Modern Guild Starfire IV Humbuckers...

[jmorrell]

I've recently bought an Ibanez RG321, really nice feel and a dream to play however,

Nothing compares to the tone and sound i get from my 98 starfire, I would like to change the pickups in the ibanez both neck and bridge to something similar sound to the guild, beautiful highs and a really big sounding heavy blues crunch...You know

What would you guys suggest?

Thanks all,
Joe

 

[guildzilla]

Get a second opinion, but my guess is that Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 humbuckers - a Gibson PAF copy - will get you pretty close.

This is based on the assumption that your '98 is equipped with the Guild humbuckers that began to be supplied by Seymour Duncan around this time.

 

[matsickma]

In my experiance the Fender HB1 have a similar tone as the origional Guild but with a little bit more "dirt" to them.
However I suspect a 98 Starfire may still have Guild HB1. The easiest way to tell is to pull and inspect the pickups on your 98. After you loosen the strings and remove the 4 screws that secure the mounting bezel on the pickup you can do the inspection. Fender HB1 have two tell-tale features: 1) they have a symmetric wide pickup adjustment flange with 3 tapped holes on each side to adjust height and tilt and 2) the wires for each of the coils are exposed on the back of the pickup where you can see how they are connected to the bobbins to form a "humbucker". On an origional Guild HB1 the pickup height adjustmant flange is wide on the bass side and narrow on the treble side. The wide flange has 2 tapped adjustment holes and the narrow side has 1. Additionally a Guild guitar routed for an origional HB1 will have an assymetrical humbucker route in the body that makes it impossible to flip the origional HB1 around from bass to treble side without having the screw pole pieces located on the "inside" of the humbucker. If an origional HB1 is mounted with the screw pole pieces on the "inside" then it means a Bridge pickup is being used in the Neck position.

Guitars made for Fender HB1's have a humbucker route that accomidates the wide adjustment flange on both the treble and bass side of the pickup.

If you like the tone of Guild HB1 then I recommend you keep an eye on ebay and pick a set up. They vary in price but if you keep an eye out you can get a set for under $200.

M

 

[danerectal]

Talk to Jay Pilzer from New Hope Guitar Traders if you want the Fender Guild humbucker. Dreamlander bought a pair from him and was quite pleased.

 

[jmorrell]

Thanks guys for all the help. Really looking forward to this minature project.

 

[jmorrell]

going to try and source some of the fender HB-1's.

Wonder if the ibanez will need any modification done to the woodwork...it's not actually arrived yet.

 

[danerectal]

Wonder if the ibanez will need any modification done to the woodwork...it's not actually arrived yet.

The mounts on the Fender Guild Humbuckers are only slightly wider than the standard. It may be a tight fit, but from what I remember you should be fine. Good luck in Modsville.

 

[jmorrell]

Me again,

Anyone have any ideas where i can source the Fender HB-1's ?

 

[danerectal]

Me again,

Anyone have any ideas where i can source the Fender HB-1's ?

Talk to Jay Pilzer at New Hope Guitar Traders. He got Dreamlander a right nice pair.

http://www.guildguy.com/

 

[jmorrell]

thanks danerectal, you've been a great help

 

[danerectal]

thanks danerectal, you've been a great help

Once in a great long while, I hit some sort of target. Good luck with your project.