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
Hottest music tech gear of NAMM
Tech The best music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and more
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
Guitars The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
A woman plays an MPC XL and synthesizer in a home studio
Tech After years of covering the NAMM cycle I've never seen flagship gear hit the shelves so quickly - here are 6 of the hottest NAMM 26 releases you can pick up right now
A glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Guitars Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
Faith Guitars Nexus Neptune and Venus 2026
Acoustic Guitars “For those seeking acoustic power, projection and an enormous amount of volume": Faith unleashes a slew of updates and new models at NAMM
Abasi Córdoba Stage 7 nylon string guitar press image
Guitars “Engineered for modern electric players seeking authentic nylon tine without the traditional limitations of classical instruments”: Abasi’s nylon 7-string opens for pre-orders
Magnatone Slash the Lil’ Viper 8-watt combo amp press image
Guitar Amps “Its sound kicks the ass of amps three times its size”: Slash’s latest Magnatone Lil’ Viper 8-watt combo can go toe-to-toe with the big boys
A lifestyle press image of the Sterling By Music Man StingRay Baritone SR50 in Toluca Lake Blue leaning against a Marshall amp in an empty room with concrete walls
Guitars “A deeper low-end presence within the StingRay lineup”: Sterling by Music Man launches its first ever baritone electric guitar
Press release images of a Blackstar Beam Mini Desktop Bluetooth Guitar Amplifier on a white background
Guitar Amps Blackstar unveils the Beam Mini – it’s portable, desktop-friendly, and as the first guitar amp to allow players to load Neural Amp Modeller captures, it's a game-changer too
Squier Sonic Series: featuring mini-Stratocasters, single-humbucker Esquires and cult offsets too, the Fender-owned budget brand has made a big play for the beginner market in 2026
Guitars Squier unveils huge Sonic Series refresh – super-affordable, beginner and child-friendly versions of classic Fender models
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 2026: Affordable electrics
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
Guitars “The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
A close-up of the new Arc Tilt tremolo bridge on a Strandberg guitar
Guitars "Rethinking motion, balance, and response": Strandberg’s new Arc TILT tremolo has been designed from the ground up for a more natural, expressive and inspiring playing experience
A black and white photo of Chris Isaak playing his Silvertone 1446 in 1987. On the right, a cutout of the recently reissued guitar in black and sunburst finishes, with the black version offered with a Bigsby B70 vibrato.
Guitars Silvertone resurrects the cult semi-hollow electric guitar loved by Elvis Costello, Hubert Sumlin and Chris Isaak
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 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 glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
 
 
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
“The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
 
 
Faith Guitars Nexus Neptune and Venus 2026
“For those seeking acoustic power, projection and an enormous amount of volume": Faith unleashes a slew of updates and new models at NAMM
 
 
Taylor Next Generation Grand Auditorium: the two refreshed cutaway electro-acoustic guitars are photographed in front of a green sofa and a vintage hi-fi unit.
Taylor refreshes flagship acoustic with a trio of game-changing features – meet the Next Generation Grand Auditorium
 
 
Squier Sonic Series: featuring mini-Stratocasters, single-humbucker Esquires and cult offsets too, the Fender-owned budget brand has made a big play for the beginner market in 2026
Squier unveils huge Sonic Series refresh – super-affordable, beginner and child-friendly versions of classic Fender models
 
 
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
A glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
 
 
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
“This has been a difficult decision for us”: Harley Benton is closing its US store on Reverb
 
 
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
Abasi Córdoba Stage 7 nylon string guitar press image
“Engineered for modern electric players seeking authentic nylon tine without the traditional limitations of classical instruments”: Abasi’s nylon 7-string opens for pre-orders
 
 
A lifestyle press image of the Sterling By Music Man StingRay Baritone SR50 in Toluca Lake Blue leaning against a Marshall amp in an empty room with concrete walls
“A deeper low-end presence within the StingRay lineup”: Sterling by Music Man launches its first ever baritone electric guitar
 
 
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
“The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
 
 
Latest in News
Lily Allen physical release
A dish best served cold: Lily Allen releases a version of her latest album as a novelty butt plug USB stick
 
 
Swedish singer Zara Larsson performs at the main stage of the Rock in Rio music festival at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
The making of Zara Larsson's 2015 hit, Lush Life, and the original version you might never have heard
 
 
Napster 26 mock-up cassette tape
“We don’t think that the future of music involves the labels anymore”: Napster is back – with a new AI app
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: PinkPantheress attends The Fashion Awards 2025 presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
PinkPantheress is so Sincere as she joins MJ Cole on a new version of a UK Garage classic
 
 
Sir Brian May attends the Cirque du Soleil OVO VIP premiere
“Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment”: Brian May on why Queen won’t tour the US
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $220 off a stunning Gretsch, $150 off a unique Les Paul Custom Widow, as well as hundreds off pianos, interfaces, and headphones
 
 

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...