Thanks! My curiosity is definitely with nitro more due to the feel than the tone (not to open another can of worms!) I haven't been able to find an old one to play, but the variables of nut width isn't a concern as I have guitars that vary. It really is about tone. BTW, I do like the idea about lightweight as I've had 6 spine surgeries. I do know about most of the PUPs except the "Mickey Mouse", any insight? Thanks.
Will truss rod adjust help as well?
Truss rod doesn't affect neck angle and only affects action as a very limited side effect of flattening the neck. It's embedded in the neck heel, not the body, so if the neckset is sub-optimal the truss can't change it.
My preference is the 1960’s Starfire II and III and I like the 1966 or older ones before they switched over to the Japanese tuners. I am also a fan of the earlier 1960’s necks. The anti-hum pickups and DeArmonds both sound great in the hollow Starfires. The Mickey Mouse was not used as a standard pickup in the starfires but was used in the T-100 and T-100D which essentially is the same body as the Starfire II and III. The Mickey Mouse pickups are a little more bright and thin to my ears. My preference are the DeArmonds, anti-hums and frequency tested pickups (chrome top P90 looking pickup from around 1963-64 that can be found in T-100 and other Guilds). To my untrained ears, the frequency tested pickups lean more toward a smoother souding low output P90, the anti-hum is a clean sounding humbucker that is smooth but also has a wonderful chime in a hollow guitar, and the DeArmonds have that thick single coil sound with great attack, All different but all great. It really depends upon what sound you are seeking.
I appreciate your input. I usually work with truss rod, bridge and nut to get the ideal set up.
They all sound cool with their own personalities! Are the Mickey Mouse made by DeArmond?
They were made by Guild
I've replaced the original bridge with "bridge cups" from the current Guild models which are available from Cordoba Music (current Guild) for $8.00.
T-100Ds use the same superstructure as the maple Starfires I, II, and III (most 60s SFs are mahogany) but with fewer appointments--fewer finishes, dot inlays, top binding only, cheaper tuners, wooden bridge, and harp tailpiece. They were produced from 1958 up to about 1973. They came first with Franz PUS which are like slightly underwound P90s with a lot of punch and spank -- great sounding PUs that are very sought after. They also had Mickey Mouse PUs, especially in the mid-60s, but they also have been seen with a variety of other single coil PUs and later with humbuckers.
Food for thought. I do play a lot of punk, garage style music so that is a definite choice. Thanks.
Ooh, that looks like a player!