Starfire questions and hello all.

[lungimsam]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. I am a Pbass and SG Bass owner. But think the Starfies look and sound great.
Have been GASsing a bit. Was thinking about maybe buying one some time.

From reading here I see that they were only made in the mid '60's - early 70's, and reissued a few times through the years.

I had a few questions that I hope you all can help me with:

1. Any year's model or features I should avoid? Were any years "bad" years for the Starfire?

2. I like thin, flat necks. Is there a year that is good for this?

3. Can they be played comfortably while seated? I have never played a big bodied bass like the SF, and have seen pics of players with them hanging off to the side when seated, and not in the lap while playing. Just wondering.
I guess I could try the Casady bass in a local shop to get the feel of a hollow body. I know that it isn't the same, but maybe I could get a general idea this way.

Thanks for any help you can offer. I am having fun and learning alot reading all the info here on the bass forum.

Michael

 

[idealassets]

Have been GASsing a bit. Was thinking about maybe buying one some time

I know the feeling. These are a great instrument to own.

The only thing I can comment on is that I play sitting down. The curve of the lower bout is what sits on my leg. Its very similar to playing a jumbo body 12 string, which I also practice on for hours at a time. It is no problem, the guitar fits just right, and balances there OK.

Craig

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

I play mine seated all of the time. I am not aware of any difference in neck profiles. If you like one, you'll like them all. Basically three periods: 65-70 when they had the Hagstrom bi-sonics, for the most part. 70-77 when they had the Guild humbuckers and the reissue from the 90's. There is also a DeArmond "authorized" copy.

There is a tone switch that shows up mid '67 that a lot of people don't like and have been known to disconnect. The bi-sonic is more highly valued than the Guild humbucker. If you are looking at vintage there are some variations in 65 and 66 that some people prefer. Details and commentary later.

 

[lungimsam]

Thanks for the info, guys. I would be looking for '60's vintage. But I must do more research on the differing features to hone it down to the one I would want. Of course, as rare as they are, I will have to be flexible.

Anyone know the total number of Starfires made?

 

[fronobulax]

As a SWAG the BA prefix serial numbers cover about 2000 basses which would be '65-70.

Starfire bass p0rn here. It might help if my descriptions below are unclear.

Discussion only applies to Starfire I's. II's will come later.

Earliest basses had the so called "Mickey Mouse" pickup in the single bridge position. Plastic saddles on a 'straight' bridge.

Next variation swapped the Mickey Mouse for a Hagstrom made bi-sonic in the same position. Some folks think that this is the vintage variation that has the best sound because the PU is in a sweet spot for the bass.

I'm not sure which order these happened in but at some point the plastic saddles were replaced with rosewood saddles and the PU was moved to the neck position.

In mid 1967 the bridge got a curved top edge and a tone push button was added. I'm a little unclear what the push button did. I've been told it is not a "bass boost" as on later models but the folks who say what it is not never told me what it is. A lot of folks disconnect the switch.

Circa 1970, the Hagstrom was replaced with a Guild humbucker and we are out of the desired "60's vintage" range.

It is not clear to me when Starfire IIs were available but I think they were as early as 1965. The bridge position on a II is not the same as the bridge position on the early I. Starfire I's had thumb and finger rests. II's did not.

The Bi-sonic did not remain constant. I believe there are one and two magnet versions but I don't know the sound difference nor periods of use.

The bodies were either mahogany or maple.

I am quite content with a early (straight bridge) mahogany '67 SF I. mgod prefers maple and a II. mgod is a professional musician. I am not. You decide which opinion is more informed.

mellowgerman much prefers the early bridge position PU on a SF I over the neck position. He has owned one and I haven't.

Some discussion here might be of interest.

 

[mgod]

You have made Frono very happy.

 

[mellowgerman]

Frono's pretty much got it covered.
Only thing I will say is that the single-magnet bisonic came before the dual-magnet bisonic. Their tones vary slightly but it really needs to be heard. I would only worry about that if you had two identical basses, for the same prices, in which the only difference was the number of magnets... then I'd say A/B them and decide for yourself.
Also, IMO the Casady bass wouldn't give you any more of an idea for what a starfire feels like than a P-bass would. Reason being that the casady is long-scale, has different body dimensions, a very different bridge, and a huge neck (unlike the starfire's small, fast neck).
Good luck and be sure to post pictures when you get one

 

[lungimsam]

Thank you all so much for the detailed and tremendous info. Really helps to learn more about their differences and features.

I wonder why they changed bridge positions between the I's and II's. Maybe for more spread between the pickups on the II?

I have a Fender Bass VI with a "strangle" switch. It cuts the bass. Goes from atom-bomb to transistor radio sound in a flick of the wrist. I guess that is what that switch does on the starfires, too. Other than using it as an effect for a thin sound, I can't see myself ever cutting the bass. So I guess that switch is not necessary for me.

I like the looks of the II's. Do the neck position pups sound muddy, or have alot of presence? I know the Gibson neck pups are pure mud, which I don't like.

Thanks again for all your time and help.

 

[gilded]

Hi Michael,
Welcome to LTG! Say, you are referring to the SF basses as hollowbodied instruments.
It's important to know that they are semi-solid instruments, with a center-piece of wood running from one end of the body to the other.

These basses aren't hollow like a Hofner Bass and don't sound like a hollow either. They sound like an EB2 Gibson with 'real' tone.

The necks are thin but deep (to me). The first ones rattled out of the factory in '65, though there are basses that have '64 serial numbers. The original series lasted until around '77. A lot of people don't care for the original humbuckers.

As far as sitting down goes, well, it's a 16" thinline body, so it's not going to be any different than playing an EB2. The Epi Casady models have a similar body, but they have a 34" scale neck jammed onto said body; they don't feel the same.

 

[mgod]

Only thing I will say is that the single-magnet bisonic came before the dual-magnet bisonic.

That might not be true.

 

[lungimsam]

My guitar repairman knows a guy with a Guild Starfire bass. He says the best he can recall it is either natural finish or brown and has 2 pickups.
He is going to call him and ask him to bring it by the shop so I can check it out. That was very nice of him.

He said that he has seen it and that Starfires were built extremely well.

Anything I should look for once I have it in my hands?
If there is anything anyone would like to know about it let me know and I will find out for you.

If it is nice I hope he is in the mood to sell and for a price i can afford. I'll let you know how it turns out when I see it.