Yes, I’m mistaken, it was on 48th Street now that you mention (or was it?), I believe it’s mostly all gone now… for a while I had an office on the 2nd floor in an old railroad type walk up apartment building on 49th between 6th and 7th Avenues closer to 7th. Easy walking to peruse the shops. I remember one time I got a lead on where to buy one of those (at the time) “illegally” published “Real Book(s)” and when I went up to the counter to ask for a “C” copy and I was given the cross examination for a while until the clerk relented and provided me a copy to buy. I’ve since bought copies legally after the copyrights aged out I guess (I don’t know, late 1980’s to early 1990’s) for all the instrument parts.I'm actually impressed by the the fact that you were drawn to the sober elegance of the Starfire during teenage, when most tend to lust after flashier or better known instruments.
I believe the "music row" of NYC used to be on 48th Street and not 47th, though.. I myself have spent more than a few afternoons at "We buy guitars" after having somehow befriended what I believe was the owner. I still have the pics I took of a Hendrix owned Strat (with case candy and some stage clothing) that he then sold at auction.
Wow! Maybe they were only in the IV, V, or VI models??? Are your beauties 1966?