Starfire 1.5 (Starfire 1 Mod Project)

Matt R.

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Hey all. So I’ve started work on modding a new left handed Starfire 1 bass.
The PBass pickup that comes stock sounds good, but it looks stupid and I don’t want another PBass.
I’m replacing the pickup with a Bi-Sonic since Guild doesn’t love us lefties.
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I’m also getting ready to send the tracing you see here to WD pickguards to make a custom pickup ring to surround the bezel on the Bi-Sonic, since the rout for the stock PBass pickup is wider. I’ll probably just go with a black/white ring (that would match the truss rod cover), but I’m also considering tortoise shell. Anyway, wish me luck. This should be killer when it’s all back together.
 

mellowgerman

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Nice. Thank you for starting a thread to chronicle the metamorphosis! I would recommend checking out www.fretsonthenet.com for your custom ring. One-man shop that does a great job. I recently had him make a custom ring for a Bartolini Rickenbacker pickup for my Hagstrom bass. He has a lot of custom options to choose from and really did a great job on it. Took about 2 months from order to arrival.
 

Matt R.

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Nice. Thank you for starting a thread to chronicle the metamorphosis! I would recommend checking out www.fretsonthenet.com for your custom ring. One-man shop that does a great job. I recently had him make a custom ring for a Bartolini Rick pickup for my Hagstrom bass. He has a lot of custom options to choose from and really did a great job on it. Took about 2 months from order to arrival.

Thanks, I’ll look into that as well:)
 

Matt R.

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Hey guys, I think there may be an issue with the Bi-Sonic pickup. Is the black underside of the pickup supposed to partially separate from the chrome bezel like this?

601D56B9-6BE8-4F56-8FA5-5F32F3EC0F03.jpeg
 

mellowgerman

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Thanks, I’ll look into that as well:)

The one he made for me is the bridge position mounting plate. This bass used to have two DarkStars in it, but I decided to go with the Bartolinis since I already have my Starfire and Serek with all the different Bisonic combinations covered. Since the Bartolini in the bridge position is a lot smaller than a DarkStar, I had him make a flat plate for me that sits right on top of the DarkStar riser. I just sent him a rough little diagram I made on the "paint" app with dimensions marked and he made exactly what I needed.


20210502_100309.jpg
 

mellowgerman

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Hey guys, I think there may be an issue with the Bi-Sonic pickup. Is the black underside of the pickup supposed to partially separate from the chrome bezel like this?

601D56B9-6BE8-4F56-8FA5-5F32F3EC0F03.jpeg

Yeah, this is how the Newark Street Bisonics are made. The black plastic is just kind of melted around the edges to form-fit the ring. The one I bought some time ago was the same way. Nothing actually holding the bobbin to the chrome ring. Original Hagstroms were not melty like that and instead glued to the chrome ring there; Novaks and DarkStars are done the same way as the Hagstroms.
 

Matt R.

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Yeah, this is how the Newark Street Bisonics are made. The black plastic is just kind of melted around the edges to form-fit the ring. The one I bought some time ago was the same way. Nothing actually holding the bobbin to the chrome ring. Original Hagstroms were not melty like that and instead glued to the chrome ring there; Novaks and DarkStars are done the same way as the Hagstroms.

Thanks! So I should just leave it alone? I’m worried it might rattle or whatever after I install it.
Also, the wires from the pickup go into a quick connector type plug. Obviously I will have to take the connector off and lengthen the leads so I can solder them to the pots. On this pickup, white is hot and black is ground, correct?
 

mellowgerman

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Thanks! So I should just leave it alone? I’m worried it might rattle or whatever after I install it.
Also, the wires from the pickup go into a quick connector type plug. Obviously I will have to take the connector off and lengthen the leads so I can solder them to the pots. On this pickup, white is hot and black is ground, correct?

Correct, white is hot and black is ground. I don't think it would rattle as I'm assuming you'll still be using the black mounting ring in between the pickup and the custom plate you're having made? At least with the one that I had, the mounting ring seemed to keep the pickup snug in-place. Of course you could always put some soft foam in the cavity underneath the pickup to hold it in place or carefully apply a couple drops of glue (but then be careful about what glue you choose since some types might have a chemical reaction with the plastic).
 

Matt R.

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Correct, white is hot and black is ground. I don't think it would rattle as I'm assuming you'll still be using the black mounting ring in between the pickup and the custom plate you're having made? At least with the one that I had, the mounting ring seemed to keep the pickup snug in-place. Of course you could always put some soft foam in the cavity underneath the pickup to hold it in place or carefully apply a couple drops of glue (but then be careful about what glue you choose since some types might have a chemical reaction with the plastic).

Great. Yeah I’m still using the stock bezel, so hopefully no problems. Thanks so much for the replies. Super helpful!:)
 

Happy Face

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Wow! Our Mellow One is a National Treasure!
 

Matt R.

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A drop or two of super glue won't do any harm I think.

Ralf

I may actually just cut a thin strip of pickup mounting foam and just put it between the pickup and the plastic bezel. I’ll have to get it all together and see if that would be possible.
 

lungimsam

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Be careful handling that melted black plastic edge. Mine cracked and broke easily.
My Bisonic just sits on a shelf now like a paper weight.
 

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You might be able to fabricate a new mounting plate with pickguard material. You can use acetone to melt it together.
 

Matt R.

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You might be able to fabricate a new mounting plate with pickguard material. You can use acetone to melt it together.

I just sent a tracing to WD Music. It should look great!
 

Matt R.

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By the way, anyone know where to find these types of thumb rests? They look like they may be longer than the Fender ones?
Not important, but I thought it might be a cool addition.
2F371029-3A10-413D-9D74-B4F9A0B39709.jpeg
 
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fronobulax

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By the way, anyone know where to find these types of thumb rests? They look like they may be longer than the Fender ones?
Not important, but I thought it might be a cool addition.
2F371029-3A10-413D-9D74-B4F9A0B39709.jpeg

I'm still getting used to the assertion that specs on the Newark Street Starfire I Bass changed slightly when CMG purchased Guild, but what you posted look like the size of my 2013 (FMIC) rests, not longer. That said, is the length really going to matter to your plucking hand style?
 
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