Starfire IV what Overdrive?

[fishlog]

So I just got a Starfire iv about 2 weeks ago, plays great, looks great and I am totally digging it but some chinks are starting to appear in the armor as the honeymoon phase wears off.

Namely I don't think it sounds great when I am using some low gain to mild overdrive. Down on the higher end of the fret board 12th fret and down things seem to get chirpy on the top end, sound buzzy or needle-ly. Nothing to do with action and there is no fret buzz as the playability of the guitar is superb.

Is it just a matter of finding the right OD pedal? I currently use a BB preamp clone with gain set very low. A little delay from a Pigtronix Constellator.

But it is just not working for me.

What do you all use?

 

[GAD]

Vintage or Newark St. Starfire?

 

[Ixtlan]

this is all you need: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TO800--behringer-to800-vintage-tube-overdrive-pedal

Edit: just saw your Yes records - try this! https://reverb.com/p/joyo-r-02-taichi (and add a nice phaser)

 

[fishlog]

Vintage or Newark St. Starfire?

Newark St.

 

[GAD]

Ahh I see: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/new-starfire-iv-wish-i-had-come-here-first.215034/

Those LB1 pickups are notorious for being wound improperly with the neck hotter than the bridge. Are you having issues in all positions?

 

[fishlog]

Ahh I see: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/new-starfire-iv-wish-i-had-come-here-first.215034/

Those LB1 pickups are notorious for being wound improperly with the neck hotter than the bridge. Are you having issues in all positions?

No problem with one balance between the two pups. Its more of an issue with the tone. There is a quality when using overdrive thats kind of buzzy. Maybe short in chirpy in the high end… hard to explain and of course very subjective.

Guitar plays like a dream though so I am more than willing to try and work through the problem.

I’ve also been missing around with pick up height with little success.

 

[GAD]

What amp?

 

[fishlog]

What amp?

Princeton 65RI with celestion Gold mainly but last noght I noticed less of those qualities in my 68 custom Deluxe Reverb. I think the bigger speaker helped (celestion Red).

 

[GAD]

Does it sound good direct to the amp and pushing the power tubes (read: loud)?

 

[fishlog]

Does it sound good direct to the amp and pushing the power tubes (read: loud)?

This response got me to thinking I should go through my signal chain see what buffers or pedals might not be helping my situation.

3 things learned (seems I have learned these lessons more than once so shame on me):

1. Have you gone straight into your amp lately? It's really an eye opener how much signal you might be losing through all your pedals etc.
2. Some of these Chinese/Amazon pedals have really bad buffers. I got a bunch for Christmas from the kids it was a lot of fun.
3. Its worth going over your signal path when ever you can really. I discovered a cable going to one of my amps from an A/B box that was defiantly causing some noise issues. I think it was just picking up a lot of outside noise. Undetectable until you leave one end unplugged from anything and you hear it for your self. Seemed like I was losing some top end and got a heap of clarity back once I replaced it.

After I did all this it was late so it is yet to be fully determined if this resolved my starting issues with the guitars tonal qualities

 

[GAD]

This response got me to thinking I should go through my signal chain see what buffers or pedals might be not helping my situation.

3 things learned (seems I have learned these lessons more than once so shame on me):

1. Have you gone straight into your amp lately? It's really an eye opener how much signal you might be losing through all your pedals etc.
2. Some of these Chinese/Amazon pedals have really bad buffers. I got a bunch for Christmas from the kids it was a lot of fun.
3. Its worth going over your signal path when ever you can really. I discovered a cable going to one of my amps from an A/B box that was defiantly causing some noise issues. I think it was just picking up a lot of outside noise. Undetectable until you leave one end unplugged from anything and you hear it for your self. Seemed like I was losing some top end and got a heap of clarity back once I replaced it.

After I did all this it was late so it is yet to be fully determined if this resolved my starting issues with the guitars tonal qualities

Nice! It's SO easy to get lost with pedals and a lot of people are resistant to a signal chain audit. I hope you find the culprit!

 

[DrumBob]

I always did well with my Starfire IV and a J. Rockett Archer, one of the best Klon klones on the market, maybe the best.

 

[guitarslinger]

In my Starfire (shown in my profile picture) I’m sporting two neck pickups which has made an enormous difference. All of the following sound great with this guitar: Ethos, OCD 1.3, Klone (Klon), Strymon Deco.

 

[mavuser]

take the guitar plug it directly into the PR and crank the vol, and crank the reverb, both like full blast. if that doesnt sound like sonic bliss...something is not right. could be the RI PR...on those amps u need to find the "sweet spot." not as user friendly as the old ones.
try it on the deluxe also. good luck!

 

[Guildedagain]

What's the height of the pickups, it can make a lot of difference.

How hot are the pickups?

 

[GSFV]

I love my NS starfire V. Should be same pickups. But if you have the Starfire IV ST the construction is different (maple body vs mahogany) plus bigsby vs stop tail. Taking that into consideration, my favorite OD pedals are Timmy Clone, Klon clone, Blues Breaker Clone, and sometimes a Tube screamer.

Last few years I’ve been mostly using my Helix LT. Which has made me love my guild even more. Really increased the flexibility. I use the Deluxe Reverb amp or a vox AC30. For me the middle position is magic! I will ride the volumes to mix and match how much of each pickup is in. But usually it’s full on, or neck rolled down to 8ish.

I usually don’t have the gain more than halfish way up, tones/EQ’s are north of halfway, and I try to volume match or slight boost. But it’s a lot of playing with the AMP EQ and pedal EQ to find what works. Usually if I move one I have to move other stuff also.

The NS pickups can be strange for sure! But….I was able to resolve it with pickup heights. Very happy. I thought about swapping one of the pickups for a copy of the other. But like I said, I was able to find pickups heights to make things work.

Try direct into amp like others said, and then maybe just one OD pedal into the amp. Always possible the problem is another pedal. Can’t tell you how many times I fiddle with amp EQ or gain settings but the problem was reverb or delay or something like that.

 

[James Hart]

I have a vintage SF V, but also use a Custom 68 Deluxe Reverb (stock speaker... thinking of putting an EVM12L in it)... I've been using a King of Tone for the last 16ish years.

 

[Shakeylee]

it all depends on what kind of music you play.

 

[fishlog]

Bought an MXR Timmy this weekend... that did the trick.

Side story... I had a Timmy a while back bought it used for 99 bucks. Seafoam green color. Saw the same one on reverb for 300!!!

What?!?

 

[GSFV]

Yeah…Timmy prices are crazy… not as crazy as Klons though
Sheesh!

Glad you were able to find what you were looking for out of the Starfire though!