Corona Blonde Starfire Delivered

[Harp Tail]

Obviously not fully original but in excellent shape and plays very nicely.

The serial seems to be low but hard to decipher, which is why I posted an image of the owner's manual. It reads 2002 so I'd say this SF can't be much older (or younger) than that.

Certainly missing the Westerly allure (and pickups) but a delightful guitar nonetheless.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

That's a beauty! Congrats!

 

[Harp Tail]

Thank you very much, JH! Frets like new..

 

[SFIV1967]

The serial seems to be low but hard to decipher,

Production for the Starfire III only started in 2002. So CP000299 is probably 2003. Maybe end of 2002. Only Hans would know for sure.

Ralf

 

[Harp Tail]

That's what I assumed myself, Ralf - thank you for your input!

 

[bobouz]

A beautiful blonde for sure!

 

[Harp Tail]

Indeed - thank you. I've always be more intrigued by brunettes though, and - believe me - I was ready to bid on the chestnut Westerly on ebay had the price not sky-rocketed as it did..

 

[GGJaguar]

A real beauty! Congrats and enjoy!

 

[Harp Tail]

Thank you Sir - I am! Truly a sweet deal even if Albany extorted 90 rough dollars out of my pockets.

 

[walrus]

Congratulations! A beauty!

walrus

 

[Harp Tail]

Thanks walrus! She wears her twenty years with grace.

I was actually looking to buy a mahogany SF II since most of my hollows are maple.. this blondie was an offer I couldn't turn down but, should anyone here feel like trading a maho Corona SF II for this III, please holler!

 

[GGJaguar]

should anyone here feel like trading a maho Corona SF II for this III, please holler!

I think Corona only built SF-IIIs with maple bodies. SF-IIs were only made in Westerly.

 

[Harp Tail]

That's possible - the 2000s catalogs on GAD's own site don't specify what the Starfire bodies were made of, but I saw SF IIs on more than one of those

 

[Harp Tail]

It's not a deal-breaker, but one of the knobs is clearly not original, and maybe the reflecting top has been glued (approximately) onto it.

Does any of you die-hard, long time LTGers know where it may come from?

 

[mavuser]

It's not a deal-breaker, but one of the knobs is clearly not original, and maybe the reflecting top has been glued (approximately) onto it.

Does any of you die-hard, long time LTGers know where it may come from?

it looks like a Guild knob. the top G stickers do fall off sometimes.

is it a "1-9 vol/tone" or a "1-10" knob?

 

[Harp Tail]

Thanks for the tip, Mavuser! The digits on the knob are almost all gone but the last one is a nine and the knob also says "tone", so I guess I have at least one Westerly part on my Corona Starfire.

 

[mavuser]

Thanks for the tip, Mavuser! The digits on the knob are almost all gone but the last one is a nine and the knob also says "tone", so I guess I have at least one Westerly part on my Corona Starfire.

that is an older Guild knob, goes back into the 70s (and 60s). Those are kinda hard to find, and can command 20-50 bucks each depending on condition. someone would definitley swap you a 1-10 for that if you found someone in need- just make sure the 1-10 is genuine vintage and not a new "Newark Street" or similar product (those dont fit so perfectly on the older pot shafts)

what do the other three knobs look like? (all four should be 1-10's...)

 

[mavuser]

i just looked at your photos, the other three knobs appear correct and original. No telling what the story is behind the one lost soldier, but that is an easy "fix." @hansmoust or someone else should have that 1-10 for you- they are out there

 

[Harp Tail]

Yes. Mavuser - all other three knobs look the part. 1 to 10 and the reflecting tops don't seem to have been messed with. The neck tone knob would fall off easily (it had actually ended inside the body during transit) but I widened the top of its shaft a tiny bit and it did the job.
Thanks also for specifying the value of my Westerly one... I'll have to find a replacement before even contemplating selling it.
But if you'd like to own it and have one like my other three we can talk.

 

[Harp Tail]

The unoriginal tune-o-matic style bridge is more of a concern presently.. some "luthier" seems to have decided to crudely file some of the saddles, and it's even mounted backwards.

Any advice in regards to replacing it (Compton?) will be appreciated. Thanks all!