Need help from experts....Vintage Guild Starfire III

[tommykirk]

Hello! New here...hoping for some help from the experts on Guilds.

I have my fathers vintage Guild Starfire iii hollowbody guitar which he took the tailpiece off to clean it, and lost it. I would like to find a vintage replacement for it.

Serial number 40991 (If someone could confirm year of manufacture, that would help also.)

Thanks!
Tom Kirk

 

[krysh]

Welcome to LTG! My guess is early 1965, the charts are very inconsistent.

 

[Neal]

Sweet guitar. I would find a Guild-labeled Bixby tailpiece to put on that bad boy.

Here's one on Reverb, but it ain't cheap!

Bigsby Guild B6 1960’s Chrome | Reverb

Clean No spring or screws

reverb.com

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome! According to the serial charts in Hans' book your SF III was made in 1965. Don't get the Guild/Bigsby tailpiece from Guild (they are diecast not sand cast, are metric and made in Asia). You want a vintage one and they do pop up from time to time on eBay and Reverb. Be patient and good luck!

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! That is the vintage "Guildsby" (a Guild branded Bigsby):



Not so easy to find, but they come up from time to time.

The modern reproductions do have the "R" on them, so you can spot the difference:



Ralf

 

[Rocky]

Sweet guitar. I would find a Guild-labeled Bixby tailpiece to put on that bad boy.

Here's one on Reverb, but it ain't cheap!

Bigsby Guild B6 1960’s Chrome | Reverb

Clean No spring or screws

reverb.com

This is the wrong model, as it has a tension roller, based on a B-7 Bigsby, not a B-6.

 

[tommykirk]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I found this one from a seller in Japan that looks vintage (does not have the R noted above), thoughts?

 

[Rocky]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I found this one from a seller in Japan that looks vintage (does not have the R noted above), thoughts?

I'm no expert, but it looks right. In addition to missing the spring, it also doesn't have the screws for the hinge piece. It looks expensive, but I have no idea what the going rate is.

 

[GGJaguar]

The one in Japan appears to have pressed-in string pins (probably 1970s or later). The one you want has screwed-in string pins.

 

[Rocky]

The one in Japan appears to have pressed-in string pins (probably 1970s or later). The one you want has screwed-in string pins.

Ah, didn't notice that part. Threaded string pins came about c. 1973, IIRC, however, depending on how much stock Guild had, they may have been around for a while longer.

 

[BradHK]

Does the new Guildsby use the same mounting holes as the vintage Guildsby? I only have vintage so I can’t compare. The reason I ask is that if they use the same mounting hole pattern the OP could use a new Guildsby to get the guitar up and playing and then keep an eye out for a vintage Guildsby at a reasonable price.

 

[tommykirk]

Does the new Guildsby use the same mounting holes as the vintage Guildsby? I only have vintage so I can’t compare. The reason I ask is that if they use the same mounting hole pattern the OP could use a new Guildsby to get the guitar up and playing and then keep an eye out for a vintage Guildsby at a reasonable price.

I am going to wait for a vintage part, but thanks for the idea.

 

[Mingus]

I bought mine just a few weeks ago on facebook marketplace. I don't recall the exact price, but I offered something like $130 and he accepted. It had been sitting there for awhile offered at $190. I think the sold pieces on reverb average around $160-$170 or so, so you can do better than the ones posted. They are not common, but they also aren't super sought after (it seems).

So don't pay those sky high prices. If you pay any more than $200, you'll see another one listed a week after it arrives for much less, you'll find the original or both. That's the way it always happens! lol

 

[Mingus]

The one in Japan appears to have pressed-in string pins (probably 1970s or later). The one you want has screwed-in string pins.

Maybe send that guy a message and lowball him. Worst he could say is no! But, although you have the missing hardware, the fact that his auction is missing it should bring that price WAY down.