NGD 1965 Guild Starfire IV

[Archie]

I have to come clean and confess my sins to the honourable LTG forum.

50% of the reason I bought this guitar, was to take the Guild Bigsby off and put it on my 1967 DE-400.
The other 50% was because it felt great and in a sea of over 300 odd guitars, it stood out the moment I picked it up.
The plan was to take the harp tail piece off my DE-400, which I consider to be non original and swap it with the period correct bigsby on the SF4. The only issue being, the Bigsby has had the black enamel removed from around the Guild lettering.

I think we can agree that a 67 DE-400 is rarer than a 65’ SF4 and since the SF4 is refinished, it’s not a collectors example per say.

So everything made sense. I wasn’t asset stripping, or devaluing one guitar for the other. I was merely swapping parts to return the SF4 and DE-400, back to original spec.

Well… that is until I learned that the GSF4 is a ‘Special’ which means the Bigsby is original and other Bigsbys from that period, don’t have the black enamel paint either; well those on the ‘Special’ model.
So aside from the refinish and truss rod cover, the SF4 Special is all original.

Now I just need to confirm if the overly shiny new looking harp tail piece on my DE is original. If it is, then happy days.
Someone on the JGF has just shown me a picture of his friends DE-400 and it has a shiny new looking tail piece just like mine.

 

[chazmo]

Well, Archie, it's your guitar. If you prefer the harp tail piece on the Starfire then use that. I'd just recommend keeping the Bigsby with the Starfire in case you choose to return it to original condition.

The refinish already means it's not in original condition, Archie. I say, make it the guitar you want!!

 

[Archie]

Well, Archie, it's your guitar. If you prefer the harp tail piece on the Starfire then use that. I'd just recommend keeping the Bigsby with the Starfire in case you choose to return it to original condition.

The refinish already means it's not in original condition, Archie. I say, make it the guitar you want!!

Thanks Chazmo.

If it’s any help, here’s a pic of my DE-400.
If the harp tailpiece is original, then I’m happy to keep both guitars as they are but the shiny harp on the 400, does look a little out of place.
The DE-400 isn’t a spring chicken either. I think it’s what Fender fans call ‘reliced’ but naturally so.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

I agree that the DE cries out for a Guildsby! As long as you keep both guitars you’re not de-valuing the Starfire by swapping tailpieces since you csn always put it back. You could swap bridges easily enough also. By the way those bridges are for a wound ‘G’ string.

Both are lovely guitars!