{"product_id":"guild-starfire-bass-i-semi-hollow-body-electric-bass-guitar-1970-4813","title":"Guild Starfire Bass I Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar (1970)","description":"Guild Starfire Bass I Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar (1970), made in Westerly, RI, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of our most requested instruments, the 1960's Guild Starfire bass has lately gainied attention as one of that decade's most distinctive bass guitars. Despite a general resemblance to the more common Gibson EB-2 the Starfire is a completely different animal sonically, putting out a clear and powerful sound with a wide frequency range and an almost piano-like growl unusual in a hollowbody bass. Starfire basses became a prominent part of the San Francisco sound in the late 60's with both Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead and Jack Casady of the Jefferson Airplane choosing the model for their psychedelic explorations of the low end. Earlier prominent users of the model were Steve Boone of the Lovin' Spoonful and Chris Hillman with the Byrds. With a very slim and fast-playing neck the Starfire is the perfect bass to \"take off\" on and remains as unique as when first designed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGuild did not enter the electric bass arena until 1965, when the semi-hollow double-cutaway Starfire line and the solidbody line both had a single-pickup bass added. The solid body Jetstar soon crashed and burned but the Starfire Bass became one of the company's most popular items. The body is not fully hollow, there is a solid block running through the center in the manner of an ES-335 giving a tighter response than a true hollowbody bass. The real secret to the early Guild basses' sound is the large Hagstrom-made Bi-sonic pickup, which looks like a double-coil unit but is in fact more akin to a giant DeArmond Dynasonic. With large magnet slugs for polepieces, this pickup has a very powerful attack and a broad harmonic range quite unlike either the more familiar Gibson bass humbucker or the Guild humbucking pickup which replaced it in late 1970. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis particular Starfire I is from 1970, and would be one of the earliest of these instruments built after Guild's move to Westerly, Rhode Island from Hoboken. This is one of the last of the original Hoboken style models; not long after this bass was built the Hagstrom pickup was discontinued bringing an end to the 'classic\" Starfire Bass sound. This basses has several developments from earlier models. There is a pushbutton \"choke\" switch which cuts low end for a very bright baritone response. The chrome Hagstrom bridgeplate is extended on the treble side to allow for longer saddle travel; it also looks rather more like Guild's traditional \"harp\" tailpiece in an attractive if possibly unintended touch. The tuners are the typical Klusons. The only structural difference of this bass from earlier examples is the absence of a volute on the back of the neck and a slightly more elaborate peaked headstock shape. This is a great looking and playing example of an American bass classic.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 46 7\/16 in. (117.9 cm.), 16 3\/8 in. (41.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7\/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at rib. Scale length is 30 7\/16 in. (773 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5\/8 in. (41 mm.). Clean overall with some minor wear: some thumbwear above the upper handrest, a scrape in front of the bridge and a spot of discoloration on the side near the jack, otherwise the finish is very well preserved. All original except upper strap button; set up with light gague flatwounds for extremely easy action. Excellent Condition.","brand":"Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46852991352972,"sku":"4813","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_430ed6cd-24c7-41a7-a692-759a92887f65.jpg?v=1774329685","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/guild-starfire-bass-i-semi-hollow-body-electric-bass-guitar-1970-4813","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}