Differences in Starfire models

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Hello All,

I have a '66 Starfire III which I have owned for 15 to 20 years. I have recently been looking into the specific features and look of the guitar in relation to the other Guild hollow-body electrics. I'm not really sure how original my guitar is and I wondered what the model numbers (eg, I,II,III,etc.) mean other than the shape. Would someone be able to give a basic overview of the differences?
 

GAD

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If you've got lots of time, read all of these: http://www.gad.net/Blog/gads-guilds/
If you've got less time, read this: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/06/24/guild-electric-guitars/

If you've got even less time (or patience), here's the excerpt:

Starfire I: Very early 1960’s Stafires that came with only a neck pickup.
Starfire II: Thin completely hollow body guitar – harp tailpiece
Starfire III: Same as SFII, but with a Guildsby vibrato tailpiece
Starfire IV: Thin semi-hollow body guitar – large center block – harp or stop tailpiece
Starfire V: Same as SFIV, but with a Guildsby vibrato tailpiece
Starfire VI: Same as SFV, but with high-end appointments. Highly flamed wood, gold hardware, 7-layer binding, bound ebony fretboard, abalone inlays, etc.

If you want the truth from the master, buy Hans' book (if you can find one):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AKJS6K/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
 
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Thanks for the info. That explains why all of the SFIII's I see have the Guild/Bigsby on them.
 

Hobbesickles

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If you've got lots of time, read all of these: http://www.gad.net/Blog/gads-guilds/
If you've got less time, read this: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/06/24/guild-electric-guitars/

If you've got even less time (or patience), here's the excerpt:

Starfire I: Very early 1960’s Stafires that came with only a neck pickup.
Starfire II: Thin completely hollow body guitar – harp tailpiece
Starfire III: Same as SFII, but with a Guildsby vibrato tailpiece
Starfire IV: Thin semi-hollow body guitar – large center block – harp or stop tailpiece
Starfire V: Same as SFIV, but with a Guildsby vibrato tailpiece
Starfire VI: Same as SFV, but with high-end appointments. Highly flamed wood, gold hardware, 7-layer binding, bound ebony fretboard, abalone inlays, etc.

If you want the truth from the master, buy Hans' book (if you can find one):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AKJS6K/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Not all Starfire VIs have flamed maple!

52MPv1Z.jpg
 
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