NAMM 2016: Guild reintroduces the Starfire VI

[walrus]

My personal feelings align with Sandy's. And I'll never agree with calling MIC guitars the "Westerly Collection".

But, the reality is that the younger generation is not as worried about where a guitar (or any product) is made as some of us are. Trust me, I spend every day with college students, they are not worried about "Made in America" at all. They want what they want, and usually do not even know where a product is made. They have a certain amount of money to spend, and go with what they like.

If the end result is that more younger players get into Guild, as we discussed in another thread, I think that's good. And if they can generate a profit so they can invest in more American-made guitars, great.

To be honest, a lot of us are not their target market anymore.

walrus

 

[Guildadelphia]

I think when Mike Lewis at FMIC designed the original Newark St line he was able to fall back on his experience with the similar Gretsch Electromatic line and not repeat the mistakes made with the first generation of modern Gretsch Electromatics.
They were able to produce excellent quality instruments that weren't just modding platforms but stayed close to the originals with great pu's (the exception being the mess with the bridge mini-buckers) and necks that came really close to the vintage USA
Guilds they were based upon. The beauty of the NS line is that they seem to generally appeal to both old school Guild people and players who may not have been exposed to the brand previously. Including a quality hardshell case is also a really nice touch that for marketing purposes elevates the status and appeal of the guitars.

 

[walrus]

+1 on the hard case comment. Too many lower priced guitars come with a cheap gig bag, so the hard case is a good strategy.

walrus

 

[sailingshoes72]

They want what they want, and usually do not even know where a product is made. They have a certain amount of money to spend, and go with what they like.

Also, when buying a vintage guitar you have to take into consideration that it will probably need some work... sticking switches, scratchy pots, worn frets, not to mention a neck reset! Some of us enjoy that process, and others want to pay and then play.

To be honest, a lot of us are not their target market anymore.

I had to smile when I read that... another jolt of reality for me as a baby boomer! At the present time I am looking for a birth year acoustic guitar (1955).

Bill (Hey check me out... I'm using multiple quotes in a reply. Thanks TX!)

 

[twocorgis]

Personally I don't think Ren would put out a subpar guitar.

TX, I would argue that there were plenty of sub-par guitars left the Bozeman MT plant on his watch when he worked for Gibson. Even Ren didn't dispute that when I talked to him at LMG. He did tell me that "Guitar Center is not where you want to buy a Gibson" though, and I'll always remember that.

 

[txbumper57]

TX, I would argue that there were plenty of sub-par guitars left the Bozeman MT plant on his watch when he worked for Gibson. Even Ren didn't dispute that when I talked to him at LMG. He did tell me that "Guitar Center is not where you want to buy a Gibson" though, and I'll always remember that.

I cannot argue with that point Sandy. But I haven't heard of one bad Guitar that Ren actually built or had a hand in building. I remember the days of Navigating through the minefield of Average at best Gibsons at Guitar Center but they were all mass produced models. Most of the limited runs that Ren actually put his hands on were Great Sounding and playing guitars.

(Hey check me out... I'm using multiple quotes in a reply. Thanks TX!)

That's Awesome Bill! The first time I did it I felt like a Tech Whiz! Even though I know that is far from the truth, I still patted myself on the back.:cool-new:

 

[matsickma]

I am still a GASaholic!
I have been picking up NS guitars to compare against the vintage Guilds. The new SF2ST has me intrigued if it is indeed semihollow and I dig the pickguard free body and that SF6 is a beauty.

One thing the NS Guilds has given me is a platform to make modifications that I would never consider on a vintage Guild. A used NS guitar is in a price range that modifications, if done tastefully, won't reduce the value of the guitar. I used to do similar things to the DeArmond blowout sale guitars and most of them ended up selling for more $.

 

[Zelja]

^^^^
Good point about mods. If I could get a decent priced NS Starfire I would consider replacing the wimpy bridge pickup with a vintage HB-1. Wouldn't dream of doing that with a vintage 60s model!

 

[Guildadelphia]

Newark St guitars are probably the best used guitar values out there. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I play my NS X175B and realize I paid 700.00 plus shipping for it.....in stone mint condition from a trusted private seller.
I invested another 60.00 (inc strings) for some nut work and a basic set-up and now it's perfect. The luthier who did the work couldn't get over how great the neck was.

 

[JohnW63]

Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I play my NS X175B and realize I paid 700.00 plus shipping for it

I'm with you there ! I got mine from one of the forum members here for about that. All I've done is change the strings.

 

[matsickma]

Zelja, you can easily do that mod with a good price on a NS SF3.

 

[Zelja]

Yep, fully hollow, nothing to route out, just a little nip & tuck. I love the look of the single cutaway Starfires too.

 

[dbirchett]

I don't know if this will have a rosewood or ebony fingerboard but the headstock inlay is wrong. Should be the split G not the Chesterfield or has my memory failed me ... again?

 

[guildman63]

Don,

You are not senile...yet. I believe the chesterfield inlay is because it is made in Korea. Perhaps that is to avoid confusion with a new USA Starfire VI that may be coming out of Oxnard one day??? Just trying to give Ren and company some ideas. eaceful:

 

[dbirchett]

Probably would have made more sense then to release a Starfire 5 in figured maple like they did the Starfire 4-ST. Oh well, they didn't ask my opinion. If they had, I would have suggested that they make a Starfire 12 and give one to me for suggesting it.

 

[matsickma]

I just realized the MIK SF6 has the reissued HB1's.

 

[Default]

Huh, they must be listening.

 

[SFIV1967]

I just realized the MIK SF6 has the reissued HB1's.

No, it has the LB-1 mini humbuckers... http://guildguitars.com/g/starfire-vi/



Ralf

 

[matsickma]

Hmm...the NAAM SF6 is different from the previous picture and the new catalog which shows HB-1 pups.

 

[SFIV1967]

Hmm...the NAAM SF6 is different from the previous picture and the new catalog which shows HB-1 pups.

The catalog and the previous pictures also show LB-1...It's just the angle of the picture in the catalog that makes it look shorter and wider than a mini humbucker.
http://issuu.com/guildguitars/docs/2016_guild_catalog_pages/40
Ralf