Any thoughts on the Star V? pro /con?

[marcellis]

I'm looking to get an electric this year, maybe around June or July.

Sound-wise I've always wanted Fender Jazzmaster. But I've sort of fallen in love
w/the looks of the cherry red Starfire V w/Guildsby Does anyone own one? Played one?

The sound I want is the Duane Eddy sound. Surf, Spaghetti Western an maybe warm, sliding Jazzy chords.
Can the NS Starfire V do all 3 or me get half-way there?

 

[JohnW63]

With it's humbucker style pickups, I would expect it could to a lot of styles. Just probably not the rock-a-billy stuff twang that a single coil might do better. I don't yet know what Duane Eddy sounded like, so I can't say much about that. The Duane Eddy guitar did come with single coil DeArmand pickups, though.

 

[txbumper57]

The Duane Eddy also came with Minihumbuckers in the mid 60's. The Newark Street Starfire V is a Semi Hollow body and should be able to cover the styles you are looking for. Personally I think a Full Hollowbody like the Starfire 3 would be more suited for Spaghetti western/ Surf style. The only issue I have heard that the NS Guitars have with the Minihums is that the Bridge pickup is way underwound and it doesn't balance well with the neck. The great thing about it though is you can normally find Original 60's Guild minihums on Ebay for very reasonable prices and they should be a direct replacement for the pickups it comes with from the factory. If you search Youtube for a Newark Street Starfire V you can find several demos to give you an idea of the tone they will have. Personally I think the new versions of the 60's pickups are a bit harsh and not as full as the originals. Then again that is just my opinion.

TX

 

[GAD]

I'm a fan of Rockabilly styles, and chased similar tones forever. I finally just ended up buying a Gretsch. The only Guild I've had that comes close is my SFIII w/P90s. In fact, I sold my Gretsch when I got the SFIII-90 because it was close enough for me.

Actually, this one did pretty well in this configuration, but the mods were pretty invasive:

 

[Walter Broes]

For Duane Eddy stylings, twang, surf and spy, spaghetti western etc.. you want single coil pickups. There's not a single humbucker out there that gets that snap and twang on the wound strings like a single coil does.

The DE-500 and DE-400 models did go to humbuckers somewhere in the first half of the 60's indeed, but Duane Eddy never played those.

 

[Guildadelphia]

IMO, you can play Rockabilly on anything. That being said if you are looking for a specific type of tone/sound Walter Broes is 100% correct. Even the sound of Gretsch Filtertrons is not really that classic sound; it's in a lot of ways Brian Setzer's version/interpretation of that sound (which is a great sound that I love). Guild guitar-wise, for the sound you want to get I would recommend a Newark Street X175B. If you have the $$$ a Gretsch 6120 w/ Dynasonic pu's (Dearmonds) is a great choice (not as versatile as the X175B IMO). If you want to go vintage, any Guilds with Franz pu's or Dearmonds will get you there. The other thing that you should also take into consideration is what you are playing through.....your amp is 50% of your sound. Effects also contribute and a good reverb, tremolo, and slap echo will help.

 

[GAD]

IMO, you can play Rockabilly on anything. That being said if you are looking for a specific type of tone/sound Walter Broes is 100% correct. Even the sound of Gretsch Filtertrons is not really that classic sound; it's in a lot of ways Brian Setzer's version/interpretation of that sound (which is a great sound that I love). Guild guitar-wise, for the sound you want to get I would recommend a Newark Street X175B. If you have the $$$ a Gretsch 6120 w/ Dynasonic pu's (Dearmonds) is a great choice (not as versatile as the X175B IMO). If you want to go vintage, any Guilds with Franz pu's or Dearmonds will get you there. The other thing that you should also take into consideration is what you are playing through.....your amp is 50% of your sound. Effects also contribute and a good reverb, tremolo, and slap echo will help.

I agree, though I'd probably say tone is 60% fingers, 20% guitar and 20% amp. This video has had me almost buy a X174B too many times. I have a feeling I'll end up with one eventually.

 

[GAD]

Another nice video:

[video=youtube;mjbVm4nCOqA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RD_rok3MCHxng&v=mjbVm4nCOqA&ebc=ANyPxKr 5t9KqhW3LKoim3TTn0zWjmN8FujT2v7pWbAWkTtndpwHiw3xv_ M9fgpigmiUbuuTHzPDnTUGCvdXNg2glffV7UuKY_A[/video]

 

[GAD]

And a nice Rockabilly demo. OK, I'm done.

 

[Walter Broes]

single coil pickups are where it's at for Rockabilly!

 

[GAD]

single coil pickups are where it's at for Rockabilly!

Nice!

 

[Guildadelphia]

Really enjoyed the WB and the Mercenaries video. Sounding and playing amazing Walter. After watching those posted videos, if I didn't already have an X175B I would really really want one. On the solidbody side of things, a Les Paul with P-90's can work very well for rockabilly, etc as would a Tele. I'm personally not a big Strat fan, but that would work too.

 

[Walter Broes]

thanks! Just to be clear - the X175 in that video is my '62, not a Newark Street one.

 

[txbumper57]

I love that WB video! Makes me smile every time I hear it. each:

 

[marcellis]

Thanks Walter. I don't gig anymore but I hire bands. If i could get a 175B in cherry red, I'd jump. Still leaning w/ the red
Starfire III or V?.I didn't mention my playing also includes a lot of sliding jazzy chords -not lead - just rhythm or back up.

 

[GAD]

Thanks Walter. I don't gig anymore but I hire bands. If i could get a 175B in cherry red, I'd jump. Still leaning w/ the red
Starfire III or V?.I didn't mention my playing also includes a lot of sliding jazzy chords -not lead - just rhythm or back up.

Most of the red SFIIIs I've seen have been all mahogany, which is cool if that's what you're after but probably wouldn't be my first pic for Rockabilly. Now Jazz, on the other hand, I think an all 'hog SFIII would be a darn fine choice. Actually, I'd probably say that unless you're going for one of the deep jazz boxes, any of them would be fine. I'm not a great Jazz player, but for comping chords, I'd grab any of my Starfires without hesitation.

If red is your thing, you want the Guildsby, and also want that twang when needed, this might be the perfect solution. They're not easy to find, though.

 

[marcellis]

Thanks all. Loved the videos.I already have a big jazz box with a mini-hum.
I tried to get that DE sound and feel it on this composition, I-10 West

So I'm not as inclined to the E series because I already have a big Jazz box.
The mini hum on it does OK except it lacks the stark clarity of the single coil.


Sliding Jazz chords w/tremolo and low to mid leads are mainly what I do.
So if I made the buy on tone alone, I'd get a Classic Player Jazzmaster.
That's the guitar that can do all of what I want. But I like red Guilds.

Maybe the Starfire III is the answer. But I want to give that red SF5 a ride.
My first Guild was the same color - 1972 cherry red flat-back D25.

 

[dbirchett]

Marcellis, I have a Starfire 5 and like it a lot. But, mine is not the Newark Street model but an older American made one. The Newark Street model is going to have the Guild Mini-HB pickup on it. It is closer to the single coil sound than the Gibson HBs so it might be twangy enough for you. The Guild pickups in general seem to have more of treble bias than say a similar Gibson pickup would. So that is in your favor as well. If you get the Starfire 5, you may not like the action on the Bigsby due to the tension bar. I replaced the spring on mine with a low tension spring from Reverend guitars and it made a huge difference. $10 well spent. Good luck.

 

[guildman63]

Marcellis,

Another option is to replace the mini-hum with another pup, like a Lindy Fralin P-90 or P-92. Even better would be to contact someone like Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars and have him make you whatever you want, but in a form that fits in your current pickup cover. I have had him do this for me before when'd i wanted Franz tones from a coil tapped humbucker, and the results were outstanding. He will simply need you to send him a pickup cover, a description of what you want, and he will do the rest. Probably at less than the cost of brand name pups as well.

 

[marcellis]

Marcellis, I have a Starfire 5 and like it a lot. But, mine is not the Newark Street model but an older American made one. The Newark Street model is going to have the Guild Mini-HB pickup on it. It is closer to the single coil sound than the Gibson HBs so it might be twangy enough for you. The Guild pickups in general seem to have more of treble bias than say a similar Gibson pickup would. So that is in your favor as well. If you get the Starfire 5, you may not like the action on the Bigsby due to the tension bar. I replaced the spring on mine with a low tension spring from Reverend guitars and it made a huge difference. $10 well spent. Good luck.

-----

I'd have to take it to my luthier for anything like that. And I don't want a Gretsch.

I've never been a good tinkerer. And so I hate the idea of having to mod a new product. That seems to be common though. Jazzmaster buyers seem to expect it. I like the mini hum sound on my jazzbox. It does lack that clarity single-coils have.

Oh, if the action ain't right on the starfire V, it goes straight to the luthier and gets right fast. Or I don't buy it.

--------

Guildman63:

Marcellis,

Another option is to replace the mini-hum with another pup, like a Lindy Fralin P-90 or P-92. Even better would be to contact someone like Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars and have him make you whatever you want, but in a form that fits in your current pickup cover. I have had him do this for me before when'd i wanted Franz tones from a coil tapped humbucker, and the results were outstanding. He will simply need you to send him a pickup cover, a description of what you want, and he will do the rest. Probably at less than the cost of brand name pups as well.

---
I probably have unrealistic expectations. But my red Guild will leave the shop with the right action and sound or I ain't buying it.
I intend to buy a red Guild Starfire w/a Guildsby though, whichever one sounds right.

Walter Broes is a superb pro performer. (Love his sound. Love both the videos in this thread.)I'm not nearly the guitarist WB is.
But with time and a studio, I can get it right. My playing is more unvoiced Jazz chords sliding around, or slow to mid-tempo (never fast) minimalist Spaghetti Western leads. On acoustic I might speed it up. But I'm a beginner on electrics. The only electric I own is my big jazz box.

In fact, some other players around here seem to think I play Jazz chords a lot. Guild 63 or any other real jazz player would never think that.

On this song, my big jazzbox and the mini HB keeps up w/my synth orchestration, using both the chords and the low, slow lead.
It's the lead I need more treble on though.I think (hope) a Starfire can do that. I'm not asking for much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE_5gCMqrH4

p.s. I'm a little irrirated some Youtuber included it in a collection of "elevator music, Jazzy, Instrumental, Background, BEAUTIFUL"
(I added the emphasis to 'beautiful'. It eases the sting of 'elevator music')