1967 Starfire I bass

[mbrindell]

Hi Friends, I do not usually post in this section but I just bought my first Guild bass. A 1967 Starfire I bass. It has it's issues but it is all original and comes in it's original case. For one thing the bass was refinished to it's original cherry red color. The peghead was repaired at some point as well. It looks stable to me and I was garaunteed that the bass plays perfectly fine. I was browsing Ebay and I saw this bass with a Buy It Now of $700 I almost fell out of my chair. I have seen these in good condition sell for well over $2000 on ebay so I figured as long as it plays well what do I have to lose. I don't even have a bass amp anymore but I have played bass in several bands and have been missing playing bass. I am sure if I did not buy this bass it would not have lasted the day at that price. If anyone has any knowledge of this bass I would appreciate you letting me know what you may know. It should be here by the beginning of next week and I am looking forward to it. Here are a few pix.




As I said I know it has it's issues, but as long as it plays fine and sounds good that's all I care for the $700 I paid for it. Thanks for looking. MB

 

[twocorgis]

I almost bought it too Mike, but decided to think about it. By that time of course, you bought it! Good luck with it. I thought the finish looked like it really needed a lot of work, along with the finish on the headstock. Looks like it has new binding on it as well, and that there was some bleed from the refin job. Either way, you have nothing to lose at that price. Good luck with it!

 

[mbrindell]

Hi Sandy, The binding is original says the seller but there is bleed through. He says he did not complete the refinish but now it needs buffing and waxing. I may try it, I may not. Like I said it's more important at this point that it plays well and sounds good. I just could not pass it up for the price. Thanks. Mike

 

[dapmdave]

Great player at that price!

 

[fronobulax]

Nice player for that price. What knowledge would you like? I predict it has a serial number below BA-1460 (relying on my memory) since it looks like a stock bass with the straight bridge. That puts it as a '66 or '67. What is in the pic looks original or has been discussed. Here someone has given me a chance to climb on my Starfire bass soapbox and I'm fumbling it.

 

[SFIV1967]

Congratulations Mike! I just wonder what kind of thick finish the seller used, it looks very thick. Just buffing won't help there I would think.
Ralf

 

[idealassets]

I will bet that this bass will be a great conversation piece everywhere that you play it.

Craig

 

[mbrindell]

Hi Guys, The seller said he put 18 coats of laquer on the bass. So I am sure it is a thick finish. But that's as far as he got with it before he decided to sell. I would probably have to strip all the parts off and buff it as well as I can. The seller says this is the 10th guitar he has refinished, which doesn't necessarily mean he is good or bad at it. The photos on ebay have quite alot of glare and he says the finish is much smoother than it looks in these photos. We'll see on monday when it arrives. But like I said before as long as it plays well and sounds good, that's what I am looking for out of the $700 I paid for this bass. This is a '67 SF Bass for sure. I am looking forward to hearing the tone of the Hagstrom pickup which I have been told is more desirable than the later Guild pups. Thanks.

 

[fronobulax]

I am looking forward to hearing the tone of the Hagstrom pickup which I have been told is more desirable than the later Guild pups. Thanks.

I wonder who told you that

 

[SFIV1967]

The seller said he put 18 coats of laquer on the bass.

Looks like he never sanded it in between the coats...and he didn't allow the layers to dry before putting the next layer on top. Such a thick nitro finish might take a year to really dry...
Ralf

 

[Oldbassguy]

I am sure you are going to be very impatient for Monday to arrive... I know I would be.

I don't have much experience with the various older guitars... Just have my '67 SF (thanks to frono for the confirmation) but I have some friends that are professional and have borrowed the bass for studio work - they claim they can't get "that tone" from any where else they have tried...

 

[Oldbassguy]

Well, curious minds want to know???? How's the new Guild? Good shape? Good sound? Happy you got it?

 

[fronobulax]

Well, curious minds want to know???? How's the new Guild? Good shape? Good sound? Happy you got it?

Sorry. Every so often I do something stupid and the board marks posts as read that I have not seen.

I love the new bass as does everyone else who has played it. Fit and finish are "perfect", noting that my inspections have sometimes been cursory. There is a slight worn spot in the finish on my '67 on the back of the neck about where I want to put my thumb in 2nd or 3rd position. That is driving me crazy because the new bass is as smooth as a baby's behind there so I actually prefer the new neck as a result. The new bass has rounds and as such it is difficult to directly compare the sound. Dial down the tone and it is very, very close. Interestingly, I played it through my "big" amp and the differences in sound seem to diminish, although that could just be everything else in the room vibrating ,

I owe LTG some sounds clips, more pics, A/B comparisons (do they both fit the same cases?) and a test drive with flats but I have to confess that I am spending my time playing it instead of documenting it.

 

[twocorgis]

I think OBG is talking about the the '67 Starfire I bass that Mbrindell bought from eBay recently. Mike reported in another thread that he returned it after the bridge almost came off the first time he tuned it to pitch. :grey:

 

[fronobulax]

I think OBG is talking about the the '67 Starfire I bass that Mbrindell bought from eBay recently. Mike reported in another thread that he returned it after the bridge almost came off the first time he tuned it to pitch. :grey:

Missed that. Far be it from me to complain about the new software but... The circumstances under which it marks posts as read even when I don't view them are mysterious and frustrating. I am happy to report that my '67 has no such problems