On the visual evolution of the vintage Starfire I from 1964 through 1970

[fronobulax]

Continuing this from here where mgod is trying to sell a nice SF I.

This is my understanding of the visually observed changes in the appearance of a Starfire I from 1964-1970. They are ordered by serial number, even though it is the case that Guilds did not always get built or leave the factory in serial number order. At some point I can annotate this list with the first, last or both serial number(s) I have observed and it would be most useful if additions or corrections included a serial number. I am making a presumption that once a change was made it was not reverted so if a configuration appears, disappears and reappears (in the sense of serial number order) we either have a case where the serial numbers were not chronological or the presumption is incorrect.

I'm doing this to unclutter mgod's listing and because I am not always as right as I think I am nor is mavuser always as wrong as I think but sometime we need discussion to resolve that.

In the beginning there was confusion and instruments had necks with 1964 serial numbers, a Bisonic, a Mickey Mouse or another unnamed Hagstrom in the bridge position, straight bridge, black plastic saddles, parallel finger rests and no suck switch.

Next there was a period with the same configuration except only the Mickey Mouse was used.

Next was a time with the same configuration except the Bisonic was standard and remained so until 1970 when it was replaced by the Guild humbucker.

It may be that there was not enough consistency to actually establish this first three as separate configurations.

It is not clear which happened next but the black saddles were replaced with rosewood and the pickup was moved to the neck position. Note that the finger rests remained parallel.

Next the finger rests were moved to the offset position.

Finally the bridge plate was replaced with a harp shaped plate and the suck switch was added. This happened circa BA-145x and BA-147x (mid-'67) and the changes were introduced at the same time. This remained the standard configuration through 1970.

 

[mgod]

Don't forget the headstock getting larger in 1970.

 

[mavuser]

Well for starters it appears we have cracked the code and mgods bass by serial number is a 1966. I would not be surprised if the pots or other hardware/electronics in the bass are date coded 1965 however, which may have been the initial source of confusion.

also after the headstock got bigger in 1970, Guild switched to humbucker pickups and at this time the shape of the rosewood saddles also changed, they got taller. It should be noted here the tall saddles match up with the humbucker pickup and the short saddles the Bisonic- regardless of which bridge is used (harp or straight).

and I can report BA-149x has a straight bridge with a Bisonic pickup and a suck switch so Frono, might be time to simply log off and hit the Christmas Eve cocktail of your choice. Separate from that I may have some additional info to add to your timeline database that we have observed in recent years, but that will be in 2016 probably.

have had BA-149x in my hands, it's owned by a member of this forum, it's definetly all original and is actually in "floor model/ borderline NOS" condition. Mint mint mint its def original. Suck switch and straight bridge together. Will post pics in a couple days

 

[mavuser]

No, the headstock got larger, and then later in the year they started changing pickups.

pretty sure thats what i wrote?

anyway, here is BA-149x (with straight bridge and suck switch together...anyone ever seen another?)

good shot of the smaller/standard headstock on the same bass (1967)

here is a 70s Westerly Headstock with Hoboken "JS" TRC (1970/71 JS-II):

 

[mavuser]

i fixed the picture in my last post if anyone could not see it before

 

[mavuser]

here is BA-207x...the highest # Starfire bass I personaly know of. Has the Bisonic, suck switch, harp bridge *with the short saddles*, and larger/Westerly headstock *with the Hoboken TRC*. (sorry these are the only pics i have)

 

[Happy Face]

Thanks for posting those, Malevolent User.


As someone who only has basses with the bigger "modern" headstocks, I must say the difference is dramatic and the old ones look way better.

 

[mgod]

anyway, here is BA-149x (with straight bridge and suck switch together...anyone ever seen another?)

Sure, my main one, until I (or rather RT) pulled the suck switch out.

 

[mavuser]

Sure, my main one, until I (or rather RT) pulled the suck switch out.

nice. Yours has the straight bridge together with the suck switch? Big headstock or small?

Man I never imagined dismantling all of Fronos dreams would feel so good.

 

[mgod]

67. Small.

 

[One Drop]

Mine is a sunburst Starfire I, Bi-sonic in the neck position, harp bridge, suck switch, tall dark rosewood saddles and parallel thumbrests. Same H/S as in Mavuser's post #4.