Studio 302 sighting...

[guildman63]

Guitar Center's vintage section has listed a 1968 Starfire for $2295, but it appears to be a Studio 302. It looks to be in very nice condition for anyone that may be interested. I don't know if that is a fair price, but I'm sure there are those out here that can chime in on what a '68 Studio 302 should fetch.

http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... ?id=188755

 

[matsickma]

This particular model is similar in quality to a T100D of the same era. Four years ago I bought then sold an identical guitar for around $1000. guitar Center also has a later red mahogany model 303 with Guild bigsby and HB-1's for around $1500 which is about the right price for a 303.

M

 

[CA-35]

That GC is 10 minutes from my house. If anyone should task me to wander over there and snap a few closeup pix I aint scared. It will give me an excuse to play the 1974 F-50R there as well.

 

[guildman63]

That GC is 10 minutes from my house. If anyone should task me to wander over there and snap a few closeup pix I aint scared. It will give me an excuse to play the 1974 F50-R there as well.

I am not personally looking for any more guitars at this time, but I have always wondered how those guitars played. If you are in the area and feel like checking it out feel free and then report back. Thanks!

Update: Today I spoke with the Guitar Center in question and after checking they confirmed that it is indeed a Studio 302. I was told they have had it for sale for quite a while without any takers, and will be willing to go down to $1899. Still quite high for my taste, but who knows what a little haggling can do if anyone is interested. I hope they didn't tie up too much money in it thinking that it was a Starfire.

 

[Thunderface]

This particular model is similar in quality to a T100D of the same era. Four years ago I bought then sold an identical guitar for around $1000. guitar Center also has a later red mahogany model 303 with Guild bigsby and HB-1's for around $1500 which is about the right price for a 303.

M

I wonder how much different an ST-303 would sound compared to a Starfire IV?

 

[guildman63]

Based upon Hans' contributions via the GGB, the dimensions are nearly identical, both came with laminated maple bodies (SF-IV had a HOG option), and the neck on the SF was a 3-piece maple/hog/maple versus a 3-piece all HOG on the Studio (with 1-piece necks also reported). Both have rosewood boards, but the ST-301/302 came standard with a rosewood bridge versus chrome on the SF. The ST also originally came with single coil pups (HB's optional). My guess is that the Studio should sound pretty good with the singles, and with the HB's very comparable, and even a touch warmer than the SF-IV.

 

[FNG]

Nice Duane Eddy..

http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... ?id=187847

 

[matsickma]

I think the red mahogany ST303with HB-1's will sound more like a SF2 or SF3 than a SF4 as the ST series of guitars are full thin hollowbodies. I have noticed that the due to the shallow angle of the neck the ST models don't work well with a bigsby. There is little tension in the break over the bridge. I just noticed that the red mahogany ST303 at Guitar Center may have overcome the bridge tension issue by installing a bigsby that is normally used with a semihollow body guitar.

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm?page=2&srch&q=guild&distance=100&sort=0&dir=desc

M

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Hey Guildman63. Where in Mass are you? After literally auditioning all of my guitars, my 69 studio 302 with hums won the spot for my king of the blues try this Thursday at the Guitar Center in Millbury. I'm sure I won't run into 8 more of them in the competition.

 

[guildman63]

I'm about 25-30 miles west of Boston. I have never even seen one, so forget about seeing eight.

 

[CA-35]

Re;

Still quite high for my taste, but who knows what a little haggling can do if anyone is interested.

That comment was in reference to the Studio 302 at GC Hallandale, FL. being lowered to $1899.

I have a decent relationship with the manager of the Vintage Dept at that store. He knows I like Guilds. GC doesn't. You say Guild and most of the GC Sales people in that store, including Brian, look at ya kinda funny. I think they all get their Taylor or Martin tattoos at orientation. You can't say bad things about Guild's reputation or presence in South Florida because there isn't any. Especially at this GC. Which is good for any one who might be interested in that guitar. I've cut a deal or two in there before so I can probably negotiate a good price on that puppy if any one really wants it. And I'll only play her a few hundred times before I ship her to ya.

They want to move guitars, especially those nasty Guilds. There are only two in the whole store. That one and the '74 F50-R. Which has also been there for a while and will continue to be.

 

[guildman63]

I've cut a deal or two in there before so I can probably negotiate a good price on that puppy if any one really wants it. And I'll only play her a few hundred times before I ship her to ya.

Just make sure you put some new strings on her and a fresh dressing on the frets of that "nasty" Guild before shipping :lol:

 

[DaveGoodrich]

I just noticed that the red mahogany ST303 at Guitar Center may have overcome the bridge tension issue by installing a bigsby that is normally used with a semihollow body guitar.

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm?page=2&srch&q=guild&distance=100&sort=0&dir=desc

That Mahogany ST-303 looks exactly like mine (that I showed off in this thread) except, as you indicate, the Bigsby is different. Note that the Guitar Center mahogany guitar is listed as an ST-302, which means it didn't originally come with a Bigsby.

BTW, mine doesn't seem to have any issues with bridge tension.

Cool!