Q#3: Let’s talk (Starfire) pickups.

[ricardoblue]

My ’66 Starfire III apparently has original pickups, which I gather are vintage “Anti-Hum” PUs. I suspect that much of the reason I love this guitar has to do with these pickups. My style of playing is flatpicking with a lot of single-note / arpeggiating mixed in. The clarity / definition of the single notes on this guitar is outstanding; it makes all my other guitars sound kinda dull and lifeless. I have a number of nice guitars (the exact number shall remain hidden even though I’m not married), but the more I play this Starfire, the less I want to play anything else. I know that all humbuckers are not created equal. So my odd question is this: would pickups like these (say, the LB-1’s available on the Guild website) give another guitar this heavenly sound? (I’m playing through a slightly modded old Fender tube amp, but that’s another conversation; no guitar sounds as good as this Starfire through this or any other amp I’ve played them through.) I’m considering putting new LB-1’s into an already-modded Epiphone Dot (semi-hollow), for example, since it’s already a Franken-guitar. How ‘bout a solid-body guitar? Would LB-1’s retain / express their mojo in a solid body?

Part of my motivation is to save the wear & tear of constant rehearsing / gigging with this precious old instrument . . . but I. Must. Have. This. Sound. The alternative, I guess, would be to swap out entire guitars and try one of the reissue Starfires.

I just found GAD’s deep dive into the worlds of Starfire III and these pickups. (Thanks!) Anyone else have thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[GGJaguar]

I play in the style you mentioned and I like the sound of the reissue Anti-hum (LB-1) pickups. They are in the tone zone as the vintage original version, but aren't exactly the same. They other concern for some players is that the LB-s bridge and neck pickups are mismatched in terms of output (bridge is weaker than the neck pu). I've been able them to adjust to my liking, but others have not. I'd suggest getting a hold of any Guild Newark Street model with LB-1s to try out before you make a decision. Another option (one of my favorites) if you don't mind going with single coil units instead of humbuckers, is the DeArmond 2000 type pickup. TV Jones, Seymour Duncan and Gabojo make decent replicas of the originals. The DeArmond pickups used in the Guild Newark Street series is not an accurate reproduction of a vintage DeA 2000. However, I still like them because they are bright, articulate and have some bite.

 

[ricardoblue]

I play in the style you mentioned and I like the sound of the reissue Anti-hum (LB-1) pickups. They are in the tone zone as the vintage original version, but aren't exactly the same. They other concern for some players is that the LB-s bridge and neck pickups are mismatched in terms of output (bridge is weaker than the neck pu). I've been able them to adjust to my liking, but others have not. I'd suggest getting a hold of any Guild Newark Street model with LB-1s to try out before you make a decision. Another option (one of my favorites) if you don't mind going with single coil units instead of humbuckers, is the DeArmond 2000 type pickup. TV Jones, Seymour Duncan and Gabojo make decent replicas of the originals. The DeArmond pickups used in the Guild Newark Street series is not an accurate reproduction of a vintage DeA 2000. However, I still like them because they are bright, articulate and have some bite.

Thanks! Will def be playing more Guilds. Research!

 

[Walter Broes]

A pickup is a large part of the sound of a plugged in guitar, but the same pickup on, say...a strat is going to sound very different.

The current small Guild buckers sound OK, but not particularly wonderful or magical. But then they're not expensive either.

 

[ricardoblue]

Right . . . I expect each guitar to maintain its character, but hoping that some of that single-string definition will translate. Thanks!

 

[Default]

Decide which pickup sounds better to you, bridge or neck, then buy a second. Replace the pickup you like less, with the one you bought.

 

[mavuser]

Nothing will sound like a SF-2 or SF-3. Just buy a reissue if you need a beater.

 

[ricardoblue]

Not so much a beater but a good instrument that will save my '66 from the wear and tear of rehearsal and gigging but still provide the satisfaction of that sound . . . I'm thinking a later USA-made reissue may be the best bet. Still would like to get as close to that sound as possible on some other guitars.

 

[krysh]

I have 2 original 60's Guild Anti-Hum Bridge Pickups for sale.

 

[JerryK]

My ’66 Starfire III apparently has original pickups, which I gather are vintage “Anti-Hum” PUs. I suspect that much of the reason I love this guitar has to do with these pickups. My style of playing is flatpicking with a lot of single-note / arpeggiating mixed in. The clarity / definition of the single notes on this guitar is outstanding; it makes all my other guitars sound kinda dull and lifeless. I have a number of nice guitars (the exact number shall remain hidden even though I’m not married), but the more I play this Starfire, the less I want to play anything else. I know that all humbuckers are not created equal. So my odd question is this: would pickups like these (say, the LB-1’s available on the Guild website) give another guitar this heavenly sound? (I’m playing through a slightly modded old Fender tube amp, but that’s another conversation; no guitar sounds as good as this Starfire through this or any other amp I’ve played them through.) I’m considering putting new LB-1’s into an already-modded Epiphone Dot (semi-hollow), for example, since it’s already a Franken-guitar. How ‘bout a solid-body guitar? Would LB-1’s retain / express their mojo in a solid body?

Part of my motivation is to save the wear & tear of constant rehearsing / gigging with this precious old instrument . . . but I. Must. Have. This. Sound. The alternative, I guess, would be to swap out entire guitars and try one of the reissue Starfires.

I just found GAD’s deep dive into the worlds of Starfire III and these pickups. (Thanks!) Anyone else have thoughts?

Thanks!

I've gotta say my 65 Starfire III has some of the best sounding pickups I've ever heard. Clear, full and just beautiful. Those mini humbuckers are fantastic.

 

[JerryK]

The SF pickups after the Darmonds are some of the best pickups I've ever heard period. They're right up there with the best of em.

 

[HeyMikey]

If any of you folk are able, pictures of the different pickup flavors you are talking about would be helpful. With Guild I have no doubt there were variations over periods of time for one reason or another. Great topic!

 

[chazmo]

Also, consult GAD's blog pages.

https://www.gad.net/Blog/?s=pickups&submit=Search and specify pickups in the search.

 

[HeyMikey]

Also, consult GAD's blog pages.

https://www.gad.net/Blog/?s=pickups&submit=Search and specify pickups in the search.

Yep. GADs articles on pickups is quite amazing.

 

[laut]

It sounds like an interesting experiment. Incidentally, I tried putting a TVJones classic filtertron into my SFIV several years ago. While I liked the sound, it didn't make my Guild sound like a Gretsch to my ears; and I've since reverted to the original pickup.

Back to your question. If it were me, I would be inclined to find a newer SF that sounds similar, but you might always prefer your original, owing to its more resonant, aged wood. The magic is the whole guitar, not just the pickups.