The 2022 Guild Starfire IV Cherry Red is a Made in Korea semi-hollow electric from Guild's Newark St. Collection, combining classic 1960s-inspired styling with a practical modern specification. Its thinline double-cutaway body uses arched mahogany construction around a solid spruce centre block, giving the guitar an open, resonant response while providing greater feedback control than a fully hollow design.

A pair of Guild LB-1 “Little Bucker” humbuckers gives the Starfire IV a distinctive voice with more clarity and focus than many full-size humbuckers, while the 24.75" scale, Vintage Soft “U” neck and ebony fingerboard make it a comfortable choice for blues, rock, indie, soul, alternative and studio work.

This Pre-Owned example is finished in Cherry Red, carries serial number KSG2204614, is graded Very Good condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Guild
Series	Newark St. Collection
Model	Starfire IV
Year	2022
Origin	Made in Korea
Finish	Cherry Red
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Vintage-inspired Guild semi-hollow with distinctive LB-1 pickups
Best For	Blues, rock, indie, soul, alternative, recording and live performance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This 2022 Guild Starfire IV is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition reflects a well-presented Pre-Owned instrument that has seen normal previous use while remaining suitable for regular playing, recording, rehearsals and live performance.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 2022 Guild Starfire IV Cherry Red
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This Starfire IV is graded Very Good, making it a strong option for players looking for a clean Pre-Owned Newark St. Collection semi-hollow that can be enjoyed as an everyday instrument.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Guild Starfire IV has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck and bridge pickups tested
• Three-way pickup selector checked
• Individual volume and tone controls tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Ebony fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Bridge and tailpiece checked
• Strap buttons inspected
• General hardware assessed
• Tuning stability checked
• Overall playability assessed
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes action, neck relief, frets, intonation, tuning stability, electronics, pickup output, bridge setup, hardware and overall playability.

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The Guild Starfire IV?

Classic Guild Semi-Hollow Design

The Starfire IV uses Guild's graceful double-cutaway thinline body with a solid centre block, combining semi-hollow resonance with the sustain and feedback control needed for amplified stage and studio use.

Guild LB-1 Little Bucker Pickups

The twin LB-1 pickups are replicas of Guild's smaller vintage humbucker design, offering hum-cancelling performance with a clear, articulate response that sits between brighter single-coil character and the thickness of many full-size humbuckers.

Mahogany Semi-Hollow Construction

Arched mahogany top, back and sides give the Cherry Red version a warm foundation, while the internal spruce centre block adds focus and stability when the guitar is amplified.

Comfortable Vintage-Inspired Neck

A three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 24.75" scale and Vintage Soft “U” profile provide a substantial but approachable playing feel, with the ebony fingerboard adding a smooth playing surface and clear note attack.

Distinctive Guild Styling

The Cherry Red finish, double-cutaway Starfire body, bound construction and Guild Harp tailpiece give the model an identity of its own rather than making it simply another interpretation of the familiar semi-hollow formula.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Guild Starfire IV vs Gibson ES-335

The ES-335 is the obvious choice for players prioritising Gibson heritage and full-size humbucker character, while the Starfire IV offers a distinctly Guild alternative with smaller LB-1 pickups, Harp tailpiece styling and its own semi-hollow voice.

Guild Starfire IV vs Epiphone ES-335

An Epiphone ES-335 provides an accessible route into traditional semi-hollow design, while the Korean-built Newark St. Starfire IV is better suited to players looking for a more individual instrument with Guild-specific pickups, styling and hardware.

Guild Starfire IV vs Gretsch Electromatic

Gretsch Electromatic semi-hollows often lean towards a brighter, more percussive voice and distinctive Gretsch styling, whereas the Starfire IV offers a smoother twin-humbucker sound with a traditional centre-block semi-hollow feel.

Guild Starfire IV vs Guild Starfire V

The Starfire V develops the same broad semi-hollow concept with additional appointments, including a master volume and vibrato on relevant versions, while the IV keeps the control layout and hardware more straightforward.

Who Is It For?

Blues Players

The LB-1 pickups provide enough warmth for expressive neck-pickup lead tones while retaining clarity when an amplifier begins to break up.

Rock And Alternative Guitarists

The centre-block construction works well with overdrive and distortion, giving the guitar enough focus for rhythm and lead work without losing its semi-hollow character.

Indie Players

The Starfire's unusual Guild styling and articulate pickup response make it a strong alternative for players who want something less predictable than the usual solid-body or ES-style choices.

Soul And Clean Rhythm Players

Clear note definition and the open response of the semi-hollow body suit chordal work, clean rhythm parts and more dynamic playing styles.

Studio And Live Guitarists

The combination of twin humbuckers, centre-block construction and separate pickup controls provides enough versatility for contrasting guitar parts without complicated switching.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Blues
• Classic rock
• Indie
• Alternative
• Soul
• R&B
• Pop
• Jazz-influenced playing
• Roots
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Studio recording
• Rehearsals
• Live performance

What Makes Guild LB-1 Little Buckers Different?

Guild's LB-1 “Little Bucker” is a smaller-format humbucking pickup based on Guild's original 1960s design. Its narrower format contributes to the pickup's distinctive clarity and focused response while retaining the noise-cancelling benefits of a humbucker. Guild's current documentation describes the modern LB-1s as replicas of those original smaller humbuckers.

That character suits the Starfire IV particularly well. The guitar can produce warm semi-hollow sounds without becoming overly thick, while the additional definition makes chord voicings, cleaner rhythm work and lightly driven tones especially effective.

Looking for advice on choosing the right Guild Starfire, Pre-Owned semi-hollow guitar or Newark St. Collection model? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Guild Starfire IV

Guild introduced its first Starfire models at the beginning of the 1960s, but the double-cutaway, centre-block Starfire IV joined the family in 1963. The design gave Guild a semi-hollow electric capable of handling louder stage levels while retaining the resonance and visual character associated with its hollow instruments.

The Starfire IV quickly became one of the defining electric guitars in Guild's 1960s catalogue. Its thinline body, twin pickups and distinctive Guild styling offered musicians an alternative to the increasingly popular semi-hollow guitars being produced elsewhere in America. Guild's own historical serial records document substantial Starfire IV production through the second half of the 1960s.

At NAMM 2013, Guild revived a selection of its classic electrics under the Newark St. Collection name. The collection referenced the Newark Street location associated with Guild's historic Hoboken, New Jersey period and returned designs such as the Starfire IV to regular production.

This 2022 Korean-made example therefore belongs to a modern series built around one of Guild's most important 1960s electric designs, combining the recognisable Starfire appearance with contemporary manufacturing and recreated LB-1 pickups.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Brand	Guild
Series	Newark St. Collection
Model	Starfire IV
Year	2022
Country of Manufacture	South Korea
Finish	Cherry Red
Body Type	Double-Cutaway Semi-Hollow
Body Top	Arched Mahogany
Body Back	Arched Mahogany
Body Sides	Mahogany
Centre Block	Solid Spruce
Neck Material	3-Piece Mahogany / Maple / Mahogany
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Neck Profile	Vintage Soft “U”
Fingerboard Material	Ebony
Fingerboard Radius	9.5"
Scale Length	24.75" / 629mm
Number of Frets	22
Fret Type	Narrow Jumbo
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1 11/16" / 43mm
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Guild LB-1 Little Bucker
Bridge Pickup	Guild LB-1 Little Bucker
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Neck Volume & Tone, Bridge Volume & Tone
Pickup Selector	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Guild Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece	Guild Harp Tailpiece
Tuning Machines	Grover Sta-Tite
Hardware Finish	Nickel
Serial Number	KSG2204614
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

The period Cherry Red Starfire IV specification documents the mahogany semi-hollow construction, spruce centre block, three-piece neck, ebony fingerboard, LB-1 pickups, 24.75" scale and Guild hardware used for this Newark St. model.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the Starfire IV's passive electronics.

Connect the guitar to a suitable amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is an excellent way to access discontinued finishes, earlier specifications and models that may no longer appear in a manufacturer's current range.

The Newark St. Starfire IV is particularly appealing for players who want the history and visual identity of a classic Guild electric without moving into the price bracket of an original 1960s instrument.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy distinctive and less-common instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The 2022 Guild Starfire IV Cherry Red is a strong choice for players who want a versatile semi-hollow but would prefer something with more individual character than the most obvious alternatives. Its mahogany construction, LB-1 Little Buckers and classic Guild styling give it a warm yet articulate voice that works particularly well for blues, indie, rock, soul and studio playing.

Best suited for: Players looking for a distinctive, high-quality semi-hollow for recording, rehearsals and live performance.

Customers usually upgrade from: Entry-to-mid-level semi-hollow guitars and more affordable ES-style instruments.

Most commonly paired with: Clean or lightly driven valve amplifiers, boost and overdrive pedals, tremolo, delay and reverb.

Our tip: The LB-1 pickups are one of the main reasons to choose the Starfire IV — they retain humbucker warmth while giving chords and clean passages plenty of definition.

Showroom feedback: The Starfire IV is particularly appealing to players who like traditional semi-hollow ergonomics but want a guitar with a clearly different visual and tonal identity.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something distinctive within the Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Decades of experience buying and selling guitars
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Secure online ordering
• UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after purchase
• Extensive experience with used and Pre-Owned instruments

For an individual semi-hollow guitar such as this Guild Starfire IV, our team can also help with questions about playing feel, pickup character and whether the format is right for your setup.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the 24.75" scale affect the playing feel?

The shorter scale gives slightly lower string tension than a typical 25.5" guitar when using the same gauge, which many players find comfortable for bending, vibrato and expressive lead playing.

Can the Starfire IV handle overdrive and distortion?

Yes. Its solid centre block helps control feedback compared with a fully hollow guitar, making the Starfire IV well suited to blues, rock and moderately high-gain playing. Very high volume can still encourage musical feedback, as with most semi-hollow instruments.

What string gauge works well on the Starfire IV?

Guild specifies medium-gauge .011–.049 strings for this model, although lighter sets can be fitted to suit personal preference. A significant change in gauge may benefit from a corresponding setup adjustment.

Is the ebony fingerboard suitable for fast lead playing?

Yes. Ebony provides a smooth, firm playing surface with clear note attack and works equally well for chordal playing, bends and faster lead work.

Can the Starfire IV be used with pedals and amp modellers?

Yes. Its passive output works with conventional amplifiers, pedalboards, multi-effects processors, amp modellers and compatible recording interfaces.

How should a semi-hollow guitar be stored?

Keep it away from rapid temperature changes, excessive heat and extreme humidity. A stable indoor environment and sensible use of the hardcase will help protect the guitar when it is not being played.