STARFIRE ON THE BIGGEST STAGE: EIAN MCNEELY AT COACHELLA
When it comes to modern bass playing,
versatility and character rarely come in
the same package—but the Guild®
Starfire Bass series has long lived in that
intersection. From vintage-inspired tone
to bold visual identity, the Starfire has
carved out a unique place in the world of
bass guitars.
To see how it holds up on one of the
world's biggest stages, we caught up
with Eian McNeely, who recently brought
his custom Guild Starfire Bass II to
Coachella with artist sombr. From
massive low-end presence to
unexpected sonic textures, Eian shared
how the Starfire helped shape his live
sound—and why semi-hollow basses
continue to inspire his playing.
You just played Coachella with your custom Guild Starfire Bass — how did it feel to
bring that instrument to such a massive stage, and how did it perform in that live
environment?
"Being on that stage at all was incredible. Also having my first ever full custom bass was
incredible. It’s rare these days that I really get to use an amp, much less get to crank it,
and doing that with a hollowbody I was able to get some really tasteful rock 'n' roll bass
feedback which is VERY RARE for me." On a stage as expansive as Coachella, subtle nuances can easily get lost—but the
Starfire Bass proved otherwise. Its semi-hollow construction opened the door to
expressive, dynamic tones, even allowing Eian to tap into controlled feedback—
something seldom heard in modern bass rigs.
How would you describe the tone of the Starfire Bass in the context of the sombr set —
and what role did it play in shaping the overall low-end and feel of the performance?
"Currently I'm using the Starfire as my 'fake' 5 string bass, strung up as BEAD. My tech
and I were discussing pickups that would handle low end better while maintaining highs -
the Guild BS-1 BiSonics came up and that was that. Upon arrival, it sounded great, it did take
some small tweaking to get it to sit the way we like but over all it was just finding how to
blend the pickups together and mix in a few of my effects. It's got a lovely top-end chime
to cut thru the mix, while setting a solid foundation for everyone else to build on top of." Balancing clarity and depth is no small task in a live mix, but the Starfire Bass delivered
both. With its BS-1 BiSonic pickups and flexible tonal range, it provided a clear, articulate top
end while anchoring the band with a powerful low-frequency foundation.
When you're choosing a bass for live
performance, what are the most
important factors for you — tone,
response, feel, versatility, or something
else entirely?
"When I'm picking out a bass for playing I
usually pay attention to what feels best in
my hands. If it's not comfortable for the
first 2 minutes I will usually put it down. I
also like when a bass has its own specific
sound depending how I’m using it.
Sometimes a more versatile workhorse is
needed but if you can weasel a fun and
strange tone in, I like to push some
boundaries and make it happen. There's
always a visual aspect as well, I like
shapes that feel timeless, it could be
brand new and it could also be from
someone's grandfather's closet collecting
dust for the past few years. Hollowbodies
tend to really carry that feeling."
For players who might be considering a
semi-hollow bass for the first time, what
would you say the Starfire Bass series
offers that solid-body basses typically
don't?
"I think this current Starfire series has a
little something for everybody. The
Starfire I being an excellent starter
hollowbody bass that can really play any
genre you throw at it. The Starfire II is a
rebirth of the classic bass that put Guild
on the map back in the day. It's got the
thing that gave Guild its name." From approachable versatility to vintage-
inspired tone, the Starfire series brings
something different to the table—an
organic, resonant quality that solid-body
basses often can't replicate. For Eian
McNeely, that difference isn’t just heard—
it's felt, from the first note to the biggest
stage.
