What is a good Guild electric to start out with? As a long time Guild acoustic player...

[Westerly Wood]

I suppose I could have posted this over in the Sold Chambered page too.
A long time acoustic dreadnaught player, and specifically been zero'd in on Guild since 2007 for the most part...

What would be a good electric Guild to start out with.

thanks!

 

[fronobulax]

Starfire.

 

[AcornHouse]

Do you have a budget in mind? For an archtop, the X-150 is a good starting point. You could even go less with an import A-150. Solidbody, there’s so many of the Aviator/Detonator/ what have you 80s Superstrats that are very undervalued, and a good way to dip your toe in the electric pond for not much money.

 

[ruedi]

Where do you want to go tonally or in terms of musical style? do you follow a specific style or is tonal variety important to you?
My vote doesn't count very much, because I'm a Guild newbie myself and can't compare within the brand, because I only own one Guild guitar (Nightbird X2000). But all I know is I will never let it go, it is easily the best guitar I have ever owned, quality, playability, tone - pure joy. So if you can get your hands on one of these, I'm pretty sure you will not regret it - though they are further away from an acoustic than an archtop of course.

 

[mavuser]

id look for an Aviator, T-200, T-250, or anything long scale/80s if u are used to the D-25, and can find one for cheap. Starfire-4 would be great like Frono said, if you are ready to commit to that guitar.Once u get used to them, they are the best

 

[GGJaguar]

If you want something that will feel "acoustic-ish" I suggest a full-depth archtop: CE100, X150, or X175. For an all-around player, I like the Starfire IV and X-170.

 

[walrus]

Yes, a semi or hollowbody will give you a familiar feel. And given your "shoulder" thread I would get a thin body. Starfire, T-100, etc.

Good luck!!

walrus

 

[Westerly Wood]

thanks guys!

 

[AcornHouse]

You might PM @GAD and see if he’s ready to do one of his semi-annual purges of review guitars. He might have something for you.

 

[matsickma]

I would suggest any version of a Starfire 2 including the less expensive Starfire1 SC at $499 new (no case or bag).
M

 

[GAD]

Good info, but you need to narrow down what you want and/or expect from the guitar. Do you want it to feel like an acoustic? Do you want to channel your inner Jimmy Page? Do you want to recapture the glory of the '80s? Lots of options.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Good info, but you need to narrow down what you want and/or expect from the guitar. Do you want it to feel like an acoustic? Do you want to channel your inner Jimmy Page? Do you want to recapture the glory of the '80s? Lots of options.

All good questions GAD. I like a fat sweet tone, like thru an old small fender tube amp. With some drive now and again, but mostly clean and clear.

 

[matsickma]

That narrows down the pickups some amount. Stay away from guitars with beige or black open bobbin pickups and Blues90 or Bluesbird 90 guitars with the hot P90 bridge pickup.
M

 

[GAD]

"Fat" and "Clean and Clear" can be different things. The P90s that matsickma warns agains can sound very "fat" but the hot ones in the guitars he mentions are too hot and aren't great. The Starfires with P90s have much better P90s in them.

My gut says you need a Starfire IV, but when some people say "clean and clear" they often mean the chime of single coils, and you don't get that from a Starfire unless you get a very old one with DeArmonds in it, or one of the aforementioned Starfire III-90s.

Do you like the super-wide necks on an acoustic? If so that would likely rule out almost anything from the '70s and '80s and into the mid-'90s.

 

[HeyMikey]

Weight might be another factor to consider. Some electrics can push 9+ pounds.

 

[Westerly Wood]

"Fat" and "Clean and Clear" can be different things. The P90s that matsickma warns agains can sound very "fat" but the hot ones in the guitars he mentions are too hot and aren't great. The Starfires with P90s have much better P90s in them.

My gut says you need a Starfire IV, but when some people say "clean and clear" they often mean the chime of single coils, and you don't get that from a Starfire unless you get a very old one with DeArmonds in it, or one of the aforementioned Starfire III-90s.

Do you like the super-wide necks on an acoustic? If so that would likely rule out almost anything from the '70s and '80s and into the mid-'90s.

Thanks GAD. I was listening to some A-50 YouTube vids today, and I like the sound. The savoys I think. I also liked the M-75.

 

[matsickma]

Not sure what M75 version you were listening to but an Aristocrat with Franz pickups and a choice of rosewood and metal adjustimatic could be a good choice. The rosewood bridge could soften the tone a bit while the metal adjustimatic could give you a bright more agressive sound. Plus the guitar is built like a archtop, hollow and light weight like an acoustic.

In my previous post I mentioned to stay away fron beige or black ipen bobbin pickups. I forgot to say open bobbin humbuckers. In single coils thats a different beast that I personally like more than a traditional Strat sound as they are a dirtier bluesy tone when cranked up or chimey when one in a pair or trips is counter wound.
M

 

[SFIV1967]

I was listening to some A-50 YouTube vids today, and I like the sound. The savoys I think.

Actually the old A-50 was simply an Archtop guitar without pickups.

The new Savoy would be the A-150 which has an added DeArmond floating pickup.

A-150 Savoy Blonde | Guild Guitars

The A-150 Savoy pairs a wonderfully free-playing late-1950s Guild orchestra model with the distinctive addition a DeArmond 1000 floating pickup.

guildguitars.com

The vintage Savoy is the X-150, which depending on the years from the early 50ies onwards had various pickup versions from single coild Franz pickups to HB-1 humbuckers. Or a X-175 with two humbuckers.

Like M said, a hollow body M-75 Aristocrat could be fun as it is small and light. Or if you find one a vintage M-65.

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

if youre going short scale i'd get a Starfire-4 from the 90s w SD-1 Duncan pickups or a Corona Bluesbird with Duncans SH pickups. the Bluesbird has a fatter neck

 

[Westerly Wood]

thanks for all the suggestions friends. fuel pump went out on truck so my Guild guitar money just left me.