NOS 2003 Starfire IV

[Gbart14]

Hello, I am new to the forum and already I have enjoyed reading several posts. I really appreciate the passion for Guilds. I was just fortunate enough to find a real "under the bed" 2003 Starfire IV CW 000036 with OHSC

which according to this forum must be a 2003 model made in Corona. The guy I bought it from is a Guild collector and was selling out several Guild acoustic guitars and this one. He said he bought it from Music Sound World in 2008 on ebay. The MSW seller said it was NOS and had never been out on the sales floor. My seller is an acoustic blue grass style player and said he never really played it and did not understand it so it was parked. I bought it Saturday and it does not have a single mark on it. It does have what looks like clay from polish on the serial number on the back of the head stock. It looks like that came from the factory. There is no shine or sign of any fret wear. Intonation needs a tiny bit of adjustment, lowered the action a bit, relief is .005 at the 7th fret, lowered the neck pup that was touching #6 string. Plays like a dream. Question - how to judge the stock factory Corona pickups vs rewound to HB1 specs and is it worth doing?

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, the sunburst and flame on that are stunning! Congrats! For info about the stock pickups vs a re-wind, see GAD's excellent blog:
https://www.gad.net/Blog/2017/02/02/2000-guild-starfire-iv-4/

 

[shihan]

Welcome and congratulations! That’s really a beautiful guitar. If it were mine, I’d give the PU’s an extended evaluation, you might like them. If not there’s plenty of choices out there. Enjoy!

 

[Gbart14]

I have been playing it through various vintage tube amps and so far, I like it. I agree I should dig in with it for awhile. But good to know where the alternatives are. Thanks, for that.

 

[Gbart14]

Wow, the sunburst and flame on that are stunning! Congrats! For info about the stock pickups vs a re-wind, see GAD's excellent blog:
https://www.gad.net/Blog/2017/02/02/2000-guild-starfire-iv-4/

I was stunned at the match of the one piece top and back. Obviously cut at the same time. A testament to the attention to detail at Fender back then. From an appearance standpoint, I would put this up against any similar guitar. I have a very expensive Collings I-35 with P-90's and the quality of the Guild at about 1/4th price is just as good!! I have compared them side by side and if one did not know the price difference, it would be hard to chose.

 

[jp]

Hey Gbart and welcome to the LTG. I'm also in PDX and saw that ad for the guy liquidating his collection. That SF was one of the best picks of the bunch, and I'm glad someone got it who really appreciates it.

As to your question, I agree with shihan. Play through those PUs for a while to see what you think of them. Not sure if you've seen GAD's blog, but he has a great write-up about different variations of the the HB-1s, Fender PUs, and SDs found in certain years of Guilds. That might help you better evaluate hat you think of them.

 

[walrus]

A beauty! Congratulations!

walrus

 

[Gbart14]

Hey Gbart and welcome to the LTG. I'm also in PDX and saw that ad for the guy liquidating his collection. That SF was one of the best picks of the bunch, and I'm glad someone got it who really appreciates it.

As to your question, I agree with shihan. Play through those PUs for a while to see what you think of them. Not sure if you've seen GAD's blog, but he has a great write-up about different variations of the the HB-1s, Fender PUs, and SDs found in certain years of Guilds. That might help you better evaluate hat you think of them.

Hey, JP. Thanks for the message. Did you go look at them? He had maybe 20 guitars mostly guilds there. I do believe the SF was the overall best find. It had literally never been played except maybe a couple of guys who tried it out. The frets have that sort of patina on them from sitting. I oiled up the neck, restrung it, played with the intonation, pup heights, etc. It is quite astounding!

 

[DeArmond Hammer]

Congratulations! What a great score. I would leave that beauty exactly the way you got it. Pickups aren't so important to those of us who hear with our eyes.

 

[Gbart14]

Great way to put it. Understood. So far, it sounds great although I am still playing with the pickup heights. Interesting - I used my Bose head set through a small Vox amp with the volume set all the way up on the guitar and as I raised and lowered the pickup I could hear it go through at sweet spot on volume. It was subtle but I could hear it. I wonder if anyone has tried that with a scope? And now, I wonder if that is true of all pickups or just these? I adjusted as close as I could to max amplitude by my ears. I may start another thread on this question.

 

[jp]

Hey, JP. Thanks for the message. Did you go look at them? He had maybe 20 guitars mostly guilds there. I do believe the SF was the overall best find. It had literally never been played except maybe a couple of guys who tried it out. The frets have that sort of patina on them from sitting. I oiled up the neck, restrung it, played with the intonation, pup heights, etc. It is quite astounding!

No, I didn't, but I really wanted too. Not only was I afraid of being tempted to walk away with something, but I was also a bit taken up with a home project. I was particularly interested in the sunburst D-25. I've always wanted one, but I can't afford it right now. It seemed to be in really nice shape, it had the arched back, and sunburst examples aren't so very common.

Uggh! I'm getting tempted just talking about it now!

 

[Gbart14]

I have his phone number if you are interested. I know he is very flexible on prices right now. I think he was head back up the Gorge today (Tuesday). I think I got a great deal on the SF.

 

[Gbart14]

He is showing that D-25 at $750. I can tell you it is in very good condition but I did not play it.

 

[Gbart14]

I can tell you this - After playing it through the amp I brought down, I pained over that SFIV but realized there may not be any on the planet in that kind of unused condition at any price and so I went back for it from Newberg after sleeping on it. But now I will probably sell my Collings I35 to put towards my Mustang restoration.

 

[jp]

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