Guild reintroduces the Starfire VI, the flagship model for their double cutaway semi-hollow electric guitar line.
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This new release is part of the continued expansion of the Starfire line, and showcases the company’s renewed interest in developing their electric guitar line up further.
The Starfire models are obviously inspired by another popular guitar maker, but they are subtly different, enough for vintage specimens to be highly sought after. Even popular guitarists like John Mayer have used them on stage, and so having them reproduced today as production models is an easy call for the company, especially since they are now under Cordoba.
As expected, the new Starfire VI follows after the Newark St. Collection’s Starfire V production model, carrying over the same double-cutaway body shape but with more cosmetic bling. The body itself is crafted from AAA flamed maple top, back and sides, which means that each plank is chosen for their grain quality. Following traditional semi-hollow designs, it comes with a solid centerblock.
The neck is crafted from a three-piece maple/walnut/maple combination with a bound rosewood fingerboard. There is no mention of the neck profile yet, but if it follows that of the Starfire V, then it will have a scale length of 24.75″ and a nutwidth of 1 11/16″, with a vintage soft-u shape. Mother-of-pearl and abalone V-blocks serve as fret markers.
Staying true to form, this guitar comes with Dual LB-1 Little Bucker pickups, replicas of Guild’s 1960s smaller size humbucking pickup. The company says that these “offer a range of tones well-suited for a variety of playing styles and genres“. The unique size of the pickup can be a concern for those who like to thinker and change their pickups, but it wouldn’t be a Starfire without this distinct feature.
The bridge follows traditional designs as well, with a pinned Tune-o-Matic bridge with rosewood base and a Guild Vibrato Tailpiece. Other features include 5 ply black and ivory purfling, deluxe f-hole and body binding, and the traditional gold hardware as found on vintage Starfire VI specimens.
More information will soon be available, just in time for the coming NAMM 2016. Pricing information and other details will soon be available at Guild Guitars.
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