How do these two guitars compare? (for the non-collector)

[tuna]

I joined this forum a long time ago when I almost bought a Starfire.... Well, I'm getting some Guild GAS. It started with a very nice T-100D on ebay, which I did not get. As I started doing more research, I'm reading that the Starfire III is based on this model. Further, both of these models originally had the old DeArmond pickups (used by Gretsch in the 1950s). In the mid 1960s, the Guild "Mickey Mouse" pickups replaced these in the T-100D. Anyway, I think I'll look for a model with the older DeArmond pickups, and it seems to come down to one of these: Starfire III ---- or ---- DeArmond Starfire Special

There's well over a grand in price difference between these two models, yet they both seem to have the same pickups. The DeArmond is actually a semi-hollow. Can anyone here tell me how these two guitars compare sound-wise, and overall as well? I don't think I want anything with a humbucker, so the Starfire IV and V are out. I have a feeling that the DeArmond pickups would be really cool. Thanks.

BTW, what's the nut width on the 1961 Starfire? I've read of three different widths on the 1960 T-100 & Starfire.

Oh, yeah, the Starfire III has a mahogany body, while the T-100 has spruce (?) -- how significant?


(edited to make sense; it originally deleted For Sale ads for the two different guitars; thought it might violate some forum reg.; there went the logical glue of the post)

 

[tuna]

Did some more research, and there seems to be a consensus that while the DeArmond Starfire Special is a good value for the money--and sounds good--the pickups are not the same as the classic DeArmond Dynasonic (2000?, 200?) pickups. You won't find Duane Eddy in that box. Everyone who commented on the weight of the guitar says it is a heavy guitar; "no go" for me.

So, it looks like I'll be looking for a real Guild Starfire. But, I think I'll have to wait around for a local sale so I can scope it out properly. I don't want to buy any more guitars based solely on reputation and/or faith. I'm not a collector; just a guy looking for a Guild. Thanks, anyway.

 

[AfterGlo]

Hey Tuna

I think that's an excellent idea. Buy something you can play first. We all have a particular sound in our head, and our complementary gear (amps, pedals) and playing style greatly influence the extent to which a "great" guitar (by reputation) will fit our specific needs. It's hard to hold back when you've got wicked GAS, but having the patience to wait until you know you want what you are pursuing is the kind of discipline this forum is built upon (okay, that's ridiculous and untrue). But seriously, it makes good sense.

 

[tuna]

It may be a long wait, though. I don't think I've seen more than a couple of Guilds for sale locally in the past couple of years. I searched YouTube music videos hoping to find something with the old Dynasonic pickups, but could only find the newer ones (by Guild, mid-60s) in the Starfire III and the humbuckers on the Starfire IV. If anyone here can link me to a video or sound clip of the old Dynasonics, I'd appreciate it.

 

[xilef regnu]

Brief solo on a Starfire with De Armonds at about 1:20 in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB3fncWyVN4&feature=related

I believe the same guitar(and guitarist) are featured on this track as well, but it's a bit harder to tell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq3bLe6I_L4

 

[GAD]

Dearmond Guilds don't hold a candle to real Guilds.

They're a good value for the money, but they're not the same thing.

 

[Walter Broes]

. If anyone here can link me to a video or sound clip of the old Dynasonics, I'd appreciate it.

This (click!!) is a link to a video of my band at a Rockabilly festival in Spain this last September. Guitar is a '61 Starfire III with Dearmonds. There's a couple more videos from that show on the tube.

As for the DeArmond Starfires - completely different guitar, doesn't compare apart from the fact that it looks similar, but that's pretty much where it ends.

 

[tuna]

xilef regnu & Walter Broes -- Thanks for the links! These are really cool guitars!

Walter - Man, what a band! I enjoyed your performances a lot. I especially enjoyed "Shake It."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IymVglgOA2w&feature=related

So, what Guild is that one on Shake It? Man, as much as I liked the Starfire III, I'm thinking that this one is where it's at .

Two or three weeks ago I was intrigued by a T-100D on ebay. There is another one up now, a 1963 - just search for Guild Slim Jim. It has the first "made by" Guild pickups--Mickey Mouse--but, I don't know.... I like the idea of having a Bigsby. I really think I'm just going to have to wait and try one locally. What I like about this style of guitar is the thin body. I just don't like wrapping my arm around a box. But I could live with the one in Shake It. (Well, it's pretty obvious now that I'm a complete Guild noob....)

 

[Walter Broes]

Thanks Tuna, that's my favorite guitar, a '62 X175 Manhattan.

 

[tuna]

Well, I finally bought a Guild, and it wasn't either one of these guitars.... it's funny how things can change on a dime. I was looking thru YouTube for more examples of various Guilds, and came across this: http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...7797l0l370610l3l3l0l1l0l0l546l733l0.1.5-1l2l0

He's playing a Guild for most of the seminar, which is presented across several YouTube clips. At some point, while holding the Guild, he says something like, '...sometimes a Gibson won't just do it when it comes to blues/jazz tone....' or something along that line.

I just couldn't spend the kind of cash it would take to get a nice Starfire III or an X175 Manhattan like Walter plays (I could not find one that old, anyway, with those same pickups), especially for a bedroom player like myself. I saw a mid-1960s T-100 for sale, and along with Ted Greene's seminar, decided that's the direction I'd go in; something entirely new, different.

The T-100 is a really cool guitar. I did not have anything like it at all. It is a wonderful guitar. The neck is perfect for my hand, and I was surprised (shocked, actually) how nicely I could fret with those vintage style frets. It's cool, also, in that it's almost as loud as a typical acoustic guitar, except the "Slim Jim" body of the Guild makes it so much more comfortable to play. Of course, it has a "Mickey Mouse" pickup, and what I found interesting, the wooden bridge; too cool. Plugged in, I did not get the typical jazz tone that Ted was getting. I have a mid-1960s Gibson Skylark combo with no tone controls, and I like plugging into that--sort of an unbiased presentation of a guitar's pickups. It's there, somewhere; I've just been mostly noodling unplugged most of the time since getting it, simply intriqued with it. There will be plenty of time to experiment with the tone as I delve deeper into blues/jazz.

 

[xilef regnu]

Congrats, man!

I think the budget guitars from Gibson, Guild, Fender, etc. can be more fun to play than the top-of-the-line models. They are lighter, simpler and yet still very well made.

I used to have this version Skylark.

Sounds like yours is an earlier version.

 

[tuna]

Hey, thanks! Yeah, my Skylark is a 1964 (GA-5T) - Three knobs (right to left): Power, Tremolo (off/on/frequency) and Loudness:

The plastic "Gibson" logo is missing from the front grill.

This is probably not the amp to use with the T-100.... That single/neck pickup is pretty bright -- it only takes a quarter turn or so to make a big difference.... still experimenting. But it sound so cool unplugged; just loving it.

I'm still looking at/for Starfire IIIs, although it's unlikely I'll be dropping $2.5k on a guitar via the internet. I just learned today that Ed Roman passed away not long ago. I may buy one of his creations... don't ask me why. :?