Newbie -intro- SF /T100 question

Shakeylee

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Howdy.
I a long time guild player . I have a flat back D25 and a CE-100dbld.

I DID use the search function,but have some thin Hollowbody questions.
I am a gigging musician (when not in pandemic) and usually do three or so Shows a week.

I am shopping for a T100 or Starfire I or II.
I do prefer Rhode Island guilds , but would consider Hoboken, or Asian.
I have heard some negative stuff about late 90’s SF’s But mostly about body shape. Their pricing certainly is lower than other thin bodies.

who has a favorite guitar in this single cut vein that they think is good for gigging?
 

GAD

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What negative things have you heard? The '90s Starfires are my favorite and I've owned 'em all.
 

GGJaguar

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Welcome to LTG! The only negative thing I've heard about the late 1990s and early 2000 Starfire II and III models is that the body shape was different from the 1960s and early 1970 versions. Why Guild chose to change the body shape is a mystery, but they are simply different. Like GAD, I've owned Starfires from all eras and prefer the ones from the 1990s. The Korean-made Newark Street series Stafire models are excellent, but the Westerly-made guitars are a step up from them. Good luck with your quest!
 

Shakeylee

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What negative things have you heard? The '90s Starfires are my favorite and I've owned 'em all.
Just about the shape!
that’s what I am here to find out. What people’s favorite thin hollows are.
 

Shakeylee

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Is there any similarities in neck profile of the 90’s to the 70’s?
For example, even with different scale length , my CE-100 and D-25 feel almost exactly the same .
 

wdboland

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I have a 96 SF4, and a 98 SF3. The SF4 is currently my goto. I really like the thiner neck and the SD1 pickups. I don't think you would be disappointed if you were to acquire anything from the SF line from the 90's
 
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matsickma

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Not sure your price point or type of pickups you like but in my opnion the best Guild thin body guitar is a DE-400. Another option is the latter studio models SE 302 or 303 in mahogany. There are some NOS eary 2000 T400 abd T500 with Franz type P90's available and some with the mini humbucker.

The Starfire 2 or 3 are most common. Their body depth is deeper than the DE, T or SE models.
As always everyone has different features that are favorite. I tend to start with pickup types a d go from there.
Good hunting!
M
 

GAD

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Dig around here and you'll find much detail about '60s, '90s, and '10 Starfires. I have a '02 but haven't gotten to it (It's just like the '90s, though): https://gadsguilds.com
 

Shakeylee

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Not sure your price point or type of pickups you like but in my opnion the best Guild thin body guitar is a DE-400. Another option is the latter studio models SE 302 or 303 in mahogany. There are some NOS eary 2000 T400 abd T500 with Franz type P90's available and some with the mini humbucker.

The Starfire 2 or 3 are most common. Their body depth is deeper than the DE, T or SE models.
As always everyone has different features that are favorite. I tend to start with pickup types a d go from there.
Good hunting!
M

a Duane Eddy is a little too pricey for me. I am trying to keep this between one and two grand.
Fortunately, I like most pickups used in SF/T100 .
Dearmond or Franz would be nice , but the funky single coil small ones and Mickey Mouse are fine too.
My ‘76 CE-100 has guild humbuckers that I am used to,so, I could easily use them .
Previously, I was leaning towards a T-100,but, a 90’s SF might be pulling ahead.
I would play a starfire,T-100,Gibson es-125/225 or Gretsch clipper , but would prefer a guild.
This is for work, so, o would even buy a refin like the yellow one on reverb, or a husk and put p-90’s in it.
I greatly appreciate everyone’s help
 

GGJaguar

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My vote is for a 1997-99 Starfire II or Starfire III. And if you prefer P-90s to humbuckers, you can begin searching for an early 2000s Starfire III-90. They are scarce, but do pop up from time to time.
 

GAD

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My vote is for a 1997-99 Starfire II or Starfire III. And if you prefer P-90s to humbuckers, you can begin searching for an early 2000s Starfire III-90. They are scarce, but do pop up from time to time.


And those SFIII-90s are glorious!
 
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Shakeylee

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NOw, that is one sweeeeet guitar.
I don’t need the guildsby, but , I like that guitar!
 

GAD

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NOw, that is one sweeeeet guitar.
I don’t need the guildsby, but , I like that guitar!

Yeah, they're cool as hell. They also shipped with Antiquity pickups which are fabulous, unlike the Bluesbirds-90s from the same years which shipped with much hotter P90s that don't sound half as good.
 

Shakeylee

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I should have bought one of the husks of the two T100’s he had.

the studio 303 is gorgeous.
 
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