Starfire Bass or New Glasses

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, it's a moot point right this minute, since (out of dire necessity) I went with $700 worth of bi-focals this morning... but I've been thinking about stabling a hollow-body bass guitar. More specifically, one that may one day get fully Alembicized, or at least receive some D-I-Y activator circuitry in the meantime. Maybe wire it up like my Persuader or Distillate.

I know of at least one Club member here that modded one of the newer DeArmond Starfires with some bi-sonics... anyone have any thoughts/suggestions on other options?

I'm wide open, since I gotta' go scrounge up some more gigs before doing anything. Fortunately, (no really - a small fortune) come next Tuesday when my new specs come in, I'll at least be able to see all the fine detail up close.

I gotta' remember not to break my glasses next time I start shopping for bass guitars! Ouch.

[rv_bass]

I have two Starfire basses, one '67, which I am keeping as all original, and one newer one that is currently in Santa Rosa being Alembicized.  I really love having the Starfire hollobody as an alternative sound to the solid body (or mostly solid body) basses.  They have a really distinct sound that I find goes well with jazz bands or jam bands, or just when I'm in the mood for that sound. You can get a very wooden stand up bass-like sound out of them. You should definitely look into it, I think you would like it, but as with anything you might want to test one out if you can.

Rob

[rv_bass]

Also, a couple more options: the current Guild reissue Starfire basses come with their new "bisonic" pickups, you can also order the new bisonic pickups directly from Guild on line.  Curtis Novak makes a nice copy of the original bisonic pickup as well, and you can order them from Curtis on line and he will make them to your specs.

[edwardofhuncote]

Thanks Rob... yeah, ideally if I were going for the full-pull route (like yours), I'd definitely go for a vintage one and send it out there. Probably for now, I'd be quite satisfied with a stock model, and do some upgrades on my own later. I've heard/read mostly good things about the DeArmond Guilds and Epiphone Jack Casady sigs. Inasmuch as I like the looks of the Epiphone Allen Woody "Rumble-cat" model, they get a little bad press... if the price were right I might jump on one, since ultimately I'd be modding it anyway. Might make a cool hot-rod project. There's a Gibson Midtown on a local Craigslist that has my attention too.

Wow I miss my glasses. Day three...

[rv_bass]

Gregory,
As you search around, check these out:

http://guildguitars.com/g/starfire-bass/

I purchased one in 2013 and it sounded very similar to my '67 model, they are of good quality build as well.  I ended up sending in the 2013 model to Alembic for modifications.

Rob

[keith_h]

Well it's obvious you don't have your priorities in the right order. Get the new bass first. Unlike the bass which will last a long time you will likely need new glasses in a couple of years so can always get them later. 

[edwardofhuncote]

  Right on Keith.

Nah, I really do need 'em, especially for the day gig. I spend about half my day entering chemical and physical water analysis data onto spreadsheets, and the other half pulling wrenches. Ironically, they were so expensive because I needed something A.) comfortable enough to wear all day, B.) durable enough to take a fair amount of punishment, and C.) specially coated so I can look all the different computer screens and lab instruments without glare.

All those elements conspired against my search for a hollow-body bass... but as if on cue, I just got a last-minute call to go play a big show at a resort hotel next weekend. Back in the game! 

 

[hammer]

I've been looking to get my hands on a reclamation Starfire for some time now to alembicize.  I can't see paying full price for a nice vintage one and then pretty much ripping out everything so I've pretty much restricted myself to searches for beaters. Every once in a while something comes up that would be perfect but: (a) I either hesitate too long before pulling the trigger; or (b) The price gets way out of hand for what I'd be getting.  I came close at one time to purchasing one locally off Craigslist with a body and neck in quite good condition but with non-functioning electronics for a very reasonable price. However, someone beat me to it by 10 minutes (they don't last long). The one's I've seem on ebay have all ended up going or being listed for far more than I'm willing to pay so the search continues (but that's part of the fun).   

[David Houck]

For $700, I thought you went with the pair that had the filters and Q switches.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I'm about to go to a different  optometrist with my new prescription, because the one at my opthamologist said the lens - just lens, mind you - would a hair north of $1K, and they don't take any insurance...........

Peter (who didn't ask what they wanted for coc bola frames)

[edwardofhuncote]

Dang Coz, I don't feel so bad now... my lenses were expensive but you're approaching Series range there. Ouch! 

I'll just be glad when they come in... mine are super-glued together for the third time this week, and I can't see anything with my older set.

[wfmandmusic]

I have a Guild re-issue as well and love it. I think it's a 2008 model. If I fall in love with it just a little more, i'll rip it apart.

[peoplechipper]

Glasses have to be number one; I'm always blown away by folks who will go without their glasses and ask me about the price of stuff because they can't see it...if I don't have my glasses on I'm not leaving the house and hating even that...my last lenses cost over $800 as I have a very complex prescription with bifocals (near-sighted in one, far-sighted in other, with astigmatism that is different in each eye) not exactly the best thing for a Goldsmith to work with but oh well...the drag is that I can't go to discount eyeglass places because they don't have the skill to do that kind of prescription right; I've tried and they fail...see well and get the bass later...Tony

[edwardofhuncote]

Oh yeah, I gotta' have my specs Tony... shoot, my vision is so poor that I've been restricted to wearing "corrective lenses" on my driver's license. The good news is, they're supposed to be in today. The bad news, I'm told to expect it to take a *couple weeks* for my brain to adjust to the different magnifications. Something about my eyes having to re-learn where to look through them. Thankfully, I'm coming up on a couple weeks vacation from work, so maybe I can transition during that.

In other news, I find the D'Angelico hollow-body basses to be very fetching. Their import series are coming from Korea now, the workmanship is a very good standard, and reportedly they have very nice quality electronics too. Here's one currently on Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/2473503-d-angelico-exbass-nat-2015-blonde-natural-tint

[pasewark]

I have a '96 Starfire II Reissue (Made in USA), Maple top and back, in excellent shape with original Guild Pickups and new Guild case - $1900 free ship.