Starfire III and other guild questions

[Mr. pocket]

Hello Guild people. I just discovered this forum, and I have some reading to do. I've been very interested in getting a Guild for a long time now. I'm actually justified in buying a new electric guitar for once! I've played one guitar for 16 years now, an epiphone les paul, and it's painful for me to play sitting down, which is how I practice. I play Jazz, Rock, Country, Rockabilly, Travis picking, and other random stuff. I am looking for something lightweight that is comfortable to play sitting down, and allows me to use a trap to angle the neck up to grab stretchy chords. I can spend about $1000.

I have a chance to buy a late 60's starfire III. They are asking $900 for it which seems a bit high considering the pickups are not original (noname p90s) and it needs fret work. I'm not sure if the pickup cavities have been routed or not. I love vintage instruments, but I'm really looking for a guitar that plays and feels perfect, and has great frets. I'm thinking I might as well buy a newer one and be done with it. I'm a buy it and play it guy, not a buyer and seller.

That all said, how are the Newark St guitars? Do they come with fretwork that is read to go? Do people feel the need to modifiy them with pickups and electronics?

 

[Smitch]

Hello Mr. Pocket, welcome to the forum. I can't speak to the newer Starfires, but the Westerly models are solid guitars and show up regularly on eBay and reverb. There are plenty of Starfire fans on this board and I'm sure you can find historical posts as well. I'm actually a Bluesbird disciple and have been playing/giging with them for years. A les Paul shape, but with a chambered body that is much lighter than the lp. Super versatile guitar from quiet touch sensitive playing to outright hard rock. Good luck!

 

[walrus]

If you play the SFIII and you like it, buy it! Depending on condition, etc, and the mods you mentioned, $900 might be a great price for a '60's Starfire!

walrus

 

[GAD]

Welcome!

Why is the Epi LP painful sitting down? What problem do you anticipate solving with a guitar like a SFIII?

I wouldn't buy a guitar like that site-unseen. Have you played it? Old Starfires can have pretty small necks, and they were hand-carved so there's a bit of variation as well.

I'm a fan of mid-late '90s Starfires myself. Here's some info I wrote up about them. It's a pale comparison to Hans' book, which we all recommend.

http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/06/24/guild-electric-guitars/

 

[Mr. pocket]

Welcome!

Why is the Epi LP painful sitting down? What problem do you anticipate solving with a guitar like a SFIII?

I wouldn't buy a guitar like that site-unseen. Have you played it? Old Starfires can have pretty small necks, and they were hand-carved so there's a bit of variation as well.

I'm a fan of mid-late '90s Starfires myself. Here's some info I wrote up about them. It's a pale comparison to Hans' book, which we all recommend.

http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/06/24/guild-electric-guitars/

The neck sits too low and puts my hand in a painful position when sitting with my LP. A lighter guitar would allow me to wear a strap for longer periods of time and angle the neck up toward my head. I practice for several hours a day sitting down, and the LP is hurting my neck. A guitar with a wider waist would put the neck higher witout a strap. So Lighter+Larger is what I'm looking for.

 

[SFIV1967]

Here's some info I wrote up about them. It's a pale comparison to Hans' book, which we all recommend. http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/06/24/guild-electric-guitars/

I just noticed what you wrote in the blog post: "Starfire I: I have no idea. I’ve never seen nor read about one. If you have, drop me a line and I’ll update this!"
There is one in Hans book page 62 and page 75 and he wrote on page 63 they only existed from 1960 to 1964.
Plus you missed this thread: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...love-anybody&p=1639753&viewfull=1#post1639753
Another Starfire I converted to II was here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...fire-scored-is-it-stock-experts-please-assist
And Pete Remm of Alberta Cross has a Starfire I with later added Guildsby (picture by mavuser): http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/902/XiYGdU.jpg
Ralf

 

[JohnW63]

I am very new to Guild in general and their electrics in specific knowledge, but I do have an X715-B ( hollow body ) and a Starfire 4, thin hollow or perhaps semi-hollow would be correct. I find the 175 sits on my lap easier.Like an acoustic guitar. The SF is heavier and tends to want to rotate and slide off to the right. I would bet using a strap with it, while sitting would take car of it. I would think either of them would be larger than the body of a Les Paul so you wouldn't have to hunch over the guitar as much.

Just guessing at what might be issues with a small but heavy electric from a sitting position.

 

[GAD]

I just noticed what you wrote in the blog post: "Starfire I: I have no idea. I’ve never seen nor read about one. If you have, drop me a line and I’ll update this!"
There is one in Hans book page 62 and page 75 and he wrote on page 63 they only existed from 1960 to 1964.
Plus you missed this thread: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...love-anybody&p=1639753&viewfull=1#post1639753
Another Starfire I converted to II was here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...fire-scored-is-it-stock-experts-please-assist
And Pete Remm of Alberta Cross has a Starfire I with later added Guildsby (picture by mavuser): http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/902/XiYGdU.jpg
Ralf

Thanks. I've been meaning to update that forever.

 

[GAD]

I just noticed what you wrote in the blog post: "Starfire I: I have no idea. I’ve never seen nor read about one. If you have, drop me a line and I’ll update this!"
There is one in Hans book page 62 and page 75 and he wrote on page 63 they only existed from 1960 to 1964.
Plus you missed this thread: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...love-anybody&p=1639753&viewfull=1#post1639753
Another Starfire I converted to II was here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...fire-scored-is-it-stock-experts-please-assist
And Pete Remm of Alberta Cross has a Starfire I with later added Guildsby (picture by mavuser): http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/902/XiYGdU.jpg
Ralf

Coincidentally, there's a SFI on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guild-Starf...083119?hash=item280b962cef:g:9asAAOSw14xWP68E

 

[SFIV1967]

Coincidentally, there's a SFI on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guild-Starf...083119?hash=item280b962cef:g:9asAAOSw14xWP68E

"The serial number is 13878, built in 1958." Not sure how the seller came to this conclusion. It's a 1960 one. The label is interesting with the ghost label and that "STARFIRE" stamp.
I am not sure the pickup is original. If I understand it correctly it should have had the DeArmond one in Hans book on page 31 in the middle, but this one here has a normal black plastic frame with height adjustment screws. So most probably not stock. But also the pots might be changed as it looks, as well as the bridge and the bigsby is added.
Ralf

 

[Walter Broes]

Hello Guild people. I just discovered this forum, and I have some reading to do. I've been very interested in getting a Guild for a long time now. I'm actually justified in buying a new electric guitar for once! I've played one guitar for 16 years now, an epiphone les paul, and it's painful for me to play sitting down, which is how I practice. I play Jazz, Rock, Country, Rockabilly, Travis picking, and other random stuff. I am looking for something lightweight that is comfortable to play sitting down, and allows me to use a trap to angle the neck up to grab stretchy chords. I can spend about $1000.

I have a chance to buy a late 60's starfire III. They are asking $900 for it which seems a bit high considering the pickups are not original (noname p90s) and it needs fret work. I'm not sure if the pickup cavities have been routed or not. I love vintage instruments, but I'm really looking for a guitar that plays and feels perfect, and has great frets. I'm thinking I might as well buy a newer one and be done with it. I'm a buy it and play it guy, not a buyer and seller.

That all said, how are the Newark St guitars? Do they come with fretwork that is read to go? Do people feel the need to modifiy them with pickups and electronics?

For your needs and the music you're talking about, I'd say try a Newark Street X175, X175B, or Capri CE100D. I think you'll be pleasantly suprized.

 

[Razz]

I have a new A150 Savoy. It probably weighs less than your guitar, but it's not exactly a light weight. Have you tried using a footstool under your left foot and resting the body of the guitar on your left leg (assuming that you are right handed)? I like my A150. It works well for mellow jazz (or in my case "Tin Pan Alley") tunes. You can get one for a little over $1000.

 

[B Arbogast]

I'll vouch for the C100-D Capri. Great guitar with a wide array of tones. And comfortable to play sitting or standing.