I am considering picking up a Starfire 3 or 4. Some comments I have heard regarding Corona is that they are hand built using the original tooling. Are these as good as the one's made previously in the States?
BF
BF
How do the Corona Guilds fare?
- Thread starter BIGFOOT
- Start date
I haven't played any other Starfire IIIs besides my Corona-built SFIII, but as far as I'm concerned it's one of the best-put together guitars I've ever owned. It plays and sounds great and the construction is pretty flawless. It certainly stands on it's own as being a really great American-made guitar.
That's good news to my ears. I would like to get a fairly fresh guitar, rather than one that looks like it was used as a broom in a bar.
Are the pups on the Corona equivalent to the Westerly?
I have seen a couple NOS SF4's appear on ebay. Never trying one, but owning 2 Guild acoustics I would be still be willing to buy one based on pictures.
Are the pups on the Corona equivalent to the Westerly?
I have seen a couple NOS SF4's appear on ebay. Never trying one, but owning 2 Guild acoustics I would be still be willing to buy one based on pictures.
coastie99
Enlightened Member
Hard to imagine you being unhappy with a SF4 Bigfoot, if you do spring for one.
I don't believe I've seen any negative comment, anywhere, about Corona-built electrics.
There were finish issues (checking) with a lot of acoustics, but nothing concerning electrics.
I may be wrong, but I'm sure I've read that some / a lot / most electrics got pretty much Custom Shop attention.
I don't believe I've seen any negative comment, anywhere, about Corona-built electrics.
There were finish issues (checking) with a lot of acoustics, but nothing concerning electrics.
I may be wrong, but I'm sure I've read that some / a lot / most electrics got pretty much Custom Shop attention.
BIGFOOT said:
I am happy with the pickups in the Corona SF IV, tho they are NOT the same as older HB-1s, & they are not the Duncan '59s that were found in Bluesbirds. They are brite & punchy, & the middle (both on) position is outstanding. Someday I may mess with the wiring, but I'll most likely just keep the stock pickups there.
bluegrass jubilee
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coastie99 said:
some did, some didn't. when guild pulled the plug on them, the higher end stuff like the x-700 and artist award models were being made by the custom shop. the x-150, 160, 180, 500 were being made on the production floor. i could be wrong about this, but i believe all archtops were made by the custom shop at first until the production line was set up and ready, but don't quote me on that.
Building electric Guilds in Corona was the one thing that Fender did right. After all, the shop has years of building quality electric guitars. I have a Corona Bluesbird and a Westerly Bluesbird, when you compare them side by side they're Bluesbirds, both excellent quality and no real difference between the two other than yellowing in the logo on the older guitar. The Corona is a goldtop, not an easy finish to master, and the paint job on this guitar is awesome.
bluegrass jubilee
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BIGFOOT said:
you heard somewhat coorect. some of the tooling had to be re-made, because believe it or not (cover your ears westerly purists), the westerly tooling was pretty crappy, dated, and not consistent.
california91207 said:
I have a Westerly Blues 90 and a Corona Bluesbird. Two different guitars, but no difference in quality, workmanship, etc. The only reason I know where each was made is that Hans told me when I gave him the serial #s.
guildzilla
Senior Member
1997-98 would be a Westerly SF.
No Corona Guilds until after 2001.
No Corona Guilds until after 2001.