Starfire II ST Dyna and Starfire III Dyna

[GGJaguar]

There can be only one!

Maybe.

Let me think about it for a while.



The reality is they are very similar. Sure, the ST has a mahogany body, different internal bracing and stop tail, but with my eyes closed I couldn't tell you which guitar I was holding. They feel identical and weigh in the low 6 lb (2.8 kg) range. The pickups are located in the same position on both guitars, though the ones fitted to the SF-III are a bit hotter. In terms of sound, the bridge pickups sound identical, while the neck pickup on the SF-III is a little brighter. I thought the differences would be a little bigger than they are, but they are not. Well, if forced to decide, I'm keeping the SF-III, but for now the ST gets to stay a little while longer.

 

[GAD]

III all day every day for me.

 

[Walter Broes]

Yep, SFIII

 

[GGJaguar]

Yes, the Starfire III stays, of course. The reality is the SF II ST Dyna was a placeholder until the day came when Guild made a SF III Dyna. That day has come.

 

[GGJaguar]

BTW, the metal switch tip on this guitar can also be found on the 2023 Starfire III and Starfire IV ST so it looks like the orange tips will be gone on the Korean Newark Street models.

 

[GAD]

BTW, the metal switch tip on this guitar can also be found on the 2023 Starfire III and Starfire IV ST so it looks the orange tips will be gone on the Korean Newark Street models.

Damn. They read my articles!

 

[Harp Tail]

Damn. They read my articles!

Don't know about them, but I sure did

 

[guitarlover]

SF III all the way.
(But I sincerely hope they do not reissue this one ....because then I want one and I already have too many guitars... ;-))

 

[LesB3]

Guess I need to hurry up and offload my SFII Dyna...!

 

[D30Man]

Just pulled the trigger at a great price for the SFII... Now I'm wishing I would've gotten the III. Ha!
Actually I'm really excited about the SFII, but it may lead to a III!!!
That is a beaut!!! The white DS pickups on the black. Nicely done done Guild!

 

[Harp Tail]

Just pulled the trigger at a great price for the SFII... Now I'm wishing I would've gotten the III. Ha!
Actually I'm really excited about the SFII, but it may lead to a III!!!
That is a beaut!!! The white DS pickups on the black. Nicely done done Guild!

Congratulations! We all know those itches...

 

[Walter Broes]

BTW, the metal switch tip on this guitar can also be found on the 2023 Starfire III and Starfire IV ST so it looks like the orange tips will be gone on the Korean Newark Street models.

And I can't find a picture online of an X175B with the metal tip, they all still have the phlegm-colored ones - as they very well should in my mind, as I associate those with the era before the metal switch tips.
Who knows, maybe Yamaha hired someone who actually knows a couple of things about Guilds through the years, or at least bought Hans's book?

 

[GGJaguar]

or at least bought Hans's book?

 

[GGJaguar]

And I can't find a picture online of an X175B with the metal tip, they all still have the phlegm-colored ones - as they very well should in my mind, as I associate those with the era before the metal switch tips.

The metal tips are probably only going to be used on the Starfire series, not the X-175 or X-350 for the reason you noted. Metal tips wouldn't be appropriate for the X series.

 

[guitarlover]

There was one Starfire III with Dynasonics available in the awesome " Guitar Bar" in Antwerp (Belgium , Europe).

I already have too many guitars but could not resist after trying. Very nice guitar. Very nice neck profile and pickups. Apparently not really faithful to the original but that does not bother me since I just liked what I heared and felt.
Left it in the shop for a setup and will take it home next week.
Highly recommended guitar !

 

[GGJaguar]

will take it home next week.

Wonderful, congrats! We're looking forward to your New Guitar Day report!

 

[D30Man]

Congrats!!!

 

[guitarlover]

Well she's home with me now. Really nice guitar. No flaws on the paint job and the outside in general. For me it is a beautiful and elegant guitar. On the inside there is some white residu here and there ( just like what was mentioned in the thread about the x 350 Statford). But you really have to look into th F -holes and hold the guitar in a certain angle to see it, so really not a problem.

I have no experience with Dynasonic pu but I like the sound I get from these (reissued) versions. Tried with my Quilter aviator, will try my Tonemaster Princeton also.

The guitar plays very well after a setup. Strings are 10- 46 Pyramids.

Happy with my purchase. I will post some more info and some pics after I played it for a while.

 

[GGJaguar]

I will post some more info and some pics after I played it for a while.

Looking forward to your review!

 

[parker_knoll]

Well she's home with me now. Really nice guitar. No flaws on the paint job and the outside in general. For me it is a beautiful and elegant guitar. On the inside there is some white residu here and there ( just like what was mentioned in the thread about the x 350 Statford). But you really have to look into th F -holes and hold the guitar in a certain angle to see it, so really not a problem.

I have no experience with Dynasonic pu but I like the sound I get from these (reissued) versions. Tried with my Quilter aviator, will try my Tonemaster Princeton also.

The guitar plays very well after a setup. Strings are 10- 46 Pyramids.

Happy with my purchase. I will post some more info and some pics after I played it for a while.

Was this one of the new ones or a DeArmond Starfire Special?

I can't find any of the new ones in Europe. They still seem to be Sweetwater only.