Time to revive the Guild Starfire IV - c'mon Fender!!!

[1973Marshall]

C'mon Fender WTH???

I like that you aren't rushing things but what are you waiting for?

Find one builder, give him/them a stake in it so they never leave - maybe the guys you license Gretsch to in Japan? Or how about ALL AMERICAN MADE??? A special little shop somewhere.

Re-create those AWESOME HUMBUCKERS, exc rehouse them in a normal sizing.

Later you can add new pickup options like the 60 mini-hums. Look , I am already planning your brand expansion.

2 Body options - standard "335" and the old vintage guild oversized and deeper. hell, come out with the deeper first and release the small body in 2 years. 1 year from now you can do that Starfire III in limited runs. Skip the 90s like it never happened. Those things weren't great - my AS80 was almost equal.

So really we are talking about a limited lineup - clean and simple. Bringing back the good old days. Take it slow but bring back this masterpiece and its killer look, headstock, feel, sound and majesty!

MOST IMPORTANT - PRICE IT FAIRLY. Forget the cork sniffers. Make something a kid who practiced and saved up for can attain as his first pro guitar and make it an icon for up and coming kids so it captures this generation.

 

[nmiller]

I'm more interested in the M-75, but I'd be happy for them to reissue any of the classic Guild electrics - so long as they fit them with the old HB-1 pickups.

 

[[J.K.]]

I can't imagine them being released at a price any cheaper than going eBay rates.
And, for that matter, I can easily see them pulling a "Wide Range Humbucker" on the pickups.
Even then, I can't imagine the supply/demand curve for modern production guitars being able to sustain much more than what the major brands currently offer. I think the market is pretty saturated already.

 

[Jahn]

Fender kinda already does this with their Gretsch line - killer japanese versions of most of the popular Gretsch stuff, and one badass USA dude, Stephen Stern, for the Masterbuilt Gretsches that cost an arm and a leg.

For Guild electrics, it looks like it's taking a bit of a different approach. Instead of flooding the market with cheaper Guild electrics, I think they realize that the real deal vintage stuff is still relatively underpriced on the market, so they'd lose the battle there - which would you rather have, a $1800 Terada Guild Starfire IV with Seymour Duncan Mini HB-1-inspired pickups, or a vintage 1968 Guild Starfire IV for $2k?

That said there IS a market for the collectors right now, so that's why you're seeing really expensive USA-made rollouts of some Guild electrics, those Guild Special Run ones, but yeah they are priced accordingly: I like the new GSR T-500 tho! INCOMING MONSTER PIC!

​

 

[stevieboy]

Not that hard to find originals, and the prices are pretty reasonable.

 

[cmatthes]

I got to check out and play a bunch of the new Guild electrics (and 2 cool SF basses too) yesterday in New Hartford.

Some really cool stuff!

 

[RussB]

I got to check out and play a bunch of the new Guild electrics (and 2 cool SF basses too) yesterday in New Hartford.

Some really cool stuff!

That's for sure! Sorry I didn't get to meet you. Here's a pic randyman took of some new Guild's

 

[tapeworm]

I'd like Fender to reissue the Guild electric line as well, but mainly the M75 Bluesbird, Starfire IV/V/VI and S-100. But only if they stay true to the vintage specs and appointments and only if they have the HB-1 humbuckers and those great mini hums in them. None of the new Duncan "Guild style" pickups. If they were to make any changes, I'd prefer fatter necks but otherwise make them as they were and make them vintage period correct according to the model.

 

[RussB]

I'd like Fender to reissue the Guild electric line as well, but mainly the M75 Bluesbird, Starfire IV/V/VI and S-100. But only if they stay true to the vintage specs and appointments and only if they have the HB-1 humbuckers and those great mini hums in them. None of the new Duncan "Guild style" pickups. If they were to make any changes, I'd prefer fatter necks but otherwise make them as they were and make them vintage period correct according to the model.

It's funny to me that you want very specific "things". When we met with the Guild folks on Friday, there was some talk about no matter what they DO make, some folks will bitch about it, and others will always want them to build something else. Reckon we're a fickle bunch

It comes down to what Guild can sell, not what one guy may or may not actually buy. For the record, they were able to sell out ALL the electrics they've built to their dealer network. That's good news

 

[RussB]

...and the Basses have "NOS" original Guild pups in them. They had a bunch in storage, and utilized them in the new Starfire basses. When these are sold, there are no plans to make "new" pups, as tooling costs are too high and the market is limited

 

[tapeworm]

It's funny to me that you want very specific "things".

I want one thing: make them the way they made them when Guild was Guild. Make them as close to the vintage Guild as possible. I would think there would be a better market reaction to vintage correct reissues than a Fender modern take on the classic Guilds so many love. I could be wrong though, but I have certainly heard more people say they like the old look and styling of the Starfire better than they do the new Fender take on the Starfire with the GSR SFVI. I as much of a diehard Guild fanatic as anyone, but a new styled Fender take on the classics that so many love doesn't interest me. And I suppose that is ok as far as Fender is concerned. My preference would be vintage correct reissues and I think most of those who would line up to buy these guitars and Guild fanatics would agree.

 

[1973Marshall]

I want one thing: make them the way they made them when Guild was Guild. Make them as close to the vintage Guild as possible. I would think there would be a better market reaction to vintage correct reissues than a Fender modern take on the classic Guilds so many love. I could be wrong though, but I have certainly heard more people say they like the old look and styling of the Starfire better than they do the new Fender take on the Starfire with the GSR SFVI. I as much of a diehard Guild fanatic as anyone, but a new styled Fender take on the classics that so many love doesn't interest me. And I suppose that is ok as far as Fender is concerned. My preference would be vintage correct reissues and I think most of those who would line up to buy these guitars and Guild fanatics would agree.

Exactly!

They did well with Gretsch (though that has more to do with other things)

Fans want to see a classic and affordable piece. Something people will love. People adore Guild, it's just a brand with bad PR and a confusing history

 

[Boris Bubbanov]

They should not reinvent the Guild electric line until they have the means to build the guitars in the USA. Or at least in North America.

Gretsch still "hits the wall" popularity wise, IMO, because the guitars are all imported.

 

[rleerockin]

Fender just destroyed Guild... just crap now.

 

[RussB]

I want one thing: make them the way they made them when Guild was Guild. Make them as close to the vintage Guild as possible...

They should not reinvent the Guild electric line until they have the means to build the guitars in the USA. Or at least in North America.

Starfire IV GSR aside, It seems Guild has responded with "as vintage as possible" models, which are all made in New Hartford

 

[feet]

Gretsch still "hits the wall" popularity wise, IMO, because the guitars are all imported.

i think that has more with gretsches being seen inherently niche-y and obviously not being for everyone/everything, true or otherwise. guilds are rooted in way more familiar and versatile designs.

the new gsr starfire vi for that was just released was ********ed glorious. but not what guild guys want.

 

[Boris Bubbanov]

i think that has more with gretsches being seen inherently niche-y and obviously not being for everyone/everything, true or otherwise. guilds are rooted in way more familiar and versatile designs.

the new gsr starfire vi for that was just released was ********ed glorious. but not what guild guys want.

I hear you.

I just wanna correct my previous post somewhat. Fender Custom Shop did an extremely limited batch of orange "Brian Setzer" Gretschs in Corona back 5 years ago. Those were expensive, but nice.

 

[feet]

i think they have a "look, but don't touch", "awesome, but not for me" kind of stigma that others, like guild don't.

the gretsch custom shop has been in california since 2004, but they only build stuff in the $5000-$20,000, so they may as well not even exist for most of us. i think they'll more or less build whatever you like- they do lots of relics and unusual (for gretsch) colors.

 

[RussB]

I think I'm gonna start a Gretsch thread, and only talk about Guild guitars

 

[Robert1950]

Looks like someone at Fender was listening...

http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/details/?partno=3792100866