1968 Starfire IV rescue

[BradHK]

I still have not wrapped up the 1970 hollow body M-75 ”restoration” but had to grab this one when it popped up. This is a true rescue with the finish completely stripped and many parts missing. I have always wanted to take a vintage Starfire and paint it a non-original color and have a little vintage fun. However, all of my rescues have gone down the path of vintage correct (or “inspired” if I need to put in HB-1 pickups in a 1960’s body if the pickup routes have been enlarged for example). I will stay true to the vintage specs and won’t modify anything that can’t be reversed but I can play a little more. For example, I want to try a set of TV Jones T-90s with custom pickup rings to see how it sounds compared to the ones I have with the different Guild pickups.

The body is structurally great and the serial number is visible (EL 2146] but the label is gone. It needs to be refinished and a new chesterfield (the one sitting on it now is just a plastic decal) and some binding work on the top but it came with the original tailpiece, two good knobs, Guild kolb tuners (one needs a post), truss rod cover, and strap buttons. I purchased the body and parts for $400 so not much to get into a fun vintage project! The big question…what color do I want??

 

[Mingus]

Wow - cool project indeed!

 

[GGJaguar]

A very worthy resto project! Looking forward to your progress reports and the finished product.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Purple Metalflake!

 

[Guildedagain]

Natural. Looks like someone had PAF's in it?

 

[BradHK]

Natural. Looks like someone had PAF's in it?

yes, based upon the extra pickup mounting screw locations and the neck pickup route slightly enlarged I do believe it had PAF’s in it at some time. Given these previous modifications I might just set it up for PAF mounting rings as there are so many types of pickups made to fit PAF rings or mounting pattern. The T-90 I am looking at putting in is smaller than a PAF but they make mounting rings that match the pickup ring holes of a PAF. Unfortunately, a Guild anti-hum pickup ring does not cover the enlarged neck pickup route. Interestingly enough, the bridge pickup route has not been modified but has the extra holes for the PAF pickup.

I love the natural look of the neck with the stripe (and I don’t have extra tuner mounting screw holes to worry about) but I was leaning toward putting a color on the body (transparent maybe) and leaving the neck natural. Still not decided.

 

[Guildedagain]

Ok, since we're throwing out the crazy ideas, Spalted Green, a sublime finish ;[]

That's a Maple ply, so get it bare without sealer, is this possible, probably with enough careful sanding past old clear coats, and then brush John Deere Green oil paint into the grain, wipe, tung oil, you're done. Or let it cure, then shoot with nitro.

The neck is really nice.

I'd never worry about returning to Guild pickups myself, I don't see them as worth it.

There really is a reason why PAF's have such a rabid following. They're loud, they cut through, they sustain, stick a JB in that neck position and it'd feedback a note for days, and sweetly.

Find some nice PAF type pickups - easy - stick em in there and play it, enjoy, that'd be me.

 

[Ixtlan]

Blue burst!

 

[jp]

Great snag, Brad! Where do you find these deals? It looks super clean and a great base for a project. I really like those Kolb tuners. I have a set on my '68 CE100D.

Maybe you can go partial vintage and do it up in the Guild Emerald but as a green burst?

 

[BradHK]

Slowly starting the restoration. I pulled the wiring harness this morning and found that every pot and switch were covered in clear silicone caulk! That’s a new one. However, I am never surprised with the SPOTs (Stupid Previous Owner Tricks) found on older guitars, cars and homes.

 

[GGJaguar]

What would be the reason for that?!! Holy cats!

 

[BradHK]

What would be the reason for that?!! Holy cats!

My guess (and I am sure I am wrong) are 1) it was to hold the crappy soldering job together when they fed it through the f-hole or 2) it was to keep everything from touching each other and grounding. Either way, no excuse for that “solution”!

 

[Mingus]

No excuses!

Seriously, though - I've seen some crazyness to make up for cold solder joints, etc. It's a shame when people just don't know what else to do, but it's common.