2010 Starfire Custom???

[Los Angeles]

What on earth?

Anybody want to elaborate on what's going on here?

http://www.gbase.com/gear/guild-starfir ... lucent-red

 

[fronobulax]

Anybody want to elaborate on what's going on here?

This guitar was made in the Nashville Custom shop for a Fender/Guild executive. The shop made a series of about thirty of these Starfire™ Customs, but this one has a slightly fatter neck with a very subtle "V" which is different than the others.

Given that the seller is New Hope, I'm inclined to believe that description is accurate. I don't recall when the custom shop closed but we have heard of other Guild electrics being made there.

 

[FNG]

Very cool!

GAD needs that. 8) 8)

 

[GAD]

Very cool!

GAD needs that. 8) 8)

Holy CRAP!

P90s? Thicker Neck? Wow...

I'd prefer only two P90s, but dayum...


Yeah... I sent them an email.

 

[dapmdave]

Very cool!

GAD needs that. 8) 8)

Holy CRAP!

P90s? Thicker Neck? Wow...

I'd prefer only two P90s, but dayum...


Yeah... I sent them an email.

If I read the description correctly, the middle pickup is only engaged with either the neck, or the bridge, using the mini-switch. So, you'd never hear all three unless the switching is modified.

New Hope Traders is a member here -- maybe we'll hear more about this one.

Dave

 

[GAD]

If I read the description correctly, the middle pickup is only engaged with either the neck, or the bridge, using the mini-switch. So, you'd never hear all three unless the switching is modified.

New Hope Traders is a member here -- maybe we'll hear more about this one.

Dave

It's not that - I dislike middle pickups because they get in the way of my ham-fisted playing.

Got this reply from Jay:

Hi Gary, the guitar just went on hold for another customer. I will let you know if it
becomes available.

So once again, I'm 2nd in line. Sigh...

 

[matsickma]

I suspect a typo on the date. Around 2001 the Guild Custom Shop ran a number on Starfire 4's with triple P90 pickups. I saw around half dozen of them and somewhere I have pictures. Some were all gold with a gold pickguard and others were the standard Starfire hog cherry. the came with and without a Guild bigsby. I happen to own a red one with bigsby.

What is unusual about the guitar at New Hope id 1) the style of pickguard, 2) the knobs, 3) the type of mini switch and 4) the location of the mini switch.

1) all the ones's I saw had a curved, plexi pickguard with the chevron logo. 2) the knobs were standard guild black "dearmond" knobs. also the guitar is wired up with three pup volume controls and a single master tone control. 3) The mini switch on the ones I saw and own has a mini flat switch leaver and not the round type shown. The mini switch ia a three position model. Up toward the base boute engages the middle to blend with the bridge and neck pups. Middle cuts the middle pup out and the controls are like a standard double pickup. Down toward the treble bout the switch only activates the middle pickup., 4) On the guitars I saw and own the mini control switch is located up on the treble bout near the cutaway.

Also the pickup selector switch had chrome tips on the 2001 run of guitars.

Very cool guitar and the price was excellent. Many of these were selling above $2500.

I'll try and find the pictures of the guitars I mentioned. I got to go back to an old PC to track them down. I'll also post a picture of mine later on.

M

 

[dapmdave]

It's not that - I dislike middle pickups because they get in the way of my ham-fisted playing.

Tell me about it! I have trouble with a 2-pickup guitar. :?

Dave

 

[Los Angeles]

I suspect a typo on the date. Around 2001 the Guild Custom Shop ran a number on Starfire 4's with triple P90 pickups. I saw around half dozen of them and somewhere I have pictures. Some were all gold with a gold pickguard and others were the standard Starfire hog cherry. the came with and without a Guild bigsby. I happen to own a red one with bigsby.

What is unusual about the guitar at New Hope id 1) the style of pickguard, 2) the knobs, 3) the type of mini switch and 4) the location of the mini switch.

1) all the ones's I saw had a curved, plexi pickguard with the chevron logo. 2) the knobs were standard guild black "dearmond" knobs. also the guitar is wired up with three pup volume controls and a single master tone control. 3) The mini switch on the ones I saw and own has a mini flat switch leaver and not the round type shown. The mini switch ia a three position model. Up toward the base boute engages the middle to blend with the bridge and neck pups. Middle cuts the middle pup out and the controls are like a standard double pickup. Down toward the treble bout the switch only activates the middle pickup., 4) On the guitars I saw and own the mini control switch is located up on the treble bout near the cutaway.

Also the pickup selector switch had chrome tips on the 2001 run of guitars.

Very cool guitar and the price was excellent. Many of these were selling above $2500.

I'll try and find the pictures of the guitars I mentioned. I got to go back to an old PC to track them down. I'll also post a picture of mine later on.

M

With all of those differences, perhaps the date is not a typo after all?

 

[matsickma]

Good point!

That made me think...guitars made in the defunked Guild Custom Shop had a marking below the S/N that said "Guild Custom Shop".This guitar doesn't have it!

One thing that is messed up...why install Gibson speed knobs? The pickguard has features of the early Nightbirds.

M

 

[Thunderface]

Holy Moly. Three times the fun! (Hope you get it, GADliocis).

 

[hansmoust]

Hello folks,

There is no doubt in my mind that this guitar was made by the same people who used to produce the Nashville Custom Shop guitars. It was however made several years after production at the Guild Custom Shop had been officially ended.
Since this is a one-of-a-kind guitar made for a Fender/Guild executive, there is no reason why it should conform to the specs of a batch of guitars that was made a couple of years earlier. We're talking 'Custom Shop' guitar here; everything was possible. That's why it looks like it does!

One thing that is messed up...why install Gibson speed knobs?

Probably for the same reason that it has Gibson style P-90 pickups, a Gibson style tune-o-matic bridge, a Gibson style stop-tailpiece and a Gibson style bound pickguard.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[matsickma]

Well to my eyes the color of the knobs seem to clash!

M

 

[SFIV1967]

What on earth? Anybody want to elaborate on what's going on here?

I would also say, since Jay is selling it, I don't doubt that the info is correct. And Hans also confirmed it as I understood his message.
Thane Shearon at Fender/Guild Nashville worked on Starfire IV repairs still in 2009 and 2010, so it's possible they made them as custom order as Jay said. Here was a thread in another forum from 2009 and 2010 about some repair work they did on a old Starfire IV.

Still it's very odd that a "Fender/Guild executive" would want it with Gibson style parts...Well, we got a 2012 GSR Starfire VI now with Gibson look as well...All strange...

Whats also interesting: "The shop made a series of about thirty of these..." and we have not seen any of them before! Wonder where they ended up... Hope GAD gets it and can find out who the executive is and what the story is behind it.

Ralf

 

[hansmoust]

Still it's very odd that a "Fender/Guild executive" would want it with Gibson style parts...Well, we got a 2012 GSR Starfire VI now with Gibson look as well...All strange...

I've stopped wondering about these kind of things since I saw Telecasters with Gibson style humbuckers coming out of the Fender Custom Shop more than 20 years ago.

Whats also interesting: "The shop made a series of about thirty of these..." and we have not seen any of them before! Wonder where they ended up...

Well first of all, there were not thirty and they were made 10 years ago. I've seen them while they were making them in the Custom Shop in Nashville. A few have come through eBay about 5 years ago and I believe that's when Matsickma did get the one that he has.

Hope GAD gets it and can find out who the executive is and what the story is behind it.

Did you consider the possibility that the executive may want to stay anonymous for privacy reasons? I don't think there's a big story behind the instrument in question. It's just another guitar made in a different configuration than what most people would think is usual; that's what the whole 'Custom Shop' idea was about. Now if an instrument like that had come from the regular Guild plant, then I would have been interested in the story behind it.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[bluesypicky]

Well to my eyes the color of the knobs seem to clash!M

Yes, it's an eye sore... :?

 

[SFIV1967]

Hope GAD gets it and can find out who the executive is and what the story is behind it.

Did you consider the possibility that the executive may want to stay anonymous for privacy reasons? I don't think there's a big story behind the instrument in question. It's just another guitar made in a different configuration than what most people would think is usual; that's what the whole 'Custom Shop' idea was about.

Good point Hans. Didn't think about that when I wrote it. Thanks.
Ralf

 

[GAD]

I have a set of Guild knobs in my safe that would dress that Starfire up nicely.

 

[SFIV1967]

Now this is the exact same guitar that Jay at New Hope just sold!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 0394817299

Ralf

 

[Los Angeles]

Yep. Flipper wants to make a minor profit.