Progress so far…thanks to Matthew’s kind help and indulgence I managed to work out what cases might fit the guitar, particularly with its long headstock…I sourced a Gator GWE-355. I’d have liked a Guild case, but can’t find any stock anywhere at the moment. The gator fits and is similar-ish in style to what it would have had. This will do fine for now. Might even make a “repro” style logo for it at some point. Very kindly indeed we also came to a deal on an original Anti Hum too…it arrived this week, and it’s just awaiting me taking the strings off to solder and fit. So we’ll on the way. I’ll then turn the attentions back to the scratch plate.
67 Starfire XII restoration questions.
- Thread starter Jennings
- Start date
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Looks like you scored an Anti Hum ;]
Keep your eyes open for an original case, a vintage Gibson 335/12 case would fit also.
Keep your eyes open for an original case, a vintage Gibson 335/12 case would fit also.
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Finally got time to take the string off and swap in the original AntiHum bridge pickup, so she’s back to stock in that regard. It sounds great too, and balances perfectly with the one in the neck. Thanks everyone who’s given input and helped out while I got it all spruced up and going again
Where did you end up getting the Anti-hum?
Finally got time to take the string off and swap in the original AntiHum bridge pickup, so she’s back to stock in that regard. It sounds great too, and balances perfectly with the one in the neck. Thanks everyone who’s given input and helped out while I got it all spruced up and going again
Luckily a kind chap on one of the FaceBook forums offered to sell me an original Starfire AH that he’d bought for a project, then never used. Otherwise I’m sure Hans would have been able to help. I’m still mulling over whether to replace the pickguard or leave it without.
I would definitely try Hans for a pick guard. It looks glorious without it but might look more...
"proper" with it.
I'm curious if you have any plans to touch up the finish, say, on the front/face of the guitar. I ask because my guitar looks like yours (Mojo scratches). I read (on another guitar forum) a post by someone that he used a crayon to touch up small scratches, etc. His guitar was black, and I'm assuming the scratches "repaired" weren't large; he fills in the scratches with the crayon, then smooths and polishes the wax to a shine. Of course, his finish was an opaque, uniform color while the Starfire's is not; a big difference that may very well preclude an aesthetic "repair."
I was in my local supermarket and happened to see small variety packs of crayons on sale, so I picked up a couple. I plan (when I get around to it) to try out the reds -- mark a piece of paper, then compare these to the guitar's finish. Of course, I don't want to do anything too crazy; FUBAR is always in the forefront of decisions like these vs. "leaving well enough alone." Leaving the finish as-is (when defects are minor/moderate) may lend a Mojo quality to a guitar and is usually the safest route to go.
If you ever do any touching up, please post your experience here. I'm just thinking for the time being.... Thanks.
I was in my local supermarket and happened to see small variety packs of crayons on sale, so I picked up a couple. I plan (when I get around to it) to try out the reds -- mark a piece of paper, then compare these to the guitar's finish. Of course, I don't want to do anything too crazy; FUBAR is always in the forefront of decisions like these vs. "leaving well enough alone." Leaving the finish as-is (when defects are minor/moderate) may lend a Mojo quality to a guitar and is usually the safest route to go.
If you ever do any touching up, please post your experience here. I'm just thinking for the time being.... Thanks.
Great question…I have done total strip and refinishes on totally mashed guitars before, partial refinished like stripping and redoing a top, and others I’ve just touched or stabilised as best I can. I quite like the level of wear on the back and generally on this Starfire, which I’ll leave as-is for patina. However the flaking area on the top by the F hole waist area I will possibly do something about to stabilise. I don’t want to remove it, as I like to keep the honesty of the natural wear, but it’s flakey so I’d like to stabilise it a bit. I’m tempted to use small amounts of clear nitro and a fine paintbrush just to use it like a glue, then gently buff it flat. I’ll mull it over and post anything I do.
Sounds good, Jennings. I think that's the right idea. This guitar doesn't need to be stripped, just touched up at those worn areas. You might want to use some cherry-colored lacquer rather than clear for those spots, but I'm kind of speaking from ignorance w.r.t. finishing. Definitely not a re-fin, though!
Good luck. Oh, and it's great that you got an original humbucker to replace what it came with. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.
Good luck. Oh, and it's great that you got an original humbucker to replace what it came with. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.
Cheers Chazmo
Good point on the lacquer colour…I’ll give it some thought when I clean the areas up a bit in readiness. I was lucky and grateful on the pickup front. I’ll have to record something soon, but I can confirm that I wasn’t disappointed sound wise…clear without being thin, bold and punchy without being muddy. It’s a great humbucker, and nice to hear the Starfire with its intended voice again.
Great work on this Guild rescue! That is my approach to these wonderful old Guilds as well. A nice honest restoration.
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ABM 2412, 12-String Guitar Bridge
We use a separate saddle for each string, so that the intonation can be adjusted perfectly.
abm-guitarpartsshop.com
I think you’re right…missing piece of the jigsaw! It’s on my to do list
Thanks
I love the story a well loved instrument has to tell…visually and sonically. It’s a great guitar to play, and much more versatile than I thought it would be.That’s interesting…I’m guessing it would need a little fettling to fit though…total height on a base might be bigger than my neck angle permits.ABM 2412, 12-String Guitar Bridge
We use a separate saddle for each string, so that the intonation can be adjusted perfectly.
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If you could make it work though, you have the only properly intonated Starfire 12 in existence!
Nuuska
Enlightened Member
Well . . .
When I was younger and possibly cazier than now - I got the idea - after seeing one of the two guitars Bozo built for Leo Kottke and Peter Lang - that I would like to have a solidbody electric 12-string w 2 octave neck - Fender Stratocaster vibrato - one pickup ( no space for other . . . ) and it would have to fit in Les Paul Protector case.
So I designed one - my friend Matti Nevalainen - http://www.flyingfinnguitars.fi/e_front.html - built it. I have no pictures of it - but he made afterwards 3 6-string versions - he shifted the neck to accommodate two humbuckers.
Anyway - I took the whammy saddles off and used a file to reform them to get the intonation be good. And I just estimated each saddle - but w sheer luck they were spot on.
So absolutely doable.
And this is one of the 3 6-stringers he made - some day I have to get a nicer looking bridge/ tailpiece . . .
When I was younger and possibly cazier than now - I got the idea - after seeing one of the two guitars Bozo built for Leo Kottke and Peter Lang - that I would like to have a solidbody electric 12-string w 2 octave neck - Fender Stratocaster vibrato - one pickup ( no space for other . . . ) and it would have to fit in Les Paul Protector case.
So I designed one - my friend Matti Nevalainen - http://www.flyingfinnguitars.fi/e_front.html - built it. I have no pictures of it - but he made afterwards 3 6-string versions - he shifted the neck to accommodate two humbuckers.
Anyway - I took the whammy saddles off and used a file to reform them to get the intonation be good. And I just estimated each saddle - but w sheer luck they were spot on.
So absolutely doable.
And this is one of the 3 6-stringers he made - some day I have to get a nicer looking bridge/ tailpiece . . .
That’s a cool looking guitar, and I love the sound of the solid twelve string too. I’m a big fan of crazy “what if” projects! Nice green burst on that six string version too. I’ve made a few lap steel bridges and so on, where the intonation isn’t so important. Despite the limitations of the floating wooden bar bridge on my Starfire, it actually intonates reasonably OK. But then I have a few bar bridge guitars, so I’m used to compromises perhaps. How did your solid twelve sound in the end?Well . . .
When I was younger and possibly cazier than now - I got the idea - after seeing one of the two guitars Bozo built for Leo Kottke and Peter Lang - that I would like to have a solidbody electric 12-string w 2 octave neck - Fender Stratocaster vibrato - one pickup ( no space for other . . . ) and it would have to fit in Les Paul Protector case.
So I designed one - my friend Matti Nevalainen - http://www.flyingfinnguitars.fi/e_front.html - built it. I have no pictures of it - but he made afterwards 3 6-string versions - he shifted the neck to accommodate two humbuckers.
Anyway - I took the whammy saddles off and used a file to reform them to get the intonation be good. And I just estimated each saddle - but w sheer luck they were spot on.
So absolutely doable.
And this is one of the 3 6-stringers he made - some day I have to get a nicer looking bridge/ tailpiece . . .
Nuuska
Enlightened Member
It was about 35 years ago - I recall it being extremely bright - the pickup was strat single-coil - i used to have Fender Princeton Reverb amp. Most likely an amp w closed cabinet 2x12 or 1x15 would've brought better overall sound. I eneded not using it all that much. Finally traded it in Minnesota - so with any luck it is circulating on that side of the pond. Also burled birch top - orange burst.
Sounds like a really cool top wood and colour
I wonder whether it would have warmed up with a different pickup choice, or perhaps an over wound alnico III or II Strat style? Wonder where that guitar is now?!