Picked up an 80's Starfire 4... pickguard question

[Alexandre IV]

Hey guys,

Haven't posted here for a really long while! I just traded an 1980 D-40NT for a Starfire IV of the same era. The guitar was retro-fotted with Sheptones pickups but I do have the originals too. Serial is a bit bizarre: every listing says the SN should read GA and then 6 digits, but mine reads AG0000xx, which I guess makes it early 80's or late 70's. It has dots on the fingerboard and a tailpiece bridge. Maple blonde color with gold plated hardware. The pickguard has no logo or writing on it.

The pickguard was removed by the previous owner and I'm not sure how to put it back. I would love to see a pickguard assembly so I can figure out what I need in terms of screws ad what not. I have a short screw, a long one and a square piece of felt. Now what? Ha ha ha!

The bridge is heavily pitted and rusted and needs replacing. Any suggestions?

I will take pictures and post them tomorrow. Looking forward to comments and suggestions.

 

[hansmoust]

I just traded an 1980 D-40NT for a Starfire IV of the same era. Serial is a bit bizarre: every listing says the SN should read GA and then 6 digits, but mine reads AG0000xx, which I guess makes it early 80's or late 70's. It has dots on the fingerboard and a tailpiece bridge. Maple blonde color with gold plated hardware. The pickguard has no logo or writing on it.

Hello Alexandre,

From your description I can tell you that your Starfire IV is from 1994.

The pickguard was removed by the previous owner and I'm not sure how to put it back. I would love to see a pickguard assembly so I can figure out what I need in terms of screws ad what not. I have a short screw, a long one and a square piece of felt. Now what?

The bridge is heavily pitted and rusted and needs replacing. Any suggestions?

You're missing the pickguard bracket. If you need one, just get back with me through my website.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Alexandre IV]

Hi Hans! It's been a long time! Thank you for the information. I do have the pickguard bracket! Just not sure what hardware I need to attach it. I could use just about any screw/nut/washer combination, but I tend to be overly silly about respecting the original specs. If anyone has close-up pictures of what's underneath the pickguard, or pictures of a disassembled one with all the little pieces, that would be very helpful. Does the piece of square felt go between the pickguard and the bracket? Or under the other end of the pickguard, near the neck pickup? Or maybe that piece of felt is something else completely and has nothing to do with the pickguard...

Cheers!

 

[GAD]

Here's a 2000, but they're pretty similar on different years. Main difference as I recall is the older ones sit on top of the pickup rings.

One screw goes directly into the top up near the neck with a long wood screw. There should be a hole. Sometimes there are felt washers - sometimes they're square.

The bracket attaches to the pick guard with a nut underneath. Under this nut (facing the wood), there should be a soft felt washer to protect the wood. The guard floats, and I think the bolt lines up with the F-hole, but the washer is for protection if you push down. The bracket keeps it from touching the wood.

The other end of the bracket screws into the side with a small screw. On older Starfires there are two screws on the side.

 

[GAD]

Here's an older Starfire - probably mid-late 90s. Note how the guard sits on top of the pickup rings, and how there are two screws on the bracket.

 

[GAD]

Here's a '76 with the pickguard off so you can see the holes. You can see the mark in the finish where the square felt washer sat for years.

 

[Alexandre IV]

Thanks GAD! Very helpful.

Anyone tried the Schaller roller bridge on one of these? As for the gotoh Roto-matic, do I need the small post, normal post, or big post model?

not sure how to post pics, I'll figure it out and post some later.