I need a semi-hollow in my life and am considering a Starfire. But which one?

[Maguchi]

Hi! As the title says. I need a semi-hollow guitar. After considering several around similar price range, including Epiphones Sheraton, DOT, ES-335, as well as Sire Larry Carlton H7, D'Angelico, Gretsch, Starcaster, and several options by Ibanez, I landed on a Guild Starfire and Hagstrom Viking as the 2 finalists.

Both have pluses and minuses. But I'm leaning towards the Guild. For the Guild, what is in my price range is either a new I DC Starfire or an used Dearmond Starfire Custom.

I have read quite a few good things about the Dearmond. Specially the early ones made in Korea, which I have located a very nice example of.

The I DC I have read some mixed reviews. I can get the Dearmond for less than a new I DC.

At the moment I'm leaning heavily towards the Dearmond. I just like the vibe there more. I haven't seen either in person let alone played them. Just based on looks and reports online. Plus the Dearmond is a blonde, which is a nicer color than any of the I DC I have seen. Being older it also has that somewhat vintage look a sparkling new guitar lacks.

But looks apart, which one is the better guitar and the better catch in your opinion?

I used the search function before I posted as I thought this would be a common questions. But couldn't find anything. Maybe the Dearmond are just not common enough to be usually cross-shopped with a new I DC ?

The other very close option is the Hagstrom. What I like about the Hagstrom is that it is a different take on the ES-335. Mixed with some more modern features and slightly different construction, as it doesn't have a sustain block that goes all the way through like the ES-335. So maybe it will sound a bit different and more special compared to the very common sound of an ES-335. The Dearmond and Guild seem to be very close to the ES-335. From what I have read, one of the closest semi-hollows to an ES-335. The Hagstrom is also lighter. I hear the Dearmond is very heavy. What I don't like about the Hagstrom is the headstock and the fact I can't find too much info on how good it actually is. They are very rare it seems.

What I don't like about the Dearmond is the infamous heavy weight, that it seems to be very bright, being all maple and the gold tone pups are said to be very bright. But maybe I can EQ it out when I need warmer? What I love about the Dearmond is the vintage vibe and that it doesn't have PAF sounding pups. For that I would probably just go with an insired by Gibson Epiphone ES-335.

The wild card is a 1967 Harmony H72 I found locally. I know they were cheaper department store guitar in their day. But today it's a corky, vintage guitar, which is played in and has a lot of character. Is it built worse than a Dearmond? I don't know. But the guy wants twice the price of what the Dearmond costs.

But so, back to the "Guilds", I DC or Dearmond?

If you have any experiences with the Hagstrom Viking and Harmony H72, I would love to hear it too.

Thanks a lot!

This Guild Starfire VI Special in Kingswood Green just came out a few weeks ago and I was blown away by it. It's got DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, Guild's version of a Bigsby style vibrato, everything but the kitchen sink! So that would be my choice.

Starfire VI Special Kingswood Green | Guild Guitars

The crème of the crop for Guild’s Starfire line, the Starfire VI has it all—glitz, glamour, and gorgeous tone. Guild’s iconic double-cutaway: the Starfire VI.

guildguitars.com

 

[J.G.2024]

An update: This week, as I planned, I checked the two DAs around me. Well, around me is a matter of perspective. I drove over 1 hour to see one of them.

They were both identical models. Both from 1998. The only difference was one is a blonde and one is a red. Both the same price too.

The red one is the better deal. It comes with an original DA hardcase and is in great condition. Could barely see any marks or scratches and played and worked as expected. About the only "fault" is it's missing the logo on one of the knobs.

But the blonde one is the one I really wanted. Pity though it didn't workout.

It was extremely dirty and dusty. Not the deal breaker though. It had a nice patina to it and I'm sure it will clean up fine. But it's clear it has not been played for a long time. Thick dust spots all over. Covered in fine dust.

The neck is fine and straight. Frets will definitely need a good polish to clean up (they are fine and not worn or dented though), fretboard will need oil etc. But no damage on the body. No visible dents, dang or major scratches. About the only think I saw was a very small crack around the input jack, which looks like just on the clear coat. I have the same thing on another of my guitars. But this is much smaller.

But the chrome parts definitely look vintage. Or relic'd". Might polish up nicely. But I kind of like the patina to be honest.

The deal breaker is the pots. 2 out of the 4 are cracking. Most likely not a big deal and could be solved with electronic spray. They work as expected, are nice and tight. Just make that cracking static noise when you turn them. The third one is fine all around. But the fourth, a tone knob, seems to be shot. It also cracks, but it's noticeably easier and lighter to turn. Almost as if it was loose. It just feels different than the other three. It rattles a bit if you grab on it and move it around. The others don't. They are tight. Plus if it is changing the tone of the pickup, it's not doing very much. I think it will need replacement. The pickup switch tip looks melted somehow. It's also a bit sloppy. Probably also a headache to replace? Not the tip but the switch I mean.

But the guy wouldn't bulge on the price.

I have never needed to have work done in the electronics of a semi-hollow. But I know they are the most difficult. Because of the center block you can't use the pickup cavities and the body is very thin. So not a lot of space to maneuver. At least this is what I have always heard. To make matters worse I found an old thread with a guitar tech asking for advice, because he was having problems getting the pots out of the F-holes of a DA Starfire. But had done several ES-335s without problems. So it seem to be difficult with this one. I will ask my tech how much it would cost.

So I walked away from the blonde, very reluctantly. And I'm hesitating to get the red one, which is clearly the better deal. Because I know myself and I will always be wishing it was the blonde.

Maybe the red one will grow on me in the next couple of days. It looks way better in person than it the photos. At least in person you can see some wood grain. The photos looks just like a red painted guitar. But the grain is very subtle. Nothing like the Gibson transparent cherry or something, where it's basically a blonde with red dye and you see all the grain. This is the same reason I passed on a red Gretsch. Not enough grain showing, kind of makes it look cheap. But maybe it will grow on me the next couple of days. I know it will be a while before another DA SF-IV will pop up, let alone within driving distance.

Let's see what my tech says and how much it would cost to fix the blonde. Maybe I can get the guy to bulge enough on the price if it doesn't cost too much to put it right. But I doubt he will drop much. He already said he doesn't care if it sells. And not even comes with a case to sweeten the deal. Maybe he will change his mind and drop the price if it doesn't sell.

But I don't regret walking away from the blonde. To me this seems like something which most likely would be a headache and cost quite a bit to sort. Or am I too cautious?

 

[J.G.2024]

Now just a separate note about the guitar itself. I loved it! Feels well built and I would put it with any well made guitar I have ever tried. It's not fancy. So it's not a Sheraton, D'Angelico or ES355 with luxury appointments. But it didn't feel cheap or badly made. I must say it didn't feel like your typical import. It looks and feels like a quality instrument. I gig worthy tool. I walked away with very good impressions after trying the red one. Which I tried before the blonde. But the blonde felt the same. It just had the problems.

And I loved the neck!

As for the weight, I'm sorry but either these two have gone on a diet or I'm just not that sensitive to it. I was shocked how light it felt. When I picked it up from the stand it almost jumped off my hands. I guess after reading so much about how heavy they are I went for it as if I was going to lift a boat anchor. I spent the whole of last Sunday playing a Sheraton and that is way heavier. So I'm totally fine with the DA's weight.

Last but definitely not least, the pickups. Aren't they sweet? Yep! Great sound. I love that they sound different to my other PAFs. Something special for sure.

 

[GAD]

As someone who fixes all their own electronics, I would not stop any electronics issue from me buying a guitar that I otherwise loved.

Semi-hollows can be a challenge to work on, but I've completely gutted and rewired multiple semi-hollows and only once have I ever not been able to get a pot out of one and that was a '70s Stereo Starfire IV that had a stacked master volume pot that was just enormous.

 

[GAD]

Oh and congrats on the progress!

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Glad you had a good experience with the guitars -- that's a great step!

I agree with @GAD -- electronic mods/repairs can be a hassle, but I wouldn't let that be an obstacle if I otherwise loved a guitar.

 

[J.G.2024]

Thanks. I hear you guys. And if I could do this stuff myself, I would be all over it. But I have to pay for the repair and having no idea how much it will cost makes it difficult to decide. Let's see what my tech says and how much he would charge. What does that type of thing cost around where you guys are or with your tech?

But then I guess it would make sense to do all the pots and full harness? Or not bother and repair just what needs to be repaired?

Maybe put CTS, if they are not already? I found a blog claiming the DAs were sent to the U.S. to have the pickups and electronics installed. So maybe the pots, switch and harness and everything are also U.S. made and not only the pickups.

Of course, the other way to avoid all that is just go with the red guitar, which is technically "perfect", apart from one logo missing on a knob, and comes with an original DA hardcase as a bonus, which adds at least another 100 to the price for a generic used hardcase if bought separately.

Technically "perfect" but not "specially perfect" though.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I do this kind of thing myself, but I'd expect a new harness installed would be at least a couple hundred bucks.

FWIW, though, scratchy pots are often easily cured. A few minutes to give them a little Fader Lube spray, and they may be fine.

 

[J.G.2024]

Yeah, the scratchy pots is not what I'm worried about. Spray probably would do it. The guitar has been sitting for a while. Most likely dust got in there.

It's the one tone pot which rattles if you move it and seems MUCH lighter to turn, as if it was loose. Plus didn't seem to have much of an effect on the tone. I think that will need to be changed. I guess I could change only that and leave what's working in there...

But then again...

 

[J.G.2024]

I was speaking to a fellow musician friend of mine about the situation,. He joked that, if the red guitar is perfect and the problem is just the color, because I want a blonde, rather than buying the blonde to fix it up, it would be probably way cheaper and simper to just sand the red color down to the wood and I could have my blonde.

But then this got me thinking, as sanding it down I could do it myself. Then apply just a light protection to the wood, or just varnish.

Of course, there is no telling what's hiding under the red paint, as they select the best and pretties wood for blondes.

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

 

[Default]

The electronics are not US made, in mine. The pup is, but not everything else. The switch is particularly cheap, and actually broke off in my fingers.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I was speaking to a fellow musician friend of mine about the situation,. He joked that, if the red guitar is perfect and the problem is just the color, because I want a blonde, rather than buying the blonde to fix it up, it would be probably way cheaper and simper to just sand the red color down to the wood and I could have my blonde.

But then this got me thinking, as sanding it down I could do it myself. Then apply just a light protection to the wood, or just varnish.

Of course, there is no telling what's hiding under the red paint, as they select the best and pretties wood for blondes.

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

You are definitely overthinking it, and that's a terrible idea. Inspired, but terrible.



Sanding down that poly finish would be a miserable job, and even if the wood underneath was gorgeous, it would never look right.

Think of it this way: in order to do this massive refin job correctly, you would have to pull the harness and hardware, and you're doing it all to save (maybe) needing to replace one pot on the guitar you actually want.

 

[BradHK]

I was speaking to a fellow musician friend of mine about the situation,. He joked that, if the red guitar is perfect and the problem is just the color, because I want a blonde, rather than buying the blonde to fix it up, it would be probably way cheaper and simper to just sand the red color down to the wood and I could have my blonde.

But then this got me thinking, as sanding it down I could do it myself. Then apply just a light protection to the wood, or just varnish.

Of course, there is no telling what's hiding under the red paint, as they select the best and pretties wood for blondes.

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

I have refinished a few guitars and replaced pots and entire harnesses multiple times on semi-hollow guitars. I would rather change out a pot (or an entire harness) ANY day compared to stripping a poly finish. Removing the finish on the neck will also change the profile. Not a ton but you might feel it and not like it as much.

Learning how to change out a pot and switches on a semi-hollow is not that bad and it is a skill worth knowing if you enjoy guitars. I would get the one you like and do the work yourself. Does your guitar friend know how to solder? If so, buy him a beverage of his choice and have him teach you. Worse case scenario is that you end up taking it to a luthier to fix if it all goes completely wrong.

 

[johnreardon]

I was speaking to a fellow musician friend of mine about the situation,. He joked that, if the red guitar is perfect and the problem is just the color, because I want a blonde, rather than buying the blonde to fix it up, it would be probably way cheaper and simper to just sand the red color down to the wood and I could have my blonde.

But then this got me thinking, as sanding it down I could do it myself. Then apply just a light protection to the wood, or just varnish.

Of course, there is no telling what's hiding under the red paint, as they select the best and pretties wood for blondes.

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

This Slim Jim used to be Cherry Red until I took an electric sander to it in the 60s. I used a varnish

 

[Default]

I think Walter Broes mentioned that the best way was to take a heat gun and crack off the finish. Too much work!

 

[Boneman]

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

Hah, you got that right, should be the new thread title

 

[GAD]

I was speaking to a fellow musician friend of mine about the situation,. He joked that, if the red guitar is perfect and the problem is just the color, because I want a blonde, rather than buying the blonde to fix it up, it would be probably way cheaper and simper to just sand the red color down to the wood and I could have my blonde.

But then this got me thinking, as sanding it down I could do it myself. Then apply just a light protection to the wood, or just varnish.

Of course, there is no telling what's hiding under the red paint, as they select the best and pretties wood for blondes.

I'm overthinking this, am I not?

Consider this the "Let me buy the mint guitar so I can ruin it" line of thinking.

 

[J.G.2024]

You guys do know that I wasn't seriously considering this, right? And that my friend was joking and basically being sarcastic, as in "if the color is the big deal to refuse a perfectly perfect guitar for a great price and a gift hardcase, just take a power sander to it. "

It was all tongue in cheek. Maybe I didn't use enough smiles?

 

[J.G.2024]

This Slim Jim used to be Cherry Red until I took an electric sander to it in the 60s. I used a varnish

You know, at least in that photo, it looks much more interesting than just a red guitar.

 

[J.G.2024]

Back to reality, if it's just the one pot, probably worth getting it. Thing is if the pot is just the tip of the iceberg. But I know I probably can't leave with the red guitar knowing there is a blonde. The suggestion of getting it and trying to learn how to change the pot myself sounds very interesting though.