Post by grayn on Nov 24, 2023 17:58:44 GMT
About 2 1/2 weeks ago I acquired a Guild X175B, hollow bodied electric guitar. Whilst at the shop I'd also played a Guild Starfire III and it had been very close, which one to get. I sold some gear recently and I immediately thought of the Starfire. So I went over to Promenade Music today, to try out the Guild. As always, I like to try out a guitar with others, for comparison. So I pulled out some tasty Gretsch Electromatics and even had a go on a Shergold Masquerader SM01-SD. I really must get one of these Shergolds one day. I absolutely love the all rosewood necks, that are gorgeous and very smooth to play. But the Seymour Duncan pickups didn't get the tone I was after, though they would probably suit me on another day. The Gretsch Electros were all very nicely built and finished. Some had Filtertrons, some their new P90s. All sounded pretty nice but the Starfire III's pickups really shone. It is a pricier guitar and the HB pickups are just so nice. They have a lovely snap to them, balanced with a transparent warmth. Kind of mini-HB meets a Filtertron sound. It's funny that pretty much every youtube video on the Starfire III has someone playing jazz on them. Yet I'd say that this Guild's tone is more suited to vintage rock n roll and rockabilly. The whole ambience of the guitar, in both looks and sound, is just so sixties. I think it's a real beauty, that plays really nicely and is so well balanced. It's thin 1 3/4 inch body is very practical.
So, now it's home, how does it compare to the Guild X175B? Sonically, the X175B has a more single coil sound, as you might expect, yet it balances that with a full bodied tone. Output is similar between the 2, yet actually, the Starfire III's HBs have more top end harmonics, that give it that snap and clarity.
They both look very cool, to my eyes but the X175B has the edge, it really is one of the prettiest guitars I have owned. They are both a pleasure to play but I'd give the edge to the Starfire III, with it's far slimmer and very practical, body shape. The X175B is the pricier of the 2 and it shows, in having an ebony fingerboard, with block markers and both bound f-holes and headstock. But for feel and sound, they are equal, if a little different. I am very lucky to own both.
So, now it's home, how does it compare to the Guild X175B? Sonically, the X175B has a more single coil sound, as you might expect, yet it balances that with a full bodied tone. Output is similar between the 2, yet actually, the Starfire III's HBs have more top end harmonics, that give it that snap and clarity.
They both look very cool, to my eyes but the X175B has the edge, it really is one of the prettiest guitars I have owned. They are both a pleasure to play but I'd give the edge to the Starfire III, with it's far slimmer and very practical, body shape. The X175B is the pricier of the 2 and it shows, in having an ebony fingerboard, with block markers and both bound f-holes and headstock. But for feel and sound, they are equal, if a little different. I am very lucky to own both.