Any thoughts on the Star V? pro /con?

[parker_knoll]

if you buy new and buy mail order, you can send it back if you don't like it. the setup will probably stink though. That's just the way it is. Mini-hums are pretty midrangey although clearer than Gibson humbuckers. I retrofitted a single coil in the bridge position, but if you don't want to mod so be it. just try it and see.

 

[marcellis]

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.

Oy yeah, I'veen noticing that w/great interest too.

 

[marcellis]

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.

The X175B is not for me. I already have a big jazzbox. I've made my decision though.
I don't like Florentine cutaways. But I'm going to the Starfire III anyway. It has the sound I want.

The SF5 does not. BTW,I asked the salesman at Sweetwater. He listened to a couple of my
Youtube songs. He told me the SFIII was closer than either the Starfire 5
or the Classic Player Jazzmaster.

(He also told me, "You're a Jazz player get the Starfire III".)

I'm not a Jazz player. But when he told me the SF III beats
the Jazzmaster Classic Player, that was it. The recommendations
here and from the store man. Sealed it. May order it tonight.

He could have made more money selling me the SF V or the
Jazzmaster (I'd have to pau for a hardshell case. But he recommended
SF III after listening to a couple of songs on my Youtube

probably order tonight.

 

[adorshki]

probably order tonight.

Cool story, applaud your methodical approach.
Pics?
:biggrin-new:

 

[guildman63]

Sounds like you picked the right one for the right reason. III's are great, very versatile guitars, and you will be happy.

 

[marcellis]

Cool story, applaud your methodical approach.
Pics?
:biggrin-new:

Pic's? I'm 10,000 miles away from it at present. My telephoto lens is only 205 mm . So it's a little premature for pics.
It will be waiting for me when I fly back this month. I fly the 15th. Unfortunately Sweetwater's 30 day return policy is from date
of purchase - not day of receipt.

I won't even see the guitar until 16-17 days into my 30 day period return period. I'm thinking it might be better to
hold off paying for it until a couple of days before I leave.

But I have GAS bad. I have to keep telling myself I won't get it any faster by paying for it overseas.

But my mind is made up. It is the only guitar out there that gives me all 3 sounds I want,
Spaghetti Western, Surf and Jazz. Being fully hollow, it must feed back like a banshee.

Pics?

Here's a pic on the back hump of my big Jazzbox.

Here's the rest of it. w/ a floating mini humbucker. I like the pick-up and am a little familiar w/what it can do.

 

[adorshki]

Pic's? I'm 10,000 miles away from it at present. My telephoto lens is only 205 mm . So it's a little premature for pics.

Right, I know, it was a joke, because we're always askin' around here.
Still, a good comeback with those pics of your favorite Vietnamese guitar.
I was gonna say "favorite Vietnamese beauty", but I presume that term is still reserved for that lovely lass we were treated to a glimpse of in a pic, lo those many years ago.

 

[jcwu]

He deserves your business. A salesperson who listens to your Youtube links to get what kind of tone you're after? That... deserves a standing ovation.

I guess it's true what people have been saying about Sweetwater. Wow!

 

[marcellis]

He deserves your business. A salesperson who listens to your Youtube links to get what kind of tone you're after? That... deserves a standing ovation.

I guess it's true what people have been saying about Sweetwater. Wow!

Yeah, he wasn't in last night. (my night -- their day.) But here's the downside of what he told me, (before we talked about the SF3),
he said he'd recommend saving up for one of Gib*** Studio line models.

New Les Paul is $799. The ES 335's 339's go for between 1500 -2000. Couldn't find a Studio model ES-175.
But I listened to its demo and it just didn't cut it for me at 3x the price.

I'll see if he's there tonight. If he's talking potential resale he's right. But I'm a Guild fanatic.

Adorishki, Actually, I've come to believe the arch-top is prettier and is less tempermental than my wife.

JCWU, I doubt he listened to much of my music. But he listened or at least skimmed the guitar parts on the vid I emailed him.
He told me I was a 'Jazz player' and the SFIII was more suitable than either the SF V or a Fender Jazzmaster for what I do.
I'm not a Jazz player, but I took it as a compliment. And I always thought the JM had the exact sound I needed.

He could have made more money selling me either of the other ones. Jazzmaster doesn't come w/a Fender hs/scase.
and the SF V costs a hundred bucks more. But at least he was honest in his recommendation. SF III is an under-rated guitar I think.

 

[dbirchett]

The Starfire III was the first of the Newark Street models that I had a chance to play and I was extremely impressed with it. It was forum member Synchro's at a Gretsch Round-Up and a lot of people sampled it that day. Everyone really liked it. You made a good choice. Normally I don't care for florentine cutaways but on a few guitars and especially this one it is just "Right!"

I think you will love it.