New semi hollow bass from Guild

[Grahambythesea]

This has appeared on the Thomman site, shortly available, but it’s not even on Guild’s own site yet. A Starfire 1 bass with single pickup and tailpiece rather than the more familiar Starfire 11 with a bridge tailpiece and big pickup/s. I don’t think guild ever made a 1 that looked like this but it has got a retro look and is not costing a fortune. £439 @ Thomman but with the new rules presumably they’ll be import charges.

I hope someone in the U.K. stocks them as I’d really like to try one once we’re allowed out again.

[stewblack]

Mmmmm nice 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I'm very impressed with the build quality of my flamed maple starfire II.

This budget version looks pretty good, but its lost much of what sets a starfire apart from other semis by doing away with the one piece bridge and not having a chunky bisonic pickup. Also it looks like it might have a flat top & back rather than arched.

[Cat Burrito]

I really wish the makers would put the binding around the F holes too. It looks amazing but that would really make this sing for me.

I'm already interested.

[Grahambythesea]

I agree @Cat Burrito but strangely Gibson and Guild didn’t do it back in the day.

[kristo]

I've just got one of these and I love it!

[Maude]

Come on, rules are rules. Pictures please 😉. 

 

Congrats BTW, lovely looking bass. 🙂👍

[neepheid]

On 04/02/2021 at 15:02, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I'm very impressed with the build quality of my flamed maple starfire II.

This budget version looks pretty good, but its lost much of what sets a starfire apart from other semis by doing away with the one piece bridge and not having a chunky bisonic pickup. Also it looks like it might have a flat top & back rather than arched.

 

It is arched back and front according to the specs.  Having said that, it doesn't appear to have a pickup according to the specs so read into that what you will

 

Some real life (side on) pics rather than the flat lit official pics would be good (hint hint, @kristo )

[neepheid]

Additional: I'm not that bothered about the loss of the one piece bridge.  The tailpiece is nice and distinctive and at least reminiscent of the shape of the old one piece bridge baseplate.  I quite like how it's spaced out.

 

The Epiphone Jack Casady has the one piece bridge we all know and love, so having a one piece bridge isn't solely a Guild thing.

[kristo]

19 hours ago, Maude said:

Come on, rules are rules. Pictures please 😉. 

 

Congrats BTW, lovely looking bass. 🙂👍

Sorry, my bad. 

[kristo]

7 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

It is arched back and front according to the specs.  Having said that, it doesn't appear to have a pickup according to the specs so read into that what you will

 

Some real life (side on) pics rather than the flat lit official pics would be good (hint hint, @kristo )

It does have an arched front and back. It’s also extremely light which is a plus for me.

 

I’m pretty smitten, being a fan of hollow basses and P pickups. I went for the Walnut which is darker than expected in the flesh. I might save for a cherry too as I’m that into them (and like a backup). 
 

Fitted with TI flats it does everything I need. 

[Maude]

Ooh that's rather sexy! 

 

It looks amazing. 😎👍

[Old Horse Murphy]

38 minutes ago, kristo said:

Sorry, my bad. 

That's really nice, congratulations. I'm not a fan of red/mahogany guitars and decided to take the plunge on a walnut one of these and judging from your photos I'm pleased I did. 
 

I managed to get it for under £450 new and it will hopefully arrive some time next week. I appreciate it's not to everyone's taste but I really like the P Bass pickup on the body shape. 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

4 hours ago, kristo said:

Sorry, my bad. 

That's really quite lovely! It looks a bit "parts bin special" in the official pictures but yours is gorgeous. 

[mr4stringz]

13 hours ago, kristo said:

Sorry, my bad. 

Jeez, that’s bloody lovely looking! Love the visual of a P pickup on it. Enjoy!

[Grahambythesea]

I know they didn’t make one back in the day, but it really looks like it’s straight out of the 60’s, super cool.

[uk_lefty]

Phwooooaaah! They do the cherry colour version in left handed!! I was tempted but the scale length put me off. I bought a Jack Casady instead and now can't get a case to fit it.... Fuming. Fancied one of these though, could have used for acoustic and electric gigs easily.

[Old Horse Murphy]

Mine arrived yesterday and after putting a set of flats on it, I must say I love it. It's got a very different vibe to my Fender JMJ and despite both being short scale they really are poles apart (in a good way). 
 

Out of interest, has anyone found a suitable case/gigbag for theirs yet?

[kristo]

I already had an Epiphone Rivoli hard case which fits it perfectly.

 

I also wanted a gig bag and can recommend these:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rockbag_starline_hollowbody_e_bass_bag.htm
 

[Old Horse Murphy]

4 minutes ago, kristo said:

I already had an Epiphone Rivoli hard case which fits it perfectly.

 

I also wanted a gig bag and can recommend these:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rockbag_starline_hollowbody_e_bass_bag.htm
 

Thanks. That looks ideal

[uk_lefty]

56 minutes ago, kristo said:

I already had an Epiphone Rivoli hard case which fits it perfectly.

 

I also wanted a gig bag and can recommend these:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/rockbag_starline_hollowbody_e_bass_bag.htm
 

Would that fit a full scale bass? Still searching in vain for a case for my Jack Casady!

[neepheid]

12 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

Would that fit a full scale bass? Still searching in vain for a case for my Jack Casady!

 

Yes, it does.

[uk_lefty]

20 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Yes, it does.

Winner!! £50 cheaper than the Epiphone bag... And it actually exists. One retailer says they will have the Epiphone ones for end of the calendar year, another says six months, one says Epiphone has closed their order books for the year so they just can't say when they can expect any in. They all want me to buy now though.... Hmmmm.

[SonnyBassPlayer]

This post just made me find out about this bass and I'm in love; I always had a thing for hollow bodies' but not enough to justfy owning one.. But I'm a P bass guy and this model triggers me over the top.
I'll be waiting for a black or wood-ish color since red-scale colors are really not my thing.

[neepheid]

I'm not at a point in my life where bass weight is a significant issue, but there have been times when the hollow body has come in handy - like the time I bruised my ribs and had back to back gigs on the same night - the light weight was very much appreciated

 

Mind you, it's been a while since I've owned a 12lb+ boat anchor with strings - am I still strong enough to endure it?