New Guild Starfire IV is amazing!!!!!

[Aslan]

I ordered a new Guild Newark St. Starfire IV and the workmanship is perfect! The neck is just right, not to big or small, the pickups are exactly like what I remember the original Guild humbuckers sounding like and the whole guitar is light weight and resonates as you strum it. I started out on a Starfire in 1968 and played that guitar till 1975 and then traded it off like a fool but I never forgot how much I loved playing it. I tried it out on the a DRRI with a Barber 1/2 Gainer pedal and the tones going from clean to bluesy to full out distortion were excellent. I also tried the guitar straight into a Victoria Ivy League (tweed Harvard) and again the tones are killer, the pickups are lower output than most humbuckers and they have zero mud! Overall, I could not be happier with this instrument, the fact that it is made in Korea is not important to me, and compared to the recent ES-335's I've played at my local store I would choose the Starfire IV over them (I'm not a Gibson hater, I own 2 LP's and a VOS ES-330)

 

[jimbugg]

Awesome! That's great to hear. I love Guilds and I've been interested in the Newark St. Series for a while now but haven't ever heard too much about them...

 

[Aslan]

I was surprised that so little has been posted on the Gear Page about them, the quality is remarkable for the price range the instrument is in.

 

[dhdfoster]

I have a Newark St X175B and it's great. There's much more talk about them at letstalkguild.com

 

[Aslan]

I was able to spend a couple hours dialing in the pickups by adjusting the height for tone and volume and balance, and the guitar just continues to sound better with each adjustment. I'm plugging into a Bad Cat Cougar 5 with a Barber 1/2 Gainer pedal in front and a Flashback delay and HOF reverb in the effects loop and can cover everything I need to from 50's rockabilly to classic rock to current hits, it really shines with blues, especially in the middle position with both pickups on. I still can't understand why so little interest in the new Guild models.

 

[HyakuShiki]

That's really refreshing to hear, these things aren't stocked anywhere near me. I wonder if anyone's tried out the Aristocrat yet.

 

[RAILhead]

Man, I've been wanting one of these for a while. Any pics you can post?

 

[Stratburst70]

Glad to hear they're good. I've been jonesing for the Starfire V.

 

[woof*]

I love Guild Starfires, my favorite is the single cut no bigsby Starfire II from the late 60's.
Had one in high school and wish I had it back, perfect neck and really nice.

 

[Lucidology]

One of my very first electric guitars ever was a Starfire …
However, I can't seem to recall what it sounded like as I was very young … lol

 

[Tramp]

Like so many here, I had a SFIV back in the day and stupidly sold it. I'm intrigued by the Newark St guitars but worry that the neck might be too thin for my current taste (as my old one was). The Guild site says the neck is a Vintage Soft U but gives no measurements. Anyone measured theirs? If not, how would you compare them to vintage, to LP necks, etc.?

 

[jesseb]

I just played one at Rudy's Music in NYC and bought it then & there...I had ZERO intention of buying anything but I was amazed at the quality I playing and tone I was hearing. I was going through a Supersonic 22 - vintage channel and it was a dream to play. It arrives soon...can't wait!

 

[Turi]

Glad you like yours.

I tried one a while back in store, and it felt cheap, looked cheap, and sounded like absolute ****.

 

[Defendant]

Definitely interested in the new stop tailpiece SF 4, neck size and weight dependent.

UK Guitarist gave these guitars a great review: