Wanted, Guild Star Fire or Guild Star Fire Alembic custom

[slicknickhaas]

I've been looking for unrestored star fire for about a year now, haven't had much luck finding a good one for an O.K. price, ether there beat half to death or patched/frankinstiend back together.
the finish isn't a big deal as long as it sounds great. I had also seen some were on the site photos of what looked kinda like Phil's Alembic modid Star Fire but maybe made after? I don't know but if there out there I'd almost sell a kidney to get one!

[edwin]

I have a '67 Starfire II that I am getting ready to sell. It's a sunburst (and hence, has a maple body instead of mahogany). One aspect of it is pretty beat up, the headstock had a nasty accident and someone repaired it in an ugly fashion. I've taken it to a couple of luthiers who said it is solid and stable and would cause more problems to take it apart and try to make it less ugly. It does sound very cool. It's a little crisper than the mahogany ones (which is what Phil's were). I'll get some photos up here so you can see what it looks like, but there's a picture of it at http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/4748.html?1210707724

[12stringwilson]

There is one for sale at Rock n Roll Vintage in Chicago.  
 
http://rocknrollvintage.com/proddetail.asp?prod=1967%2DGuild%2DStarfire%2DBass%2DCherry%2DRed
 
She is purty. They are great guys. I actually traded my Starfire for a Wal last year thru them. While I miss my Guild, I love my Wal!

[slicknickhaas]

edwin wrote I have a '67 Starfire II that I am getting ready to sell. It's a sunburst (and hence, has a maple body instead of mahogany). One aspect of it is pretty beat up, the headstock had a nasty accident and someone repaired it in an ugly fashion.It does sound very cool What are you looking to get for it? could you take a photo of the damage on the head stock? it looks pretty good in the photo.

[edwin]

I'll take photos of that. It looks fine from a distance. I also need to get the pickup mounting ring for the neck pickup duplicated before I sell it. I borrowed the one on this bass for my other starfire when I put Dark Stars in it (it started life as a Starfire I).
 
I have thought about getting a new headstock and tilting it further back, as Alembic did for Phil's Starfire, but for now I've just played it as a fun backup and so I could have one that had roundwounds and one that had flats.

[slicknickhaas]

variety is the spice of life! if i had two to play with I'd do just that, or just hot rod the pickups and a few nobs. I've got a few nice hollow body's even a couple star fire law suit basses witch suprisenly sound great at lower tones but the bolt on neck takes some of the appeal away. I have two of the same bass, Conrad HB2, made some were around the mid 70's I think. ones stock, the other is a monster in the making.  
one nice thing about the bolt on neck it will play great with a modulus graphite neck.

[edwin]

I've always wondered how a Starfire would sound with a Modulus neck, but it would have to be a short scale neck for me.
 
Well, one of the basses is quite hotrodded. I've posted pictures of it here a bunch, but once again:
 

 
It's not for sale! :-)

[slicknickhaas]

alembic bridge, bird tail piece, alembic electronics? preamp?beautiful bass! here a shot of the 2 of the Conrad basses.  

[sonicus]

Back in the mid 1970's I went through 2 Guild Starfire Modification projects. Here are links to one that I sold back in 1978.  
I still own one more that is Not for sale that I will soon post pics of ,   here are some links;    
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/2792.html?1262960781
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1926.html?1268749506
 
 
Check it out ______  All the work was done by for me by Alembic
and  Doug  Irwin  And George Mundy.
 
     Sonic Regards !
 
(Message edited by sonicus on March 31, 2010)

[benson_murrensun]

Hey, Slicknickhaas, How do you like the Casady bass? I have had two, one I bought from Jack, which I still have. I like them alot; there have been issues with the pots on them, but there is an upgraded part available from Epiphone. Otherwise they have been great.

[slicknickhaas]

I love it! that bass kept me alive till I could get my first alembic. the pots are a little scratchy but other than than it sounds great thru an F-2b and mesa 400+.
Sonicus, WOW! all I can say is wow!  
YOU WERE THERE MAN! FAR-F**KIN OUT!  
thats the bass i saw that started this whole thing! any idea what it sold for?

[sonicus]

slicknickhaas .  lol  ____   yes, of course I know what I sold it  for ! but I sold it 32 years ago .   I did not buy it that way . I was responsible for directing much of the design process  and listening to the recommendations of  some of the Best craftsman and pioneers in their field at the time. I was only 22  when I sold it.I know the current owner but what he paid for it is a private matter.
 I will post pictures of the one that I did not sell as soon as I re-string her . I just cleaned her up . The one that I kept has a beautiful natural mahogany finish and custom work done by Alembic in 1974 , scalloped brass string nut , Brass bridge w/ sustain block and   a very rare tail piece  that looks similar to the one on ALEMBIC # 001 but with out fine tuners ! yes  ! Experimental HI-A  (passive)   pick ups by Bill Bartolini. Additional wood work, Doug Irwin.(pickup rings). Pics very soon .
 
             You can buy an old Guild Starfire yourself and perhaps Alembic can do Custom work for you too!  Alembic has my highest recommendations to do the job    ( The  Best) . The main thing to remember is that custom work is Art with a Capital  A   and you need to have patience for the craftsman to do their thing and also it is good to listen and let the experience of the craftsman and craftswomen   who make recommendations to you to have a better outcome  for your final product.  
 
   Sonic Regards !
 
(Message edited by sonicus on April 01, 2010)
 
(Message edited by sonicus on April 01, 2010)

[sonicus]

slicknickhass __     I am always happy to give you my opinion for custom projects as I have done a few my self and have overseen a few as well. As far as Active Bass Pick Ups & Electronics go I think that what Alembic has too offer  is on top of the game_ none better.
                                A big improvement on my mahogany Starfire was the replacement of the stock bridge to the Alembic bridge with sustain block and tail piece and brass string nut. I immediately liked the difference when it was done for me at the old  60 Brady St., location back in 1974.  
 
                               If you do not want to go with an  Active Alembic pick up system right away you might try a set of  Dark Star pick ups first since it would be a simple install. I would get the correct pick up ring set when you order. You can always get the Alembic pick ups and electronics later and use the Dark Stars else where or trade or sell them.
 
                 Have fun in your pursuit and realisation  of your custom  Starfire , I know what it is like  and can understand the excitement.

[slicknickhaas]

When the time comes to mod my star fire I wouldn't let any body but the folks at alembic to do the work. for now, I'd love just to get my hands on one and maybe a set of the dark star pickups just to start off. but you see, you guys have been around these beautiful guitars for quite some time. to have one then was for the best of the best! Jerry, Phil, Jack, and a whole lot of others like you have  helped make Alembic what they are today and what they are to me (a 21 year old music lover) the holy grail of guitars!  
just to get to play a bass like the Godfather would be like dieing and going to Bass heaven! but to own an original one! well any body need a kidney?! getting one built like that with a modern touch should be a bit cheaper.  
Listening for the secret, searching for the sound
But I could only hear the preacher, and the baying of his hounds.

[sonicus]

Well slicknickhass__      Your Starfire  with Dark Stars  will sound  super through  
that F-2B and the Mesa 400+  then later may be an Alembic SF-2  
Superfilter. Be sure to have speakers that can hold up to that kind of 'Sonic impact__lol
                     Sonic Regards !