- Joined
- Jul 5, 2021
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 8
- Guild Total
- 1
A LOOONG review...
A recent trip to Nashville and the privilege of hearing a couple of exceptional guitarists playing semi-hollow bodied guitars cemented my desires to get one. (It didn't hurt that the wife LOVES the tone of a semi-hollow).
First auditioned was a Gretsch 5420. Beautiful guitar (full hollow body) but the one I tried had some issues, in addition to it not being exactly what I wanted.
Next was a Godin semi and while it was made well and sounded good, there was just something about it I couldn't abide by. Just didn't feel right.
Finally I ordered a Guild Starfire IV ST in vintage sunburst. This particular one had a nice grain pattern and also a few 'birdseye' figures for good measure. The fit and finish were almost flawless; binding was flush on the body top and bottom; equally great on the neck.
Nicely figured DARK rosewood board, with 'tall jumbo' (their description) frets. The frets are finished very nicely- no machining marks, well polished; the fret ends are well done (I will go over these, although perfectly acceptable- I've learned how to finish the ends to fine rounded smooth end). Frets are level; no fretting or choking out.
The finish is excellent. The only flaw I can find is a small (1/16" inch) 'bubble' of extra finish at the top of the headstock 'north' of the G string tuner.
The Schaller 'Sta Tite' tuners tune accurately and hold well.
Using a Sonic Research tuner I checked intonation. With the .011 string OEM with the guitar...they are SPOT ON. I have NEVER had a guitar, new or used, by any manufacturer, that was dead on out of the case. Maybe I got lucky, but I sort of doubt it.
Relief was set well, but I play with a fairly flat relief and the truss rod responded well; I was able to get it to about .007/.008 relief and 4/64ths at the 15th fret action height with no fretting out or buzzing.
I don't know what pots are used, but they seem to be 'full size' and are spec'd at 500K (If anyone knows what make / brand they are I'd be interested as I'm a 'geek' like that). Each has a decent taper- very usable (The Gretsch I auditioned; tone pot went from nothing to full on on the last 1/8" inch or so of taper).
The 3 way switch works well- no static or cutting out, although there is more 'side to side' movement that my other similarly equipped guitars.
The pickup switch does make a bit of mechanical noise but this is due to the hollow / void underneath where it is mounted, when it is 'slapped' into position quickly while being played. (Being used to solid body guitars, this has not been an issue previously and apparently something I will need to get used to / compensate for.)
I like the LB1 pickups, so far. I may end up getting them re-wound at some point, or, if I can find a replacement set that will fit in the existing openings, perhaps go that direction. I need to play these for awhile before doing anything like that. (It seems a bit difficult to determine what replacement pickups might 'drop in' or I just haven't searched in the right areas). Again, if anyone knows what might work, I'd be interested to know- although I'll be using these for a while and giving them a fair shake before I do anything like rewinding or replacement).
The guitar sits well for me on a strap and this coming weekend I'll be using it in a live gigging situation for about 4 songs.
I did install .010's on my new Guild, and like them better (I play 10's and 9's on my other guitars). I'm not hearing any tone degradation in switching (but I AM an older guy and perhaps not as tonally astute as I used to be LOL).
It should be noted that NONE of my previous Gibson's (Chet Atkins acoustic electric, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Classic), or Fenders, had frets this well finished or binding this well fitted.
To say that I am pleased and a little bit more than surprised, would be an understatement. I'd heard Korean manufacturers (at least some of them) were top notch. Now I KNOW it to be true! VERY excited about this guitar!
Brian
A recent trip to Nashville and the privilege of hearing a couple of exceptional guitarists playing semi-hollow bodied guitars cemented my desires to get one. (It didn't hurt that the wife LOVES the tone of a semi-hollow).
First auditioned was a Gretsch 5420. Beautiful guitar (full hollow body) but the one I tried had some issues, in addition to it not being exactly what I wanted.
Next was a Godin semi and while it was made well and sounded good, there was just something about it I couldn't abide by. Just didn't feel right.
Finally I ordered a Guild Starfire IV ST in vintage sunburst. This particular one had a nice grain pattern and also a few 'birdseye' figures for good measure. The fit and finish were almost flawless; binding was flush on the body top and bottom; equally great on the neck.
Nicely figured DARK rosewood board, with 'tall jumbo' (their description) frets. The frets are finished very nicely- no machining marks, well polished; the fret ends are well done (I will go over these, although perfectly acceptable- I've learned how to finish the ends to fine rounded smooth end). Frets are level; no fretting or choking out.
The finish is excellent. The only flaw I can find is a small (1/16" inch) 'bubble' of extra finish at the top of the headstock 'north' of the G string tuner.
The Schaller 'Sta Tite' tuners tune accurately and hold well.
Using a Sonic Research tuner I checked intonation. With the .011 string OEM with the guitar...they are SPOT ON. I have NEVER had a guitar, new or used, by any manufacturer, that was dead on out of the case. Maybe I got lucky, but I sort of doubt it.
Relief was set well, but I play with a fairly flat relief and the truss rod responded well; I was able to get it to about .007/.008 relief and 4/64ths at the 15th fret action height with no fretting out or buzzing.
I don't know what pots are used, but they seem to be 'full size' and are spec'd at 500K (If anyone knows what make / brand they are I'd be interested as I'm a 'geek' like that). Each has a decent taper- very usable (The Gretsch I auditioned; tone pot went from nothing to full on on the last 1/8" inch or so of taper).
The 3 way switch works well- no static or cutting out, although there is more 'side to side' movement that my other similarly equipped guitars.
The pickup switch does make a bit of mechanical noise but this is due to the hollow / void underneath where it is mounted, when it is 'slapped' into position quickly while being played. (Being used to solid body guitars, this has not been an issue previously and apparently something I will need to get used to / compensate for.)
I like the LB1 pickups, so far. I may end up getting them re-wound at some point, or, if I can find a replacement set that will fit in the existing openings, perhaps go that direction. I need to play these for awhile before doing anything like that. (It seems a bit difficult to determine what replacement pickups might 'drop in' or I just haven't searched in the right areas). Again, if anyone knows what might work, I'd be interested to know- although I'll be using these for a while and giving them a fair shake before I do anything like rewinding or replacement).
The guitar sits well for me on a strap and this coming weekend I'll be using it in a live gigging situation for about 4 songs.
I did install .010's on my new Guild, and like them better (I play 10's and 9's on my other guitars). I'm not hearing any tone degradation in switching (but I AM an older guy and perhaps not as tonally astute as I used to be LOL).
It should be noted that NONE of my previous Gibson's (Chet Atkins acoustic electric, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Classic), or Fenders, had frets this well finished or binding this well fitted.
To say that I am pleased and a little bit more than surprised, would be an understatement. I'd heard Korean manufacturers (at least some of them) were top notch. Now I KNOW it to be true! VERY excited about this guitar!
Brian
