I mean that 2014 special run was about as cool as it gets.
Why no M85 bass from Guild anymore?
- Thread starter F30
- Start date
Wow!
Minnesota Flats
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2015
- Messages
- 1,355
- Reaction score
- 1,248
I probably would have bought one of those red, GSR IIs but for the price, but I have played neither one of those nor a black NS or any of the vintage ones (thick/thin, hollow/solid). The consensus here seems to be that there is too much tonal overlap between the NS M85 and the NS Starfire I (the MIK, not the new Indo one with the P-bass pup configuration) to warrant the purchase of both. And since I already have an NS Starfire I, an NS Starfire II and a Westerly Starfire II.
But those red ones sure are purdy lookin'...
But those red ones sure are purdy lookin'...
That's my old one, and my carpet!I mean that 2014 special run was about as cool as it gets.
There are only 12 (possibly 13) of these, many with repaired headstock breaks due to big headstocks/marginal OEM cases/poor packing. I liked mine, but like my Dark Starred DeArmond Starfire and Greenie better. It was super light at 6.2 pounds and beautifully finished, but the neck dive drove me crazy, and the pickups were somewhat feeble.
Sandy, weren't those old (NOS) Dark Stars in the New Hartford GSR? Or am I getting it wrong? I remember something about the pickups...
No, not even close. They're same ones used in the Newark Street series. I was unpleasantly surprised.
I think @mavuser is in the throes of installing Curtis Novaks in his. Had I kept mine, that's what I likely would have done.
krysh
Guildarist in the mod squad
I had a black NS M-85 I, it sounded good, but with the factory tuners it had a neck dive and was very uncomfortable to play. I sold it.
Last edited:
Didn't know about those issues with the pickups and neck dive but it sure looked great in that finish.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Not Dark Stars but NOS HB-2 (the original name for bass humbuckers) used in the GSR Starfire I and II basses.
(And those were made from some of the old white wood bodies which not had the typical Starfire outline, coming from Donnie Wade times. Far East, probably Japan, via Scottsdale via Tacoma to NH...as rumors were and I think you got that second story almost first hand.)
Ralf
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
- Joined
- May 3, 2007
- Messages
- 24,756
- Reaction score
- 8,889
- Location
- Central Virginia, USA
- Guild Total
- 5
The 2014 special run was explicitly a "limited edition". One big reason they didn't make anymore was that FMIC sold Guild to CMG and production ceased at New Hartford. The GSR Starfire, which was slightly earlier, used bodies that were allegedly made in the 1990's and just finished in New Hartford a decade plus later. If that was true of the M85 then it was limited because they were trying to use old bodies and were not prepared to make new ones.
Expanding the question to the hollow body M85, a M85-I was part of the Newark Street lineup for a while. We have nothing but speculation as to why it was discontinued but I'd say sales did not meet expectations. We had several reports of new instruments that had some kind of flaw and thus were sold at blow out prices and/or returned by the buyer. Ignoring manufacturing defects or design flaws, the M85-I was competing with the very similar Starfire. My experience with a a '67 Starfire and a '70 M85 was that the tonal aspects were quite similar and I preferred the ergonomics of the Starfire. So for me there was no functional reason to have both. There have been other opinions expressed on LTG of the comparative ergonomics.
Finally the "solid" body M85, made circa 1973-77 has not been reissued.
Happy Face
Justified Ancient of MuMu
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2007
- Messages
- 921
- Reaction score
- 244
In contrast to most of you, I found the Starfire basses awkward on the strap. Which is why I modded up and played a couple of JS-IIs. Still do.
But I always wondered about the M-85. Our dear departed Mgod preferred the shallower, "footprint" of the 70s solid body models, but when I saw a "hen's tooth" hollow body, I jumped and sold a few basses and amps to fund the purchase.
At first, I found the cigar box profile off-putting, but I forced myself to adapt and quickly came to realize that it forced me to play with better technique. No more resting my forearm on the edge. It improved my playing.
That bass has been passed to better hands.
But I always wondered about the M-85. Our dear departed Mgod preferred the shallower, "footprint" of the 70s solid body models, but when I saw a "hen's tooth" hollow body, I jumped and sold a few basses and amps to fund the purchase.
At first, I found the cigar box profile off-putting, but I forced myself to adapt and quickly came to realize that it forced me to play with better technique. No more resting my forearm on the edge. It improved my playing.
That bass has been passed to better hands.
Last edited: