Thoughts On The Starfire I Jet P90

[DrumBob]

I've had the Starfire I Jet P90 for over a week and can say that it's a very solidly built, substantial and a surprisingly heavy instrument, in fact, it is almost as heavy as my Les Paul Standard., which I consider a great guitar, but a bit of a boat anchor. Fit and finish is generally good, but upon close inspection, one can sense that it's a budget model, not that that's a bad thing. The fret work is very good, with nice smooth ends and no dead spots on the fretboard. My only real gripe is the tune-o-matic style bridge, which contributes to the guitar's inability to stay in tune when using the Bigsby. A roller bridge would help solve that issue, and perhaps a little lubrication on the nut. I almost always find Bigsbys negatively effect tuning stability. I've sold every Bigsby-equipped guitar I've ever had. It stays in tune pretty well when the Bigsby is not used.

Like some of you, I find the names Guild uses for some of their electrics to be puzzling. This is no exception.

In terms of sound, the guitar is very versatile. It does almost everything quite well, except extreme metal and heavy duty mellow jazz, and the playability is very good. It's a good rock guitar. The "Franz" P90s (which of course, are not made by Franz), handle overdrive nicely. They sound like most P90s, with good midrange response and lots of snarl when hit hard with OD. My review in VG will be largely upbeat, with a suggestion that Guild use a roller bridge as standard equipment.

I know some of you have turned up your noses at this instrument, because it's a mashup of features, but consider this: there are only a finite amount of vintage models Guild can reissue, so doesn't it make sense to introduce new models? I think so. As mentioned in an earlier post, I have the option of buying the guitars I get from Guild when I'm done with them. I will be sending this one back, unless I am knocked out with its performance at a band rehearsal this Saturday evening.

I'm turning in the review Saturday, so check it out in an upcoming issue of VG.

Now, I'd like to see Cordoba reissue the X-79.

 

[matsickma]

One if these will fill my Christmas stocking!
I like the SF1 SC and DC a lot. The pickup combination on these models really works well. Love the combination of tapped neck SC tone with bridge HB tone!

M

 

[bobdcat]

I have a single cutaway Starfire I in white coming my way. My first electric guitar in decades. Looking forward to it.

 

[GGJaguar]

I know some of you have turned up your noses at this instrument, because it's a mashup of features, but consider this: there are only a finite amount of vintage models Guild can reissue, so doesn't it make sense to introduce new models?

Guild's goal is to sell guitars and they design and offer new models to help accomplish that goal. I don't care for the Jet P90, but that's okay because I'm not the target audience for that model. On the other hand, Guild's new NS X-175 Special Blonde is right in my wheelhouse.

 

[jp]

I appreciate that Guild is trying out new models and color schemes. There are a host of new models I'd love to have in my stable. We can't stay stuck with past models forever. I hope they eventually hit the right formula to inspire younger players to turn to Guilds.

 

[Brooklyn]

Hello,

I received my Black Starfire Jet 90 on Tuesday and it is a great Guitar for the money. Very good sounds coming out of the 3 p90's through a Marshall, Fender Blues Jr. and a VOX AC30. Great construction with a nice neck and decent vibrato system. Very happy to add this puppy to my collection. It is my first electric Guild. Highly recommended!

 

[bobdcat]

Starfire I "out for delivery"!

 

[GSFV]

I agree and am very glad that they're producing new models. I hope that they can come up with something that is a little less confusing for a naming convention though. Number systems can get out of hand quickly. But I've been loving my NS SFV. I upgraded the wiring harness a while back to all American pots and switches and high quality wiring. I was able to keep the original knobs, but I suspect they were a bear to get on.

Anyway. I am hoping that these new SF1 line has great bones and could possibly be upgraded if needed to specific taste. But I love 3 pickup guitars, and I love p90's. My question is how is the selector knob? Is it difficult or confusing for quick pickup changes?

 

[DrumBob]

I agree and am very glad that they're producing new models. I hope that they can come up with something that is a little less confusing for a naming convention though. Number systems can get out of hand quickly. But I've been loving my NS SFV. I upgraded the wiring harness a while back to all American pots and switches and high quality wiring. I was able to keep the original knobs, but I suspect they were a bear to get on.

Anyway. I am hoping that these new SF1 line has great bones and could possibly be upgraded if needed to specific taste. But I love 3 pickup guitars, and I love p90's. My question is how is the selector knob? Is it difficult or confusing for quick pickup changes?

I fond the selector knob quite easy to maneuver, once I got familiar with it and which pickups it activated.

 

[SnooterDog]

I've had the Starfire I Jet P90 for over a week and can say that it's a very solidly built, substantial and a surprisingly heavy instrument, in fact, it is almost as heavy as my Les Paul Standard., which I consider a great guitar, but a bit of a boat anchor. Fit and finish is generally good, but upon close inspection, one can sense that it's a budget model, not that that's a bad thing. The fret work is very good, with nice smooth ends and no dead spots on the fretboard. My only real gripe is the tune-o-matic style bridge, which contributes to the guitar's inability to stay in tune when using the Bigsby. A roller bridge would help solve that issue, and perhaps a little lubrication on the nut. I almost always find Bigsbys negatively effect tuning stability. I've sold every Bigsby-equipped guitar I've ever had. It stays in tune pretty well when the Bigsby is not used.

Like some of you, I find the names Guild uses for some of their electrics to be puzzling. This is no exception.

In terms of sound, the guitar is very versatile. It does almost everything quite well, except extreme metal and heavy duty mellow jazz, and the playability is very good. It's a good rock guitar. The "Franz" P90s (which of course, are not made by Franz), handle overdrive nicely. They sound like most P90s, with good midrange response and lots of snarl when hit hard with OD. My review in VG will be largely upbeat, with a suggestion that Guild use a roller bridge as standard equipment.

I know some of you have turned up your noses at this instrument, because it's a mashup of features, but consider this: there are only a finite amount of vintage models Guild can reissue, so doesn't it make sense to introduce new models? I think so. As mentioned in an earlier post, I have the option of buying the guitars I get from Guild when I'm done with them. I will be sending this one back, unless I am knocked out with its performance at a band rehearsal this Saturday evening.

I'm turning in the review Saturday, so check it out in an upcoming issue of VG.

Now, I'd like to see Cordoba reissue the X-79.

i bought a goldtop sf 1 jet-90 back in like sept of 2021, n liked it so much i bought a white one. surprisingly, the necks are different! the gold one is slimmer, and the white one is more like baseball bat. kept it anyway cuz didn’t wanna mess w returning it, n now like the neck on the white one better. plus pu’s on white seem to hsve a little more punch, particularly neck pu. someday i’ll have a professional measure both necks to confirm this, but i think you can see it with just naked eye. it’s not a complaint but just curious. i like the bigsby even tho i don’t use it, maybe that’s why i’ve never had issues w it staying in tune.
more recently bought a NS s-200 t-bird n hated that hagström-like tremar tailpiece; was breaking the high-e all the time down at the tailpiece, i think because bridge not aligned perfectly w plate on tailpiece that holds string. but regardless of that, that tremar system about useless, so i finally replaced it w a bigsby, n then went ahead n replaced bridge w roller bridge. now that action is incredibly smooth for bending strings. may have lost a little tone, not sure. anyway… throwing this out there w no expectations of any response