1970’s Starfire IV finish?

[BradHK]

I tried the search function but was unable to find an answer but apologies if this has been covered before.

I am looking to add a 1970’s Starfire IV to my Guild collection and was trying to gain an understanding of the type of finish utilized on these models. What I am trying to understand specifically is whether they are all lacquer or if they transitioned to poly at some time in the 1970‘s. My preference is lacquer. I have looked at a few late 1970‘s examples (all remote through photos) and some of the finish cracking and such makes me think poly rather than lacquer but this might just be due to the thickness of the finish applied. Thanks

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

I'm not the most qualified person to make this statement, but I'm pretty sure in the 70's Guild was using nothing but lacquer.

 

[Guildedagain]

I say Poly.

Had a '76 Starfire with a touchup in the back. Ick. Don't like those, but anyway, the sprayover the buckle rash was Nitro and all cracked and crazed. None of the rest of the guitar was, zero crazing in the front, definitely not nitro lacquer, and all my guitars gets exposed to temperature extremes, they have crazing if they are old and nitro, regardless of where they've been before.

I've been known to accelerate crazing on guitars, when I was younger, foolish, couldn't wait for the guitars to look old on their own.

Like leaving them out at night, and bringing them in right next to a woodstove blazing away, I can certify the results if you're stupid enough to do this, and I did. I think it does wonders for tone.

Lately, the way climate extremes are going, I love Poly guitars, have very little time for the fussiness of nitro finishes, the constant dulling from sweat, needing to be tuned a lot more than poly finished guitars you can play on the beach or around the campfire when it's raining.

 

[fronobulax]

Since we have contradictory answers I'm going to chime in with "not poly" and wait for better anecdotes to prove me wrong ;-)

 

[walrus]

I love Poly guitars, have very little time for the fussiness of nitro finishes, the constant dulling from sweat, needing to be tuned a lot more than poly finished guitars you can play on the beach or around the campfire when it's raining.

I've had several nitro guitars and have one now. I love the way the finish looks as it ages. I've had poly, too, this also has it's pluses. But tuning a nitro guitar and having it stay in tune has never been an issue...

walrus

 

[GAD]

Guild has certainly done poly on some models in some years, but I think a Starffire from the ‘70s would certainly be lacquer unless refinished.

Every Guild I’ve owned from the ‘70s has been lacquer. Of the Guilds I’ve owned I’ve only seen poly starting in the mid-‘80s.

If I’m wrong, then Guild sprayed the best poly ever.

 

[GAD]

Moving to semi-hollow forum.

 

[SFIV1967]

What I am trying to understand specifically is whether they are all lacquer or if they transitioned to poly at some time in the 1970‘s.

I say Poly.

Member hideglue who worked in Westerly had stated that Westerly used plenty of poly on archtops and solid bodies.
But when somebody asked Hans when they switched using poly Hans said: "There's no straight answer here. They switched back and forth several times."

As fas as I know hideglue and Hans never gave specifics yet and that would be probably part of his book Volume II.

However I doubt that they started using poly in the 70ties already. At least nothing is mentioned in Volume I.

Ralf

 

[powerwagonjohn]

My 71 M-75, 73 S100 SC and my 73 Starfire IV are all lacquer.
Thanks John