Starfire I SC electronics

[3DayPhunk]

Hello all...

I have a Guild Starfire I SC coming tomorrow. I'm a sucker for a florentine cutaway and thinline (semi or full) hollowbodies!

I've read the great review from GAD and understand it's a low end model. It won't be my main guitar, rather one I keep out all the time for practice and maybe when I don't want to bring my higher end guitars out to a jam, gig, etc.

I think if I like the guitar in general, I will want to replace all the electronics. Any recommendations on prewired harnesses that would fit? I'd be looking for Gibson style wiring (335, Les Paul, etc) and PAF style pickups (Seth Lovers perhaps) are my thing. Might a prewired 335 harness fit?

 

[GAD]

If I were to rewire (I'd give it a chance first) I'd do it all by hand, but then I'm nutty that way.

I'd imagine a Guild Starfire harness would fit:

Newark St. Collection Wiring Harness for Starfire III, IV, CE-100D | Guild Guitars

If you’re looking for a part to fit a guitar that was made prior to 2014, please click here.

shop.guildguitars.com

 

[GAD]

Also the problem you'll end up with is wire/bundle length. The ES335 has the toggle right next to the knobs so there's no long wire bundle to the top bout like you need on a Starfire.

 

[3DayPhunk]

Also the problem you'll end up with is wire/bundle length. The ES335 has the toggle right next to the knobs so there's no long wire bundle to the top bout like you need on a Starfire.

Excellent point, can't believe I didn't notice that! Perhaps an ES175 harness would do the trick though?

 

[Shakeylee]

i would imagine you would want to play it awhile,before changing anything,but,if you do want a harness,this might work easier than building one:

Kwikplug ES-175 Big Hollowbody 2 HUMBUCKER Harness- PRE-SOLD

 

[3DayPhunk]

Wow, after spending some time with this guitar, I really dig it!! The format (scale, thinline, almost hollow, humbuckers) is just perfect for my thing.

Somebody already got the fret ends pretty smooth. Out of the box I just had to lower the string height and it feels great. I will be keeping it and eventually upgrade the electronics and maybe the nut too.

Seems like an ES175 type harness will fit the bill if I don't make my own.

A steal of a guitar!

 

[3DayPhunk]

@GAD Since you have pulled the electronics out of one of these already, do you recall if they were short or long shaft pots? I'm ordering up a harness and want to order the right ones. I'm not going to do push/pull though.

 

[GAD]

@GAD Since you have pulled the electronics out of one of these already, do you recall if they were short or long shaft pots? I'm ordering up a harness and want to order the right ones. I'm not going to do push/pull though.

From:

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

 

[chazmo]

Hey, GAD, isn't the Starfire I made in Indonesia? I see "made in Korea" on one of those pots... Are all the electronics in there MIK? Just curious...

 

[GGJaguar]

Hey, GAD, isn't the Starfire I made in Indonesia? I see "made in Korea" on one of those pots... Are all the electronics in there MIK? Just curious...

I think that's right. My Indonesian-made S-100 Deluxe has MIK pots and pickups.

 

[3DayPhunk]

Thanks for that GAD! Looks like short shaft to me I think.

So I really dig the feel of this guitar. I'm playing it right now actually and it's hard to put down. I had been eyeing 90s Westerly Starfire II's and would still like to try one eventually but I have to say I really like the stoptail bridge this one has. Is there another florentine cutaway Starfire with a fixed stoptail bridge? I'd like to occasionally play it with my band and would feel better and possibly sound a little better replacing all the electronics.

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Just ordered my sea foam green SC and I'm already planning on upgrading bits and pieces. Of course I will wait until I have a chance to play it first to see what I like and don't like and how it sounds on my amp, but that spending bug didn't go away when I hit the send button on this guitar. There is no cure, as we all know. Anyways those DeArmond Dynasonics that I was planning on buying, to upgrade a Gretsch I no longer plan on buying, sure do look good right now. Lol

 

[GAD]

Thanks for that GAD! Looks like short shaft to me I think.

So I really dig the feel of this guitar. I'm playing it right now actually and it's hard to put down. I had been eyeing 90s Westerly Starfire II's and would still like to try one eventually but I have to say I really like the stoptail bridge this one has. Is there another florentine cutaway Starfire with a fixed stoptail bridge? I'd like to occasionally play it with my band and would feel better and possibly sound a little better replacing all the electronics.

The issue is that you can't really have a stoptail on a traditional Starfire II because a traditional Starfire II is a hollow guitar and there's not enough support on the thin top. That's why they all have harp tailpieces.

The SF1 SC is not entirely a hollow body like a Starfire II. It has a giant block under the bridge and tailpiece for support. That means it plays and sounds different than a traditional Starfire II (or III). Now, "tone blocks" are a thing and X170s and even some X500s have them, but they're much smaller since they're more for supporting the top and preventing feedback and not for supporting a stop tail.

 

[GAD]

Just ordered my sea foam green SC and I'm already planning on upgrading bits and pieces. Of course I will wait until I have a chance to play it first to see what I like and don't like and how it sounds on my amp, but that spending bug didn't go away when I hit the send button on this guitar. There is no cure, as we all know. Anyways those DeArmond Dynasonics that I was planning on buying, to upgrade a Gretsch I no longer plan on buying, sure do look good right now. Lol

Welcome! That sounds like a fun project - I'd love to see/hear a SF1 SC with Dynasonics.

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Welcome! That sounds like a fun project - I'd love to see/hear a SF1 SC with Dynasonics.

I'm certain Dynasonics would sound good in wet drift wood, they have their own special mojo. This is the first guitar I ever bought online sight unseen. I prefer to play them first but no local shops had any to play. So I am a bit nervous now, and will wait until I have it in my hands and spend time with it before I do or buy anything else for it.

Regarding the Guild wiring harness, it appears they do not come with a push/pull pot? That is kind of essential for the coil splitting no? I liked some tones I heard on YT, seems like it will be good for some country twang/surf/rockabilly stuff. Haven't heard anyone blues on it yet.


Is it here yet?
Going to be stalking every delivery van I see

Is it here yet?

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Welcome! That sounds like a fun project - I'd love to see/hear a SF1 SC with Dynasonics.

P.s I bought it based on your review. That was the deciding factor for me. Guild should throw you some free swag or something.

 

[GAD]

P.s I bought it based on your review. That was the deciding factor for me. Guild should throw you some free swag or something.

Guild has unofficially sent me T-shirts and some other small stuff, but that was before the big QC shakeup.

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Just received my guitar today!! First impressions are good. No faults found whatsoever in regards to craftsmanship. It looks and feels like you could add another 1,000 to the price and it would still belong. Frets feel nice and smooth. Sound wise is where it really shines. Pull the volume pot for single coil add some slap back delay and your in Rockabilly heaven. It really nails that 50's rock and roll sound. With both humbuckers this thing can sing the blues all the way from the Delta to Chicago.
I'm in love already. Tone pots are useless so those will eventually be replaced in the future. When I get some extra time I will measure the bridge and order a roller bridge. Or has anyone already done this and can give us the measurements and any recommendations? Anyways, straight out of the box with only needing to tune the E and G string this guitar is pretty sweet.

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Frets do need to be polished, and fretboard could use some oil along with a set of decent strings and a good overall cleaning, which I will do once I get the rollerbridge. For now she sounds really good out of the box, tons of fun, just wish I had some more time to spend with it.

 

[Horrid the Terrible]

Speaking of roller bridges, are they even worth it? Seeing mixed reviews on the interwebs.