String length on new Starfire II bass

[Bruce Pete]

Hi guys
My new Starfire II bass will arrive the day after tomorrow. I currently have a new set of Pyramid Gold flat wound strings, #649B .045/.105. These are the medium scale strings.
Any thoughts on how these will fit on a new Starfire II? This set was bought for a Starfire I that I had purchased and returned (another story).

I'm sure I'll play the strings that comes on it for a few days but, I was thinking of trying these if they fit properly.

Thanks

 

[twocorgis]

Medium scale is what you want!

 

[Minnesota Flats]

^this^

 

[Bruce Pete]

Boy, I lucked out!

Thanks guys !!

 

[lungimsam]

It’s tricky due to terminology.

For instance:
Pyramid 40-100 640 short scales fit my 2017 Starfire II.

Since you already have your set. Just unwind one from the pack and lay it on the bass and you will see if it really will fit.

“Short” and “medium” are words makers use. Doesn’t tell you the inches from ball end to silk which is what you need to know. Another example is the Thomastic JF324 flatwound strings are called “short” scale length strings but they fit the Starfire which measures physically like a medium scale bass and usually will only take medium scale strings.

 

[Bruce Pete]

NBD, just sitting on the curb waiting for Fed Ex!

So excited !!

 

[GGJaguar]

sitting on the curb waiting for Fed Ex!

 

[lungimsam]

Aaaaasnd it’s that time of the year you can open it right away and no need to climate acclimate for 24 hours!!!!

 

[Bruce Pete]

In Scottsdale it will be 93 today, the house is at 76.

I probably let it acclimate for a couple hours.

 

[Bruce Pete]

Hi Guys
Can I assume using the 3 way toggle switch that the middle position will be for both pickups? Top being the neck pickup, middle being both pickups and bottom the bridge pickup.
I can't seem to get the bridge pickup to work other than in the middle position with the neck pickup.

The pickups are also not aligned properly. I didn't really notice it in the photos but in real life I feel it is very noticeable .

The neck is an astonishingly beautiful piece of work along with the fit and finish of everything else. I've already ordered another one and this one is going back. It's a real shame as I could deal with a simple repair of the toggle but the pickup alignment would always drive me crazy.

Another week to get the new one but, all is good! Back to playing the Gibson's or the G&L for now.

One of my go to's

 

[lungimsam]

Don’t ship it back just yet!!! See #4 and #5 below first.

1. Correct about toggle up is the neck toggle down as a bridge and the middle is both pick ups.
2. You are the third or 4th person I’ve heard with toggle switch not working very well. In fact sometimes mine doesn’t engage in a neck pick up position. I just haven’t made the time to pull it out and see what’s going on, but once I get in the position, I just leave it there because I only use the neck position up in Starfire anyway 99.9% of the time.
3. Does your Starfire have Bisonics? That’s weird that they pick ups are out of alignment. can you elaborate more on what it look like?. Or post a pic?
4. On Starfires the strings don’t always align perfect over the pole pieces but it is considered normal. Here are mine. Are yours better or worse?
5. Also, it is normal to have to bodily slide all 4 wooden bridge saddles to the left to align the strings with pole pieces and neck dot inlays.

 

[chazmo]

Hi Guys
Can I assume using the 3 way toggle switch that the middle position will be for both pickups? Top being the neck pickup, middle being both pickups and bottom the bridge pickup.
I can't seem to get the bridge pickup to work other than in the middle position with the neck pickup.

The pickups are also not aligned properly. I didn't really notice it in the photos but in real life I feel it is very noticeable .

The neck is an astonishingly beautiful piece of work along with the fit and finish of everything else. I've already ordered another one and this one is going back. It's a real shame as I could deal with a simple repair of the toggle but the pickup alignment would always drive me crazy.

Another week to get the new one but, all is good! Back to playing the Gibson's or the G&L for now.

One of my go to's

Definitely post a NBD in the bass section when you get your new one!

Also, are you saying that something is wrong with it (pickup alignment)? I got a little confused by your post.

 

[Bruce Pete]

Good morning
Hoping you guys don't think I'm some kind of nut but, admittedly I am rather OCD.
This is a beautiful instrument but, I cannot live with the offset (and a bit crooked) of the pickups. It is REALLY noticeable when sitting on a guitar stand IMHO. I do realize that the pickups could have a slight offset but you tell me ........

Look at how the bottom lines up. I could live with that but, looking at the top they appear to be crooked. Am I nuts?

Not sure how this could happen using CNC equipment ...............

Edit: I just talked to Sweetwater Tech Support and the guy said he saw what I was complaining about. He also agreed with me and sent a return order to me.
Can't wait for the new one to arrive!

 

[fronobulax]

Good morning
Hoping you guys don't think I'm some kind of nut but, admittedly I am rather OCD.
This is a beautiful instrument but, I cannot live with the offset (and a bit crooked) of the pickups. It is REALLY noticeable when sitting on a guitar stand IMHO. I do realize that the pickups could have a slight offset but you tell me ........

Look at how the bottom lines up. I could live with that but, looking at the top they appear to be crooked. Am I nuts?

Not sure how this could happen using CNC equipment ...............

Just looking at the picture and understanding it could be camera angle but it sure looks like the treble ends of the pickup mounts are not parallel. Whether that is a manufacturing defect or exactly what is supposed to happen in a curved top is unknown to me. All of my two pickup basses are flat topped solid bodies. That does suggest a line of questioning that could be explored with someone who has a Starfire II .

If I pretend the PU is in the right place the optical displacement of the strings compared to the bridge pole pieces is usually corrected by sliding the bridge saddles on the bridge. My recollection, tempered with some experience, is that it is just not possible to have the strings centered over the pole pieces of both pickups without seriously modifying the saddles - change the width, move the slot from the center or both. Also note that radical changes to the saddle will change how easily you can intonate individual strings. So the best you are going to get is some kind of spread where the neck PU is pretty good and the E string is off center to the left and the G string is off center to the right at the bridge.

The pic below bothers me because the camera angle suggests an opportunity for adjustment that holding and playing does not, but it is an example of what could be expected or accepted. Note also the bend where the E string crosses the saddle. But there are some visual problems that can only be fixed by a different style of bridge.




Looks do matter and "perfection" is expected from new items but no one has ever reported a difference in sound, tone, or playing feel whether the strings are centered over the pole pieces or not. So can you be happy closing your eyes when you play or is this just the wrong bridge for you? You will have to decide that even if the PU installation is flawed because that fix might not be enough.

It should be noted that this style of bridge has been around for several decades and there are people who cannot make it work for them. Their response had been to abandon the bass or replace the bridge.

 

[chazmo]

Good luck, Bruce!

 

[lungimsam]

Post a pic of the bass head on so we can see the bridge too. Just might need to slide over the saddles
We need to see a pic that is facing the bass and includes the bridge, pups, and first first inlay on the neck.

 

[Bruce Pete]

For me is was the bridge pickup was installed a bit crooked. In MY eye it looked horrible just sitting in a stand. With that said, most people probably would not even notice it, but it was very apparent to me.
Moving the strings a bit on the saddles is not an issue, I understand that.
The new one is shipping today and I examined it very closely on the magnification screen for quite a long time.
I am 100% confident the new one will be the Guild I've been looking for ..... until the next one, lol

It's all boxed back up and ready to go ............