New 1967 Guild Starfire IV

[solosteven]

Greetings everyone, I am a recent Guild owner and this is my first post. I have been doing some research here the last few weeks and have found it very helpful. After a recent flareup of "guitar malaria" in which I would wake up every night in a cold sweat thinking about guitars, I ended up buying a 1967 Starfire IV the other day. This is after trying out a bunch of Asian Epiphones and new Gibson 335's. The 60's Guild had lot's of MOJO that was missing in the others. I have owned a few Guild acoustics in the past and liked them very much. This is my first Guild electric. I have played Fender Telecasters exclusively for the last 30 years so this guitar is a little different for me. So I have a few questions for all of the experts out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Are these tuners original? I thought that this guitar came with Statites?
If they are not original I may change them. Anybody know what vintage guitar would have come with these originally?
I might want to install a Bigsby. Does it have to be a Guildsby. Is there a Bigsby model that fits exactly?
What do vintage Guildsby's go for?
Thinking about possibly selling the original pickguard. Harp tailpiece too if I get the Bigsby. Anybody know what these items usually go for?
Anybody ever run a 9 set of strings on a starfire with any success?. It has heavier strings on it now and sounds great, but I am a finger vibrato player and need lighter strings.

Now to figure out how to upload my pics.








Bye for now, Thanks guys, Solosteven

 

[Kslam]

Welcome Solosteven,

I have a 67 Starfire too, which I love. I also have a 67 Starfire V, on which the original Guildsby broke. There's a regular Bigsby on there now and it works fine.

If you do decide to sell the pickguard, I'd love to buy it from you, so please get in touch.

Oh, and no, those tuners are not original.

-K

 

[Thunderface]

Welcome solosteven. That's a beautiful introduction you have there. The better experts than myself will chime in on the other questions, but I can answer the photo question. You use the Img button and place the direct link URL between

. I can't make it work because I can't access the direct link option.

I'll help you out here. I saved copies of your photos.

The tuners appear to be replacements, but someone more knowledgeable than myself can chime in and verify.

 

[hansmoust]

Are these tuners original? I thought that this guitar came with Statites?

Hello Solosteven,

Welcome! Yes, those are original on that guitar. The Grover Slimlines were used for a really short time in between the individual Japanese tuners and the small German Kolb tuners.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Kslam]

Are these tuners original? I thought that this guitar came with Statites?

Yes, those are original on that guitar. The Grover Slimlines were used for a really short time in between the individual Japanese tuners and the small German Kolb tuners.

I stand corrected!

 

[Thunderface]

The tuners appear to be replacements, but someone more knowledgeable than myself can chime in and verify.

See, I told you someone more knowledgeable than me would chime in. And they don't get more knowledgeable than Hans. Thanks again, Hans.

 

[Zelja]

Welcome solosteven. Nice Starfire - although very appreciative of the sunbursts I kinda like the finish on yours the best.

And, as always, Hans is the man!

 

[b0rn2w0rsh1p]

Please don't modify!!! :shock: Wait patiently for a Starfire V - you'll get your Guildsby and not devalue a wonderful original. I have an S-300D that was "upgraded" with a Mosrite, and I can't go back to the original hardtail because of the extra holes and difference in color of the finish aging. Of course, then I replaced the pickguard and PUp rings with veneered wood because one of the rings were broke - but it looks cool! and it was already a "player".

 

[solosteven]

I would never do anything to deface this guitar like drilling extra holes in it. I was under the impression that a Guildsby from this era would be able to use the three existing holes that the harp tailpiece attaches to. Anybody feel free to correct me on that if I am wrong. I am talking about the model that would correspond to the present Bigsby B3 (the one without the extra bar for downward tension). If this is true it can always be reverted back. Unfortunately, the present Bigsby B3 has 4 holes in a square pattern as opposed to the 3 triangular holes on the Guild. As far as uneven wear, I don't think that that would be much of an issue. This guitar has been played a lot and shows it. That is why I think it is so beautiful. I personally love guitars that have had full lives before I acquired them and show it. If this one spent its life under a bed for 45 years and was a museum piece, then I would agree with you.

 

[Thunderface]

This guitar has been played a lot and shows it. That is why I think it is so beautiful. I personally love guitars that have had full lives before I acquired them and show it.

Amen, brother!

 

[SFIV1967]

Are these tuners original? I thought that this guitar came with Statites?

Hello Solosteven,
Welcome! Yes, those are original on that guitar. The Grover Slimlines were used for a really short time in between the individual Japanese tuners and the small German Kolb tuners.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Again something new learned from Hans ! I had never seen those Grover Slimline tuning machines before on a Starfire IV.
Ralf