'68 Starfire IV Project

Triangle Going Sick_OG

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Some members might remember the guitar from when I was on here a while back, I bought this off the ebay guitar rapist a long long time ago.
10 years later thought I might actually make a start on it haha.
Looks like a '68 going by the serial number EL1902.
Factory Brown.
Was missing everything, completely stripped back, painted headstock veneer etc.

Back when I was keen I did find a couple of parts but even then it was hard going. While some of it is 'period' correct it's not exactly model correct......and I think this was the reason I never got started, waiting for all the exact parts to turn up.

So now a new plan of attack.

Repair it as a players guitar.
Keep the brown finish and clear coat it.
Use the parts I currently have and if not possible to get another AntiHum for the bridge and floating bridge setup then anything aftermarket that will work.

Always greatful for any input! IMG_0760.JPGIMG_0763.JPGIMG_0764.JPGIMG_0761.JPG
 

Opsimath

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The only input I can offer is encouragement. I hope you get all the needed pieces to this guitar puzzle and will be playing it soon. Good luck, and of course looking forward to some pictures along the way.
 

BradHK

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I love it when an old guitar comes back to life. That looks like a fun project! I have done a few of these and my only comment is that the body (other than the veneer missing from the headstock) looks like nobody has messed with the pickup routes or anything else. If it was mine, I would do my best to not drill any additional holes for tuners or different pickup rings or anything. It looks like you already have most of the hard to find parts like the bridge. I would put a rosewood base on that bridge, all new wiring and pots, tuners, etc and string it up and play! Once it is up and playing you can always drop in original parts as you find them. Anti-hum pickups pop up now and then for sale but you can drop in a new reissue one while you look. It will be nickel rather than chrome like your original but it will fit and look right. Do you need an original neck pickup or a bridge pickup?

Has the original finish been stripped? It looks like it from the photos. If so, I think your idea of just a nitro aged clear gloss over the current color would look great.

Keep us posted of the resurrection with plenty of photos!
 

Triangle Going Sick_OG

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I love it when an old guitar comes back to life. That looks like a fun project! I have done a few of these and my only comment is that the body (other than the veneer missing from the headstock) looks like nobody has messed with the pickup routes or anything else. If it was mine, I would do my best to not drill any additional holes for tuners or different pickup rings or anything. It looks like you already have most of the hard to find parts like the bridge. I would put a rosewood base on that bridge, all new wiring and pots, tuners, etc and string it up and play! Once it is up and playing you can always drop in original parts as you find them. Anti-hum pickups pop up now and then for sale but you can drop in a new reissue one while you look. It will be nickel rather than chrome like your original but it will fit and look right. Do you need an original neck pickup or a bridge pickup?

Has the original finish been stripped? It looks like it from the photos. If so, I think your idea of just a nitro aged clear gloss over the current color would look great.

Thanks. Looking for a bridge pickup. Any recommendations for reissue pickups for these, I'm happy to go this way.

Yeah so original finish has been stripped. There's some indication of the factory Brown under the pots, which is quite a dark brown.
I was somewhat tempted to wipe over with a tint but without knowing if the wood will take evenly I'm going to err on the side of caution.
Plus I've got used to looking at it like this haha.
 

SFIV1967

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Looking for a bridge pickup. Any recommendations for reissue pickups for these, I'm happy to go this way.
Or in Europe:
There are probably other sources on ebay or in stores. Just Google around.

Ralf
 

Triangle Going Sick_OG

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Veneer removed.

Nice looking piece of wood, so I'm going to go against the grain here and not install a new veneer (its from a different model anyway).

Going to lacquer the head stock along with the guitar and keep the look stripped down and bare.
 

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BradHK

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Veneer removed.

Nice looking piece of wood, so I'm going to go against the grain here and not install a new veneer (its from a different model anyway).

Going to lacquer the head stock along with the guitar and keep the look stripped down and bare.
One item to keep in mind is that the black veneer with the inlay (and the thin wood veneer underneath) on these vintage Starfires provide the needed clearance so that the truss rod cover can sit flush and clear the truss rod nut and washer.
 
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