Starfire VI 1970 blonde stereo

[COONEY]

Hello, I’ve been searching for myself a 60s Starfire VI and I found 3 but one was a ‘69 a ‘78 and a ‘70. Ok so the 69 is 6k and it’s a Jeffery Foskett guitar so I couldn’t come close. The other was also listed at 6k but well over listed so I didn’t bother with it. The ‘70 was listed at $4,500 so I offered him 3k which to my surprise accepted.. well I’m super nervous I’ve overpaid and I need multiple opines on the value of this guitar?!?! Thank You guys and gals so much

https://reverb.com/item/60909958-guild-starfire-vi-blonde-stereo-special-order-from-1970!!https://reverb.com/item/60909958-guild-starfire-vi-blonde-stereo-special-order-from-1970

 

[geoguy]

Your link text wasn't quite right . . . this one should work:

1970 Guild Starfire VI

 

[COONEY]

Ok the link won’t work. But it is said to be completely playable

Your link text wasn't quite right . . . this one should work:

1970 Guild Starfire VI

the link won’t work bc technically it’s sold, I think.

 

[COONEY]

Your link text wasn't quite right . . . this one should work:

1970 Guild Starfire VI

Your link works!! What do you think of the guitar?

 

[GAD]

$3k is not a terrible price for a '70s SF VI. I paid $2600 for mine in 2020.

This pic is a bit concerning, though. It looks like the guitar fell on its back (possibly even in the case) and landed on the strap peg which caused the damage.



If the guitar is otherwise sound it's not a huge deal, but I probably would have offered less given the damage. FWIW if the guitar was mint (there's that word again!) then it might have sold for closer to his asking price.

 

[GAD]

Non-original bridge, too.

SF6s are gorgeous guitars. If it sounds and plays great and is structurally sound (and hasn't been repaired) you'll soon forget how much you paid for it.

 

[COONEY]

$3k is not a terrible price for a '70s SF VI. I paid $2600 for mine in 2020.

This pic is a bit concerning, though. It looks like the guitar fell on its back (possibly even in the case) and landed on the strap peg which caused the damage.



If the guitar is otherwise sound it's not a huge deal, but I probably would have offered less given the damage. FWIW if the guitar was mint (there's that word again!) then it might have sold for closer to his asking price.

Ok cool! Because as long as it didn’t cause structural damage it should be an easy repair right? So I didn’t do too bad??

 

[Norrissey]

I'm not an expert on values of Starfire VI guitars so I will let others speak to that but congrats! I love guitars like this one that have been played and have honest wear on them and I bet this one sounds awesome! The early '70s HB-1s are pretty special in my opinion, a little softer and warmer than the HB-1s of the mid-70s and later. Very cool! Enjoy!

 

[COONEY]

Non-original bridge, too.

SF6s are gorgeous guitars. If it sounds and plays great and is structurally sound (and hasn't been repaired) you'll soon forget how much you paid for it.

What was the original bridge, is this an upgrade bridge

 

[COONEY]

I'm not an expert on values of Starfire VI guitars so I will let others speak to that but congrats! I love guitars like this one that have been played and have honest wear on them and I bet this one sounds awesome! The early '70s HB-1s are pretty special in my opinion, a little softer and warmer than the HB-1s of the mid-70s and later. Very cool! Enjoy!

I play like Grunge Folk and I have a F-50 so I like the darker tones! Thanks!

 

[GAD]

Ok cool! Because as long as it didn’t cause structural damage it should be an easy repair right? So I didn’t do too bad??

Well it’s not like you can just go buy that heel cap at the store, but a competent luthier (not a tech) could fix that up so it looks great - assuming that’s the only real issue.

 

[GAD]

What was the original bridge, is this an upgrade bridge

The original bridge would have probably been a rocker bridge similar to this:



A Bigsby pulls on the strings so having a fixed bridge is not great unless you never use the Bigsby in which case it’s fine.

 

[COONEY]

The original bridge would have probably been a rocker bridge similar to this:



A Bigsby pulls on the strings so having a fixed bridge is not great unless you never use the Bigsby in which case it’s fine.

So my ‘70 has a good or not so good bridge. The seller sent me a video of him playing it using the bigsby and honestly I was blew away with the tone!!

 

[COONEY]

I play like Grunge Folk and I have a F-50 so I like the darker tones! Thanks!

I saw a video of the seller playing this guitar and I’ve never heard such a warm smooth tone.. love!

 

[GAD]

So my ‘70 has a good or not so good bridge. The seller sent me a video of him playing it using the bigsby and honestly I was blew away with the tone!!

Plenty of people have the “wrong” bridge on their guitars and they work just fine. Many Gretsches come from the factory with bridges that don’t match the radius of the fretboard.

I generally comment on if something is original because as a collector originality is important. As a player originality is less important. “Better” is subjective. A bridle like the one on your guitar would provide better intonation and would be useful if you don’t use the Bigsby much.

 

[Ixtlan]

If you plan on playing this and not flipping it, I think you will LOVE it!

 

[geoguy]

$3k is not a terrible price for a '70s SF VI. I paid $2600 for mine in 2020.

This pic is a bit concerning, though. It looks like the guitar fell on its back (possibly even in the case) and landed on the strap peg which caused the damage.

I think that looks like binding rot, not an impact.

The heel cap has simply off-gassed & deteriorated over time, possibly exacerbated by the type of glue used to affix the cap. Note the discoloration extending to the neck heel, near the heel cap. It is also corroding the metallic strap pin. Both of those situations are very typical of binding rot.

Not a big deal, imo. I would replace the cap and try to spray it with some tinted lacquer for a better color match with the rest of the binding.

A very cool guitar!

 

[GAD]

I think that looks like binding rot, not an impact.

The heel cap has simply off-gassed & deteriorated over time, possibly exacerbated by the type of glue used to affix the cap. Note the discoloration extending to the neck heel, near the heel cap. It is also corroding the metallic strap pin. Both of those situations are very typical of binding rot.

Not a big deal, imo. I would replace the cap and try to spray it with some tinted lacquer for a better color match with the rest of the binding.

A very cool guitar!

Hmm - maybe, in which case I agree it would be much less of a big deal.

Were the caps made of celluloid?

 

[COONEY]

Hmm. I haven’t paid for it yet because of all the clammer around the heel cap! So what do you guys think? Should I shell out the 3k or do y’all think I could find another Starfire VI for a better price. Every Starfire I’ve found that’s a VI and stereo are well over this price! This man wanted 4500 but I offered 3k and he accepted. Should I go ahead and pay him and after I receive it have a master luthier check it over and if it turns out to be a contact injury rather than binding rot! I can send it back and receive a refund if he has misrepresented it so I’m not too worried but also on the other side of the coin I have sever anxiety and I’m wallowing in the muck about weather or not to just spend another thousand or so to get a pristine example???!! Please give me some advice fellow Guildsmen!

 

[Norrissey]

Oh man. That's a tough one. I personally like guitars like this that have some wear on them. I get nervous with pristine vintage guitars. But some people love more pristine guitars. You just have to figure out your own preference.

If you can arrange it, I would suggest you make the sale contingent on having a good luthier check out the guitar so you are fully informed.