Guild Starfire Deluxe DC Sweet Tea Semi-Acoustic Guitar

Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar with Vintage Guild Character

The Guild Starfire Deluxe DC Sweet Tea is a semi-hollow electric guitar built in the Newark St. Collection as a modern reissue of one of Guild's most iconic 1960s designs. Its double-cutaway arched maple body, set mahogany neck, and dual humbucking pickups deliver the warm, articulate voice that has defined the Starfire line for decades. A poplar center block running through the chambered body focuses the semi-hollow resonance for amplified playing, while dual F-holes keep the top acoustically lively. Finished in a warm Sweet Tea burst with full ivory binding, this model brings vintage Guild style into a contemporary playing context.

What Sets the Starfire Deluxe DC Apart

Few semi-hollow guitars in this tier combine a true arched maple top and back with a chambered body and a dedicated center block, and the Starfire Deluxe DC is one of them. The five-knob control layout — individual Volume and Tone for each pickup plus a separate Master Volume — gives players more hands-on tone shaping than most semi-hollow designs offer. Guild's own HB-2+ humbuckers with Alnico V magnets, paired with a Guild Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, round out a specification list that reads like a working musician's wish list.

Semi-Hollow Architecture for Lively, Focused Tone

The body is the foundation of the Starfire Deluxe DC's voice, and every layer has been chosen for a specific reason. An arched maple top and arched maple back with maple sides produce the clarity and definition that maple is known for, while the chambered construction and dual bound F-holes add the airy resonance that defines a semi-hollow instrument. A poplar center block runs through the body to anchor the pickups and bridge, tightening the low end and helping the guitar stay focused at stage volume.

• Body Type: Semi-hollow with center block — the chambered body breathes while the center block keeps amplified response tight
• Top Material: Arched Maple — adds stiffness and definition to the semi-hollow voice
• Back & Sides: Arched Maple back, Maple sides — contributes to the lightweight, resonant feel
• Finish: Gloss Polyurethane — durable, glassy sheen that protects the figured top

Vintage Soft U Neck with Bound Rosewood Fingerboard

A set mahogany neck in Guild's Vintage Soft U profile gives the Starfire Deluxe DC a substantial, familiar feel that suits both rhythm chording and lead work. The bound rosewood fingerboard offers a smooth playing surface with classic visual warmth, while the 12-inch radius and 22 narrow-jumbo frets support comfortable bending and precise note articulation across the entire neck. A bone nut and a 24.75-inch scale length keep the string response relaxed and expressive.

• Neck Material: Mahogany — set-neck construction for resonance and sustain
• Neck Profile: Vintage Soft U — substantial yet comfortable for extended playing
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 305 mm radius — smooth surface with classic warmth
• Scale Length: 629 mm — relaxed string tension for expressive bends
• Nut Width: 43 mm — comfortable spacing for chord work and lead lines

HB-2+ Humbuckers and Deluxe Appointments

Dual Guild HB-2+ humbuckers with Alnico V magnets give the Starfire Deluxe DC a broad tonal range, from warm, rounded neck-position cleans to articulate, cutting bridge-position leads. The five-knob control layout — neck Volume, bridge Volume, neck Tone, bridge Tone, and Master Volume — lets players dial in each pickup independently and then adjust overall output without disturbing those settings. A 3-way toggle selects neck, bridge, or both pickups together, while a Guild Tune-O-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and Grover G2 open-gear tuners handle the hardware side with reliable precision.

• Pickup Configuration: HH — dual humbuckers for noise-free vintage character
• Pickups: Guild HB-2+ humbuckers with Alnico V magnets — warm depth with cutting output when pushed
• Controls: Master Volume + per-pickup Volume and Tone + 3-way toggle — flexible tone shaping for any playing situation
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Guild Tune-O-Matic with stopbar tailpiece — solid string anchoring and accurate intonation
• Tuning Machines: Grover G2 open-gear — smooth, precise tuning stability for live performance

Players Who Want Semi-Hollow Tone with Humbucker Authority

The Guild Starfire Deluxe DC Sweet Tea is the right choice for guitarists who want the airy, resonant character of a semi-hollow body paired with the noise-free performance of humbucking pickups. It suits blues, jazz, indie rock, and classic rock players who need a guitar that can move from clean chord work to overdriven lead lines without losing definition. The Vintage Soft U neck profile and 24.75-inch scale make it approachable for players who prefer a substantial, Les Paul-style feel, while the chambered body and F-holes deliver the woody, breathing quality that solid-body guitars cannot. Working musicians who need a reliable, versatile instrument for stage and studio will appreciate the Grover tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge, and straightforward control layout.

Guild and the Starfire Legacy

The Starfire emerged as part of Guild's electric lineup in the 1960s. The Starfire Deluxe DC carries that legacy forward as part of the Newark St. Collection, a series of vintage-inspired Guild guitars and basses designed to honor the company's most iconic instruments. By pairing the original semi-hollow formula with modern HB-2+ humbuckers and dependable hardware, Guild has built a guitar that respects its heritage while remaining practical for contemporary players.