Chris Hillman's starfire

[mellowgerman]

Anyone know if it was used on any of their studio albums? Any other pictures out there? Also, what's going on between the knobs there? Trippidelic shiny reflector stickers?

 

[adorshki]

Anyone know if it was used on any of their studio albums? Any other pictures out there? Also, what's going on between the knobs there? Trippidelic shiny reflector stickers?

Wow where do you find this stuff? Do you know what performance it is? It's just got me wondering if there was Guild DNA blending 'tween the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield and the Airplane, at Monterey in '67. Just wondering here/when Casady got the idea to try a Guild, maybe that was it?
Wouldn't surprise me if it's used on "Eight Miles High", or "Rock'n'Roll Star", they both have "that sound", but I'm just guessing.

 

[mellowgerman]

No clue as to when or where that photo is from. I just stumbled onto it on a Rickenbacker forum.
In Monterey footage it looks like he was using a Fender:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWfDzEZZ ... re=related
But who knows! I'm sure they crossed paths a few times

 

[mellowgerman]

Starfire here too. Sunburst early SFB-I. Looks like Hillman knew "what was up" early on Check out the 2:25 mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfM3WeTV ... re=related

 

[fronobulax]

Wow.

If I am summarizing the discussion here correctly Jack switched to a Starfire for recording sometime between June and October 1967. Hillman was obviously an earlier adopter. This listing for as Starfire I for sale says, without attribution

Other early prominent users of the model were Steve Boone of the Lovin' Spoonful (who had the first two-pickup model built for him) and Chris Hillman with the Byrds.

Of course the real importance is that this is a picture of a pre-67 SF II without the tone switch.

 

[mgod]

When I was consulting with Blair for the Dead Gear book, we came up with some evidence that suggests Phil had an SF before Jack did.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Also, what's going on between the knobs there? Trippidelic shiny reflector stickers?

Yes... they were required accessories in the 60's if you wanted to be like, really cool.

 

[mellowgerman]

Also, what's going on between the knobs there? Trippidelic shiny reflector stickers?

Yes... they were required accessories in the 60's if you wanted to be like, really cool.

Did some research and it appears they would improve the upper harmonic response register of the bridge pickup quite a bit while also, in some cases, having been reported to counter-act dead-spots on the fretboard caused by TRC complications.

 

[mellowgerman]

Of course the real importance is that this is a picture of a pre-67 SF II without the tone switch.

:shock: :shock: :!: :!: :mrgreen:

 

[jte]

We'll see, but I just went to Hillman's website which has a place to ask him questions. I used that a few years ago to ask about a weird hybrid Fender Precision in some pictures. He responded a few weeks later so I'll keep the forum posted.

John

 

[fronobulax]

Also, what's going on between the knobs there? Trippidelic shiny reflector stickers?

Yes... they were required accessories in the 60's if you wanted to be like, really cool.

Did some research and it appears they would improve the upper harmonic response register of the bridge pickup quite a bit while also, in some cases, having been reported to counter-act dead-spots on the fretboard caused by TRC complications.

While I appreciate your hypothesis, there are a couple of points to be considered. First there is at least one known case where the TSRS is installed on a neck position Starfire I which suggests the quest for improved response was not limited to SF IIs or other instruments with bridge PUs. Second, research by the noted Guild authority Hands Mouse, and his assistant Mickey, on pre-Hagstrom Guild basses suggests that the decision to move from a plastic to a metal TRC eliminated most, if not all of the known dead spots on the fingerboard. Provided, of course, that the TRC was properly installed and calibrated by a factory trained and authorized technician.

As a veer, it should be noted that M. Mouse has not published much but his research into single coil pickups has been honored by affectionate references to "Miskey Mouse pickups" used by Guilds.

 

[adorshki]

Provided, of course, that the TRC was properly installed and calibrated by a factory trained and authorized technician.

Could that be the origin of the legendary silver truss rod cover that was intended to prevent unauthorized access?

btw, I got a reply from the seller of that ebay auction:

"There are no repaired cracks structure is good. The starfire plaque appears to be original but headstock was oversprayed and logo put back on. There is a replaced trc that is glued on to prevent access to the truss rod. no problems with the bridge"

Well then, this may be the only factory-original-starfire-dog-tag-on-headstock bass in existence! That easily makes it worth 3x what he's asking!

 

[dapmdave]

Here's some Lovin' Spoonfull video (1965) that shows the Starfire bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUvfZiCcUsE

Yep, there's an S-200 (I think??) in there, too. (here's another from '65)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpZI8biFsn8

Dave

 

[MARICOPAA]

What is really important about these 1965 videos of The Lovin' Spoonful is the use of (none Guild talk here for a moment...please excuse) an sunburst Gibson les Paul by John Sebastion...has to be a 1958, 1959 or 1960 sunburst Les Paul because Gibson didn't re-issue the Les Paul until 1968...that would mean John Sebastion was ahead of Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and others...at least American guitarists in using the holy-grail of Les Pauls!

 

[dapmdave]

What is really important about these 1965 videos of The Lovin' Spoonful is the use of (none Guild talk here for a moment...please excuse) an sunburst Gibson les Paul by John Sebastion...has to be a 1958, 1959 or 1960 sunburst Les Paul because Gibson didn't re-issue the Les Paul until 1968...that would mean John Sebastion was ahead of Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and others...at least American guitarists in using the holy-grail of Les Pauls!

I was wondering about that. I don't know enough about Pauls, but it seemed early.

Dave

We should now return to our regularly scheduled Guild program, which was already in progress. :lol:

 

[mellowgerman]

While I appreciate your hypothesis, there are a couple of points to be considered. First there is at least one known case where the TSRS is installed on a neck position Starfire I which suggests the quest for improved response was not limited to SF IIs or other instruments with bridge PUs. Second, research by the noted Guild authority Hands Mouse, and his assistant Mickey, on pre-Hagstrom Guild basses suggests that the decision to move from a plastic to a metal TRC eliminated most, if not all of the known dead spots on the fingerboard. Provided, of course, that the TRC was properly installed and calibrated by a factory trained and authorized technician.

As a veer, it should be noted that M. Mouse has not published much but his research into single coil pickups has been honored by affectionate references to "Miskey Mouse pickups" used by Guilds.

:mrgreen:

 

[jte]

I received a reply from Chris Hillman...

"I remember going to their factory in New Jersey sometime in late 1965 or possibly early 66'. I ended up with the instrument...Good Bass very easy to play as I recall and not as heavy as my later P-Bass. I can't remember if I played the Guild on "8 Miles High" but the
time line of late 65' early 66' could have been the Guild. I know I used it on the second album "Turn Turn Turn"...."

John

 

[adorshki]

I can't remember if I played the Guild on "8 Miles High" but the
time line of late 65' early 66' could have been the Guild. I know I used it on the second album "Turn Turn Turn"...."
John

Man I just eat this stuff up. Thanks John!
And I forgot about ?"Turn Turn Turn", that's got "that sound" too...even though technically all my guesess are still "unconfirmed".
Just noticed he was co-writer on "Rock'n'Roll" star though. :wink:

 

[Hangman]

True, but let's not forget Keith Richards's 1959 'burst he used in late 1964 to 1966, with which he recorded "Satisfaction", among others.

What is really important about these 1965 videos of The Lovin' Spoonful is the use of (none Guild talk here for a moment...please excuse) an sunburst Gibson les Paul by John Sebastion...has to be a 1958, 1959 or 1960 sunburst Les Paul because Gibson didn't re-issue the Les Paul until 1968...that would mean John Sebastion was ahead of Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and others...at least American guitarists in using the holy-grail of Les Pauls!

sorry for the derailment!

 

[jte]

I can't remember if I played the Guild on "8 Miles High" but the
time line of late 65' early 66' could have been the Guild. I know I used it on the second album "Turn Turn Turn"...."
John

Man I just eat this stuff up. Thanks John!
And I forgot about ?"Turn Turn Turn", that's got "that sound" too...even though technically all my guesess are still "unconfirmed".
Just noticed he was co-writer on "Rock'n'Roll" star though. :wink:

Well, I think he's referring to the album, not the single. My understanding is that Larry Knetchel (who later was the keyboards for Bread) played bass on both "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn". Not entirely sure about the later, but I do know that it's been confirmed (by McGuinn and Crosby) that except for McGuinn, none of The Byrds played on "Mr. Tambourine Man".

John