Bass of the Week: Guild Starfire II
This week we’re checking out the Starfire II from Guild. The iconic semi-hollow bass first debuted in 1967 where it was used by artists like Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh. It was reintroduced in 2015 to the delight of many a bass player.
Central to the Starfire II’s design is a pair of Guild BS-1 BiSonic pickups. “The Guild BS-1 BiSonic pickup was originally found in many of the solid and hollow body Guild basses in the 1960s and 70s,” the company writes. “The BS-1 has developed a cult following resulting in several reissue versions and designs, including the famous Darkstar by Fred Hammon and BS-DS by Curtis Novak. Wound to 6.4K Ohms, similar in specification to a Hammon Darkstar, the Guild BS-1 provides a refined modern tone in a classic package.”
Other features include a double cutaway body shape, mahogany sides, an arched laminate mahogany top and back, and a three-piece mahogany and maple neck. Listen to the bass in action:
Guild Guitars Starfire Bass II Specs:
| Construction: | Semi-Hollowbody |
| Scale Length: | 30¾″ (781 mm) |
| Body Top and Back: | Arched Laminated Mahogany |
| Body Sides: | Laminated Mahogany |
| Bracing: | Center Block |
| Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Body Binding: | Ivory White with Black/White Purfling |
| Purfling: | Black/Ivory White |
| Soundhole/F-Holes Binding: | Unbound F Holes |
| Neck: | 3-Piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany |
| Neck Profile: | Vintage Soft “U” |
| Neck Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Nut Material: | Bone |
| Fingerboard Material: | Indian Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12″ (305 mm) |
| Fingerboard Inlays: | Pearloid Dot |
| Frets: | 21 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Jumbo |
| Tuning Machines: | Grover Vintage 142 Series |
| Hardware Finish/Plating: | Nickel Plated |
| Bridge: | Guild Adjustable Bass Bridge with Rosewood Saddles |
| Case or Gig Bag: | TKL Deluxe Hardshell |
| Pickups: | Guild BS-1 BiSonic Bass |
| Pickup Configuration: | SS |
| Control Knobs: | Black Plastic |
| Controls: | Individual Volume & Tone, Master Volume, 3-wayToggle Pickup Selector |
| Strap Buttons: | Vintage-Style |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
