Starfire I 12-string

[GGJaguar]

Did we know about this one or is it new?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Just saw it on Guild's facebook page so maybe new?

 

[GGJaguar]

Cool! I'll have to check FB.

 

[rbrcbr]

Looks like they’re releasing it tomorrow, they just teased the announcement on Instagram.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

Miss the harp tailpiece.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, that is nice to see in the NS series.

 

[GGJaguar]

First one to hit the 'verb today.

Guild Starfire 1 12 String Electric Guitar in Gloss Cherry | Reverb

The Starfire 1-12 features a semi-hollow construction utilizing a mahogany center block for increased sustain and chime from the octave strings and reduced feedback. Retaining the airy crisp tone you would expect from a semi-hollow body. Made with a sturdy arched mahogany top, back and side...

reverb.com

 

[ReevesRd]

Introducing the Starfire I-12
Expanding our 12-string legacy into an all-new affordable price point with the Starfire I series.
Made with a sturdy arched mahogany top, back, and sides, the Starfire I-12 maintains classic Guild tone and response without sacrificing live playability.
Equipped with Guild HB-2 humbuckers, the Starfire I-12 offers a wide array of vintage and modern tones. Complete with a fully bound body, bound 12.5” radius rosewood fretboard, classic Guild knobs, three-step black pickguard, nickel Guild headstock logo, and full gloss Cherry Red finish.
U.S. Street Price: $649

Taken from Guild Guitars FB post

 

[fronobulax]

Lots of experienced players who post here have a problem with a 1 11/16" nut width, in general, and several more have said they can deal with it on a six but not a 12. Is the target audience likely to notice?

 

[Bill Ashton]

What is the width of the "standard" Rickenbacker? That is generally considered pretty thin...

 

[GGJaguar]

Lots of experienced players who post here have a problem with a 1 11/16" nut width,

Which is why I went with a Gretsch 5422-12 because it has a 1 3/4" nut width. Much easier to play (for me), though it is a fully hollow body thinline guitar (with small sound post) while the Guild is semi-hollow.

 

[merlin6666]

Just saw it on Guild's facebook page so maybe new?

Yes that's where I noticed it too. Price looks reasonable but for a 12 string that may not be enough. Looking forward to a review for sure.

 

[DrumBob]

I just requested a review guitar from my editor at VG. We'll see.

 

[hearth_man]

I'm on the Guild mailing list apparently and got an email today on this SFI-12. I'm curious, what is the difference between the SFIV-12 and this new SFI-12. They are both NS and look similar. But this latest SF is half the price.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

I'm on the Guild mailing list apparently and got an email today on this SFI-12. I'm curious, what is the difference between the SFIV-12 and this new SFI-12. They are both NS and look similar. But this latest SF is half the price.

This has HB-2 pickups, the SFIV-12 has HB-1's?

 

[chazmo]

I'm on the Guild mailing list apparently and got an email today on this SFI-12. I'm curious, what is the difference between the SFIV-12 and this new SFI-12. They are both NS and look similar. But this latest SF is half the price.

I don't know the technical differences, hearth_man, but I'll bet this new one is coming from Indonesia rather than Korea or China. I'm only guessing, though. My Surfliner was made in Indonesia, and I think Fender's involvement there has made it easier for lower-priced guitars to come from there. Having said that, the SF1-12 doesn't bear any similarity to Fender products (the Surfliner does), so I could be spouting garbage here.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm curious, what is the difference between the SFIV-12 and this new SFI-12.

Just compare the pictures and the specs...

Starfire I-12: Optical differences: No Chesterfield, simplier pickguard, black switch tip, Rosewood fretboard, longer tuner button shafts. Different position of neck volume knob vs. stoptail.


Starfire IV ST-12: Chesterfield, more vintage looking pickguard, orange switch tip, Ebony fretboard.


Detailed specs (not all specs visible yet on webpage):

This has HB-2 pickups, the SFIV-12 has HB-1's?

Starfire I-12: HB-2 with push/pull coild split

Starfire IV ST-12: LB-1B and LB-1N

I'll bet this new one is coming from Indonesia rather than Korea or China. My Surfliner was made in Indonesia.

Same same but different. The "SF-1" line with the ISG serial number prefix come from the P.T. Samick factory in Cileungsi near Jakarta in Indonesia whereas the Guild Surfliners come from the PT. Cort factory in Surabaya, Indonesia. You can read about this here.

Ralf

 

[fronobulax]

I'm on the Guild mailing list apparently and got an email today on this SFI-12. I'm curious, what is the difference between the SFIV-12 and this new SFI-12. They are both NS and look similar. But this latest SF is half the price.

Some of the Newark Street line have been tweaked and are now being made in Indonesia and offered at extremely competitive prices. The giveaway on this is that they refer to Starfire I in the model name which is the name for the cheaper Starfire that is now in the lineup. So when reading current Newark Street advertising using "Starfire I" in the model name means "made in Indonesia with specs to support a lower price point". At this point it looks like there is a Starfire I trifecta with a 6, bass and now 12 all bearing the moniker.

Drives me crazy since Starfire I is supposed to be a single pickup bass from the 1960's and even then Guild had a Starfire I guitar in the catalog

 

[chazmo]

Ah, right, Ralf. I guess the take-away here is that these significantly-cheaper guitars from Indonesia are making for some confusing comparisons among the Newark Street models, including especially the SF1 models vs. other SF models.

 

[lizardville]

Cant wait to see some videos and hear how it sounds.