GGJaguar
Reverential Member
Yeah, a rant of the day. For the most part, I'm okay with the NS line, mainly the Korean-made models. But sometimes their construction technique gets squarely in my crosshairs (like today!). I wish they would have followed the vintage construction a little more closely - a thicker top with a strongly formed arch and parallel braces with wider placement. The photo below is of my '65 T-100D and the '23 NS Starfire III Dyna. Both have maple bodies. You can clearly see how the SF-III's top is practically flat compared to the T-100D.
The narrow angle braces require them to be cut to accommodate the pickups, weakening the support they provide. That, plus a 3 mm thick top compared to a 4 mm thick top found on the vintage Guild, could be part of the reason the tops are not strongly arched. It certainly affects the acoustic voice of the guitars. The T-100D is loud with a strong midrange (as expected on an archtop). The NS Starfire is not as loud and is muddy by comparison.
I wish Guild would consider making some GSR models at Terada paying closer attention to vintage details. Terada knows how to do archtops right. Even if the cost of a GSR Starfire is similar to Gretsch reissues made by Terada, they would be worth it (for me at least).
Thus ends the Newark Street ROTD.
The narrow angle braces require them to be cut to accommodate the pickups, weakening the support they provide. That, plus a 3 mm thick top compared to a 4 mm thick top found on the vintage Guild, could be part of the reason the tops are not strongly arched. It certainly affects the acoustic voice of the guitars. The T-100D is loud with a strong midrange (as expected on an archtop). The NS Starfire is not as loud and is muddy by comparison.
I wish Guild would consider making some GSR models at Terada paying closer attention to vintage details. Terada knows how to do archtops right. Even if the cost of a GSR Starfire is similar to Gretsch reissues made by Terada, they would be worth it (for me at least).
Thus ends the Newark Street ROTD.
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