All of your '66 XII Starfire knowledge, plz

josh brokaw

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Hey folks,
Recently took an ebay flyer on a '66 XII Starfire. Absolutely thrilled about the action on the 9 extant strings out of the box and I'm fairly certain the disclosed neck break might just be some finish cracks from a little bit of stress here and there.
A couple of questions for those with experience with the '60s Starfires, as I'm guessing most of what I'm wondering also applies to 6 strings ... pots are scratchy. Is it worth cleaning them up? And if I'm looking for replacements, what's my best bet? Links to the best electronics guide, for myself or the luthier?
I'm also guessing the master volume was an aftermarket addition, given that all of the photos of similar guitars don't have them.
 

GAD

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Show us a pic and we'll tell you if the MV was original.

Scratchy pots are almost always worth cleaning but it can be a PITA on a semi-hollow guitar, though there some tricks that can work. If they're just scratchy there's no reason to replace them. If there's another reason, then have at it.

I've not peeked inside a XII, but this article includes the schematic for my '66 SF III: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/03/13/1966-guild-starfire-iii/
 

JohnW63

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Can careful spraying of DeOxit down the shafts help the scratchy pot issue? I'd probably blue tape all around them first.
 

GAD

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Can careful spraying of DeOxit down the shafts help the scratchy pot issue? I'd probably blue tape all around them first.
Yes, but I wouldn't trust blue tape. I'd get one of these instead: https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...y-job/tools-for-maintenance/pot-cleaning-cap/

Also if you're buying DeOxit, get DeOxit Fader F5 and not the commonly found D5. D5 can and will dissolve any old lubricant in the pots and render them useless in seconds. Fader F5 has lube in it to keep them working smoothly.
 

GAD

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^ I didn't know that!

Yeah, I try to tell everyone because I've had it completely lock up an irreplaceable vintage pot on me. It dissolves the old grease in there and you'll go from usable but noisy to completely seized in one spray. The Fader F5 is so great that it will even recover the pot seized from D5!

I use the D5 for open circuit boards, but pots and faders only get the F5.
 

JohnW63

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They have spray and dropper with a long pipette style. I would think the dropper style would be the ticket for guitar work.
 

swiveltung

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It will be hard to get enough pot cleaner onto the important part of the pot (the wiper and etc) through the shaft. That requires flooding it through the tiny gap or nearly non existent gap. The best is to remove it and spray directly through the slot to get on that area. yeah, I know, not fun.... Some pats bind up from using the cleaner through the shaft also. Depends on the pot bushing.
 

josh brokaw

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Thanks for the info, everyone. Here's an unflattering photo of the guitar. image000000(1).jpg
 

SFIV1967

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I'm not sure about the MV knob, can't see it good enough. Is there anything on the label behind "Starfire XII ch"? Like "spec" (for special due to the MV)?
Ralf
 

Mapleman54

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I’m really interested in the scale length of your lovely guitar… I have this ‘66 Starfire XII in green but the neck join is the shorter 16th fret on mine. Guess yours may be later that year..
 

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Mapleman54

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I’m really interested in the scale length of your lovely guitar… I have this ‘66 Starfire XII in green but the neck join is the shorter 16th fret on mine. Guess yours may be later that year..
Actually I think I’m going blind… looking carefully now yours looks the same scale as mine!
 

SFIV1967

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I believe the scale length was 24 3/4" independend of 16th or 18th fret neck to body joint.

1633299373187.png1633299256140.png

Ralf
 

josh brokaw

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Mine's joined at the 18th fret. I saw that info a couple places when looking at it - was that a mid-year production change on all Starfires 'round then?
 

hansmoust

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Mine's joined at the 18th fret. I saw that info a couple places when looking at it - was that a mid-year production change on all Starfires 'round then?
Hello Josh,

The change was made towards the end of the year 1966; not just on the Starfire XII, but on all double-cutaway Starfire models. The IV and the V came first and the VI was last by early 1967.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
 
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