Guild Starfire Custom DC GVT Sweet Tea Semi-Acoustic Guitar

Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar With Vintage '60s Starfire DNA

The Guild Starfire Custom DC GVT Sweet Tea is a semi-hollow electric guitar that revives the iconic 1960s Starfire design. Part of the Newark St. Collection, this double-cutaway model pairs an arched maple body with a center block, DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups and a smooth Guild Vibrato tailpiece. The Sweet Tea finish gives the guitar a warm, vintage-amber aesthetic that complements its retro appointments.

What Sets This Starfire Apart

What makes this model stand out is its use of genuine DeArmond Dynasonic pickups — a design Harry DeArmond developed in the 1940s that delivers bright, punchy, twangy single-coil tones unlike any standard pickup. Combined with the Guild Vibrato tailpiece, a Tune-O-Matic bridge on a pinned ebony base and a bone nut, the instrument offers expressive pitch-bending, articulate note definition and the woody resonance semi-hollow guitars are famous for. The Custom trim package adds mother-of-pearl and abalone V-block fingerboard inlays, tortoise pickguard and full ivory binding.

Arched Maple Semi-Hollow Body for Airy, Focused Tone

Built around an arched maple top and arched maple back with maple sides, the semi-hollow body delivers the bright, articulate attack maple is known for while the chambered construction adds open, resonant character. A center block runs through the body to anchor the pickups and bridge, providing structural focus for amplified playing while the surrounding hollow chambers and dual F-holes contribute the airy, woody voice semi-hollow designs are loved for.

• Body Type: Semi-hollow with center block — hollow resonance with amplified focus
• Top/Back Material: Arched Maple — bright, articulate attack with vintage visual character
• Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane — durable sheen that protects the wood
• Body Dimensions: 464 mm length, 416 mm lower bout, 44 mm depth — classic Starfire proportions that give the guitar its recognizable silhouette on stage

Vintage Soft U Mahogany Neck With Bound Ebony Fingerboard

A mahogany set neck anchors the body with a sturdy, resonant connection and is shaped to Guild's Vintage Soft U profile for a substantial yet comfortable feel under the fretting hand. The 629 mm scale length provides a slightly looser string response that rewards expressive bends and fluid chord work, while the ebony fingerboard with a 305 mm radius and 22 narrow-jumbo frets gives players a smooth, precise surface.

• Neck Material: Mahogany (set neck) — sturdy, resonant connection to the body
• Neck Profile: Vintage Soft U — substantial, familiar feel for chord work and leads
• Scale Length: 629 mm (24 3/4") — relaxed string tension for expressive bending
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 305 mm radius, 22 narrow-jumbo frets — smooth, precise playability
• Nut: Bone, 43 mm width — hard, consistent contact point for tuning stability

DeArmond Dynasonics, Guild Vibrato and Grover G2 Hardware

The electronics center on a pair of DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups — a design developed in the 1940s that produces bright, punchy, twangy tones with more character than standard single-coils. A 3-way toggle selects bridge, both pickups combined, or neck, while individual Volume and Tone controls for each pickup plus a Master Volume give players flexible tone-shaping. The Guild Vibrato tailpiece adds expressive pitch movement, paired with a Guild Tune-O-Matic bridge on a pinned ebony base for accurate intonation and solid sustain.

• Pickup Configuration: SS (DeArmond Dynasonic single-coils) — bright, punchy, twangy mid-century voice
• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, Master Volume, 3-way toggle — flexible tone sculpting without disturbing pickup balance
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Guild Tune-O-Matic with pinned ebony base, Guild Vibrato tailpiece — accurate intonation and expressive pitch-bending
• Tuning Machines: Grover G2 open-gear — precise, stable tuning for live performance
• Factory Strings: D'Addario EXL110 .010-.046 — balanced tension for a wide range of playing styles

Players Who Want Vintage Single-Coil Tone With Modern Stability

This model is the right choice for guitarists who want the bright, twangy character of a vintage single-coil pickup paired with the woody resonance of a semi-hollow body. It suits players working in jazz, country, indie rock, blues and classic rock who need an instrument that adapts to multiple styles and can handle clean arpeggios, gritty rhythm work and expressive lead playing without losing definition. The Vintage Soft U neck profile and 629 mm scale length make it accessible to players who prefer a substantial, traditional feel, while the Guild Vibrato tailpiece and Master Volume control give performing musicians the expressive range they need on stage.

The Guild Starfire Legacy and the Newark St. Collection

The Starfire line has been one of Guild's most recognizable electric guitar designs since it debuted in the 1960s, and the Custom DC GVT carries that heritage forward as part of the Newark St. Collection — a series of vintage-inspired instruments that honor Guild's mid-century legacy while adding contemporary touches. Now operating under the Yamaha Guitar Group umbrella, Guild continues to build the Starfire with the arched maple construction, set mahogany neck and DeArmond Dynasonic electronics that defined the original. The Sweet Tea finish is one of several color options in the range.