NAMM 2021 Reimagined Starfire Bass

[fronobulax]

Starfire I Bass Cherry Red | Guild Guitars

An iconic shape at an affordable price, Guild’s Starfire I Bass is a modern adaptation of the traditional Starfire Bass platform.

guildguitars.com

No real details yet. "modern adaptation" of a traditional platform.

I wonder if we are going to have to change the "what strings fit" advice?

Is the new pickup better in dealing with hum?


All will soon be revealed, I'm sure.

 

[Guzzitd63]

I just saw that. Literally, minutes ago in an Email from Guild.
I've been wanting a single pickup Starfire anyway.
Maybe this is it.
Here's the photo I snagged ... lol:

 

[SFIV1967]

Look at this! A new style bass harp bridge! Well, why not!

EDIT: For first specs see post #62 !

Ralf

 

[mellowgerman]

Okay, I'll snag upone of these just for fun at that price!

 

[fronobulax]

Look at this! A new style bass harp bridge! Well, why not!

Ralf

I've seen similar bridge mods on vintage Starfires. If it makes it easier to intonate than it will be a sure winner.

 

[mellowgerman]

Hold the phone! Is this a short scale? Almost looks long scale

 

[fronobulax]

Okay, I'll snag upone of these just for fun at that price!

MSRP $835

Street maybe $600?

The Find a Dealer link on the Guild page lists Guitar Centers and music chains owned by GC (that focus on band and orchestra instruments) plus several independent shops. If the Guild site is to be believed then this is targeted for a mass market.

 

[fronobulax]

Hold the phone! Is this a short scale? Almost looks long scale

Good question but at 21 frets I'm going to say No until they actually publish specs.

 

[fronobulax]

From the email that triggered this thread

 

[mellowgerman]

Good question but at 21 frets I'm going to say No until they actually publish specs.

If long-scale, I'm out! But if it's a shortie, I will have to grab one of these at some point. Maybe a few months in when they start showing up for $400 used

 

[lungimsam]

I like the split coil idea. Cancels hum and hopefully they made it easier to get the electronics outta the f-holes this time.
It definitely completely changes the look of the instrument. If it is a long scale, it is interesting that that is the direction they are taking with the basses instead of just adding more colors like they were doing. I wonder if they will phase out the Bisonic Starfire I model eventually?
Hard to tell scale length. Neck joins body at different fret than Bisonic Starfire I.

 

[mavuser]

ah the olde "split single coil in humbucking position." trying to move in on the Guild/Fender 90s SF bass market? id rather see a reissue of that pickup, personally. Can't say i'm onboard with the bridge situation either, here. The current Newark Street SF bass, or a Fender Mustang bass, gets my vote over this.

 

[mavuser]

i believe if it were long scale, the bridge/saddles would be much further back (near where the "G" of the tailpiece is now). What is pictured to this point would have to be short scale, i *think

 

[mellowgerman]

Took a stab at an A/B photo... hard to say if I scaled it correctly but was trying to get the knobs to be as close in size as possible, since it would seem silly for them to invest more to make new knobs, no? That said and all taken with several grains of salt, it looks like the new one is short scale as well.
Also, I agree that the classic Guild bridge is preferable. At the lower price point though, I am open minded to the new one and split coil pickup. Would be a neat companion bass to get for a tonal variation, I'm thinking.

EDIT: I may have under-scaled the the Bisonic NS bass just a hair. Unless the new Starfire's body really is a tad bigger.

 

[mavuser]

someone here way back had Novak stuff a P-bass type split single coil under the hood of a Guild pickup cover, on a GSR SF-1 bass, I believe. he was happy with it. i believe the GSR SF bass came with NOS (chrome) Guild humbucker, but the finished Novak product may have had a Bisonic type cover, that i don't recall.

anyway i'd rather see Guild just release a NS SF-1 w neck pickup and bring back the mud bucker. make runs of both Biconic and mudbucker neck pickup SF-1s, then a run of SF-2s w mud bucker. stick w the harp tail and rosewood saddles! forget the fender pickup and Gibson bridge, that is just wrong.

 

[Rambozo96]

Seeing the success of Gibsons ES line with the downsized dimensions I’m surprised Guild hasn’t gone that route with the Starfire. Then again maybe that would be flooding the market.

 

[mellowgerman]

I agree that I would love to see some neck pickup Starfire I basses from the Newark St line. Maybe with a Guild bucker that is switchable to single coil via a push button switch, physically like the tone-dump, but actually useful? Definitely keep the harp bridge. Maybe some new colors? Maybe "pelham blue"? That would be something I'd have trouble resisting until there are used ones available!
As for downsizing the body like a Gibson/Epiphone 339, that would be a negative for me. With my lanky arms, the Starfire body is the most comfortable and perfect design out there.

 

[mavuser]

just bring back M-85 bass instead of messing around w 339 SF bass! and/or the return of JS bass!

 

[fronobulax]

I would expect the body dimensions to be the same but I am willing to bet that these are made in Indonesia, not Korea so something could have changed when opening up production at the new plant. Given that there are MII Starfire shaped guitars the body size comparison between a MIK and MII 6 string would probably predict the the comparison between the MIK and MII basses.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Call me stodgy if you will, but I'm gonna buck the trend and say that I'm not crazy about the "look" of either the pups or the bridge/tailpiece. Oh well, at least it's not a floating bridge.

Appears it might have a bound neck, which I would also not prefer. Wondering if that has anything to do with the finish flaws (random, "fogged", de-laminating clear coat) along the fretboard edge I've seen on a significant number of unbound NSs.

At that price point, I'd be very surprised if these aren't being made in China, which would be the final nail in the coffin for me (though this is not the appropriate place to discuss why).