New Starfire IV

[spakuloid]

Hey there folks -
Just picked up this amazing guitar at a Guitar Center for just under a grand and had a few questions.

What is the year? The serial numbers I have aren't listed on the Westerly website.
How difficult is it to swap out the pickups?
What are the favorite pickups to put in these? 57's? Duncan's?

The guitar seems mostly like it lived in a case - it has that "new" feel to it. The pickups are somewhat more jazzy and mellow that I like and lack any real bite to them. They say "Guild" on the back of them and I am guessing that they are the stock Fender HB-1 pickups. Not really bad -just not great. Kind of a muddled sound if you ask me - especially for such a full bodied and resonant guitar. I am mostly a rock player - so I like cleans that chime and your basic overdrive tones. Nothing too heavy. This is my second hollow body - I had an old Epiphone years ago but this thing is just out of this world as far as construction and playability.

Thanks!

 

[MojoTooth]

i am going to guess either q late late 1997 or a 1998.

I would think 57's in this thing would really be an improvement,

 

[Willy]

Huh, I've posted twice now and they keep disappearing - I'll guess operator error on this one.

Great looking guitar and a nice price. Based on the ser# it must have left Westerly between 1998 and the plant closing. Hopefully Hans will see this and give you more specific details.

Congratulations :mrgreen:

 

[Willy]

...and WELCOME to LTG.

 

[hansmoust]

Hey there folks -
Just picked up this amazing guitar at a Guitar Center for just under a grand and had a few questions.

What is the year? The serial numbers I have aren't listed on the Westerly website.

Hello spakuloid,

Welcome! Your Starfire IV is from the year 2000.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[spakuloid]

Awesome! Thanks. One more question - I am guessing that 57's will fit in there without any routing. Maybe just a new set of mounting rings.

 

[jte]

HIJACK!

My Starfire IV (hey, just noticed the label uses the Roman numeral "IV", bu the truss rod cover says "SF-4", I've always used the Roman numerals for them) is serial #AG001784. While I bought it new in September 2001, it was from the Fender regional sales rep and was his example one so I don't know when it was made. Hans, can you help me out?

Thanks!!

Now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

John

 

[twocorgis]

Welcome spakuloid, and that's a beauty you have there at a fabulous price!

 

[matsickma]

Hi,

Changing pickups on a Guild with HB-1's like your guitar is easy because the pickups have solder lugs. It is a pain to do it on guitars with Dimarizios because you have to run new leads. Whatever you do DONOT modify the Guild pickup rings by adding a single hole to mount a different pickup. The Guild rings are near impossible to find and that little extra hole will lower the resale value of your guitar a $100. Pick up new rings for you pickup mod for $5 to $10 on ebay. Many of us on this site recommend replacing the stock Guild HB-1 pickups on late model Guilds with vintage models from the early 1970's.

Good luck.

M

 

[spakuloid]

Hi,

Changing pickups on a Guild with HB-1's like your guitar is easy because the pickups have solder lugs. It is a pain to do it on guitars with Dimarizios because you have to run new leads. Whatever you do DONOT modify the Guild pickup rings by adding a single hole to mount a different pickup. The Guild rings are near impossible to find and that little extra hole will lower the resale value of your guitar a $100. Pick up new rings for you pickup mod for $5 to $10 on ebay. Many of us on this site recommend replacing the stock Guild HB-1 pickups on late model Guilds with vintage models from the early 1970's.

Good luck.

M

Thanks.

So if I am hearing your correctly - take out the old pickups and the old pickup rings and replace with a brand new set of pickup rings - like stock gibson PU rings. I am leaning towards the Gibson classic '57 set since I am familiar with them and like them in other guitars.

There is a replacement video I have seen where you cheat the install: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nvqFKqE3Bk

 

[GAD]

57s will sound nice in there. That's a great price you paid! I paid $1200 just two years ago and was thrilled to get it.

I pulled the Fenders out of mine and had them custom re-wound. Went from meh to WOW!

 

[spakuloid]

It's a toss up between the Gibson Classic 57's or Duncan Antiquities.

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome and congrats spakuloid! Great deal.
The SF-IV is another one on my list..... :roll:

 

[Tweedledee]

That's a beautiful Starfire, spakuloid! And you got a great deal on it as well. Congrats!

 

[slider]

Spakuloid;

My Starfire is s/n AG001725 (wonder if that is a 2000 model as well?). In my opinion, you ought to play the guitar as it is for a few months with your amp & pedals before you start modifying it. Might try some pickup adjustments too. My fear about modifications is that you still might not get the sound your looking for. That's we we own multiple guitars, Right?

 

[hansmoust]

My Starfire is s/n AG001725 (wonder if that is a 2000 model as well?).

Hello slider,

That would make it a Starfire IV from 2001.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dapmdave]

Very pretty guitar! I'd wait a bit before making modifications - but that's just me.

Dave

 

[F30]

Hey there folks -
Just picked up this amazing guitar at a Guitar Center for just under a grand and had a few questions.

What is the year? The serial numbers I have aren't listed on the Westerly website.
How difficult is it to swap out the pickups?
What are the favorite pickups to put in these? 57's? Duncan's?

The guitar seems mostly like it lived in a case - it has that "new" feel to it. The pickups are somewhat more jazzy and mellow that I like and lack any real bite to them. They say "Guild" on the back of them and I am guessing that they are the stock Fender HB-1 pickups. Not really bad -just not great. Kind of a muddled sound if you ask me - especially for such a full bodied and resonant guitar. I am mostly a rock player - so I like cleans that chime and your basic overdrive tones. Nothing too heavy. This is my second hollow body - I had an old Epiphone years ago but this thing is just out of this world as far as construction and playability.

Thanks!

Real nice score on the Starfire.