Oh, I'm not objecting to your choices, J.G... I just wanted you to know that many/most of us think of the original Newark Street model guitars (started in 2013) as real Guilds. The same cannot be said (by many/most of us) of most of the other MIA stuff with Guild on the headstock.
Just being honest.
And, super good luck with your choices, J.G. I'm sure you'll be delighted with a Dearmond!
Ok, is there a difference between these 2013 NS and newer ones? Or did Guild use the NS name in different series? Can you still buy new NS guitars? I had thought so? But now I'm confused. Maybe I'm confusing NS with some other Guild line?
It seems that currently these are the Starfire double-cuts you can buy new from Guild: I DC, Starfire V (just I DC with a bigsby?), Starfire VI (separated line? In between I DC and NS? Korea, Indonesia or China made?) and the NS Starfire. Am I correct here?
So it seems the I DC is the low end. Made in Indonesia or China? SFV and SFVI are Korea like NS?
Back to the NS Starfire, I don't mean anything personal. I'm just trying to be practical and objective here.
Does it have anything superior to the MIK Dearmond? I couldn't find anything. Both are made in Korea. I don't know which factory NS is made in, but Dearmond was the very well respect Samick? Both claim to be very close to the original Guild specs. Both have the import cost saving shortcuts. It seems Dearmond has US pick ups and electronics. Does the NS?
What makes the NS worth twice the money? Just the Guild sticker on the headstock? If there is more than that, I might consider saving up for one. But I couldn't find anything.
To me, personally, both being made in Korea and with similar specs, doesn't make me think of the NS as more of a real Guild than the Dearmond, just because it says Guild on the headstock. And doesn't make me think it's smart spending twice the money on the NS. This based on what I think I know about the NS.
It's also worth considering the Dearmonds have gone up in price quite a bit last few years, looking at old listing and modern ones. Maybe because they are rare and maybe because people see them as the second best option if you can't afford a vintage Guild? The other Dearmonds in my market are about the same price as a NS. Give or take. I just found an incredible deal on a Dearmond selling for the same give or take as a I DC. Two of them actually. From the same person.
To me, it seems the NS is more of a descendent of the Dearmond more than anything. Both were created to do the same thing. Be a cheaper option to USA made Guilds? I'm just stugling to see the justification for paying twice the money for a NS, unless the Guild sticker on the headstock really makes that much of a difference to other people.
If I'm totally wrong here, please do tell. I'm here to learn.