| Author | Message | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 108 Registered: 6-2010 |
*GASP*!!!! Is that a REAL Bi-Sonic!?!?!? And it's mahogany w/a three-piece neck? Can someone w/inside info check this out? Oddmetersam, can you swing by the Guild booth for a second? I'll take 2! http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/details/?partno=3792400866#simpleContained4 | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2762 Registered: 5-2009 |
This is awesome ! I looked for a 2 pickup model but did not find one. I may pickup one of these my self. (Message edited by sonicus on January 24, 2013) | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 109 Registered: 6-2010 |
Adding a 2nd pickup is doable. As long as it's well built, it's probably cheaper to add extra stuff later. 2 pups would cost a bunch, and if that's not a "real" Bi-Sonic it's gonna need one anyway. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2763 Registered: 5-2009 |
I will inquire with Guild and asked a few questions ! Cheaper is not usually the best option as far as quality goes. LOL ____ | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 110 Registered: 6-2010 |
I agree with the "cheaper isn't better" statement, my comment was poorly worded. I meant it's probably cheaper to have Guild make a decent quality bare-bones bass and then make it super-deluxe once it's on my bench. Then the cost of the parts is the only issue; not parts, labor and expenses for a business. Maybe I have it wrong, I didn't actually do any math to back this up. This is the way it seemed to work when I built my guitar and with the bass I'm working on now. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2764 Registered: 5-2009 |
I understand what you mean. My reasoning is that a few extra potentiometers and switches plus another Bi-Sonic pickup might not add up to that much . One of my questions is , where is this instrument manufactured ? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2765 Registered: 5-2009 |
These have been offered on ebay recently , NO Bi-Sonic pickups! http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-GUILD-STARFIRE-SF-1-BASS-LIMITED-EDITION-2-OF-11-CHERRY-/221180920778?pt=Guitar&hash=item337f6903ca http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guild-GSR-Starfire-II-Bass-Cherry-Special-Run-/261149232230?pt=Guitar&hash=item3ccdb50c66 | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Senior Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 495 Registered: 7-2009 |
I have joined the Starfire club! I now have Dadabass's 73' stereo 2 p-up bass. Are they selling reissue bi-sonic's? If so, Can someone down there get 2 for me? Thanks, Nick | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1711 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nick, Did you get her already? All the best, Mike | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 917 Registered: 4-2004 |
I can only assume these are foreign, as the made in New Hartford ones run on average 5x more. Kind of like their bluegrass series of acoustics. Looks nicer than a Dearmond, but I'd hold out for a Westerly Starfire even if these reissues drive their price up a bit. | ||
| moonliner
Member Username: moonliner Post Number: 94 Registered: 12-2004 |
Wow.... I eagerly await reviews once someone gets their hands on one. | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 111 Registered: 6-2010 |
Wolf, the ebay basses seem to be a different model. the Let's Talk Guild forum indicates that the non-Bi-Sonic models were a limited run of some kind, made in the US. Best guess on these (1 Bi-Sonic) is Korea, maybe China but hopefully not... Has Fred H. got a better deal with Guild? IIRC the Lakland pair-up didn't go so well. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1387 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think Mike's right; the price puts these among the Chinese Guilds. On the other hand I played two of them a few weeks ago - M-120 & D-125 (Chinese-made, all-mahogany, concert & dreadnaught respectively) - and was pleasantly surprised. While they're not what you could call spectacular instruments, there's not a thing wrong with them; very nice for the price. I would expect the same from the Starfire. I do wonder who's making the p/ups, though (Hagstrom's Chinese-made now, as well). Peter | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1205 Registered: 1-2005 |
Peter - that's the first time I've heard the Hagstrom name brought up in discussions of these new Guilds - most of the time people mention Fred Hammon/Dark Stars. Still not a sure bet that the Guilds will be made in China though... | ||
| jzstephan
Intermediate Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 148 Registered: 1-2012 |
Anybody at NAMM see these? http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?katID=22043&cl=EN | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 851 Registered: 9-2008 |
Warwick has been making that bass for at least 3 or 4 years now, never played one but sure love the look. as far as the Guild, it'd be a lot cheaper to grab one of these reissues and have it Alembicized if they are decent instruments without the loss of the "vintage/collectible" value. could be something to look into for those interested ~Taylor | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2768 Registered: 5-2009 |
I think the Warwick model is long scale . I bet you would get awesome results if you were to have the Warwick "Alembicized". Have some custom "Activator Pickups " made ! That's it , nothing else. Just the pickups. Even perhaps BETTER then the Bi- Sonic pickups or DARKSTARS ? How about Activator replacements on a GUILD STARFIRE ? Better yet perhaps! Nick you might be able to get Activators for the Guild Starfire that you just purchased from MIke ! What do you think ? Wolf | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Senior Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 497 Registered: 7-2009 |
I just had that conversation w/ Nick Haas, Wolf. I also talked to Mica and Ron about this. My original solution was shot down by Ron. The idea was to make a box and put some stratoblasters in it and run that thru my amp chain. If the battery is not right on top the p-up = no good. Then we went to 'how about a stereo blaster cord. Doable, but it does not exist (yet)! Now, I'm thinking about finding some p-ups and making a new mounting plate as per your suggestion. Either way it will be running thru a SF-2. I am excited about trying to make this bass sound good. The fact that it is so light is very appealing. Nick | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2769 Registered: 5-2009 |
Nick , yes the pickup rings to mount the pickups. These can be tricky on a Guild Starfire because of the contour of the top surface of the Starfire. The wooden ones on my remaining Starfire were made for me by Doug Irwin when I installed the then experimental Hi-A (now called Bartolini) pickups back in the mid 1970's. I now wish I would have kept my Original Guild Bi Sonics around. I would really like to get hold of one to build a Berry Oakley "Tractor" Bass! Wolf (Message edited by sonicus on January 25, 2013) | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 112 Registered: 6-2010 |
Peter, interesting mention of Hagstrom. I was considering a Viking (Concord) bass for a while. Is there a possible connection between these two companies again? Maybe it would be good to wait an see if the pups are available separately, as they are rumored to be. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 918 Registered: 4-2004 |
Well the links that Wolf offered up surprised me, mainly because the non-bisonic US/New Hartford ones ARE NOT as pricey as the some of the other models (the "Patriarch" Line) built there... So maybe I jumped the gun by assuming these are foreign, but in comparing the GSR Starfires to the Newark St. Starfires, I don't see a $2k cost savings in materials alone. | ||
| sparechaynge
Intermediate Member Username: sparechaynge Post Number: 113 Registered: 6-2010 |
Pace, GSR are made in New Hartford. Let's Talk Guild & Talkbass have pretty much confirmed Newark St. is MIK. That's where $2K comes from, saving materials is what make the Newark St. series $1500 instead of $2000ish (probably). On the Hagstrom thing again, the new Guilds look a LOT like the new Hags... | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1407 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have a pickup ring or two lying around, if anyone is interested. |
