FS: 1961 Guild Starfire II

[hinck]

Hi folks,
I've been a member here for some years but just don't post much so I apologize if it seems like I'm jumping on just to sell a guitar. If anyone is interested I have my '61 Starfire listed on Reverb:

https://reverb.com/item/340168-guild-starfire-ii-1961

All the info is in the listing but I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone has.
thanks
Dave

 

[guildman63]

Those are great guitars! I would love to consider it, but I have at least two other guitars that I should sell first.

By the way, why were the tuners replaced?

 

[hinck]

Guildman, thanks for taking a look. The original tuners were slipping a bit so that's why I swapped them out. The tuning stability definitely improved with the replacements, still have the originals though.

 

[southernGuild]

Sweet! Lots to love there. A proper beauty!
Good luck Hinck. Man, I would if I could.......:crushed:

Nice Reverb ad too. That's the way to do it.

 

[hinck]

Here are some pics. I'd also be interested in anyone's opinion on my asking price. I have it now listed at $2,000, that seemed reasonable based on other sales I have seen recently.

 

[guildman63]

Asking price is tough to gauge. The only two vintage models like yours that actually sold were a 1964 black Starfire II for just under $1900, and a 1966 red Starfire III for $1500. The black version was a true beater, and to me went for much more than I would have paid. The red version has the same pups as yours, and looks to be in almost as nice condition. Ultimately, a guitar is worth what one is willing to pay at any point in time, and that can change from day to day. My suggestion is to ask what you feel your guitar is worth to you. If it sells, that's good for you, and if not and if you are in no hurry to sell you can enjoy that beauty until the right buyer comes along.

 

[hinck]

Guildman, thanks. You pretty much summed up my feelings.
I don't know the '66 Starfire you're mentioning but I thought by that time all the Starfires would have had the Guild humbuckers and not the Dearmonds. For me the Dearmonds were a big selling point.

 

[guildman63]

DeArmonds were still an option after buckers were introduced in 1963, but they are less common.

 

[hinck]

Well, that explains some later models I have seen with the Dearmonds. Learn something new every day.

 

[Sal]

Could someone describe the difference between DeArmonds and buckers?

 

[BigSil]

Hello Folks! I have a 61 SFIII. It has the DeArmonds as well. They are single coil, individual pole adjust. Not sure if that helps.
Humbuckers have a warmer tone than single coils. Im new at all this though. Glad I found this site, Im going to need help with my project as well.

 

[hinck]

Sal,
The Dearmonds are single coils, commonly described as like telecaster pickups on steroids. To my ears they have a huge, open and clear voice with absolutely righteous twang. On a hollowbody it's instant Duane Eddy.
The 'buckers that Guildman mentioned are humbuckers. There are countless variations but most find them to have a fuller, more rich, maybe darker tone than single coils. Think Gibson (humbuckers) versus Fender (single coils).

 

[chazmo]

Hello Folks! I have a 61 SFIII. It has the DeArmonds as well. They are single coil, individual pole adjust. Not sure if that helps.
Humbuckers have a warmer tone than single coils. Im new at all this though. Glad I found this site, Im going to need help with my project as well.

BigSil,

Welcome aboard, but this is the wrong place for this kind of post. Please post a welcome thread in hollowbody forum with some pictures so we can all give you some input and follow your project.

I will delete your post and my post from this thread later today to keep it on focus.

 

[Sal]

BigSil, Hinck, thanks. I love the look of the old Starfire 2s. Mahogany ages nicely!

 

[jmix]

This beauty looks like the sister of my 61' SF III, give or take the tailpiece, of course.
The Dearmond PU's sound really great, the guitar is really light and has a lot of projection for an electric guitar. I love it!
Good luck with the sale.

 

[hinck]

Bump.
Still available and I will include the Compton Aluminum bridge that I currently have it set up with.

 

[Walter Broes]

Could someone describe the difference between DeArmonds and buckers?

The DeArmond pickups are loud, trebly, twangy, percussive and agressive. With the right strings and setup into a mellower amp you can get a pretty convincing jazz tone out of the neck pickup with the tone knob rolled back a little. With round wound strings into a tube amp set clean with tremolo and reverb, it's instant Duane Eddy twang. The lead pickup is all treble and bite, somewhat like a loud angry telecaster. Both pickups together is the quintessential Rockabilly/Country tone, fat and twangy, lots of definition and string separation, imagine a very early Chet Atkins record.

The smaller Guild humbucker are, as you would expect from humbuckers, fatter and midrangier with less of a treble spike. Bright for humbuckers, but not nearly as bright as the DeArmond pickups.

 

[Sal]

Thanks Walter. Sounds like both styles have their fans and their place.

 

[hinck]

Sold. Thanks for the interest guys.