The definitive Starfire

[fronobulax]

I have arbitrarily decided that the definitive Starfire bass is a Starfire I with serial number between approximately BA-500 and BA-1450. That makes it a late 1966 or early 1967 model. It has the straight bridge, a Hagstrom in the neck position, wooden saddles and no tone switch. No one needs two pickups. Earlier models had different PUs, plastic saddles or a different Pu location. Later models had the suck switch or Guild humbuckers.

The quintessential SF I would have the cherry finish but a case could be made that a different finish would be more desirable.

Discuss. Does it get any better than a red 1967 Starfire I? :wink:

 

[idealassets]

How about I would like any Starfire bass, period? I have only seen a few beat up for sale recently. This may be a game of patiemce.

Craig

 

[fronobulax]

How about I would like any Starfire bass, period? I have only seen a few beat up for sale recently. This may be a game of patiemce.

Craig

They're out there. The limiting factor is your budget :wink:

 

[jte]

Nah, it's gotta be a II. But that could be because it's been so long since I played single PUP SF bass I don't recall much other than it didn't work for me then. Too muddy compared to my Precision. But I loved the warm woody sound a particular one had that slipped through our store...

John

 

[twocorgis]

I have arbitrarily decided that the definitive Starfire bass is a Starfire I with serial number between approximately BA-500 and BA-1450. That makes it a late 1966 or early 1967 model. It has the straight bridge, a Hagstrom in the neck position, wooden saddles and no tone switch. No one needs two pickups. Earlier models had different PUs, plastic saddles or a different Pu location. Later models had the suck switch or Guild humbuckers.

The quintessential SF I would have the cherry finish but a case could be made that a different finish would be more desirable.

Discuss. Does it get any better than a red 1967 Starfire I? :wink:

You certainly won't get any argument from me Frono! :lol:

BA-913

Also, thanks to our own bassmyf, I now have a proper tone control! 8)

 

[mgod]

I have arbitrarily decided that the definitive Starfire bass is a Starfire I with serial number between approximately BA-500 and BA-1450. That makes it a late 1966 or early 1967 model. It has the straight bridge, a Hagstrom in the neck position, wooden saddles and no tone switch. No one needs two pickups. Earlier models had different PUs, plastic saddles or a different Pu location. Later models had the suck switch or Guild humbuckers.

The quintessential SF I would have the cherry finish but a case could be made that a different finish would be more desirable.

Discuss. Does it get any better than a red 1967 Starfire I? :wink:

Absolutely - maple, and a II. I have dumped several red Is, 65-70.

Show me better recordings of Starfires than those done with 2 pickups.

 

[fronobulax]

Starfire II it is, then :wink:

 

[mgod]

Well that was easy!

I wish I could provide a link to my personal favorite SF-II recording I've done but I'm not all that sure it was even really released. But if you can find it - "Carry It All" from Annie Stela.

 

[fronobulax]

Well that was easy!

I wish I could provide a link to my personal favorite SF-II recording I've done but I'm not all that sure it was even really released. But if you can find it - "Carry It All" from Annie Stela.

Annie's site here has a link to a sample of "Carry It All". Just keep scrolling down.

Now if I just had sensitive enough ears to differentiate between mahogany and maple...

Thanks.

 

[chazmo]

Looks like Sandy and Frono are definitely on the same page....

Gee, Sandy, that's a great lookin' example of the breed!

 

[mgod]

Now if I just had sensitive enough ears to differentiate between mahogany and maple...

I think if you pay attention to Jack and Phil, Jack's tone from Baxter's on is darker, compared to Live Dead. Phil's has more mid-bite. Phil's bass is less modded than Jack's, but what I hear is still consistent from having owned maybe a dozen Starfires.

 

[twocorgis]

Looks like Sandy and Frono are definitely on the same page....

Gee, Sandy, that's a great lookin' example of the breed!

Thanks Chaz. I just LOVE that bass. 8)

 

[chazmo]

Honestly, I love everything aesthetically about it except the Hagstrom pickup... I'm just thinking how gorgeous that'd be without the chunk of metal there (some sort of lipstick pickup, perhaps)... I guess I'll always be a wood lover.

 

[mellowgerman]

I would say the SFB-II takes the cake. Between maple and mahogany... couldn't say really as I haven't had enough experience with maple haggy'd SFB-II's.
I will say if it was between SFB-I's though, I would prefer the earlier mid/bridge pickup position model. I've owned one of these and played two of the later neck position models. In my opinion and in terms of tone, my SFB-I was the bee's knees. I know some will make the claim that this pickup placement would skimp you on low end... but my documentation at the following link begs to differ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0tF10YO91M

 

[fronobulax]

Honestly, I love everything aesthetically about it except the Hagstrom pickup... I'm just thinking how gorgeous that'd be without the chunk of metal there (some sort of lipstick pickup, perhaps)... I guess I'll always be a wood lover.

 

[mavuser]

here is a 67. I asked Cat where she got it. she said "online"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XLhrBqP2KY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUW5ulGquYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAegHdK6z5w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu7ED3alQuQ

 

[idealassets]

They're out there. The limiting factor is your budget

My budget decided against the $4500 blond maple SF I on ebay last week.

Question for you all: I see many current day musicians playing Starfire basses. Aren't these nearly antiques now, and is it really worth it to gig with these? How long will they last, and what type of maintenance should you expect to put into it?

Was the wood laminated?

I would think you would want to play a normal bass mostly, and then use the Starfire sparingly i order to preserve it. Am I thiking too much "in the box" or something?

-Still looking for one,
Craig

 

[jte]

I'm strongly of the opinion that instruments are to be played, not lovingly preserved and protected. If a Starfire bass was the appropriate sound for the music I was playing, it'd HAVE to be the instrument of choice.

Besides, electric basses are generally a lot more rugged than people give them credit for. Sure, you might have some scratches and marks, but they're ultimately tools to be used, not one-of-a-kind works of art. It's not like I'd be taking the original painting of the Van Gogh's "Starry Night" to gigs. A Starfire is a laminated wood instrument, and with reasonable care (temperature, humidity, attentive handling) it's not particularly less rugged than a Fender Precision. Besides, they're worth a lot less on the market (and so more replaceable) than something like Duck Dunn's 1957 Precision, or Joe Osborn's 1960 Jazz bass.

John

 

[idealassets]

On another note, it appears to me that a few SF basses available have been of the SF I variety with large pickup on the guitar body.

Other than that nice wood finish showing more of it, how much more desireable is the pickup near the neck? Like in the sound realm for instance.

I'll wager one thing. If I can get any decent condition Starfire bass period, it ought to be a good aquisition?

Craig

 

[fronobulax]

On another note, it appears to me that a few SF basses available have been of the SF I variety with large pickup on the guitar body.

That isn't making sense to me. Are you talking about one of these?

If so, the "large pickup" is the Hagstrom Bi-sonic which is pretty much what gives the Starfire bass its distinctive tone. For later reference it is a '67 SF I.

Other than that nice wood finish showing more of it, how much more desireable is the pickup near the neck? Like in the sound realm for instance.

Still a little confused. Here's a '66 SF I.

There is an extensive thread that I could not find quickly that concluded that the PU position of the '66 is not the same as the bridge PU position of a '67 or later Starfire II. mellowgerman has believes that the '66 PU position gives a different/nicer sound than an otherwise comparable '67. I believe him but I cannot imagine that it is enough of a difference to not buy whichever one became available first at my price point.

I'll wager one thing. If I can get any decent condition Starfire bass period, it ought to be a good aquisition?

Craig

I'd say so but I'm prejudiced.

As for your question on gigging, a lot depends upon the risk to the instrument as well as your budget. If you routinely give the valet the keys to your $50,000 ride then you would probably just pay $5,000 to have one or two Starfire basses as backups. If, on the other hand, you are that valet driver making minimum wage in your day job then you are unlikely to be able to replace the Starfire easily and it is a trade off about how much you have to have that sound and look vs. the risk to your mental health and career if it gets trashed. A factor here is that there really isn't, as far as I know, a cheap readily available alternative. The bottom line (rimshot) answer comes down to asking why you have a Starfire and whether anything else would even work for you.