Tailpiece on Starfire XII?

[fadedhour]

Does anyone know what the tailpiece on this Starfire XII is?

I haven't seen any Starfire XIIs with this tailpiece, but I'm not at all an expert on this. Any ideas on what this might be/where it might have come from if it's not original to the guitar?

I was also wondering how difficult it might be to obtain a 12-string tailpiece. I've seen some harp tailpieces on eBay occasionally, but I don't remember seeing any ones specifically for the 12-strings.

Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Los Angeles]

I've owned a few starfire XII's over the years, and they have always had standard 6-string guild harp tailpieces. the two strings of each pair shared the same notch.

 

[Los Angeles]

By the way, I've completely given up on Guild 12 strings. the nut is far too narrow for me for easy playing (and I have small hands), the bridges are almost always bottomed out, it's hard to find one that hasn't had a headstock repair.

For a similar look and much better feel, I recommend Guild's European distant relative, Hagstrom:
http://www.hagstromguitars.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=1892&Itemid=6

 

[fadedhour]

Thanks for the info, Los Angeles. I hadn't realized the 12 strings use the normal 6 string tailpieces, but that makes sense.

And thanks for the tip about the Hagstroms - I'm not very familiar with them but I'll check them out. I'm starting to think this one might not be the best choice for me, as lovely as it is, as I'm relatively inexperienced with 12 strings so realistically I should probably go for something easier to play. From what I can tell, though, they look and sound great, so it's incredibly tempting.

 

[Fixit]

I have a 1967 SF XII that has a harp tailpiece with 12 string slots. I don't know if Guild only used them for certain years, or ran out of them and just used the 6 string harp tailpieces?
Maybe Hans will chime in with some illumination on the matter.

 

[Paul-B]

I have just bought (yesterday) a 1966 Starfire XII serial DC259 which has exactly the same tailpiece... I thought it must have been an aftermarket replacement but looking at yours I guess it may well be original. I can't agree with the comments about the neck and headstock on these guitars, those on mine are perfect - I had it checked over by a local luthier before I bought it who said there was no problems with it, and that he had looked at several Guild 12-string acoustics, none of which had any problems.
I'd think about keeping it, once it's set up it has a lovely, "Byrds" sound, I have to say I lo9ve mine to bits. Here are a couple of photos:

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[hansmoust]

I have just bought (yesterday) a 1966 Starfire XII serial DC259 which has exactly the same tailpiece... I thought it must have been an aftermarket replacement but looking at yours I guess it may well be original.

Hello Paul,

Welcome! The reason why it is the same tailpiece is because it is the same guitar!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Not to be a Negative Nelly, but a Guild 12 string won't really give you that "Byrds sound" unless you reverse the strings! On a Ric, the octave string is below the main string and that's what give you the Byrds "Jingle-Jangle". You could do it on a Guild, but you would have to have a new nut made.

I believe the Harp tail pieces with 12 slots are 6 string tailpieces with 6 extra slots sawn in it.

 

[Aristocrater]

Is it just me or does anyone else see this. The tailpiece in Fadedhour's photo looks plain, while the tailpiece in Paul-B's photos looks engraved.

 

[hansmoust]

Is it just me or does anyone else see this. The tailpiece in Fadedhour's photo looks plain, while the tailpiece in Paul-B's photos looks engraved.

Looks like the reflection of the carpet to me!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[hansmoust]

I have a 1967 SF XII that has a harp tailpiece with 12 string slots. I don't know if Guild only used them for certain years, or ran out of them and just used the 6 string harp tailpieces?

I believe the Harp tail pieces with 12 slots are 6 string tailpieces with 6 extra slots sawn in it.

Hi folks,

Guild Starfire XIIs started out with 6-string tailpieces, then there were original 12-string tailpieces for some time and it looks like they didn't order new ones by the time they ran out. That may have resulted in the 6-string tailpieces with extra slots sawn in it, but this was never confirmed by anyone who was around at the time.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Paul-B]

Hello Paul,

Welcome! The reason why it is the same tailpiece is because it is the same guitar!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

I'm amazed... is it really the same guitar? Mine was bought in the UK, but looks as if it's been brought over from the USA - the original Guild hard case is covered with NRA stickers (National Rifle Association) and has a owners tag attached to it which shows the owners address a 342 E27 Street, Erie PA - can't read the name!

Thanks for the information

 

[Paul-B]

Not to be a Negative Nelly, but a Guild 12 string won't really give you that "Byrds sound" unless you reverse the strings! On a Ric, the octave string is below the main string and that's what give you the Byrds "Jingle-Jangle". You could do it on a Guild, but you would have to have a new nut made.

I believe the Harp tail pieces with 12 slots are 6 string tailpieces with 6 extra slots sawn in it.

Yes, I was aware of the Ric string set up, but certainly playing the XII through my AC30 gives me a great "Byrdsy" sound, certainly compared with, say, my SFIII Newark St.

 

[Paul-B]

Looks like the reflection of the carpet to me!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Quite right, that's what it is. Yes, now I go back to the original Ebay listing I can see that it is, indeed, the same guitar. I paid UKP 620 for it which, looking at the condition it's in, is a real bargain. Apart from three tiny chips in the finish which actually don't go through to the wood it's like a 48-years old guitar which has been lovingly cared for over the years!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Yes, I was aware of the Ric string set up, but certainly playing the XII through my AC30 gives me a great "Byrdsy" sound, certainly compared with, say, my SFIII Newark St.

It definitely will sound different then a SF-III

 

[fuman]

I had a '67 and the original harp tailpiece was a standard 6-string version. Changing strings was a chore, but I have to disagree with the guy on the playability. I have had trouble with Ric 12's being too narrow, but my Guild was real easy to play. It was my first good guitar and I would love to find another one.

 

[jmix]

I have a 66' SF-XII with the 6-string tailpiece, it plays and sounds really great!
I admit that I have rather little fingers, though. ;-)

 

[matsickma]

I had a red 'hog SF12. I think it was from 1967. It had a 12 slot tailpiece that was stock and fully chrome plated so not sawed. It also had the wooden base and metal bridge. I believe this bridge was advertised or sold as an upgrade to the stock rosewood bridge. I kind of remember seeing somewhere an advertisement that noted the improved metal bridge verses the rosewood model.

Switching the string to a Ric arrangement is not possible without a nut replacement. I always thought that was better sounding 12-string sound myself. I too find the neck impossible to play in the open position but the Guild SF12 fingers nicely up higher on the neck. SF12 are pretty jangly bright with the mini "hum cancelling" pickups. Can't imagine how jangly the special SF12 models sound that came with the vintage DeArmond 2000 pups!

 

[Paul-B]

Just got my XII back from my luthier, Jon Haire of Peterborough. He gave it a thorough workover, took out all the pots and checked them (apart from giving them a clean-up they were all in great condition). He also set the bridge up so that the action is great, and the intonation is perfect - unusual for a 12-string! The frets have been dressed and the whole thing restrung. It's beautiful, and sounds just brilliant through my Vox AC30 and my Blackstar HT5 stack. I've been looking for a genuine harp tailpiece to bring it back to spec, but they seem to be as rare as hens-teeth, although a have got a DeArmond harp tailpiece which could be used. It only has 6 slots though, whereas the aftermarket tailpiece presently on the guitar has 12.