parker_knoll
Senior Member
Hi anyone,
just discovered this forum after reading about it on the Gretsch pages. I used to occasionally post some stuff on the FDP forum but the guy kicked me off for offering to swap a pickup with someone.
My Guild portfolio is small, namely:
1966 red Starfire III with the stepped pickguard and two humbuckers. I love the sound from this guitar, especially the neck pickup - incredibly woody and involved - while the bridge is trebly and rock'n'rolly.
I didn't pay a lot for it either, mainly because the finish is a little worn. I have some pics but I'm not sure how to insert as I don't have a website and they're on my hard drive.
But my lovely new toy is a 1960 Starfire III in a beautiful mellow maroon/walnut-y colour, more like some of the Gretsch colours and the same as that depicted on the cover of the Kinks Kontroversy album:
http://kinks.it.rit.edu/lyrics/regular/ ... oversy.jpg
However, mine has black-face Dearmond 200s on it - this is the only Starfire I've ever seen with blackface Dearmonds, the others are all white. Anyone else seen one of these? Again I have pics.
Also, mine has binding on the front only, and no binding on the back of the neck-joint. The condition is amazing, virtually no marks or scratches, one tiny crack on the f-hole, no fret-wear or finish-wear on the neck. It's hardly been played. The sound is great as you'd expect, especially from the bridge, although I think I prefer the humbucker sound at the neck.
However, action and playability is way better that my 1966 Guild which I'll probably sell. The 1960 one was more than twice as expensive, but I my God did I covet it : )
I also had a Dearmond Starfire Special with blackface Dearmonds. Nice piece, but the Bigsby was lame and it was actually a completely different guitar. I sold that recently for a good price.
So that's me. I'd be happy to hear anyone who knows any more about the early Starfires like my 1960, particularly anyone who can indetify the colour and the use of black Dearmonds. Also, I'm not sure if the middle position is out of phase on my 1960 - it's harder to tell.
Greetings from London,
PK[/url]
just discovered this forum after reading about it on the Gretsch pages. I used to occasionally post some stuff on the FDP forum but the guy kicked me off for offering to swap a pickup with someone.
My Guild portfolio is small, namely:
1966 red Starfire III with the stepped pickguard and two humbuckers. I love the sound from this guitar, especially the neck pickup - incredibly woody and involved - while the bridge is trebly and rock'n'rolly.
I didn't pay a lot for it either, mainly because the finish is a little worn. I have some pics but I'm not sure how to insert as I don't have a website and they're on my hard drive.
But my lovely new toy is a 1960 Starfire III in a beautiful mellow maroon/walnut-y colour, more like some of the Gretsch colours and the same as that depicted on the cover of the Kinks Kontroversy album:
http://kinks.it.rit.edu/lyrics/regular/ ... oversy.jpg
However, mine has black-face Dearmond 200s on it - this is the only Starfire I've ever seen with blackface Dearmonds, the others are all white. Anyone else seen one of these? Again I have pics.
Also, mine has binding on the front only, and no binding on the back of the neck-joint. The condition is amazing, virtually no marks or scratches, one tiny crack on the f-hole, no fret-wear or finish-wear on the neck. It's hardly been played. The sound is great as you'd expect, especially from the bridge, although I think I prefer the humbucker sound at the neck.
However, action and playability is way better that my 1966 Guild which I'll probably sell. The 1960 one was more than twice as expensive, but I my God did I covet it : )
I also had a Dearmond Starfire Special with blackface Dearmonds. Nice piece, but the Bigsby was lame and it was actually a completely different guitar. I sold that recently for a good price.
So that's me. I'd be happy to hear anyone who knows any more about the early Starfires like my 1960, particularly anyone who can indetify the colour and the use of black Dearmonds. Also, I'm not sure if the middle position is out of phase on my 1960 - it's harder to tell.
Greetings from London,
PK[/url]