Starfire: stop tails vs bigsby

[COONEY]

Hello, I’m on a quest to buy a vintage starfire, gotta have one. I have a couple questions: what era do you think is the best for Starfire iv or Starfire vi which are the two I’m considering. I like the harp tailpiece because I prefer that to a bigsby but I’ve seen a couple Starfire vi with a “byrdland” I think tailpiece which I like but I was looking at 6,000 for one of those; are those tailpieces rare and are the Guild bigsby’s sect at keeping tube or do most Starfire owners like a stop tail just curious thank you,
COONEY

 

[COONEY]

Hello, I’m on a quest to buy a vintage starfire, gotta have one. I have a couple questions: what era do you think is the best for Starfire iv or Starfire vi which are the two I’m considering. I like the harp tailpiece because I prefer that to a bigsby but I’ve seen a couple Starfire vi with a “byrdland” I think tailpiece which I like but I was looking at 6,000 for one of those; are those tailpieces rare and are the Guild bigsby’s sect at keeping tube or do most Starfire owners like a stop tail just curious thank you,
COONEY

I meant do the Guild bigsby’s work well and stay in tune even with aggressive hard rock! Thanks

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! If you mean does the Bigsby stay in tune if you try to use it for something like dive bombing heavy metal, then no. That's not what it is meant for. It wasn't meant for anything more aggressive than rockabilly and surf music. But... if you mean, will it stay in tune if you're playing a song where you are aggressively picking and strumming (but not using the Bigsby for dive bombing) then yes, it will stay in tune if the guitar is properly set up.

 

[matsickma]

Guild SF4's of the early to mid 70's come with block fret markers and the harp tail piece. Guild SF4's of the early 80's have dot fret inlays, no pickguard and a hard stop tailpiece. They typically come with XR7 pickups but HB1's are also available.
If I recall correctly the 70's model has a deeper body depth similar to a SF5 and the 80"s model has the thinner body depth of a 60's SF4.
The 90's SF4 come with a hard stop tail piece, block inlays and gold plating. Not sure if pickups are HB1 or SD1. Don't think they have the Fender HB1 version.
There may be other's in the mix where late 1990/early 2000's and they likely have SD1's or Fender HB1's.
Lot of possibilities.
M

 

[GAD]

buy what you like based on need. If you don’t need or want a Guildsby then having it may frustrate you. If you want a guitar that has the capability of a Guildsby and want to learn (or already know) its magic, then go for it.

 

[Default]

A graphite nut and a set of locking tuners really helps a Bigsby stay in tune, even with a fair amount of abuse.

 

[jp]

Some other variations throughout the years worth considering.

-- There are maple, mahogany, and I think even walnut examples.
-- In addition to the pickup variations outlined by matsickma above, in the mid-70s, a master volume was added to the electronics.
-- In general, Westerly SFs, especially after early 70s, commonly tend to be a little heavier, while 60s Hoboken models had lighter builds.
-- Neck profles in the 60s are often smaller, while 70s are generally meatier.
-- There are quite a few different bridges on these throughout the years as well, esp. depending on the tailpiece.
-- Tuners also varied throughout the years.

 

[COONEY]

Welcome to LTG! If you mean does the Bigsby stay in tune if you try to use it for something like dive bombing heavy metal, then no. That's not what it is meant for. It wasn't meant for anything more aggressive than rockabilly and surf music. But... if you mean, will it stay in tune if you're playing a song where you are aggressively picking and strumming (but not using the Bigsby for dive bombing) then yes, it will stay in tune if the guitar is properly set up.

That’s a beautiful response! I did mean if I’m just a hard player but not dive bombing at all just really heavy strumming and some tasteful tremolos is all I have in mind sir. My lead guitarist can use his Floyd rose for the dive bombing lol. Thanks for the reply! Since you honed in on what I was asking even tho I clumsily did so I wanna see what you think about the best era for starfires? Is it 60s, 70s , or 80s, or even 90s but I think the 90s have a stop tail right up close to the bridge and I want some space between the bridge and tailpiece(Kim thyal from Soundgarden got me interested in bending and strumming the strings behind the bridge also the h1mini buckers (I think they’re called) have an extremely sensitive response and he frequently would blow across his strings on his s-100. So I kinda wanna try to replicate some of those noises and tones with a starfire but I’m trying to figure out the best one for that. So far I think starfire iv with the harp tailpiece or the vi with that “Byrd land” or whatever it was called tailpiece that I’ve only seen once but I believe it to be original bc on the label it has initials that would represent Byrdland. I just checked and found the guitar for sell so I’ll include the link so you can see it. I just really want a vi but that’s the only trapeze or stop tail vi I’ve ever seen! Are you familiar?? Thanks again buddy! I appreciate your time! I truly don’t want the bigsby but I want a vi that’s my pridicament

 

[COONEY]

That’s a beautiful response! I did mean if I’m just a hard player but not dive bombing at all just really heavy strumming and some tasteful tremolos is all I have in mind sir. My lead guitarist can use his Floyd rose for the dive bombing lol. Thanks for the reply! Since you honed in on what I was asking even tho I clumsily did so I wanna see what you think about the best era for starfires? Is it 60s, 70s , or 80s, or even 90s but I think the 90s have a stop tail right up close to the bridge and I want some space between the bridge and tailpiece(Kim thyal from Soundgarden got me interested in bending and strumming the strings behind the bridge also the h1mini buckers (I think they’re called) have an extremely sensitive response and he frequently would blow across his strings on his s-100. So I kinda wanna try to replicate some of those noises and tones with a starfire but I’m trying to figure out the best one for that. So far I think starfire iv with the harp tailpiece or the vi with that “Byrd land” or whatever it was called tailpiece that I’ve only seen once but I believe it to be original bc on the label it has initials that would represent Byrdland. I just checked and found the guitar for sell so I’ll include the link so you can see it. I just really want a vi but that’s the only trapeze or stop tail vi I’ve ever seen! Are you familiar?? Thanks again buddy! I appreciate your time! I truly don’t want the bigsby but I want a vi that’s my pridicament

I guess I’m saying I want a vi with a byrdland tailpiece. Or I suppose I’ll settle for the iv with the harp. Like I said I want that recessed tailpiece I can mess around down there. I mean Kim from Soundgarden uses it in “black hole sun” and I think the intro for “the day I tried to live” which even with a bigsby I probably could still achieve what I’m looking for plus like someone said the bigsby magic. Does everyone agree the bigsby is the way to go regardless or based off what I’ve said go for the 70s Harp or if I wanna pay a ton then I might can find a 70s vi with the byrdland tailpiece. I’m sorry I got so much to discuss I just need to know some things because I’m trying to buy my forever guitar. Besides the other couple Guild I have. My favorite I have is my F-50ce

 

[COONEY]

I guess I’m saying I want a vi with a byrdland tailpiece. Or I suppose I’ll settle for the iv with the harp. Like I said I want that recessed tailpiece I can mess around down there. I mean Kim from Soundgarden uses it in “black hole sun” and I think the intro for “the day I tried to live” which even with a bigsby I probably could still achieve what I’m looking for plus like someone said the bigsby magic. Does everyone agree the bigsby is the way to go regardless or based off what I’ve said go for the 70s Harp or if I wanna pay a ton then I might can find a 70s vi with the byrdland tailpiece. I’m sorry I got so much to discuss I just need to know some things because I’m trying to buy my forever guitar. Besides the other couple Guild I have. My favorite I have is my F-50ce

Here’s a link to a vi with the byrdland but 6k is a lot. Is that a realistic price or is this person shooting for the moon?

Guild Starfire VI 6 1974 Blonde | Reverb

Here's a 1974 Guild Starfire VI 6 in Blonde/Natural finish. Gorgeous example!! Besides some light checking, the guitar is super clean. And as you can see from the pictures, a stunning flame maple body (even better in person). With the exception of the tailpiece, which is an original Byrdland tail...

reverb.com

 

[GAD]

That tailpiece is not original. BLD stands for Blonde.

 

[COONEY]

That tailpiece is not original. BLD stands for Blonde.

Yes I knew that but I thought it was a y instead of an L. So were all Starfire vi equipped with a guild bigsby?

 

[COONEY]

That tailpiece is not original. BLD stands for Blonde.

Also the description says the byrdland is original; that’s mostly why I thought that.

 

[krysh]

To me the price is over the moon esp. for being not original and not mint.

 

[GAD]

Yes I knew that but I thought it was a y instead of an L. So were all Starfire vi equipped with a guild bigsby?

I have a Starfire VI with a gold harp tailpiece. VI is more of a trim level.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I believe that "SSVintage" on Reverb is Scott Silver, the original owner of Chicago Music Exchange. The fact that this guitar is probably not nearly as clean or original as represented is... on brand.

 

[rbrcbr]

Also the description says the byrdland is original; that’s mostly why I thought that.

No, it says "with the exception of the tailpiece, which is an original Byrdland tailpiece, everything on the guitar is original", meaning everything but the tailpiece is original to the guitar, and that the tailpiece is a genuine Byrdland tailpiece.

$6k is entirely too much for that guitar.

 

[COONEY]

No, it says "with the exception of the tailpiece, which is an original Byrdland tailpiece, everything on the guitar is original", meaning everything but the tailpiece is original to the guitar, and that the tailpiece is a genuine Byrdland tailpiece.

$6k is entirely too much for that guitar.

You answered perfectly and I respect you as a true Guildsman! Haha thank you so much for that info. Ine more thing if you don’t mind! Is it true what another poster said that the harp tailpiece could have been original to a VI? I know it’s really like a “trim level” what with the binding and looks like better wood to me but I’m not certain but I do believe the electronics are the same. I do like that Byrdland tailpiece but that guy’s delusional at best! Anyways did they make any VI’s with anything other than the “Guildsby” tailpiece? That’s basically what I’m after is a stock VI w/o a bigsby but I’ve never seen one. I’m sorry I’m asking so much but you seemed to be a tad more responsive and nailed the question on the head! That VI with the Byrdland also is not a stereo version which I’m baffled at now that I know there is even a such instrument; a guild guitar with stereo outputs?! Awesome! But I’ve never seen one to try so do you have an opine about the stereo aspect of the VI as well? Thanks for your time friend!! Truly this is guiding me to my lifetime guitar!

 

[COONEY]

I believe that "SSVintage" on Reverb is Scott Silver, the original owner of Chicago Music Exchange. The fact that this guitar is probably not nearly as clean or original as represented is... on brand.

Hello I’m intrigued by what you have said! Is there a certain era/line of Starfires to stay away from completely?

 

[COONEY]

Hello I’m intrigued by what you have said! Is there a certain era/line of Starfires to stay away from completely?

Oh I’m sorry I looked back at the page and realized you’re referring to the dealer, correct? Also I had no idea of SSVintage is that a company that just screws up perfectly nice stock examples and misrepresents them? Any info on SSVintage will be greatly appreciated and passed on to other Guildsmen! Thank you for your time..