NGD Starfire III now with a picture.

[Boogie92801]

Well I'm back in the guild...

Story is that 35 years ago I had a Starfire III that was my pride and joy. As I got older and had my first son I came upon hard times and sold it.... I had other guitars and have since then owned many, many guitars.

I've been in the presence of about 11 or 12 hollow bodie Guilds over the years and have played seven of those and bought five of them. One was a artist award and doesn't count because I would have had to rob a bank to buy it at the time but I did wnt to buy it.

I have had a Late 60s SFIII, a 70s X500' 90s SFIV, a 90s X175 and now a late westerly SFIII (blond flame).

I really like this guitar and it feels pretty at home. I have looked for one for many years and just haven't found the right one untill now.

I've also owned vintage Gretch and both vintage and modern Gibson and Fender including 175s, 339s, Teles, Strats, Les Paul and high end PRSs.. Guilds deserve so much more respect. This SFIII is one of the best guitars I have found in years and it was very inexpensive. It needs a set up but man it has tons of tone and character and is flawless in construction (something I can't say about many of the modern other G brand guitars.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Re: NGD Starfire III

Welcome... that's a great guitar! We appreciate guitar porn around here so post pics when you can.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Re: NGD Starfire III

Welcome and congrat's on finding your way back!

 

[Boogie92801]

Re: NGD Starfire III

So should I go with 10s or 11s on it. Ten are way light feeling but fun and easy to push around... I generally use 11s on short scale guitars. What the consencious?

 

[AlohaJoe]

Re: NGD Starfire III

For me, 12s have the tone I want and don't kill my hands if the guitar is properly set-up, but it depends on how thin you want your tone to be. Think about playability v tone and find the right balance for you.

 

[Boogie92801]

Re: NGD Starfire III

A past few and the new one.

 

[Boogie92801]

Re: NGD Starfire III

12 are not fun for me... I play through a few tweeds and a Carmen Gia and generally play a tele that is super slinky feeling with tens. 12s are for my acoustics. I think Ill go with some 11s on this one since the string tension is uber soft.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Beautiful guitar(s)! You'll be good with .011's.

 

[Ravon]

Boogie, you have great tastes in guitars !

 

[AlohaJoe]

That's a real beauty. The top looks great!

 

[Boogie92801]

The top looks better in person. I am really turned on by the sound of this guitar.

The orange one looked and played fantastic but those pups were muddy, and she fed back pretty bad. The X500 was a thing of beauty but she was heavy and GIANT. The SFIII and the SFIV I used to have work much better for my gigs.

The Newer III has a few things I like better than my old 60s one and some things I am less fond of; I think the new bridge being compensated for a plane third is a plus for me. The neck appears a tad bigger than I remember the old one being and the old one had a volute or heel than I don't miss. I think the poly finishish is better for wear and tear though the old laqer had a nice feel. The newer shape and horn always looks funny in photos but it looks really nice in person. I really like the pups as they have some grit and brightness that cut through but they scream in a tweed bandmaster or deluxe. Feedback is there but is controllable unless i'm too near the amp. I think the old one had a smaller fingerboard radius but that might be my bad memory. The guitar has been in the case for years and appears unplayed, needs the nut cut and the bridge set lower (thumbs are all the way down loose and the saddle is still sitting high like the studs are a bit tall). All that a bit more neck relief (11s will help) and I think she will see a lot of time out of the case... Sorry to my other guitars.

 

[Default]

The Newer III has a few things I like better than my old 60s one and some things I am less fond of; I think the new bridge being compensated for a plane third is a plus for me. The neck appears a tad bigger than I remember the old one being and the old one had a volute or heel than I don't miss.

Correct, the neck is wider than the sixties ones.

The newer shape and horn always looks funny in photos but it looks really nice in person. I really like the pups as they have some grit and brightness that cut through but they scream in a tweed bandmaster or deluxe. Feedback is there but is controllable unless i'm too near the amp.

The top seems to be thicker too. Not worse, but different.

I think the old one had a smaller fingerboard radius but that might be my bad memory.

Flatter radius on the new one for sure! Congratz on the new axe!

 

[Boogie92801]

Had her all set up with 11s and I am so stoked... It playes very very good. Not a glitch. Intonation, action and the bigsby are ll excellent. I have played her with the band and through the Carmen ghia it sounds killer.

 

[krysh]

welcome and congrats to your great taste in guitars and amps.

 

[coreyman97]

Beautiful guitar boogie. It's a beautiful thing when a guitar marriage is made! Glad you were reunited with a special Guild. Enjoy.