New Guitar. A Decision Must Be Made.

I'm treating myself to a new guitar & I've had some top advice on here. So thanks to all for that. But I've narrowed my hunt down to a final 2.

1 is the Guild Starfire IV Emerald Green. I can pick this up new for £1100 (so $1370)

Or

2. The Eastman T386 classic. £1060 ($1300).

Both come with a hardcase & a professional setup.

I can't pick between the 2.

It's not for gigging. Just home fun & maybe some recording.

Could do with a nudge.

Weren’t the Starfires discontinued? I thought they were available for like $800. Am I confusing that with something else?

I can still pick up a new one here. Scotland. Maybe old stock? Dunno.

I think it comes from Holland? A stockist there?

Gal said:

I think it comes from Holland? A stockist there?

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European warehouse and European logistics center of Cordoba Music Group in the Netherlands.

GAD said:

Weren’t the Starfires discontinued? I thought they were available for like $800. Am I confusing that with something else?

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They are not marked as discontinued on the Guild webpage.

Even on the Sweetwater page still $1,399. (produced in 2023)

Ralf

I have an Eastman. The fit and finish are wonderful.

Eastman has a very good rep, @Gal, but this is a Guild board after all.

In all seriousness, you'd probably be fine with either one. Personally, if I were in the market, the green SF4 would be my choice, but that's because I dig the green (and Guilds)

Good luck with your choices.

By the way, @Gal , here is a nice Eastman for sale by one of our members.

Does anyone actually have a Starfire IV?

Gal said:

Does anyone actually have a Starfire IV?

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I have 13 Starfires, but no Newark St. Except for the SFI SC.

GAD said:

I have 13 Starfires, but no Newark St. Except for the SFI SC.

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What do you think of that one?

Gal said:

What do you think of that one?

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Gal said:

Does anyone actually have a Starfire IV?

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I have a Newark Street Starfire IV, but it's the version with the harp tailpiece, not the stop tail like the one your are looking at. I like it a lot! The neck profile is very comfortable - not too big, not too small - and the sound is bright and chimey, but with some extra midrange. It's a versatile guitar for many different types of music.

GAD said:

GAD said:

Guild Newark St. Starfire I SC Review | GAD's Ramblings

Here we have a 2020 Guild Starfire I SC (single cut) in Seafoam Green that I absolutely had to have based on the color alone. There is a fair bit of stir in the online guitar forums about these Starfire I guitars, most of which revolves around the question, how is Guild making these for …

www.gad.net

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It's read elsewhere the wiring/electrics are poor on the I. Hence I'm looking at the IV. Thanks for this info.

GGJaguar said:

I have a Newark Street Starfire IV, but it's the version with the harp tailpiece, not the stop tail like the one your are looking at. I like it a lot! The neck profile is very comfortable - not too big, not too small - and the sound is bright and chimey, but with some extra midrange. It's a versatile guitar for many different types of music.

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Thanks man. I don't suppose you know, barring the tailpiece, if there's any other difference in build quality to the IV I'm looking at?

Gal said:

I don't suppose you know, barring the tailpiece, if there's any other difference in build quality to the IV I'm looking at?

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Assuming the green one you're looking at was made in Korea, there would be no difference in build quality. The difference would be if you are looking at one that was made in Indonesia.

GGJaguar said:

Assuming the green one you're looking at was made in Korea, there would be no difference in build quality. The difference would be if you are looking at one that was made in Indonesia.

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I've lost track of which comparison within the Starfire line you're making, @Gal, but all Starfire 1s were made in Indonesia. I think all the 3, 4, and 5s are Korean built.

I'm not sure if I have that right, but a quick look at the back of the headstocks of the Guilds you're comparing will tell you what you need to know regarding "quality."

I'm smashing my head over this decision.

My soul, my heart, wants that sf IV green. Looks bonnie. Also, I like Guild. Guild is cool. Everyone has their brand favourites. Mine are Guild, Epiphone, Gretsch & Martin in that order. There are personal reasons for that, from who played those brands to cultural/personal reasons.

BUT! My head says the Eastman T386 classic. It too is bonnie. My friend who's a gigging musician said get the Eastman Hands down. My boy who's at Uni studying music said he likes the Eastman (But to be fair he couldn't pick between the 2 & he also loves Guild).

However, until I started this new guitar search I'd never heard of Eastman. It's not particularly cool. None of the beatles ever played an Eastman. It's a CCP brand. But quality is supposed to be solid & that classic looks very bonnie.

I'm sure most of us have been in this position. When you can't make your mind up between 2 guitars.

I've told the dealer I'll have made my mind up by Tuesday (as he has to order both in from mainland Europe).

I'm not in the position where I can physically compare both. They're both pretty. They both come with a hardcase.

Errgh.

I could just get a SF 1 & a Casino? Ha.

I may just flip a coin.

All of my Guilds are vintage so I can’t give you any direct comments on the new Starfire. However, one of the reasons I like Guild is that they are different than other guitars rather than just being a copy of a Gibson or Fender. They have their own sound and feel. To me the Eastman is more of a copy of a Gibson ES335 with the pickups, tuner buttons, pickguard shape, switch location, etc. I have only heard good things about Eastman and I have played one (a different model than the one you are looking at) and it was really nice. It really depends on whether you are looking more for an ES335 copy or something inspired by the ES series but with its own vibe. I don’t think you could go wrong with either.

You should be excited by a new guitar. It should be something that makes you want to play it.
Ignore what others tell you and go with your heart. Your mind may say that (*insert ultra healthy food here*) is good for you, but if you don't like it, you're never going to keep eating it.

BradHK said:

All of my Guilds are vintage so I can’t give you any direct comments on the new Starfire. However, one of the reasons I like Guild is that they are different than other guitars rather than just being a copy of a Gibson or Fender. They have their own sound and feel. To me the Eastman is more of a copy of a Gibson ES335 with the pickups, tuner buttons, pickguard shape, switch location, etc. I have only heard good things about Eastman and I have played one (a different model than the one you are looking at) and it was really nice. It really depends on whether you are looking more for an ES335 copy or something inspired by the ES series but with its own vibe. I don’t think you could go wrong with either.

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Yeah. My soul wants the guild. But as said, my head is whispering away.

The Guild design looks prettier to me (although the Eastman wood finish wins out).

My boy has just text me saying he would pick the Eastman (I think it's the wood finish).

But I love the Guild's bigger body. I prefer the Guild's sound.

And I'd rather get a S.Korean made guitar than a Chinese one (for obvious reasons).

I'm not gigging with it. Although my boy may?

I dunno.

I'm letting the dealer know my decision on Tuesday.

I genuinely may just flip a coin.