For many, the return of the Epiphone Casino and Riviera will be the big semi-hollow talking points of the year, but if you are in the market for an affordable model with classy DNA, this pair of Starfires should be on your shortlist. The DC, meanwhile, looks the business in Cherry Red. To have Seafoam Green on a semi-hollow format is a lot of green, but there are more sober finish options available.

That wobble, especially when allied to a loud overdriven tone that's just flirting with the idea of feedback, is very musical, inspiring and very difficult to quit. On balance, though, the SC is the harder of the two to put down. Whether you are dialling in slapback delay and some spring reverb for a rockabilly set or playing new wave and punk, both can work the shift. Sure, metal is out, but make a good fist at everything else. They are both very good fun guitars, perhaps because they are blank slates when it comes to expressing your style upon them.

At this price, it is very hard to argue with what Guild is offering here. Glorious.Ī deluxe addition to Guild's Newark St series that evokes the end of the jazz era and the start of rock 'n' roll.Ī few finish niggles such as file marks on the neck binding and frets that could use just a little more polishing are not enough to sour us on the deal. Okay, it is mostly hollow, so feedback can be an issue, but get it right, hit a clean boost into the front-end of a Fender-style amp and the thing damn near takes off. The SC GVT is available in Seafoam Green as reviewed, Snowcrest White and Antique Burst, while the DC comes in Cherry Red as reviewed, and Pelham Blue. Obvious differences first: Starfire I DC is a doublecut, the SC GVT a single-cut with a licensed Bigsby B70 that's Guild-branded – the so-called 'Guildsby'. In terms of build, there are some notable similarities with both our review guitars.

If you've ever found yourself writing the semi-hollow format for rock styles, you might be surprised at guitars like this can do. So you have jazz, blues, and what works for blues typically works for rock 'n' roll. There's a classiness to their design that dates back to the 60s, when Guild was actually behind the curve on electric jazz boxes and was trying to get a toe-hold in the game.īefore he found his thrill with polka-dot Strats, a young Buddy Guy would tote a Starfire when he played the Chicago club scene in the late 60s. The Starfire models we have today retail at around 500 bucks but you would not know it to look at them.

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