Starfire bridge ?

[Nuuska]

Hello

Local music store has this bridge for sale - they say it is from Starfire II and possibly fits DeArmond.

DeArmond is easy to believe - but was there ever Starfire with metal saddles - screws - springs ?



Or could it even be a Hagström bridge ?

 

[hansmoust]

Looks like a bridge for the reissue Starfire Bass that was introduced during the second half of the '90s.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[fronobulax]

Yes.

That looks to be a bridge from the 90's reissue of the Starfire. Has to be a Starfire II because they did not reissue the Starfire I.

I would measure carefully before I decided it was a drop in replacement for a 60's, 70's or Newark Street Starfire.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

I have access to a Dearmond, an MIK-NS and a late 90s (MIA) Guild Westerly which I can reference.

I just measured a couple of aspects of the "Barrel" bridges on a DeArmond SF and on a Guild Westerly SF (late 90s reissue). The outside end of the "E" barrel to the outside end of the "G" barrel measures right around 2-3/4" on both. This is with all barrels snugged together, end-to-end. The string spacing is is quite similar (not more than 1mm difference, if that.

Though the overall shape of the BB ("Barrel Bridge") base plate and that of the WSB ("Wood Saddle Bridge" [as found on the MIK "Newark Street" reissues]) is very similar, the BB is slightly wider (not a big deal). However, the bridge plate mounting holes do not match up (a big deal for those who don't want to drill extra holes in the top.

Knowing Guilds history of "using up" stocks of parts from discontinued models on current offerings, I'd guess that the BBs used on DeArmond Starfires were left over from Westerly Guild Starfire production. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think DeArmond SF production began (or at least continued) after Westerly SF production had ceased and they stopped making the DeArmonds before they started production of the NS SFs.

 

[lungimsam]

I was gonna say I'll take it if the hole spacing is the same as my bass but then I remembered you are in Finland.

 

[Nuuska]

Well well

That was fast - now I know just in case anybody over here should ask me . . . Thank You All

 

[Happy Face]

I once came across one of those bridges. I swapped it onto my red JS-II. The holes did NOT match up so new holes had to be drilled.

Swapped it back off (forgot why) but now it's on my Guilembic JS. That made sense at the time and performs well. Looks sharp as well. Which you all know is all that I care about.

 

[chechunka]

even though you had to drill new holes on the SFII did it still work ok functionally?? Did you have to put foam underneath between it and the body like the stock floating bridge has?

 

[Happy Face]

I'm guessing you are asking someone else with a Starfire. But it works fine on my JS.