arneyz Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Does anyone know how the Starfire IV differs from say, a Gibson ES 335? Note: This is not a which one to buy thread. I'm just curious. Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 One's a Guild (DeArmond/Fender), the other's a Gibson!!!! Sorry - couldn't resist. As far as Starfires are concerned, pre - say 1986, in other words, when Guild was still pretty much Guild/Gibson (although someone will correct me on the dates) - are probably better - the recent ones are 'Far Eastern'. Some earlier ones may have non- or mini-humbuckers 335s are 335s. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneyz Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 By "far Eastern" do you mean made in Asia? Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Yes. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneyz Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Are they hollow or semi-hollow bodied? Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/DeArmond/Starfire/10/1 G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 What a riot! I just read through all of those pinheads reviewing the Guild on HC LOL!! They start out saying they decided not to spend the money on a 335, and everything is down hill from there,one guy wanted a shoot out against a 335 saying the Guild sounded better, he must be completely insane! Where do these guys come from? That Guild is TRASH compared to a Gibson 335, don't ever kid your self there is NO comparison at all! Buy what ever you want , for whatever reason you have, but don't even begin to think that Guild is even near the same class as a Gibson 335. http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardtail Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 More Gibson bashing, eh? Idiots! I got quite a few compliments on the tone of my overpriced, overhyped Gibson and Fender equipment last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneyz Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Like I said in the original post, I'm not planning on buying either. I was just wondering what the differences are. Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneyz Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 More Gibson bashing, eh? Idiots! I got quite a few compliments on the tone of my overpriced, overhyped Gibson and Fender equipment last night. I don't think there is any Gibson bashing going on here. Definitely some Guild bashing though. Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Older Guilds have long been regarded as excellent instruments at a lower price than Gibson. Buddy Guy played a Starfire for years. Price has always placed them lower on the radar than Gibson, and the vintage pieces are a fraction of their Gibson counterparts, but their old jazz boxes are nothing short of superb. Old Epiphones are often overlooked as well(remember the Lawrence Welk show?) No, Starfires are not 335s, just as 335's are not Starfires, and Porsches are not Ferraris, but an old Guild is a great find! Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 But he is not talking about old Guilds. http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 More Gibson bashing, eh? Idiots! I got quite a few compliments on the tone of my overpriced, overhyped Gibson and Fender equipment last night. I don't think there is any Gibson bashing going on here. Definitely some Guild bashing though. But that's a good thing ....no?? http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Having read all the above, I must say that I *love* the 'Guild GoldTone' pickups from the 70s/80s. They are just a slightly different take on the humbucker theme. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Okay, so I am the guy who had the studio with over 30 vintage guitars and countless amps to get all the flavors that I could get for my clinets. I think I know of which I speak. The Guild electrics have a lot of cool factor, abd would be usable in a number of situations, but they are bsically not such great shakes, and thus their extinction. It is not Guild-bashing to say that they do not stack up against the Gibsons... neither do the Regals, which were another 60s guitar that has dissappeared. On the other hand, I'm likely to pick a Guild acoustic over most any Gibson and certainly over ANY Fender aocustic..... the stock in trade of Guild was the acoustic guitar. Pre-1960s Epiphones are neat, but the most desirable Epis in the rock would were made after Gibson bought Epiphone, and these guitars were made with Gibson parts in the Gibson factory, were knockoffs of Gibson models with Epi headstocks, and have no real other substantive difference from the similarly appointed Gibson. Pacific rim Epis from the 70s have cool factor, too, but are pretty much junk. The Martin purple hollow bodied electric from the 60s again has cool factor, but it is pretty much junk. I'd like one... hell, I'd like one of just about any of these axes. But none would ever be my primary guitar. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I note that Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957 for $20,000.00 ........Geez, *I* could raise that for Epiphone now - think they'd sell? G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I note that Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957 for $20,000.00 ........ G. But the funny part is that Gibson bought Epi because Gibson needed a good bass guitar line and Epi had one. They thought that they had just bought the bass division and did not realise that they got the whole company. Until the trucks arrived. http://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone/archive/epihistory/history.html Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I think the Starfire is a little thicker than the 335. I haven't played one in ages. Most of the Christmas music I have recorded used an original '60's era Starfire that I borrowed from a friend. He ended up selling it a few years later. Anyway, the original Guilds (and Epiphones) are different beasts from what has become since the names became branding exercises for their corporate owners. That shouldn't be considered a shot a Gibson, but the "branding" of assembly line guitars from cheap labor markets is just an example of what's been going on with manufacturing businesses for decades now. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danzilla Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I have an old Guild Starfire Ihttp://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/Awestruckdan/Gear/2007_0109Image0084.jpgand a Gibson ES 335http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/Awestruckdan/Gear/2007_0109Image0096.jpg I certainly wouldn't say the Guild is inferior, except possibly in the bridge/saddles department. The floating bridge is ok, but the individual saddles are harsh on the right hand/forearm at times. Tonewise, I get a lot out of the single pickup on the Guild; but it's just different from the Gibson. Craftsmanship on both is wonderful. This Guild is a true hollowbody; I'm taking it that the Starfire IV is a semi-hollowbody, like the ES 335. And Ellwood, you said "He isn't talking about old Guilds". Arneyz never specified which era of Guild; just the model in general. "Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) NEW band Old band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Right Dan! I had a old Guild X-500 that I should never have sold, a great guitar, that is a whole different story. I think he was talking about new Guilds? http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paully Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 So glad this thread popped up. I used to own Starfires and a 335 many years ago, and don't know exactly which model Guild my first one was. Think it was a Starfire II. Maybe someone can ID it: http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/goosefat/Pic1.jpg http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/goosefat/Pic2.jpg http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/goosefat/Pic3.jpg http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/goosefat/Pic4.jpg It's from the early 60s. No pics of the 335, but I remember it being a feedback machine, so I didn't keep it long. Both Starfire and 335 had a rather jangly, trebly sound as I recall. Nice for cutting thru a loud band. Both were, however, made by the associated company in the USA. Any clues on the Guild would be appreciated. Best, Paul WUDAYAKNOW.. For the first time in my life, I'm wrong again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Yep it's a StarFire II, this is a 1973 http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b48/ellwood1/SIMG1112.jpg http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paully Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Yep it's a StarFire II >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks, Ellwood. That question's been rattling around in the old cranium for a while now! I'd love to find out what PUs were in that thing. Think I bought it around 1961. BTW, belated congrats on the new title . Job well done. Best, Paul WUDAYAKNOW.. For the first time in my life, I'm wrong again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 The ones you had where DeArmond 2K Single Coil Pickups, mine where the DeArmond Goldtones, and thanks Paul, glad it's over LOL!! http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arneyz Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 This Guild is a true hollowbody; I'm taking it that the Starfire IV is a semi-hollowbody, like the ES 335. And Ellwood, you said "He isn't talking about old Guilds". Arneyz never specified which era of Guild; just the model in general. I was actually referring to the older ones that still had the Guild name on the headstock. Not the DeArmond ones. Hooray for the Moon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 This Guild is a true hollowbody; I'm taking it that the Starfire IV is a semi-hollowbody, like the ES 335. And Ellwood, you said "He isn't talking about old Guilds". Arneyz never specified which era of Guild; just the model in general. I was actually referring to the older ones that still had the Guild name on the headstock. Not the DeArmond ones. The older Guilds used DeArmond pu's .....those ARE the good ones. DeArmond guitars where not even made untill 1998 http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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