NGD: 2000s Guild Starfire IV

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SF4-23.jpg


Received the guitar last week and posted on my website a few minutes ago.

It is a beauty and exactly as described which is always good. I would say near mint condition.

Wondering if anyone can help with dating it? It is definitely 2000s.

SF4-01.jpg


Plenty of pictures on the website.

So for the short time I have this Starfire, I think the pickups are OK. Different than PAF or Gibson Humbuckers, but actually pretty good. I will wait and decide later if I will swap these out or not.
 

GGJaguar

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Wondering if anyone can help with dating it? It is definitely 2000s.

So for the short time I have this Starfire, I think the pickups are OK. Different than PAF or Gibson Humbuckers, but actually pretty good. I will wait and decide later if I will swap these out or not.

My best guess is that it was made in 2001. I have a 2001 SF-4 and I agree that the pickups aren't that bad, but then, I'm not a humbucker connoisseur (I usually go for single coils). Enjoy!!
 
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shihan

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That’s a beauty! Hard to top a late Westerly SF. Hope you enjoy it in good health!
 
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My best guess is that it was made in 2001. I have a 2001 SF-4 and I agree that the pickups aren't that bad, but then, I'm not a humbucker connoisseur (I usually go for single coils). Enjoy!!

I am more of a single coil guy myself. P90s usually. For Humbuckers my favorite are Filter’trons. But I do have a few guitars with Humbuckers like my 335 and Les Paul. Most Humbuckers I do like are the low wounds.

Thanks for the date, what I thought as well.
 

Quantum Strummer

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Those pickups are the Fender-made HB-1alikes. They're not bad, particularly in (semi-) hollow guitars where the natural mid-scoop you get from the guitar gives the pickups more character.

-Dave-
 

dbirchett

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I have a Starfire V from the same year. I didn't mind the HB-1s on it but wasn't really excited about them either. They seemed to be the weak point of the guitar. I changed them for TV Jones' Power'Trons and love those. They are the 'Trons most like a PAF but seem clearer.

In any event, yours is a beautiful guitar and I agree with all that has been said about how wonderful the later Westerlys were. Enjoy it in good health.
 

txbumper57

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Congrats Chasing! Late Westerly Guild electrics are some of the finest ever made in my opinion. I went the opposite direction from Dbirchett with my late Westerly SFV. I wound up replacing the Fender made pickups with Duncan Custom Shop Phat Staple single coils in a humbucker mount. Absolutely Love them in that Guitar!

TX
 
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Congrats Chasing! Late Westerly Guild electrics are some of the finest ever made in my opinion. I went the opposite direction from Dbirchett with my late Westerly SFV. I wound up replacing the Fender made pickups with Duncan Custom Shop Phat Staple single coils in a humbucker mount. Absolutely Love them in that Guitar!

TX

Nice! Unique choice.
 

D30Man

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Congrats CG!!! Mighty fine Maple SF. I too am more of a single coil guy - p-90's and strat p/u's - but I dug the HB-1's that I had on my Emerald Green SF / NS Series.. Granted mine was a 2015 model MIK.. Not sure how the pick ups differ..
 
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