NGD: 1966 Starfire II W/DeArmonds

[casey2048]

Just got this today and I know there was some interest in pics, so here goes. I haven't had the time to plug it in yet but when I do I can post a sound sample. Overall this guitar is in just lovely condition. Can't have been gigged or transported very often, and when it was must have been with great care. The action is a bit high and you'll notice the saddle is flush to the bridge so I am hoping the neck relief will allow me to adjust the truss rod a bit here. But if I can't suss it out at home I'll take it to the local tech who worked on my 67 SFIII. Also for fun there's a vintage note from the case about neck adjustments made in the 70s, and some vintage plectra. (One note - I was scared about those original tuners but they work surprisingly well.)

 

[GGJaguar]

What a gem, congrats!

 

[Walter Broes]

Nice!

 

[guitarlover]

Congratulations !

 

[Norrissey]

Beautiful! Congrats!

 

[Prof Silverhair]

Oh, that's way cool. Congrats!

 

[HeyMikey]

Wonderful casey! Hopefully your guy gets it set up just how you want.

 

[twocorgis]

Congratulations, it looks to be in beautiful condition, a bit better than my'70 Starfire IV. Just heard from my luthier that mine will be ready tomorrow, so I'll do a belated NGD for mine. I have heard that a lot of Starfires have pretty shallow neck sets even when new, hopefully there will be enough for your luthier to work with.

 

[walrus]

Beautiful! Love the case candy, especially the 50+ year old handwritten notes about the neck adjustments!

 

[Harp Tail]

Congratulations - it's absolutely spectacular and I love that dark cherry. The SF-II with Dynasonics is the only Starfire still on my bucket list.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Love it! If you're good with the harp tailpiece, you could use a shaved bridge base to bring the action down a little (I'd probably keep the original as-is, and just use a new one). That would get you into trouble with a Bigsby, but there should still be plenty of tension with the harp.

 

[casey2048]

Love it! If you're good with the harp tailpiece, you could use a shaved bridge base to bring the action down a little (I'd probably keep the original as-is, and just use a new one). That would get you into trouble with a Bigsby, but there should still be plenty of tension with the harp.

That’s a good suggestion. Thanks! I do already have a Starfire III with a Bigsby so I’ll definitely be keeping the harp on this one. Do people have a similar bridge they prefer? I haven’t measured the current saddle so I don’t know what I’m looking for but I will when I get a chance.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

That’s a good suggestion. Thanks! I do already have a Starfire III with a Bigsby so I’ll definitely be keeping the harp on this one. Do people have a similar bridge they prefer? I haven’t measured the current saddle so I don’t know what I’m looking for but I will when I get a chance.

I'm not sure about those Hagstrom saddles -- maybe someone here has some advice. Most of them are pretty uniform, so a quick measurement should be able to get you a base that will fit. Then it's just a matter of sanding down the base -- which will probably be easier if you use one that has two feet, like a typical Gretsch or Gibson base, rather than a continuous piece of rosewood. You can fit it perfectly to the top of your guitar by taping a piece of sandpaper to the top (grit side up!). Just use low-tack painter's tape, and then you can sand the base across it to get a perfect fit for the arch.

If the post measurements line up, you could start with something like this (not sure whether chrome or nickel would be the best match your hardware):

008-0622-200 Genuine Gretsch Rosewood Bridge Base w/Nickel Wheels & Studs | Reverb

Genuine Gretsch rosewood bridge base with nickel wheels and studs. 74mm Post Spacing20mm Diameter Thumb Wheels5-17/64" (5.272" or 134mm) Wide19/32" (0.591" or 15mm) Long9/16" (0.565" or 14.4mm) minimum Height63/64" (0.986" or 25.1mm) maximum HeightBrands GretschPart # 008-0622-200

reverb.com

 

[chazmo]

Looks like a really great find!! I love the patina of those old guitars!

 

[Shakeylee]

to me that's the ultimate guitar. congratulations

 

[casey2048]

Thanks everyone for the congrats and also some good advice. To those of you who are still after one - if I decide to pass this on in the future, never fear, LTGers will get first refusal.

 

[chazmo]

By the way, where'd you find this one, Casey? I don't recall discussing it here, but then we do talk about a lot of guitars.

 

[casey2048]

By the way, where'd you find this one, Casey? I don't recall discussing it here, but then we do talk about a lot of guitars.

via Online Offerings, on reverb! This was the seller: https://reverb.com/shop/bruces-gear-garage-43

 

[chazmo]

via Online Offerings, on reverb! This was the seller: https://reverb.com/shop/bruces-gear-garage-43

Righto. Yup, I guess I *did* see that one, although I think it was after you'd already grabbed it. Harp Tail posted that one. NICE! I love that our folks are helping each other find good stuff. {or, you can read that as we're helping folks stay away from the s**tty stuff... sadly there's an awful lot of that}

 

[Harp Tail]

I love that our folks are helping each other

Indeed, Chazmo - it's always a pleasure when one of us brings home a nice piece first seen in "Online offerings".

Norrissey helped me acquire my 1997 SF-II, and then I bought that splendid 1975 directly from him - otherwise I may have made a move myself on what ended up in Casey2048's hands.