 335 vibe. In my most recent lesson we found some very similar sounds between our guitars. Still, iconic mojo is a strong force, and he said he dreams of having my guitar ("it's what my guitar wants to be"). I offered to trade guitars if we could trade abilities, and he declined.

But, you know what you want.

Hey, did I ever share my shop photos?

P.S. This may be the best overall neck profile I've owned. The guitar is just superb all around.

--

[velorush]

Hey, did I ever share my shop photos?

:P

[a.bandini]

I just love guitars with F-holes. F-holes and seafoam green would be the death of me.

As compared to A-holes, who just annoy me.

[velorush]

I just love guitars with F-holes. F-holes and seafoam green would be the death of me.

As compared to A-holes, who just annoy me.

According to Thorn, stay out of Florida!

[JohnnyB]

I really, really dig Starfire IVs. Johnny is right; there is no Guild USA anymore. Westerly is, at the very least, in the original shop, and possibly prior to the FMIC buyout if it dates before 96.

If you want a 335, get that. It would be like buying an Hamer Artist when you really want a 335 - great guitar, but not what you wanted. If you are looking for a really awesome semi-hollow that isn't going to break the bank, they are pretty bad ass. When I can start collecting guitars, a Starfire, Bluesbird 90, and S100 are all on my list.

According to the Wiki article, Westerly, RI was the last Guild-operated shop in the USA, but they originated in Manhattan in 1952, and then moved to Newark Street in Hoboken, NJ a little later. They then moved to Westerly in 1966 and stayed there the longest. Fender bought them in 1995, so AFAIK Fender continued to let them build instruments in Westerly until they moved Guild to Corona, CA in 2001 and then to the recently acquired Tacoma guitar factory in Tacoma, WA in 2004. That's when Fender/Guild stopped making electrics altogether. Then of course we know they wound up in New Hartford in 2008 when Fender acquired Kaman Music Corporation.

[crunchee]

As far as I can tell, from what JohnnyB said and from Wikipedia, there hasn't been a Westerly RI-made Guild since 2001; and comparing prices between a used 14+ year old USA-made guitar and a 'recent' (as in a couple of years) import model is an apples and oranges thing, IMO. DGS doesn't help sometimes, the listings are lazy on occasion and just say 'recent' when they SHOULD take the time to look this stuff up, especially when it's a USA-made guitar. Whoever does the some of the listings for DGS also likes to call the Fender Custom Shop 'riftsawn' necks 'riffsawn'...which leads me to believe that whoever wrote the description possibly has no idea what 'riftsawn' even means (when in doubt, Google it).

FMIC cut Guild loose not long ago, now Guild belongs to Cordoba Music Group:

http://cordobamusicgroup.com/brands/guild-guitars

[Tres Aardvarks]

Reverb recently ran this little article:

https://reverb.com/blog/thirteen-335s-under-1300-dollars

I got all geeked up thinking I'd find a $500 Eastman semi-hollow...ummm, no, msot of them are actually above the price range they put them in. Phoo...

[JohnnyB]

You can get Hamer Echotones all day long on eBay for under $400. Put in a pair of Gibson Classic '57s and you're golden.

Or you could get this one for $495 and save yourself the trouble.

BTW, their assessment of the MIJ Ibanezes is spot-on. I have an AS-180, an MIJ like the Scofield, but with dots, rosewood board, and plain maple, in other words, like a 335. The center block is spruce and notched like a 335, and it's great. They're right about the finishes too. I'm normally not a fan of sunburst, but this one is so subtly worked in and gorgeous, it puts the 'burst on a real 335 to shame. Also the fit and finish is flawless and makes the Heritage 535 feel crude by comparison. This one below isn't mine, but it shows what i'm talking about concerning that gorgeous burst:

[Tres Aardvarks]

The Echotones are very high on my list. Was wondering what the normal going rate on the bay was, seems to be like you say (~$400).

[JohnnyB]

The Echotones are very high on my list. Was wondering what the normal going rate on the bay was, seems to be like you say (~$400).

... and for those of us who know, that's one of the best imitation 335 deals out there.

[spanky]

I had a Guild Starfire made in the mid 90's, Westerly, and found the neck and frets a little thin for my liking (it was 1 5/8 at the nut), so I traded it in for a Heritage H535 that felt perfect and have no regrets. I did start out wanting a Gibson 335 so maybe I wasn't completely fair to the Guild. My Guild acoustic is another story though, it's my keeper... . Also Gibson nut and neck shapes varied greatly over time. I never met a Heritage H535 I didn't like.