Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

NAMM 2018: Jetstar reissue leads Guild’s 2018 electric, acoustic and bass guitar announcements

News
By Michael Astley-Brown published 5 January 2018

Starfire Bass, F-55 and D-240E Flame Mahogany among new offerings

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

NAMM 2018: Guild has announced 5 new electric, acoustic and bass guitar models for 2018.

Most notable among the new offerings is the ace-looking Jetstar, which joins the likes of the T-Bird among Guild’s oddball ’60s reissues.

Elsewhere, there’s the return of the rather desirable Starfire Bass, and fresh acoustics, including a Flame Mahogany take on the venerable D-240E.

Head on through the gallery for the skinny, and visit Guild Guitars for more info.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Guild Jetstar

Guild Jetstar

PRESS RELEASE: The Guild Jetstar embodies the ultimate retro vibe with a unique body shape that’s been off the grid since the 1960s.

In terms of style, this reissue remains faithful to the first iteration of the S-50 Jetstar with a solid mahogany body and set neck. Further period-correct details include six inline tuning machines and Guild’s rare pearloid pyramid logo on a scroll-shaped headstock.

The Jetstar features a shallow C shape mahogany neck and pao ferro fingerboard with simple pearloid fret markers.

Instead of its original shortened neck, the newly modified Jetstar has a 25 1/2” scale length for faster feel and improved response. Dual Guild LB-1 Little Bucker pickups bring a usable array of tones from sparkly clean single coil-esque spank to thick and warm humbucker sounds that fatten and sing when driven.

The Jetstar is available in Sea Foam Green with a cream pickguard, or Vintage White or Black with a tortoiseshell pickguard. It includes Guild’s deluxe padded gig bag.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Guild F-55

Guild F-55

PRESS RELEASE: The jumbo bodied F-55 (formerly F-50R) produces an extraordinary amount of volume and warmth, matching a tight grained solid Sitka spruce top with solid Indian rosewood back and sides for extraordinary separation and clarity.

Its strong, focused bass response, sweet, singing mids, and crisp highs give it a distinctive voice that sets this guitar apart from all others.

Elegant cosmetic appointments include the classic Guild “V-block” inlays, gold Gotoh hardware, and a beautiful Nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Exceptional build quality and premium specifications make it a worthy heir to the historic Guild jumbo legacy.

Available in Natural or Sunburst finish, and also available with LR Baggs Electronics.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Guild Starfire Bass II

Guild Starfire Bass II

PRESS RELEASE: 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 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 addition of the BiSonic BS-1 neck pickup on the Starfire Bass II gives bassists a warmer, smooth sound for added tonal flexibility. As its name suggests, the Flamed Maple version replaced the original mahogany body with flamed maple. It includes dual Guild BS-1 pickups, individual volume, tone, and master volume knobs, and a pickup selector switch.

A clear, high gloss finish highlights this bass guitar’s natural beauty.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Guild Starfire II ST

Guild Starfire II ST

PRESS RELEASE: Meet the Starfire II ST, a hollowbody electric guitar designed with a graceful single Florentine cutaway and extra thin mahogany body.

Equipped with dual LB-1 Little Bucker pickups (replicas of Guild’s original smaller size humbuckers), the Starfire II ST sounds uniquely Guild.

Other premium features include a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, elegant ivory white body binding, and a beautiful high gloss finish.

This model features a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for increased sustain and stability. Available in Black and Natural.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.

Read more
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Acoustics 2026: the new all-solid core range takes its design cues from classic high-end Gibson USA builds.
Guitars Epiphone raises the bar for its acoustic guitar range with all-solid builds, rosewood fingerboards and affordable takes on Gibson classics
 
 
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist Series in cutaway and non-cutaway versions, and in Rosewood Burst or Antique Natural finishes.
Guitars A future player favourite? Gibson unveils the Songwriter Recording Artist acoustics
 
 
Gretsch Jim Dandy Parlor Ltd in Vintage White
Guitars Gretsch just released the most vibey acoustic guitar of the year and it’s only $249
 
 
The Gretsch Electromatic Premier Jet reinvents the classic singlecut. Yes, there is the chambered body as before but with a compound radius fingerboard, Twin Six pickups, and contemporary touches such as Luminlay side-markers it is very much a modern update.
Guitars “The perfect marriage of brilliance and brute force”: Gretsch unveils the reinvention of the Jet
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
New for 2026: Gretsch Electromatic Baritones, ft the CVT on the left, the Jet on the right
Guitars Gretsch reinvents a cult classic loved by Jack Antonoff as it unveils two Electromatic baritones
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Eastman Guitars Fullertone Offset
Electric Guitars “We’re back in Laurel Canyon in the late '60s”: Eastman Fullertone Offset review
 
 
Jackson Pro Plus Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET8
Artists Misha Mansoor’s Evertune-equipped 8-string might be the heaviest signature Jackson of all time
 
 
Ed Sheeran with his new PRS SE Hollowbody Piezo Baritone
Guitars PRS and Ed Sheeran just unveiled a hollowbody baritone electric for all occasions
 
 
Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS
Guitars Is this the beginning of the end for the S-style? Fender issues cease and desist to US builder
 
 
A Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT electric guitar lying on a dark floor with a coiled guitar cable next to it
Electric Guitars “I wanted to write it off after seeing the fretboard and feeling the back of the neck, but it won me over,”: Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT review
 
 
New for 2026: Gretsch Electromatic Baritones, ft the CVT on the left, the Jet on the right
Guitars Gretsch reinvents a cult classic loved by Jack Antonoff as it unveils two Electromatic baritones
 
 
Latest in News
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 8: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Olivia Rodrigo performs on stage during an exclusive Billions Club Live show to celebrate the partnership between Spotify and FC Barcelona before El Clásico on May 8, 2026 in Barcelona, ​​Spain.
Artists Olivia Rodrigo gives the answer to the question that everyone’s been asking about her new single
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: A guide to best Memorial Day sales
 
 
[L-R] Khemmis' Phil Pendergast and Ben Hutcherson [inset] A Behringer Super Fuzz
Artists Khemmis just made one of the heavy metal records of the year using a $28 plastic fuzz pedal
 
 
Singer and mastermind Brian Wilson of the rock and roll band "The Beach Boys" directs from the control room while recording the album "Pet Sounds" in 1966 in Los Angeles, California
Singles And Albums “I just shut up and did whatever Brian told me to do”: The surviving Beach Boys talk about the making of Pet Sounds
 
 
Sir Robin Millar CBE, 2024
Producers & Engineers “Inclusion is not charity”: Blind producer takes action against firm he co-founded
 
 
Emily Green, Cameron Winter and Dominic DiGesu of Geese at Brooklyn Paramount on November 21, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Griffin Lotz/Rolling Stone via Getty Images)
Artists Geese’s record label dismisses the suggestion that their success was contrived amid 'psyop' drama
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...