New Member – Old Jetstar

[LSquared]

New Member – Old Jetstar

Hello! I’m new here, and looking forward to participating. I have a Guild Jetstar, which I purchased it in the summer of 1979. I’ve been refurbishing it for a while now, and am hoping to get some good advice. Are there any Jetstar experts around?

Based on the “dating your Guild” website, mine was built in 1967. Somedoby from Guild told me long ago that mine was from 1968. I’m deducing it may have been manufactured in late 1967, but not shipped until 1968?

It has a single Bi-Sonic pickup, the Hagstrom style bridge and the 4-in-line headstock. Sadly, it is pretty far from “mint”. When I purchased it, the bass bad been stripped and stained, but not varnished. Like the stupid kid I was at the time, I proceeded to paint over the stain with enamel spray paint. Over the next several years, it suffered through several colors of poorly applied paint. I also replaced the tuning pegs (because it wouldn’t hold a tune). At some point I replaced the wiring/electronics, but I’m not even sure when. I do have the original hard-shell case.

Over the years, I got away from playing, and the bass more or less went into storage. I’ve gotten back into playing, and have been trying to refurbish / restore the Jeststar in my spare time. I know that I’ll never be able to make it perfect, but I’m hoping to get it looking as good as possible, and to where I can play it out occasionally. Currently it has been refinished (by somebody who knew what they were doing). Now I'm trying to work through reassembling it.

I don't have many photos of me actually playing the Jetstar, but here's one 1981(ish), practicing in my apartment.

And the new finish:

LarryL

 

[bassmanpatsfan18]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Hello! I’m new here, and looking forward to participating. I have a Guild Jetstar, which I purchased it in the summer of 1979. I’ve been refurbishing it for a while now, and am hoping to get some good advice. Are there any Jetstar experts around?

Based on the “dating your Guild” website, mine was built in 1967. Somedoby from Guild told me long ago that mine was from 1968. I’m deducing it may have been manufactured in late 1967, but not shipped until 1968?

It has a single Bi-Sonic pickup, the Hagstrom style bridge and the 4-in-line headstock. Sadly, it is pretty far from “mint”. When I purchased it, the bass bad been stripped and stained, but not varnished. Like the stupid kid I was at the time, I proceeded to paint over the stain with enamel spray paint. Over the next several years, it suffered through several colors of poorly applied paint. I also replaced the tuning pegs (because it wouldn’t hold a tune). At some point I replaced the wiring/electronics, but I’m not even sure when. I do have the original hard-shell case.

Over the years, I got away from playing, and the bass more or less went into storage. I’ve gotten back into playing, and have been trying to refurbish / restore the Jeststar in my spare time. I know that I’ll never be able to make it perfect, but I’m hoping to get it looking as good as possible, and to where I can play it out occasionally. Currently it has been refinished (by somebody who knew what they were doing). Now I'm trying to work through reassembling it.

I don't have many photos of me actually playing the Jetstar, but here's one 1981(ish), practicing in my apartment.

And the new finish:

LarryL

You're not in France, are you? I remember about reading about a repair shop in Chicago that was refinishing a Jet Star that had been stripped in sunburst for a customer in France.

Either way, cool bass!

 

[fronobulax]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Welcome.

The Guild dating charts that are published online are often inaccurate but I can't recall too many problems with dating a pre-1970 bass from them.

However the concept of relating serial numbers to dates can be problematic. Guild assigned serial numbers to necks but there is no guarantee that the necks were turned into guitars in serial number order. Furthermore for low production volume models there might be several months between when the number is assigned and when the neck becomes a guitar and leaves the factory.

Hans Moust, frequent poster here and author of The Guild Guitar Book has factory production ledgers and might be able to tell you when your bass left the factory. Until he does, I don't know of any way to distinguish between a '67 and a '68 except by the serial number.

If you think this is screwy, in 1965 Guild changed from using one number sequence for all models to one that used a prefix and separate number sequence for each model. I have pictures of two different Starfire basses with the same serial number. Hans has confirmed that.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Hi, and welcome to the forum! You're not Baz with a new name are you? (Inside joke).

Just thought you'd like to know that your truss rod cover is on upside down. (People around here get pretty bothered by that kind of thing.)

Nice bass! Please keep us updated with photos!

 

[LSquared]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

You're not in France, are you? I remember about reading about a repair shop in Chicago that was refinishing a Jet Star that had been stripped in sunburst for a customer in France.

Nope. I'm in southern Illinois. I lived in Pittsburgh when I bought it, though. I had the refinish done there, by someone my brother knows.
THANKS!

 

[LSquared]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

The Guild dating charts that are published online are often inaccurate but I can't recall too many problems with dating a pre-1970 bass from them.

However the concept of relating serial numbers to dates can be problematic. Guild assigned serial numbers to necks but there is no guarantee that the necks were turned into guitars in serial number order. Furthermore for low production volume models there might be several months between when the number is assigned and when the neck becomes a guitar and leaves the factory.

Hans Moust, frequent poster here and author of The Guild Guitar Book has factory production ledgers and might be able to tell you when your bass left the factory. Until he does, I don't know of any way to distinguish between a '67 and a '68 except by the serial number.

If you think this is screwy, in 1965 Guild changed from using one number sequence for all models to one that used a prefix and separate number sequence for each model. I have pictures of two different Starfire basses with the same serial number. Hans has confirmed that.

2 w/ the same serial number? wild. I'll post the actual serial number of mine at some point. I'd love to know as much as pobbilbe about mine. Little things like what the original finish was.

I never thought about the neck vs body thing and how it might be more of an issue with small batch models. Makes sense, though.

 

[fronobulax]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Hi, and welcome to the forum! You're not Baz with a new name are you? (Inside joke).

Baz has a PM waiting for him which he hasn't read yet and probably should.

Baz is the current owner of a 65 JetStar that he has restored. He had some help from LTGers in finding parts. His enthusiasm for the bass clashed with other people's attempts at precision in language.

By the way, Grot did not introduce himself, but you should check out his Museum.

 

[fronobulax]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

I lived in Pittsburgh when I bought it, though.

I was in Pittsburgh when I bought my Starfire I (used) in 1977, plus or minus six months.

 

[LSquared]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

I lived in Pittsburgh when I bought it, though.

I was in Pittsburgh when I bought my Starfire I (used) in 1977, plus or minus six months.

Where in Pittsburgh? I got my Jetstar at Pittsburgh Guitars, probably within a couple months of when they opened. Back when they were in Bloomfield, just up the block from Jim's Records.

 

[fronobulax]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

2 w/ the sat serial number? wild. I'll post the actual serial number of mine at some point. I'd love to know as much as pobbilbe about mine. Little things like what the original finish was.

I never thought about the neck vs body thing and how it might be more of an issue with small batch models. Makes sense, though.

Almost triple post, but we're fairly relaxed about that here as this thread demonstrates.

The sale of Starfire BA-1260 and Hans' comment that it has a duplicate is here.

I can't find all the places Hans has patiently told me about serial numbers but I think he will correct me if anything I said gives a wrong impression. You can PM him the serial number and ask if there is anything he knows that he is willing to share.

 

[fronobulax]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

I lived in Pittsburgh when I bought it, though.

I was in Pittsburgh when I bought my Starfire I (used) in 1977, plus or minus six months.

Where in Pittsburgh? I got my Jetstar at Pittsburgh Guitars, probably within a couple months of when they opened. Back when they were in Bloomfield, just up the block from Jim's Records.

Shadyside. Grad school at CMU. I bought it from an individual, probably through a classified ad in a paper, which you sound like you might be old enough to remember. (Waves to mellowgerman and kevin the bass man). About all I recall is that came in a cloth bag/case that was probably homemade.

 

[mellowgerman]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Shadyside. Grad school at CMU. I bought it from an individual, probably through a classified ad in a paper, which you sound like you might be old enough to remember. (Waves to mellowgerman and kevin the bass man). About all I recall is that came in a cloth bag/case that was probably homemade.

Actually, I'm proud to say I bought my first bass through the classifieds of the Buffalo newspaper waaaaayyyy back in the year 2000

 

[Baz Cooper]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Congratulations on the Bass!!! Those are awesome basses....I just restored one with the help of these fine gentlemen here, but...unfortunately, I have lost my job and am selling many of my basses, the 1965 Guild Jet-Star included. Mine was the first to have the new serial number with a 2x2 headstock.
Frono, I am unable or not allowed to open any messages here on the board. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and Have a Merry Christmas!!!

 

[LSquared]

Re: New Member – Old Jetstar

Congratulations on the Bass!!! Those are awesome basses....I just restored one with the help of these fine gentlemen here, but...unfortunately, I have lost my job and am selling many of my basses, the 1965 Guild Jet-Star included. Mine was the first to have the new serial number with a 2x2 headstock.

Hi Baz! Sorry about the job thing, lots of hard times these days....

I was reading the earlier thread about your Jetstar, that was one of my inspirations to join this forum. Serial number 101 is pretty cool, even if it's not the first one built. According to the serial numbers published on the Guild web site, mine may be one of the last 5 built. I need to follow up with Hans and see if he has any inside scoop. I haven't "met" him, suppose I should introduce myself.

Hope everybody here had a great Thanksgiving.