Can you identify this Starfire IV

[MaybeMatt]

Hi all - after lurking on the forum for a few months, I’ve decided to jump in a bit. I grew up playing, trading, and collecting Guild guitars with my father, and now that I’ve finished up with grad school and have held a job for a bit, I’ve been diving in an collecting a few myself. Picked up a nice blonde maple SF III (90s), Cherry Mahogany SF IV (90s), and a MARS X170-t. I shipped off the first and last to my dad to enjoy in his retirement, and I’m sure they’re getting a lot of quality playtime.

But I picked up an oddity for myself, and I’m hoping you all might know a bit about it to flesh out the picture for me. It’s an RI-built, maple, likely late 90s SF IV…but it’s a beautiful transparent blue, which I’ve only seen on Gad’s page…with an Ebony fingerboard, which I’ve rarely seen on IVs. It plays beautifully and I’d be super reluctant to part with it - but I feel like I have a stranger in my house that I can’t quite identify.

Anyone think they can solve this mystery?

 

[adorshki]

Hi all - after lurking on the forum for a few months, I’ve decided to jump in a bit. I grew up playing, trading, and collecting Guild guitars with my father, and now that I’ve finished up with grad school and have held a job for a bit, I’ve been diving in an collecting a few myself. Picked up a nice blonde maple SF III (90s), Cherry Mahogany SF IV (90s), and a MARS X170-t. I shipped off the first and last to my dad to enjoy in his retirement, and I’m sure they’re getting a lot of quality playtime.

But I picked up an oddity for myself, and I’m hoping you all might know a bit about it to flesh out the picture for me. It’s an RI-built, maple, likely late 90s SF IV…but it’s a beautiful transparent blue, which I’ve only seen on Gad’s page…with an Ebony fingerboard, which I’ve rarely seen on IVs. It plays beautifully and I’d be super reluctant to part with it - but I feel like I have a stranger in my house that I can’t quite identify.

Anyone think they can solve this mystery?

HI Matt welcome aboard!

Pics would help but from description I'd say you just got lucky with an unusual build, Guild was like that if you haven't seen comments about it already. Lots of stuff pops up that doesn't show as "available" in catalogs like that finish color, but assuming yours isn't one we've seen before, I think it's the 3rd SF we've seen in that gorgeous Transparent Blue over maple, really makes it pop.

Think they were all from '97-'98, a time when Guild seemed to produce unusual builds in small numbers just to keep things interesting for the market, I'm guessing?

Also an s/n would help nail down year if you want.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! As Al said, some additional info and pix would be helpful. The suspense is killing us.

 

[GAD]

GAD wants it.

Edit - and needs pics!

 

[MaybeMatt]

Wow, you all certainly know how to make a person feel welcome. I’ve always felt that Guild fans were a special bunch - and this absolutely confirms it.

Thanks so much for the information on the guitar. I always knew Guild got a bit goofy in the late 90s with its products (and serial numbers), but it’s great to see that there’s a community here who has stayed on top of all their idiosyncratic decisions. I knew blue finishes were circulating - or at least one (thanks to Gad’s article) and I knew ebony finger boards popped up occasionally, but I was totally surprised to see them together. I even failed to note the gold hardware. I’m really stoked to learn more.

I’m still stuck at the office, but I have a few old shots from the previous owner. Excited to see what you all think!

 

[FNG]

GAD really wants it lol...

 

[cupric]

Wow!!! That is a beauty!

 

[cupric]

If I am reading the serial number correctly,( it should be AG prefix) this guitar was made after 1999. The serial numbers for Guilds after this date are incomplete, and/or nonexistent.
Someone with much more knowledge than I may know. Hans will know for sure.

 

[GAD]

That looks more like an early '90s model to me based on the appointments and hardware. That's a Nightbird-style tail piece, a Mueller bridge, and HB1s - possibly 4-wire.

And I want it even more. It matches my red one that I had! Let me find a pic...

 

[GGJaguar]

Beautiful guitar! My guess it was made around 1993.

 

[GAD]

This was my '94:

This one is a '92 (still have it):

 

[GGJaguar]

Looks like my '92 SF-4, except not blue.

 

[GAD]

BTW the pick guard has been altered on the blue one

 

[GAD]

If you seriously want to sell it let me know. I love these guitars and I LOVE the blue!

 

[GAD]

BTW I'm pretty sure the SFIV-WB means Woodgrain Blue. Here's the January 1992 price list with the colors. I also find it interesting that they list the Starfire 4 as having a model F112.

Also, @MaybeMatt are you in Canada by any chance?

 

[adorshki]

That looks more like an early '90s model to me based on the appointments and hardware. That's a Nightbird-style tail piece, a Mueller bridge, and HB1s - possibly 4-wire.

And I want it even more. It matches my red one that I had! Let me find a pic...

Yeah, GA101115 is last s/n showing for '92, GA101147 is last one for '93. So as GGJaguar said pretty safe bet on '93.

Pretty low production, and never noticed that flip-flop of s/n alpha prefix before, can see why @cupric was thrown off especially since I thought it was gonna be the late '90's blue. And given Guild's known occasional label errors.

 

[SFIV1967]

,( it should be AG prefix) this guitar was made after 1999.

The GA prefix was used from the 70's into the early 90's.
Ralf

 

[MaybeMatt]

Sorry all - the office got the best of me the last few days. Oh the joys of working in international affairs and politics while the world seems to continually set itself on fire. Super fun.

I can’t thank you all enough for all the assistance, and I don’t think I can accurately tell you how much I’ve learned from it all. Like GAD’s insight on the tailpiece, more insights from you all on the serial numbering. I seriously hadn’t considered it could be from an era other than the late 90s and had never ever looked at serial numbers predating that period.

This was all super helpful. Seriously stoked to know more, and seriously stoked to be part of this community. Looking forward to seeing more gorgeous guitars.

And while I don’t live in Canada, I did pick it up from the original owner - who is Canadian. Maybe it was originally marked for export only? That was one of my original suspicions.

And @GAD, on selling it - you might be in luck. My work often takes me around the world, and it’s looking like I might need to make a more permanent move with minimal materials. If it happens, I’ll likely need to sell it - and I’ll be sure to list it here before I even consider Reverb

 

[GAD]

Thanks!

I ask about Canada because every example of a Starfire from ~‘92-94 I’ve encountered has been in Canada or come from someone who got it there.

I don’t know why.

 

[adorshki]

Sorry all - the office got the best of me the last few days. Oh the joys of working in international affairs and politics while the world seems to continually set itself on fire. Super fun.

Well you certainly won't have to put up with any of that petty stuff here.