Starfire IV finish?

[simundo]

Hi this is my first post on the forum and any help would be appreciated!

I have recently bought this SF4, I was just wondering if anyone has seen this finish before or is it a refin? I bought it from a reputable dealer in the USA and they had it listed as walnut but this isn't indicated on the headstock serial. Someone told me that the serial has the finish abbreviated in letters.

Many Thanks

 

[simundo]

forgot to mention its a 79/80 model.

thanks

 

[hansmoust]

I have recently bought this SF4, I was just wondering if anyone has seen this finish before or is it a refin? I bought it from a reputable dealer in the USA and they had it listed as walnut but this isn't indicated on the headstock serial. Someone told me that the serial has the finish abbreviated in letters.

Hello simundo,

Welcome! The information is partly correct. The finish color is usually a suffix mentioned after the model designation written on the label. The finish seems a little lighter in color than what a 'walnut' finish usually looks like, but that doesn't mean it isn't a 'walnut' finish. If it would be a 'walnut' finish, then the complete model designation would be 'SF-4 Wal.'

Just let us know what's written on the label.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[kakerlak]

I have seen a walnut one that looked about like this one before (my dad bought it sight-unseen b/c it was cheap and being sold as an SF-IV-DS. He thought maybe, just maybe it'd be a "deep starfire" but it seemed regular in all regards, so no idea why it was labeled that way at the factory. Maybe it meant "dark stain"...).

Anyway, you usually see that finish on mahogany bodied Starfires, but on maple, sometimes it looks a bit lighter, depending on how transparent it is. I'd vote original. The other thing is that, unless somebody just wanted to change color, the rest of that guitar looks too clean for an instrument that's been used enough to wear out the original finish.

Hans is right, though, what's on the label could confirm correctness of color, but they don't always list the finish on the label, just sometimes. My SF-VI is labeled SF6-wal. It's over mahogany, though:

 

[simundo]

Thanks for your help guys, really appreciate it.

The guitar is currently being shipped over here so have not had chance to see the label. I bought it just from looking at the pictures because I loved the finish and thought it was pretty rare. I picked it up for $1200 which I thought was a fair price. When I take delivery I will let you know what is indicated on the label to confirm it's originality.

Regards

 

[matsickma]

Wow. Nice looking guitars! I love SF 4's from this time period. They are typically upscale models that resemble a SF5 less the Guild bigsby. Some times they seem to come with a bigsby. I have a Antique burst model with stock Dimarzio's that sounds great. The SF4's of this period also appear to be the deeper models that are thicker than earlier and later SF4's. They are similar in thickness to a SF5.

M

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Simundo,

Well there can be slight variations in these colors and there is also a chance that the way the photo was taken makes the guitar look a 'lighter' shade than it really is.

forgot to mention its a 79/80 model.

The guitar you just bought is definitely from 1980. Here's another 'Walnut' finished one from that same year and probably made a couple of months before yours:

I'm almost 100% sure that your guitar is a 'Walnut' finished one as well!

We'll see when it comes in.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[simundo]

Thanks Hans, I agree it sure looks like it was on the same production line as the one you posted ! Just had an email to say the guitar is at my local depot Going to pick it up after the bank holiday. I will let you know what's on the label when I receive it.
Just hope it arrives in one piece!

Thanks again for all your help

Si

 

[simundo]

Picked my sf4 up today from the postal depot. It blew me away when I first plugged it in nicer tone than my 355! a definite keeper! Just to confirm the guitar is 100% walnut, its exactly the same as the one Hans posted and it must have been a strong camera flash that has lightened the body in the pics. The suffix is 'Wal' on the label just as you guys predicted. Thanks again for all your help you certainly know your stuff.

Best Wishes

Si

 

[Default]

Yeah, but you still have to post new pics!

Sorry, it's the rules....

 

[waveland]

Very nice looking guitar! Decent price too. Congratulations! You are going to fall in love with the buttery sound of that thing.....enjoy!