For Guild Starfire Fans

[5a_quilt_top]

Just saw these on the Bass Place (Phoenix, AZ area) website.  They have the limited edition series prototype:

  And #1 of the limited edition series:

  They're both a bit pricey, but they are relatively rare. Both have the Bisonic Pickup.  DISCLAIMER:  I'm not affiliated with the store, but I thought someone in the club might be interested. I'd be interested if I didn't have two custom builds nearing completion with our hosts.

[12stringwilson]

I have seen these new models and they are good looking. Are you sure they come with Bi-sonic Pups? If I recall you can get replica Hagstroms from Hammon Engineering, but they are not stock on instruments.

[5a_quilt_top]

I have not seen either instrument in person, but according to the info on the Bass Place website, both of these instruments have the Bisonics. If in doubt, contact them to confirm.
 
Also, from the photos, it appears that the prototype has metal bridge saddles and does not have finger rests while the production model has wood bridge saddles and finger rests.

[moonliner]

I love Starfire's... I'm not really familiar with the newish ones (although very excited about the new Guild reissue announced recently). For me, I can't get beyond the change to the upper body/horns. It really takes away from the vintage vibe. Just my 2 cents.

[edwin]

The upper body and horns does look more like an EB2. The bass in the big picture definitely doesn't have a Bisonic. It's hard to tell about the little one.

[5a_quilt_top]

So much for the accuracy of these reissues...sorry for the quality of the small photo - it's all they had on the site at the time.
 
Good thing you guys have an encyclopedic knowledge of these details - it's a huge help to novice Starfire enthusiasts such as myself.
 
Learning about these nuances enables us to avoid potential misrepresentations of the product. Good thing all my gear funds are tied up right now, or I might have gone for one of these.
 
I hope to acquire one eventually, but, to date, the timing hasn't been good.

[bassilisk]

This is my early 60's Hagstrom Coronado IV with Bi-Sonics. Fred Hammon's were true aesthetic repro's but I believe he has ceased production. There are several makers that are currently making versions of them.

 
(Message edited by bassilisk on March 22, 2013)

[jazzyvee]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a bisonic pickup?
 
Jazzyvee

[edwin]

It's a pickup that was developed by Hagstrom in the 60s and looks like the ones above, with a black plastic body and a chrome ring. There was a deal between Hagstrom and Guild to use them on Starfire and other basses back then (and also a marriage between the Dronge and Hagstrom family). They are single coil pickups, despite what looks like two rows of polepieces. When Rick Turner and Ron Wickersham ran tests on all the pickups they could find in the late 60s, the Bisonics were found to be the most wide range and flat frequency they could find, which was made even better when a buffer was built on the bottom of each pickup. This was one of the reasons that Starfires were chosen by Casady and Lesh back in the day. They were discontinued, I think, around 1970-71 and replaced by Guild humbuckers which were much more lackluster pickups.

[cozmik_cowboy]

The picture of the production version on Guild's site seems to show more traditional upper bouts, and the p/up looks more Bi-Sonic.  I e-mailed Guild to ask about the p/ups; will, of course report back when/if I get a reply.
Oh, and I think it was Ron & Bear who did the testing (I'd check, but Grateful Dead Gear is in the bathroom, and she's showering.)
 
Peter

[edwin]

Right, I was kind of shooting in the dark, but I think you understand what I was getting at! :-) I do know it was Rick who came up with the two magnet thing as I bought extra magnets from him about 20 years ago after corresponding with him about the pickups.

[sonicus]

Edwin ,I found the Darling-Pair Emitter followers on ebay a few years ago and purchased a few ( Texas Instruments). I had the good fortune of being able to speak to Mr. Ron Wickersham about  this at the last Alembic gathering.  
 
     In  regards to adding magnet material ; I had a pair of Bisonics once that  had too much magnet material added and the result was not conducive to permit the stings to sustain at their full potential. Some magnet hot rodding has a desirable effect  but in the case of  the pickups that I once had that were  hot rodded : with extra magnet material by the previous owner and NOT Alembic this was the case it appears. I would like to add the buffers (Darlington  - Pair Emitter follower) to experiment with it I ever find  some more Bisonic  pickups.  
 
 Wolf

[smokinbear]

I'm getting ready to put a few up for sale soon, but they are all old and some have that horrible bi-sonic pickup no one wants.;-) A 1966sf1 bridge pu red, a 1965 red sf1(15th one ever made) a 1968 sf1 sunburst bridge pu, a 1970 sf2 sunburst and possibly a red 1990s Rhode Island reissue sf2. I haven't decided on who exactly is up for sale but probably all since double bass is taking over my life. Pm me I guess until I make it official and this goes in the f/s forum.....love me some starfires but why would guild put the bisonic in the cheaper imports and the lame assed humbuckers in those way expensive USA ones......?  Bear

[richbass939]

Here in Colorado we're pretty proud of our version of a Bisonic Pickup.  They have impressive upper bodies and horns, too.  GO BUFFS!!
Rich
 
Thank you, Dave, for posting the pic.
 
(Message edited by richbass939 on March 23, 2013)

[David Houck]

Here's Rich's pic of a bisonic pickup ...