jmcjr1127 said:
Recently my father gave me his 1963 Bert Weedon Star Fire
He purchased the guitar in New Haven CT at the Libro Music Center
The guitar is completely original and in great condition
Just curious as to how rare this guitar is
Hello Joe,
Welcome! Your Guild Bert Weedon / Starfire V was one from the first batches of this particular model, which was introduced during the year 1963.
Depending on where these were sold they will have the Bert Weedon name on the pickguard and truss rod cover with the Starfire V model designation on the label; others were labeled as Starfire V without the Bert Weedon markings. The earliest models have DeArmond Model 2000 pickups, while later ones have the regular Guild small format humbucking pickups.
Most of the instruments that have the Bert Weedon markings were originally sold in countries that were members of the British Commonwealth; so far I've come across Bert Weedon models that were originally sold in the U.K, Canada and Australia.
Since the decision whether they were going to be a Bert Weedon or a Starfire V was based on actual orders for one or the other, there are no totals available for the number of Bert Weedon models that were produced.
The Bert Weedon models didn't sell all that well and after a couple of years the model was discontinued from the price list in the countries where the model was sold, in favor of the Starfire V model.
Your guitar is the first one I've come across that was supposedly sold in the U.S. I tried to find your guitar in the ledgers, but I could not find the actual guitar in between the other close serial numbers from that period, which might mean that the guitar was sold at a much later date than the serial number might indicate; that may also be the reason why your guitar ended up being sold in the U.S.
Do you know the actual date that your father bought the guitar when it was new?
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
