Bitten by the Starfire bug! HB-1s are in.

[dapmdave]

After helping someone else (and you know who you are!) acquire a '67 SF-IV recently, I found myself seriously GASsing for one of my own. I'd been eyeing one on CL for a while, and I somehow found myself on the road for a look-see. You know it was hopeless from there, right?

So this is a 1973. Pics to follow:

Nice OHSC:

And then, it opens to reveal this:

And again (geez, my chair is looking tacky):

And the back:

But, wait... gold Gibson humbuckers? egad!!

Take another look in the case:

But a question about the (assumed to be originals) pickups. One says "GUILD Made in USA" on the back, and has a number (721227) on there with what looks the like letter J or L, marked with one of the little scribing tools. The other has no markings, but aside from that is identical. Could 721227 be a date??

Here's a pic of the backs of the pickups:

I'll be busy.

A week later, and the HB-1s are back in their rightful place. And they do sound GREAT.

Those golden gibbies are up on the bay looking for a new home.

Dave

 

[fab467]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Congrats Dave. Sweet axe! And even sweeter now that you're restoring the original pickups. 8)

 

[kakerlak]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

That's gonna clean up really nice! And you can probably make a quick buck eBaying those Gibson pickups.

 

[hansmoust]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

But a question about the (assumed to be originals) pickups. One says "GUILD Made in USA" on the back, and has a number (721227) on there with what looks the like letter J or L, marked with one of the little scribing tools. The other has no markings, but aside from that is identical. Could 721227 be a date??

Here's a pic of the backs of the pickups:

Nice one Dave! Yes, that's the date that the pickup was assembled.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[twocorgis]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

She's a cherry beauty Dave!

I wouldn't mind having one myself, to go with the cherry SF1 bass, Blues 90, and BB (that'll be here today). 8)

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Thanks, guys. I think a bit of "spit & polish" and swapping those HB-1's back in will yield a nice SF-IV. And I'm looking forward to investigating those Gibson humbuckers. They've been in there for at least 25 years.

Dave

 

[krysh]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

congrats dave, she's a beauty!

 

[MojoTooth]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

woah, this does nothing to curb my gas attack for another SFIV! Enjoy it!

 

[Treem]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Congratulations Dave! We're expecting some new recordings soon with your new baby! :mrgreen:

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

woah, this does nothing to curb my gas attack for another SFIV! Enjoy it!

Get out there!!

After watching the older SF4's for a while, it seemed to me that the supply was dwindling and the prices were starting to climb. Could just be my imagination helping my GASsed brain to justify the purchase, too. :roll: But I convinced myself that if I found a nice one south of $1500 I ought to buy it.

Dave

 

[coastie99]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Oooh, dat's nice !!

Congrats Dave.

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

If anybody knows about Gibson 'buckers, I'm wondering what they're worth. The bridge pickup with the embossed cover is apparently rare, only made in '72 or so. It sounds pretty good. But the neck pickup is special. It's hot, blue and righteous.

They both have the "Patent No." stickers. On the back.

Dave

 

[MojoTooth]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

The prices on SF's are definitely going up, as well as for other Guild vintage electrics like M75's, M65's, S-100's!

 

[AlohaJoe]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

If anybody knows about Gibson 'buckers, I'm wondering what they're worth. The bridge pickup with the embossed cover is apparently rare, only made in '72 or so. It sounds pretty good. But the neck pickup is special. It's hot, blue and righteous.

They both have the "Patent No." stickers. On the back.

Dave

There's a good LP forum here where folks might be able to help with that: http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/index.php?s=

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

If anybody knows about Gibson 'buckers, I'm wondering what they're worth. The bridge pickup with the embossed cover is apparently rare, only made in '72 or so. It sounds pretty good. But the neck pickup is special. It's hot, blue and righteous.

They both have the "Patent No." stickers. On the back.

Dave

There's a good LP forum here where folks might be able to help with that: http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/index.php?s=

Thanks, Joe. I will go there!

Dave

 

[bluesypicky]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

After missing the SF IV burst on Ebay I was eying that one on CL (Tampa area I believe?), then the Firebird came along (no regrets there), so I kinda backed out of the Starfire gas, but it's back with a vengeance now, thanks to your pics. :roll:
You did the right thing Dave, congrats!

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

After missing the SF IV burst on Ebay I was eying that one on CL (Tampa area I believe?), then the Firebird came along (no regrets there), so I kinda backed out of the Starfire gas, but it's back with a vengeance now, thanks to your pics. :roll:
You did the right thing Dave, congrats!

Yes, this was the Tampa area Starfire. Turned out the seller was fairly flexible, price-wise, so home it came.

Dave

 

[AfterGlo]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Beautiful guitar. And if you got it for "south of $1500" then you got a great deal! Honestly, when you think about the quality, age, and condition of a guitar like that, it is an absolute steal.

With luck, you have something left in the kitty for that new chair!

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Bitten by the Starfire bug!

Beautiful guitar. And if you got it for "south of $1500" then you got a great deal! Honestly, when you think about the quality, age, and condition of a guitar like that, it is an absolute steal.

With luck, you have something left in the kitty for that new chair!

Thanks, Afterglo. That is what I was telling myself on the 3 hour drive home.

I don't know if I'm ready to give up my chair, yet. It's amost an Archie Bunker thing.

Dave

 

[dapmdave]

A week later, and the HB-1s are back in their rightful place. And they do sound GREAT.

Those golden gibbies are up on the 'bay looking for a new home.

Dave