Starfire VI without Bigsby?

[mblindsey]

I'm trying to talk my uncle out of a Guild that is labeled as a Starfire VI. He bought it used in the early 80's at music store in Dallas, quickly gave up on learning how to play, and used it as a prop once our twice a year as a Elvis impersonator. It is near mint. I have searched the Internet, and based on the serial, it seems to be a 1976 model. The only thing is, I've only seen Starfire VI models on the Internet with a Bigsby Vibratto. This one has the harp trapeze bridge. Did some of these guitars ship without the Bigsby Vibratto, or is it mislabeled? I'm attaching an old picture of the guitar.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mblindsey/G ... 8825535138

Thanks in advance for any help.

--Michael

 

[matsickma]

I know a guy who bought a Starfire V back in the mid 1960's and he custom ordered it without a vibrato.

By the way...beautiful guitar!

M

 

[hansmoust]

I'm trying to talk my uncle out of a Guild that is labeled as a Starfire VI. He bought it used in the early 80's at music store in Dallas, quickly gave up on learning how to play, and used it as a prop once our twice a year as a Elvis impersonator. It is near mint. I have searched the Internet, and based on the serial, it seems to be a 1976 model. The only thing is, I've only seen Starfire VI models on the Internet with a Bigsby Vibratto. This one has the harp trapeze bridge. Did some of these guitars ship without the Bigsby Vibratto, or is it mislabeled? I'm attaching an old picture of the guitar.

Hello Michael,

Most Starfire VIs (or Starfire 6s) have a Bigsby vibrato but during the '70s the Bigsby vibrato unit was becoming less popular and around 1976 it was decided that the Starfire 6 would get the deluxe engraved harp tailpiece. However the Bigsby vibrato unit was still available as an option.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[mblindsey]

Thank you for the quick and informative replies! I have a couple of more questions, if you don't mind.

1. Would this guitar have been made in America or Korea?

2. While my uncle still is not ready to sell (he still occasionally does Elvis impersonations), he says he will not accept anything less than $2000 USD for the guitar. I realize that many factors influence price, but is that in the right range for this guitar with the original case?

Thanks again...wonderful forum,

Michael

 

[hansmoust]

1. Would this guitar have been made in America or Korea?

Guild guitars were never made in Korea. The one your uncle has was made in Westerly, RI.

2. While my uncle still is not ready to sell (he still occasionally does Elvis impersonations), he says he will not accept anything less than $2000 USD for the guitar. I realize that many factors influence price, but is that in the right range for this guitar with the original case?

That would be a reasonable price! I have one very similar to the one in your picture and I would not sell it for $ 2000.00.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Default]

It's guitars like yours that makes my wife wish that I looked at p0rn instead. :roll:

 

[mblindsey]

I finally made it to my uncle's house to take some pictures of the guitar. I really like it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mblindsey/GuildGuitar

 

[Jahn]

Look at the flame on that maple! This is what you do - you promise to mow your uncle's lawn for life, and get that guitar for your own!

 

[MacAoidh]

You couldn't make up a story like this. I nearly fell off my perch laughing. Tell him Elvis always preferred an an ES175 and offer him a year's supply of cheeseburgers as a swap. :lol:

 

[mblindsey]

Look at the flame on that maple! This is what you do - you promise to mow your uncle's lawn for life, and get that guitar for your own!

It's all true. I talked to him a bit over the weekend. He actually has one final performance, and then he is putting away the sequined jumpsuit and silk scarves away for good (the suit doesn't fit too well these days). But, he still doesn't want to let go of the guitar just yet. I'll get it someday. He wants it to remain in the family.

I was impressed with how well these are made. Really impressed.

Nitpicking the guitar...

1. Nearly all of the gold plating is there. Where it is rubbed off the most is on the pick ups. However, this lack of plating starts directly below the high E string. It's in a straight line. I don't think it is from playing, but I couldn't figure out "why there" and "how"? You can see it in the pics.

2. Master volume probably needs some attention. There is some static when you adjust it.

3. The inlay that runs along the neck has some minor cracks, but nothing too serious. I hope that doesn't indicate anything bad.

4. The case is good shape, but one of the locks is non-functional

--Michael

p.s. mow grass? give cheeseburgers? I'm in KC, he is in Dallas. He is the man in retirement who wants for nothing....

 

[coastie99]

You couldn't make up a story like this. I nearly fell off my perch laughing. Tell him Elvis always preferred an an ES175 and offer him a year's supply of cheeseburgers as a swap. :lol:

Nice avatar Mac....... but wait a minute !!

Guitars pointing in the wrong direction; and those strings are upside-down !

 

[MacAoidh]

Guitars pointing in the wrong direction; and those strings are upside-down !

Its the pipe and smoke that makes the pic, Coastie. Dead fifteen years and I still miss him. Albert bought his first guitar for $1.25; Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) bought him his last, customised 'V' for a huge sum. The masters are almost all gone -- the Wolf, Muddy, the Hookers (Earl and John Lee) Freddie, Collins, Gatemouth, Stevie Ray, Ike, Calvin Owens and now Diddley. Some of the 'old geezers' -- BB, Honeyboy, Pinetop, Tabby, Hubert, Buddy, Little Richard and Chuck are still slugging it out, but not for long. It makes you wonder if the blues will carry on. Fortunately, the Alabama 3's 'Got Myself A Gun' (Sopranos theme tune) seems to be drawing in a new crowd; I dug up and played some old, reverb-friendly swamp blues tunes (Lightnin' Slim, Silas Hogan) at a small, very 'young' venue and the the joint exploded -- yes dancing at a blues gig -- they'd never heard any of this stuff. The worrying aspect of it is that some of the audience now regard ME as an 'old blues geezer'!