Starfire III electronics

[Masamune7772]

Hello, I have a 1966 starfire 3 with stock humbuckers and I’m thinking of swapping the neck pickup for a P90. Does anyone know the values of the pots/tone cap and if I will need to change any of them or just swap the pickup out ?

 

[chazmo]

No idea, Masa, but good luck with the project!

 

[GGJaguar]

P-90s are usually paired with 500K ohm pots.

 

[Walter Broes]

Unless your guitar already is a player/hotrod with damage or mods, I wouldn't do that - 60's Starfires in original condition have been getting more expensive in recent years

 

[GAD]

Unless your guitar already is a player/hotrod with damage or mods, I wouldn't do that - 60's Starfires in original condition have been getting more expensive in recent years

I agree.

 

[matsickma]

If you want a neck P90'ish tone you could consider adding a neck DeA repro pickup. The hole pattern of the DeA is close to lining up with the Mini antihum pickup so you can always revert it back to stock.
There are multiple versions of the DeA pickups out there and even a Gretsch version which looks a lot like the vintage design. Many people feel the DeA 2k pickups sounds like a P90. There are 2K, 2000 circa 2000, 2000 "Dynasonics" circa 2024, Gretsch Dynasonic circa 2000 and the vintage DeA 2000. Additionally other manufacturers have their DeA clones.

The main thing you have to consider is the height of the pickup body. You need the short height model to fit under the strings and mount on top of the body. Just angle the screws into the mini antihum pickup holes. I mounted a set of DeA pickups that way into a late 60's DE400.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Just angle the screws into the mini antihum pickup holes. I mounted a set of DeA pickups that way into a late 60's DE400.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that this is reasonable -- it seems almost necessary, even.

 

[Masamune7772]

Hey I’ve already got my heart set on Duncan antiquities. Should fit if I make new mounting holes. I’m keeping this guitar so not worried about resale . Anybody know what kind of pots are in the guitar ?

 

[GAD]

Hey I’ve already got my heart set on Duncan antiquities. Should fit if I make new mounting holes. I’m keeping this guitar so not worried about resale . Anybody know what kind of pots are in the guitar ?

Pics and wiring layout here:

1966 Guild Starfire III | GAD's Ramblings

This 1966 Guild Starfire III came to me as a surprise gift. Well, it came to me after I apparently bought it on eBay while under the influence of Nyquil and Aged Rum. Well, it was fine Aged Rum and Coke (the real Mexican kind with real sugar, dammit) and then a shot of Nyquil. …

www.gad.net

You're probably not going to get much support here for cutting into an 60 year old vintage guitar.

 

[Masamune7772]

Thought I wouldn’t have to cut anything but you might be right

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Thought I wouldn’t have to cut anything but you might be right

It will be irreversible, because the dogear covers extend well beyond the footprint of the original pickups.

Antiquities are fine, but I don't think of them as especially distinctive -- so I'd be inclined to try something less invasive. You might look at the range of pickups TV Jones does in English mount (everything from his T-90 to a Dyna, to Magna-trons). These will likely fit inside your existing pickup rings (might require a little judicious filing), which means they can be reversed without a trace.

Or, do a top mount (which looks great), which is only a little more invasive/destructive.

The existing pots are probably 500k, and should be fine.

 

[BradHK]

I will second the TV Jones English mount recommendation from @Smiert Spionam. TV Jones will also make them without the TV Jones etched on the top of the pickup. I have a set of black T-90 pickups without the TV Jones logo that I will be using in a 1966 Starfire IV I am bringing back to life that was stripped and gutted. Same width as a Guild anti-hum and only a hair wider so they should fit in a Guild pickup ring. I don’t have mine handy at this time or I could double check to see if they fit without any modifications.

T-90 Neck - English Mount - T-Series

T90 Neck is our take on the traditional P90, combining classic design with a touch of sparkle & clarity made to fit a humbucker cavity. Result is a full, fat sound with clear, transparent overtones.

tvjones.com

 

[matsickma]

Another obvious alternate is buy a used Korean made SF3 and do the mod to it.
I have to say the Korean NS models did a very good job of duplicating the build of the Hoboken made Guilds. Likely they used poly in lieu of lacquer but it wasn't thick like the early 2000 DeArmonds.
You can likely get one in the $700 range with a case if you watch Guitar Center or eBay.

 

[Shakeylee]

if they are mini hums and not full size ,measure these and see if they cover. if not, some pickguard material rings might do the trick.

i like these more than TV jones pickups

KP - GFS NYII Pickups, Black/Chrome - Kwikplug™ Ready-EP_NYI

 

[Shakeylee]

500k pots should be fine,but 330k is always worth a try in large bobbin single coil guitars

 

[Masamune7772]

I’m really only interested in the classic Gibson p90 sound but if I have to cut the guitar I’m not doing it. The humbuckers it has are good.. maybe I’ll grow to love them. I have seen the new starfires and they look nice but I can’t afford another guitar. I got this one by chance on a trade for an amp. And I really love the guitar. The neck is perfect. Good body construction with that old wood sound. Lovely. I’m just partial to old Gibson pickups.

 

[Shakeylee]

The pickups I linked would probably sound like P-90s
T-armond T90s too

 

[chazmo]

I’m really only interested in the classic Gibson p90 sound but if I have to cut the guitar I’m not doing it. The humbuckers it has are good.. maybe I’ll grow to love them. I have seen the new starfires and they look nice but I can’t afford another guitar. I got this one by chance on a trade for an amp. And I really love the guitar. The neck is perfect. Good body construction with that old wood sound. Lovely. I’m just partial to old Gibson pickups.

Masa, also peruse GAD's site (gad.net) to get more details on your choices for some of the pickups. He has some great info there. There are also a lot of gritty details on LTG which you would have to use the Search button to find.

Good luck in the hunt!

 

[Masamune7772]

Gad.net seems to be an unrelated site

 

[chazmo]

Sorry, in GAD's blog are articles that discuss pickups, Masa. Anyway, good luck!