starfire: vintage or NS

[upsideDownNBackwards]

Thanks for all your input everyone. This is a great forum. I have to get rid of a cool 70s Aria first and then I'll see whats around. Not so many options up in Canada but I'm always up for an excuse to drive south. I'm really smitten with those 60s starfire iiis in cherry. Maybe its got something to do with seeing them in Lera Lynn's hands but I think its a great looking guitar.

I've always believed that laminate necks on vintage intruments were a safer bet in that they are more likely to stay true. Any merit to this? I'm assuming the starfire iv is a multi piece neck and the stripe on the back isn't just for looks.

When were these fender designed pickups used? Are there guild pickups available after market that sound right if you're going to replace the fender pickups?

 

[trimbo]

I own two Hoboken Starfires. A white starfire V and a cherry IV both from 1967. Although the SFIV has a slim-ish neck the SFV has a 43mm nut and a big round neck that would give a Gibson R8 a run for its money.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

Re. solid vs. laminate necks: I've owned plenty of both, most attached to guitars even, and am not convinced it matters. The only cranky neck I've had to deal with is a solid maple one belonging to an early relic Tele, and even it stabilized after years of needing frequent trussrod tweaking. (I also had the patience to leave it in its case for an extended time while it aged and dried out. Nowadays I'm too old for that.) I do think lam necks using different types of wood—Rickenbackers come to mind—have a sharp look, not that anyone but the person playing it can see this.

To back up trimbo, I've played a bunch of '60s & '70s Starfire II–VIs (oddly never owned one) and the neck widths & shapes have varied. Seems to me the '70s necks are more consistent but that could be a small-sample statistical fluke.

-Dave-

 

[Frank4001]

First of all, Walter, that is a gorgeous S-III. Simply stunning.

Next, let me offer a caveat that I haven't played a Guild from the 60's or 70's since the 60's or 70's so I am going by memory on this.

To upsideDownNBackwards, the original poster, let me say that you really can't go very wrong with any Starfire III or IV. There was no "down period" for Guild, except when Fender started designing their own pickups and even then, it was only the pickups that were the problem and that can be remedied (as I did). As GAD indicated, the guitars from the various periods do differ somewhat from each other and you have to decide which you prefer.

My Guilds were from Westerly and my Starfire 5 (or V if you prefer) was one of the last ones. It is a really great guitar. Sounded pretty good before a pickup swap and now sounds superb. The earlier Starfires I remember as being great as well. My first guitar teacher (back in the mid-60s) loved Guilds and always tried to steer me that way. Only took me 40 years to come around. I have played a current Starfire III and was extremely impressed by it as well. The problem biggest problem with the new ones is that you can usually find a Westerly or Corona-built one for the same price or maybe even a little less. As much as I like the new ones, I would go for the older one first, if it was my decision. Anyway, I am sure that whichever you go with, it will be a great choice.

I have been playing/gigging my 2000 Guild with the Fender -Buckers, since March.



I know it's standard mantra a round here to rag these pickups but I have to say (and probably do ad-nauseum) they are fine.
They are a bit brighter, maybe , than the typical Gibson pickup but they work great for the what I do.
So they aren't an automatic change for everyone.
The guy that hires me for these gigs tells me its the best guitar I have...and he's blind.
I play straight into the amp, turned up and manage it with a volume pedal.

.and here a crappy little camera phone vid someone shot this year... Playing through a Marshall Studio15, straight in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRGKUq7AXsE

 

[GAD]

Though I'm not a fan of the Fender HB1s, don't discount the Corona Starfires. They are every bit the guitar of the late-90s Westerly guitars. Especially with P90s. :tennis:

 

[DrumBob]

I have a NS SF-IV and love it. It's quickly becoming my number one guitar. The neck is just meaty enough that I can handle it easily for extended playing times, and I like a fat neck. I can't play the old Starfires, because the necks are way too skinny. Toothpicks, really. They give me hand cramps.

Someone said Guild has cut corners with the Newark Street series guitars, but I don't see it. The fit and finish on mine is excellent, as good as I've ever seen. Maybe they have on the wiring or the controls, perhaps, but again, I don't see or hear it. The guitar plays really well and sounds great.

 

[Mark WW]

I have owned (2) 2003 SFIII's and the neck is not skinny which suits me fine. I also own a NS and that neck is both thinner and more narrow at the nut. THe pups IMO are better on the NS, but the 2003's can take pretty much any standard humbucker so that is an easy fix. I don't think when you talk about various years Guild's anything is easy. There is a lot of variation. For me neck chunk is a gotta have!