Thunderstar

GGJaguar

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It's 1969 and you don't have $480 for a 40-watt Fender Super Reverb, but you do have $325 for the new 50-watt Guild Thunderstar with high-projection speaker system!

Thunderstar.jpg
 

matsickma

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That advertisment shows the Thunderstar with the chrome Guild logo on the front. Not sure if Guild ever sold them with the logo as everyone I have seen didn't have it. Similarly for the Superstar. The Thunderstar uses 7591 power tubes that sound great when cranked up. The novel mounting of the 12" speaker tends to attenuate the low end response.
M
 

gilded

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The 'novel mounting' was a non-metal work-around to steal Fender's Patented Tone Ring concept.
I had one of those amps that I loved, I just couldn't carry it anymore. I had a Superstar, too with an Electrovoice 15" SRO coffee can speaker (look it up!). The speaker was heavy, around 24lbs. What a beast!!

Good bye Superstar and Thunderstorm, hello Princeton Reverb!
 

gilded

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Here they are! I found 'em!

Also, look at the two different Guild logos on the front panel. They are different, are they not?
 

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AcornHouse

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That advertisment shows the Thunderstar with the chrome Guild logo on the front. Not sure if Guild ever sold them with the logo as everyone I have seen didn't have it. Similarly for the Superstar. The Thunderstar uses 7591 power tubes that sound great when cranked up. The novel mounting of the 12" speaker tends to attenuate the low end response.
M
Had to go find a pic of mine; sure enough, no logo.
9F5541F8-E87A-4DBE-942F-96432B657F21.jpeg
 

matsickma

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Ahh...yes! Forgot about the different font used for the "Guild" silkscreen on the upper grillcloth edging.

Since the Superstar was brought up again it should be mentioned that the Superstar is the 1-15" speaker equivalent of the last version of the Thunderbird. It has the same preamp and power amp section as the final Thunderbird model and uses a pair or 6L6 finals. Speakers in either the Superstar or Thunderbird Rev3 have the speakers mounted in a standard front baffle.

In terms of weight...as Gilded mentioned, they are a bear. Huge transformers in the power section and the speakers of the era use AnicoV or large ceramics so they add a lot of weight.

Some time back someone on LTG came across someone with a Superstar that had a quad set of 10" speakers. The comments seemed to imply Guild was gun-hoe to be an amp company prior to a sale and were planning a "Super Reverb" style speaker configuration that eventually fell by the wayside.
I have been thinking a 4-10 combination would be a more practical speaker configuration.
Guild had marketed the Superstar as a multiple purpose amp for guitar, organ (think Farfisa type) and bass.
M
 

matsickma

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Cool looking Guild amps and guitars guys!
Does anyone remember the weight of the Super Reverb? I remember the Twin was a very heavy. The vintage amps were always heavy especially when loaded with JBL or Altec speakers!
M
 

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The 4x10s were installed by the owner, who used to work at Westerly and New Hartford. It was not a stock setup.
 

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Unfortunately, I can't remember his name, and he recently passed away. I think twocorgis was froends on fb with him.
 
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