Hey Ralf!

[GAD]

Someone posted a Starfire I on Ebay and showed the label with an ISG serial number.

Where's it made?

 

[GGJaguar]

Wait, is this a trick question? ;-)

 

[davismanLV]

Says Indonesia but, as stated above.... is this a trick question? I'm bad at those.....

 

[GAD]

HAH! I'm very tired from banning spammers.

 

[dapmdave]

So I guess I haven't kept up with Guild's line, lately. Aside from the obvious (stop tailpiece vs. harp on SFIV) what are the significant differences between a SF-1 DC double-cut and a Starfire IV?

 

[GAD]

So I guess I haven't kept up with Guild's line, lately. Aside from the obvious (stop tailpiece vs. harp on SFIV) what are the significant differences between a SF-1 DC double-cut and a Starfire IV?

It has a retail street price of $500-600

 

[GSFV]

It also has full-size humbucker that are supposedly voiced the same as Little Buckers. Both of them are coil split via push pull pot in the volume knobs. I believe it also has a 12" fingerboard radius instead of the 9.5 on the NS.

The rest is cosmetic. Headstock is slightly different. That sort of thing. I think the wood grain is different as well. But that could be the few models I've seen. But the Cherry ones look like they are less defined vertical grains. If that makes sense. I also think the binding is more of a white instead of a vintage yellowish. But I'm not certain.

I was actually curious about these recently and wondered if anyone has any hands on experience with them. I am considering, thinking about, picking one up, but it'd be a while and require some saving. Lol. Plus permission from the council (my very supportive wife).

 

[dapmdave]

Full-sized humbuckers, you say.

Hmmm... I have a set of really nice Lollar Humbuckers that need a place to live. And I much prefer a stop-tail to the harp.

 

[Mark WW]

My Ibanez Artcores are made in Indonesia and the QC is excellent. They are very well made and play great. Not sure what factory though.

 

[dapmdave]

My Ibanez Artcores are made in Indonesia and the QC is excellent. They are very well made and play great. Not sure what factory though.

I agree. Most of the Indonesia-made guitars I've seen were pretty nice. Cort (Cor-Tek) makes guitars there for Hamer, Ibanez, Squier, G&L, and now apparently Guild. I wouldn't be afraid of one, especially at the $500 price point.

 

[GSFV]

They're extremely tempting. I am hoping to be able to catch one on the used market for less. I've got a Guildsby equipped SF from NS. It changed my opinions/views on non USA made guitars. If I hop on this, I'd go stop tail too. Plus I've never had a red guitar....

 

[dbirchett]

I saw one listing that said that Samick was a supplier for Cordoba from Indonesia. I don't know if that includes the Starfire 1.

 

[SFIV1967]

Someone posted a Starfire I on Ebay and showed the label with an ISG serial number.

First time I see it but I am not surprised, that explains the low price of that new and oddly named "Starfire I" series.
Obviously the "G" is Guild. The "I" means Indonesia as also the label shows:



And the "S" seems to be for P.T. Samick, in Cileungsi near Jakarta, West Java, Indonesia.
"P.T." is an acronym for Perseroan Terbatas, a business entity that is formed and acts per commercial law.
A member on Gretsch-Talk said this factory is operational since 1992 and their current guitar production capacity is 35.000 guitars a month (420.000 a year)! Now those are numbers!!!
Samick manufactures for Greg Bennett, Silvertone, Fender/Squier (includes acoustics), Epiphone, Cordoba, Washburn, and Hohner among others.

samick

Hal ini berkomunikasi dengan musik, samick

www.ptsamick.com

Certainly looks huge:



Ralf

 

[GAD]

Thanks, Ralf! Always a pleasure reading your detailed response on this stuff!