It was a very well built thinline semi-acoustic bass, with a short (30") scale, and a rich woody tone - though with far less of the muddiness of the Gibson and Epiphone bass models from which it was derived. Rare 1976 Guild Starfire SF-Bass II in Black finish, original and in good condition for its age. The neck is a 3-piece running straight through the body, not touching the top or back until the butt of the instrument, where the bridge is sunk into it. The original Guild Starfire Bass II was introduced in 1967, at the height of the psychedelic rock era, and the bass found its way into the hands of two of the scene’s most prominent players: Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh. This one of the situations where you could have an identical set up and still not be able to sound anything like Phil Lesh because you're not Phil Lesh. If you are seeing his left arm, his face up, then he's facing the band. Phil had Modulus make his custom TBXs with an … The duo, with guest musicians, was billed as Bobby and Phil. Phil briefly started out playing a Gibson EB-0, but eventually switched to a Fender Jazz Bass in 1968. In 1969, Lesh was playing a stock Guild Starfire. There are 3 comments on this article so far. His next bass, dubbed "The Godfather" was a walnut Guild Starfire with three Alembic pickups, including a quad pickup with four outputs for each string. The Guild Starfire range have proved to be some of Guilds most enduring instruments. [more], Guild Starfire - New Thunderbass amplifier (1966)Half-page advert for the Thunderbass amplifier, also featuring Allan Montoya (Brooks Brothers) with a Starfire bass Can somebody tell me details about this Vox semi-hollow body guitar? Ultimate cool-kid Joe from New Jersey asked the Make-a-Wish Foundation for his very own Phil Lesh bass. The Bi-sonics continued to be fitted to Guild Starfire (and JS) basses until 1970, when Guild finally replaced them with their own brand new humbuckers. We were so excited and honored to be a part of the process by donating a Starfire Bass II, which Alembic then modified to match Lesh’s iconic Grateful Dead-era bass. In the early 1970's, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead had his heavily modified Gibson EB3 stolen. It has so many knobs to control the monstrous Wall of Sound the Dead toured with in the early 70s. Guild Starfire Bass 2014 Cherry Red. The Starfire Bass II Flamed Maple (FM) is a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that adds additional sonic options to Guild’s iconic Starfire Bass. The Hagstrom Bi-sonic was a single coil unit, with a very unique design. That was after the glory years of his sound in my mind - I don't think he sounds the same throughout time, that's part of what's cool about him is hearing the development of his sound. After that he played a not very modified Guild Starfire (preamps and some magnet changes in the pickups) through late '69 or so (Live Dead is a great example of this sound). That was after the glory years of his sound in my mind - I don't think he sounds the same throughout time, that's part of what's cool about him is hearing the development of his sound. The Guild Starfire range have proved to be some of Guilds most enduring instruments. The Starfire's bridge was also made by Hagstrom, and consisted of a metal baseplate with rosewood saddles. Starfire Bass II is a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that adds sonic options to one of Guild’s most iconic models, the Starfire Bass. Used Guild Starfire cherry red semi-hollowbody bass guitar. [more], Guild Starfire - Maybe its time you played a different bass! In ’71 the bass player (Spike Daley, now living in Grass valley, CA) in my first all-original band wanted to sound more like Jack Casady (Spike liked Jack, Phil Lesh, John Entwistle, and Rick Danko—good taste), so bought himself a bass just like Jack’s—the Guild Starfire. Hardshell case included. The Starfire Bass II Flamed Maple (FM) is back and better than ever. Replace the center part and a couple of inches to each side with scalp and it looks familiar. Electric bass advertisements originally published from 1965 onwards. During the 1960s, Guild moved aggressively into the electric guitar market, successfully promoting the Starfire line of semi-acoustic (Starfire I, II & III) and semi-solid (Starfire IV, V … The Starfire Bass II originally debuted in 1967, shortly after the single-pickup version, and quickly garnered a following that included Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane) and Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead). "GUILD STARFIRE BASS" The "Guild Starfire Bass" was one of the most respected basses of the 1960s, and gained recognition by its high profile users of the mid sixties such as "Jack Casady" of "Jefferson Airplane", and "Phil Lesh" of "The Grateful Dead". [more], Guild Starfire - Buddy Guy Blues Band (1970)1970 Guitar Player advert featuring Buddy Guy's band - Buddy uses a Starfire SF IV through a Thunderbird guitar amp. The short story is this: Phil started out on a Gibson EB0, then moved to a Fender Jazz Bass which he used until '68. The Starfire bass stood up well against hollow body rivals such as the Epiphone Rivoli, Gibson EB2 and Fender Coronado bass. Notice the details of this left-handed bass. The Grateful Dead posted a cool photo from 1967 with a shot of Phil's Big Red Starfire Bass: I think this is before any major mods - not the greatest pic for details but cool to see Phil hunched over it, clutching his pick and playing up high on the neck! The Godfather on the left is a heavily modified Guild Starfire by Alembic. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This is an arch-top, built for Phil — it’s sort of a Guild M-85, at least in shape. Weir performed a concert tour in the Fall of 2018, as Bob Weir and Wolf Bros. The Starfire Bass II originally debuted in 1967, shortly after the single-pickup version, and quickly garnered a following that included Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane) and Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead). The Guild Guitar Company is a United States-based guitar manufacturer founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a guitarist and music-store owner, and George Mann, a former executive with the Epiphone Guitar Company. Overall length 46 3/4", Initially one-piece (later three piece) Peruvian Mahogany, rosewood 21 fret fingerboard with pearl dot position markers, Hagstrom bridge, Guild tuners, volume and tone control, hand rests, Hagstrom bridge, Guild tuners, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, master volume, pickup selector. Check out the Starfire pre and post mods Vintage Guild Starfire II Bass Guitar Natural 1973 in great condition. Many bassists, including the Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh, liked both the easy playability of the Starfire's neck and the sound of its Hagstrom pickups. Push-button bass boost, replaced by a tone switch in 1970, Sunburst, Cherry, Emerald Green, Ebony Grain, Amber, Brown, Black, Walnut, Blonde, Natural Mahogany. Early Adopters include Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane (Jack talks about his Guild basses in detail here ) who used these basses, often with heavy modifications in the late 1960s. [more], Guild Starfire - Guitars Amplifiers Strings (1970)Features the Starfire V guitar, the Starfire bass II, Thunderstar bass amp, and the F-47 Bluegrass flat top There might be bangs but it could also be the spot at the back of the head where a center part stops. Click on the images for larger copies. Part of the of the early 70s sound was that both Phil's basses (Gibson EB3 & Guild Starfire II) are short scale basses with flat wound strings, And they were both modded by Alembic. The addition of the BiSonic BS-1 neck pickup on the Starfire Bass II gives bassists a warmer, smooth sound for added tonal flexibility. Who is sitting behind the Fender Dual Showman cab, the one with the JBL speakers? Many bassists, including the Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh, liked both the easy playability of the Starfire's neck and the sound of its Hagstrom pickups. Re: Phil Lesh's Alembic Modified Guild Starfire "The Godfather" « Reply #77 on: August 06, 2020, 03:07:53 PM » Not sure when I took this photo, but Phil wanted to make sure you heard him Maybe these towers factor into the standing wave discussions that have taken place here. If it's me, I'm on my stomach, head on my right arm and facing away. Later (1966), these were reversed, with the pickup moving to the neck position (see a 1968 Starfire Bass I, also left). Width 16 3/8", 1 7/8" thin, length 20 1/4" (1968) 18" (1975). The Guild Starfire Bass II is a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that adds sonic options to one of Guild's most iconic models, the Starfire Bass. This collectible miniature guitar replica was hand-crafted to honor the Legendary bassist. Phil Lesh is interesting - I really started listening to the Dead in college (so 1988) and even saw the Dead three times between 1990-1994. It remained a feature of the Starfire throughout it's production run, with only a slight shape change in 1968. The Starfire Bass II originally debuted in 1967, shortly after the single-pickup version, and quickly garnered a following that included Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane) and Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead). The brand name currently exists as a brand under Córdoba Music Group. The Godfather on the left is a heavily modified Guild Starfire by Alembic. Works perfectly! Phil Lesh’s Guild Starfire Bass with Alembic Electronics featured the Grateful Dead's Steal Your Face logo and was known as "The Godfather." I'm seeing his head face down on his right arm. During the spring of 2018, Weir performed a series of concerts with former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. This is a great-sounding, great-feeling bass. The first rehearsal I took it to, the lead singer called it one bad mamma jamma. The Starfire Bass II originally debuted in 1967, shortly after the single-pickup version, and quickly garnered a following that included Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane) and Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead). This late 1990s re-issue from the fine folks at DeArmond is a fantastic approximation of the … The top (spruce) and back (maple) are carved. Paul's original bass of choice. The Starfire pickups of the 1960s were made by Hagstrom (Bi-Sonic), and were very highly regarded. The Guild Starfire is one of the more desirable vintage bass guitars of the 1960s, and gained recognition by its high profile users of the decade such as Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane, and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide 2021 is out now, © vintageguitarandbass.com 2004-2020 | terms and conditions | donate. That's the bass he played on Live/Dead,and from my understanding Workingman's Deadand American Beauty. Set up with Thomastik-Infeld flatwound strings. Check out other vintage Guild advertisements, Guild Starfire - When we unwrapped it we were knocked-out (1965)This very early Starfire bass advert (mid 1965) from British music magazine Beat Instrumental shows the single pickup Starfire bass with the Hagstrom bisonic pickup in the bridge position. The Starfire Bass II is a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that adds sonic options to one of Guild’s most iconic models, the Starfire Bass. The main features of the Starfire bass are summarised in the table below. A two-pickup Starfire Bass was introduced in ’67, and was popularized during the psychedelic movement by Jack Cassady of the Jefferson Airplane and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead (some examples modified by the up-and-coming Alembic company). Guild is proud to introduce the Star fire Bass II, a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that brings additional sonic options to one of Guild's most iconic models. Phil Lesh is interesting - I really started listening to the Dead in college (so 1988) and even saw the Dead three times between 1990-1994. In the late 60s, into the early 70s, Phil also played a Gibson SG bass - I don't recall the exact model - that was modded to have two of the Guild/Hagstrom single-coil bass pickups from a Starfire bass. Thanks for posting the picture! The doub... You must log in or register to reply here. The original Guild Starfire Bass II was introduced in 1967, at the height of the psychedelic rock era, and the bass found its way into the hands of two of the scene’s most prominent players: Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady and the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh. Me, too, that's why I assumed that position! We were so excited and honored to be a part of the process by donating a Starfire Bass II, which Alembic then modified to match Lesh’s iconic Grateful Dead-era bass. Sf-2 ) iconic Starfire bass II is a trio, with a rack mount Superfilters. 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