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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic
Electric Guitars "It isn’t just a collection of cool features; it’s a tool designed to make your recorded guitar sound better, right out of the box": Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
Two Taylor beginner acoustic guitars lying on a purple floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2026: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
PRS SE Fiorre HH
Electric Guitars “These are classy sounds with no danger of single coil hum... a near-perfect function-gig guitar”: PRS Fiore HH Satin review
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars Best cheap acoustic guitars 2026: Top picks for strummers on a budget
Gibson Les Paul Special DC
Electric Guitars “Virtually every sound I conjure recalls a classic player or style”: Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cut review
Paul McCartney points to the crowd and raises an eyebrow as he performs with his iconic Höfner Violin Bass
Guitars Paul McCartney's favourite bass company is in trouble – Höfner's future uncertain as it files provisional insolvency proceedings
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: Find your favourite acoustic strings
YouTuber Carlos Asensio presents his brand-new Harley Benton ST-Modern signature model, which is offered in Cactus Green Metallic Gloss and Ice Blue Metallic Gloss finishes
Guitars Harley Benton just put a Vega-Trem on YouTuber Carlos Asensio's $700 signature guitar: is this the best-value S-style on the market?
Close up of LR Baggs Anthem pickup in an acoustic guitar
Guitar Pickups Best acoustic guitar pickups 2025: electrify your acoustic for stage, studio and sound fx – our top picks for all budgets
A Blackstar Beam Solo guitar headphone amp plugged into an electric guitar
Guitar Amps “The modelling offers sumptuous guitar tones with plenty of variety”: Blackstar Beam Solo review
Fuchs Audio Joe Bonamassa JB-ODS: the new signature 100-watt combo is inspired by the Dumble Overdrive Special but has key differences, such as reverb – and it has Bonamassa's signature Celestion speaker
Artists Joe Bonamassa just teamed up with Fuchs Audio on a signature tube amp that might just save you spending $175,000 on a Dumble
Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X – The latest and most high-profile addition to the Finnish brand's signature plugin range, Mayer's plugin is replete with captures of boutique, rare and one-off amps and pedals
Artists It’s official! Neural DSP’s John Mayer Archetype plugin suite is here – and with Dumble, Klon and Reverberator captures, it is the motherlode for boutique electric guitar tone
Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Drive: the first in the Series A range, this is an all-analogue pedal inspired by the Herzog unit made famous by Randy Bachman
Guitars Strymon debuts Series A analogue pedals range with the Fairfax – a “chameleon” drive that can “breathe fire”
Elton John and Davey Johnstone perform at the piano during their 2012 tour, with Johnstone playing the Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' that John originally bought for himself, but gave it to Johnstone after the band had all their gear stolen.
Artists Davey Johnstone on guitar shopping with Elton John – and how he ended up with his iconic Les Paul Custom
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

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

News
By Michael Astley-Brown ( Total Guitar, Guitarist ) 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.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
A family photo of the newly refreshed Gretsch Streamliner and Electromatic Jet singlecut electric guitars, in various classic and bold finishes.
Gretsch relaunches the Jet in Streamliner and Electromatic series – and there is a single-pickup rock 'n' roll machine FTW
 
 
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
 
 
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs plays his signature Epiphone Riviera [left], while Gem Archer plays his new Masterbilt Sheraton: Epiphone released the two signature Oasis guitars simultaneously—coincidentally or not, on the 30th anniversary of Wonderwall.
Epiphone goes 'madferit' as it rolls out signature semi-hollows for Oasis's Bonehead and Gem Archer
 
 
Herman Li of DragonForce sits with his new PRS SE signature model, Chleo, in a purple-lit room filled with arcade machines.
PRS refreshes SE range and takes a top-tier shredder to the masses with Herman Li's Chleo
 
 
Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini: featuring a brightly-coloured rosette graphic designed with the musical polymath, this beginner friendly acoustic has a bold five-string design for his signature DAEAD tuning.
Taylor teams up with Jacob Collier for signature acoustics that declare standard tuning DAEAD – and they’re accessibly priced
 
 
Harley Benton Custom Line King-12CE NT: the cutaway jumbo 12-string features an all-maple build, gold hardware and Fishman electronics
Harley Benton unveils Custom Line jumbo 12-string with a $350 price tag that’s for the Byrds
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic
"It isn’t just a collection of cool features; it’s a tool designed to make your recorded guitar sound better, right out of the box": Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
 
 
Paul McCartney points to the crowd and raises an eyebrow as he performs with his iconic Höfner Violin Bass
Paul McCartney's favourite bass company is in trouble – Höfner's future uncertain as it files provisional insolvency proceedings
 
 
YouTuber Carlos Asensio presents his brand-new Harley Benton ST-Modern signature model, which is offered in Cactus Green Metallic Gloss and Ice Blue Metallic Gloss finishes
Harley Benton just put a Vega-Trem on YouTuber Carlos Asensio's $700 signature guitar: is this the best-value S-style on the market?
 
 
PRS SE Fiorre HH
“These are classy sounds with no danger of single coil hum... a near-perfect function-gig guitar”: PRS Fiore HH Satin review
 
 
Gibson Les Paul Special DC
“Virtually every sound I conjure recalls a classic player or style”: Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cut review
 
 
Fender has made an exacting replica of Tom Morello's 'Arm The Homeless' guitar, the mongrel S-style made from parts that became the cornerstone of the Rage Against The Machine guitarist's sound.
Tom Morello’s favourite 'Arm the Homeless' electric guitar has just been recreated by Fender
 
 
Latest in News
Purple Rain vinyl side B
How Prince's When Doves Cry and Purple Rain ended up in the Stranger Things finale
 
 
moog
“He feels it should be in the hands of people who will put it to good use”: John Paul Jones’ studio gear goes up for auction – including a rare £24,000 Moog Model 15
 
 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 29: Peter Gabriel performs at Little Caesars Arena on September 29, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)
“We are sliding into a period of transition like no other”: Peter Gabriel to release follow up to i/o this year
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Shawn "Clown" Crahan attends the ASCAP GRAMMY Brunch in the Garden at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on February 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
“A professor in my pocket”: Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan says he’s been using AI “my whole life”
 
 
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava
Splice partners with UMG on the development of AI-powered tools and virtual instruments
 
 
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 09: Billy Joel performs at Allegiant Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight”: Billy Joel makes surprise return to live performance
 
 

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
  • 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...