Another IV finds a new home

[iismet]

Hello to everyone.

I recently picked up a Corona SF IV. It is an absolutely beautiful guitar and I could not be more pleased. I was bidding for one on EBay when I stopped by The Portland Music Company to ask "value" questions on a ES 335 with extra holes drilled in it. As I walked to the back of the store, I saw it sitting on the used rack. My jaw dropped to the floor, I could not believe it. I picked it up, asked how much ($1200 - did not matter it was going home), a little negotiation and we walked out for $1099.

It was very dirty as if It had been sitting in a stand for some time. It was set up for Jazz and had little fret ware. I took it home, cleaned it up, threw on some .013's, plugged it into my MESA, and WOW. The next day I took it to the 12th Fret in Portland and had the frets dressed and a setup done.

This guitar has incredible resonance - I have not played a 335 that resonates or breathes like this. I have miles of playing on my Gibson Acoustic and I have had trouble bridging to an Electric. This guitar solves that problem. I love my Blues Bird. A beautiful instrument, but it has always intimidated me. I am more than at home with the StarFire and confident he will take me to the Blues Bird. I just was never able to get there thru my Gibson - another awesome instrument.

Too bad Fender killed off Guild electrics, or is it? That an instrument of this quality can be purchased for <=$1200 is a beautiful thing for a player i.e. Quality, Affordability, Playability, and Exclusivity. I would hate to see Fender build these off shore. Much better to go out this way. We are very fortunate.

This forum is a very pleasant surprise. I only found it while researching for a StarFire and I ended up doing a ton of research here (All 46 pages) -.thanks to everyone who contributes.

Hans if you read this can you tell me his age -

CW 000011

Thanks

Cliff

I'm a Blues Player - makes em a lot easier to bend. This Guitar truly plays like butter.

The neck shape fits my hand and style perfectly. I love the burst and maple against the mahogany. In full view while you are playing.

Gibson J185EC - One Bad Hombre - played him nearly everyday for 7 years (you should hear him thru the MESA). I owe him a lot, but he's been replaced.

 

[fab467]

Welcome to LTG and congrats on the new axe. Great looking trio you got there... 8)

 

[skinny]

That IV has some beautiful flame happening!!
Sounds like a stellar deal as well.
And welcome aboard iismet!!

skinny

 

[hansmoust]

Hello to everyone.

I recently picked up a Corona SF IV. It is an absolutely beautiful guitar and I could not be more pleased. Hans if you read this can you tell me his age - CW 000011

Hello Cliff,

Welcome! Your Guild Starfire IV is from 2003.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[firestar]

Congratulations on the Guild Starfire IV......got an identical Corona sunburst only it is CW 000 116 and therefore although it might be 2003 it could be 2004.It is a beautiful instrument and the best neck I've played but it also has a wonderfull resonance and real depth and detail to it's tone.
Funny that I've also got a USA Epiphone Riviera in cherry red with the frequensator and mini humbuckers which is a 93/94 Gibson Custom Historic from a limited run of 250 they made and therefore perhaps one of the last true American made Epiphones and it is an awesome instrument however
my Guild Starfire IV made by Fender at Corona and one of the last is also an absolutely top class guitar and a very fine instrument.
So that is an Epiphone made at the Gibson factory and a Guild made at the Fender factory and two fine true American instruments and perhaps sadly the last of their kind.....and there is a link because it is said that after Gibson bought Epiphone and moved production from New York it was many of the former Epiphone workers and staff that started Guild in New York around 1950.
Welcome to Lets Talk Guild.

 

[dapmdave]

Beautiful Starfire! Nice amp, too, by the way. Congratulations.

I'm also a mostly acoustic player, and I completely understand your feelings regarding the Starfire, the Bluesbird, and the Gibson. I also had a Bluesbird (beautiful guitar, too) and it was kind of an intimidating axe. Just couldn't bond. But the Starfire is really a pleasure to play. I play mine almost every day, which no other instrument in my little group can claim.

Enjoy that thing.

Dave

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome and congrats. Best possible finish and deal on your SF-IV.

 

[GAD]

Congrats! Beautiful guitars you've got there! It's hard not to love a Starfire of any year.

 

[iismet]

Funny that I've also got a USA Epiphone Riviera in cherry red with the frequensator and mini humbuckers which is a 93/94 Gibson Custom Historic from a limited run of 250 they made and therefore perhaps one of the last true American made Epiphones and it is an awesome instrument

Wow - Nice - I am familiar with this Guitar - A first option, but no where to be found - very nice - you should keep him. Terrible Epiphone was shipped off shore, though some good ones have been built.

I purchased a new 2010 DOT in December and rebuilt it - Bone Nut, 57's, Bridge and Stop, Fret Level, & Setup. Very serviceable, but I had to have US made almost as soon as it was done. I keep telling myself I will haul it around, but the difference in beauty, playability, and tone between the two are just too far apart.

I'm not sure a IV can really be compared to a 335. Their voices and vibe are not the same to me. My IV feels like a solid brute, mine weighs 8.5 lbs and I attribute some of his voicing to his weight, but he does not sound or feel wet. I play with heavy hands so an instrument has to not wash out if I really hit it hard - Frail, thin, - not for me. I need to be able to hit it hard and it needs to ring cleanly and feel like it was no big deal.

An interesting side note - one reason the IV fits me so well, is because the neck seems to be set 1/2 inch deeper into the body than 335. This moves "A" closer to me and makes it much more comfortable to play. I am 5'6" so every little bit helps and I can really get around.

 

[Thunderface]

Welcome Cliff. A fine stable of guitars you have there.

 

[iismet]

Congrats! Beautiful guitars you've got there! It's hard not to love a Starfire of any year.

Thanks Gad - I have several pickup questions for you.

1) Did you give WCR specifications for the rewind of your stock HB-1? Where does one find those specs? I want to inquire with them about this, but am unsure what to say.

3) Did you send them the entire pickup or did you remove the covers?

4) I am confused on the cover. If I were to use G 57's, SD 59's, or WCR (awesome stuff) would I able to use my existing cover? I would imagine the pole spacings could be a problem.

5) If 4 above is a no go - are you aware of any aftermarket pickups that fit the stock covers.

6) If I understand correctly, I can buy a Gibson ring and it will take the place of the Guild ring?

7) Do I have to put new ring mounting holes in the guitar to do this or will it align with the original ones?

Probably a lot of dumb stuff - just shows my ignorance of the subject matter, but new pickups are in my future.

Pretty slick getting the elders in your Blues Bird.

x-cliff

 

[GAD]

1) Did you give WCR specifications for the rewind of your stock HB-1? Where does one find those specs? I want to inquire with them about this, but am unsure what to say.

Jim doesn't really do rewinds anymore. He did them as a favor to me. Apparently it's a lot of work for him. You never know though - couldn't hurt to ask. My favorite WCR pickups (I have many) is the original Goodwood. I asked him to wind mine like those.

3) Did you send them the entire pickup or did you remove the covers?

I sent the entire pickup. I had one requirement - keep the original covers since I love the look, and a Guild should look like a Guild. He had some issues because apparently stock bobbins wouldn't fit or something. It's been a while - I don't remember, but he did his magic.

4) I am confused on the cover. If I were to use G 57's, SD 59's, or WCR (awesome stuff) would I able to use my existing cover? I would imagine the pole spacings could be a problem.

I think that was the problem now that you mention it. I think he ended up unwinding the bobbins from the pickups I sent him and rewinding them. He was originally going to stuff new ones in there, but it wouldn't work. It's fairly labor-intensive from what I recall, which is why he doesn't like to do it.

5) If 4 above is a no go - are you aware of any aftermarket pickups that fit the stock covers.

Unknown.

6) If I understand correctly, I can buy a Gibson ring and it will take the place of the Guild ring?

Yes. Just make sure the screw holes line up or you'll need to re-drill. Only time I've heard this to be an issue is with TV-Jones rings, but I have no direct experience otherwise.

7) Do I have to put new ring mounting holes in the guitar to do this or will it align with the original ones?

See above. Won't know until you get them, but they should be pretty stock. Should be an inexpensive experiment though.

Probably a lot of dumb stuff - just shows my ignorance of the subject matter, but new pickups are in my future.
Pretty slick getting the elders in your Blues Bird.

No dumb stuff here. No one wants to ruin a Guild, so you're asking all the right questions!

Thanks re: the Bluesbird. I'm digging it.