Synchro
Member
It's certainly beautiful when photographed from the front. I played a gig in my N.S. Starfire III tonight and the sound was superb.
1960 Starfire love? anybody?
- Thread starter drc
- Start date
It's certainly beautiful when photographed from the front. I played a gig in my N.S. Starfire III tonight and the sound was superb.
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Just bought this today...
I believe it's a 1960 Starfire III.
Hello Despot,
Great looking guitar for a really nice price. Looking at the specs it seems more like a 1963 Starfire. At this point it looks like a converted Starfire II, but if you give me the serial number, I could try to find the number up in the factory ledgers.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
mavuser
Enlightened Member
I have a couple decent videos of Alberta Cross playing the Starfire 1 w/Guildsby that may or may not be the same guitar that Norah Jones has previously been seen with. I may take these videos down if and when I get better ones. cut the band a little slack they are brand new songs with brand new band members, this is to my knowledge the first public performance of the tunes and I am am hesitant to share them, but the guitar is rare, so happy to for now. in my opinion the videos are great but I have seen this band really crush it in the past. also the acoustic(s) are Guilds as well. one is a 12 string dread.
you can see the Norah Jones (photo) connection in post #7 of this thread-
http://letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?174435-Which-Guild-guitar-is-this&highlight=norah
She is super tight with Alberta Cross and so my best guess is its the same guitar, unless they collectivelly have identical Starfire 1's with Guildsby's and (rare) Dearmond's. That would be extremely impressive, even for a bunch of Brooklyn hipsters
you can see the Norah Jones (photo) connection in post #7 of this thread-
http://letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?174435-Which-Guild-guitar-is-this&highlight=norah
She is super tight with Alberta Cross and so my best guess is its the same guitar, unless they collectivelly have identical Starfire 1's with Guildsby's and (rare) Dearmond's. That would be extremely impressive, even for a bunch of Brooklyn hipsters
Despot
Junior Member
Thanks Hans - I responded to your PM, thanks again for taking the time to respond. I should have twigged that the back binding made it '62 or later!
drc
Senior Member
If I fall in love with this guitar, I know I will end up looking for a 2 pickup model SF III with Dearmonds.. so be prepared mavuser.
Btw I've had my head checked several times and no one can figure it out!?
Release the Guilds! Let the hunt begin!!
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Zelja
Senior Member
Nice score Dave! Love the cherry Starfire I/II/IIIs. I have a '61 with Dearmonds as well, Bought it a year ago but haven't seen it yet. It's at my brother's place in NJ - he won't send it to me!
Nice score as well Despot - does look super fine from the front but yeah can't imagine why someone would do that type of surgery.
And Synchro, glad to hear your NS SFIII is doing the business as well. It's got different pickups so I could justfy one of those to myself!
Nice score as well Despot - does look super fine from the front but yeah can't imagine why someone would do that type of surgery.
And Synchro, glad to hear your NS SFIII is doing the business as well. It's got different pickups so I could justfy one of those to myself!
drc
Senior Member
In transit, should be here real soon.
drc
Senior Member
It arrived Friday afternoon but I was out of town until today. Looks great! I will post some pics and give more details after I get a chance to spend some time with it.
drc
Senior Member
jcwu
Senior Member
BEAUTIFUL!!!
What's the designation on the finish?
What's the designation on the finish?
drc
Senior Member
The guitar plays and sounds great. I can see why there is so much love for that pickup, it has allot of punch and some great tone. The guitar plays really easy up and down the fretboard. My buddy is bringing over a black light tonite to check out the finish.. just to make sure. The finish looks to be all original, but someone might have glued down the headstock laminate. I'm not real sure about that though, it could just be the wear of an old guitar.
drc
Senior Member
There isn't one on the label.. Not sure if it was just called a red finish or cherry-red.
drc
Senior Member
Double post
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Two different guitars. Alberta Cross plays a one pickup Starfire I with added Guildsby.
Norah had a two pickup (two DeArmonds, round pickguard with star/cross, normal Bigsby) Starfire II or III.
I don't know if II or III as it has a Bigsby, not a Guildsby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GheTxJ1F-mw
And with Puss n' Boots she plays a newer mid 60ies Starfire III with two mini humbuckers, stairstep pickguard and Guildsby.
Ralf
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SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Congrats on this one.......looks a good deal nicer in your new photos!
Looks like the regular cherry finish to me, but some fade and color shift gives it an orange tint.
Probably the lighting has something to do with it as well.
I'm a big fan of that version of DeArmond pickup (with row of large pole screws in the center).
The pair on my '60 Starfire are very hot....to get it where i like, I've got some of the pole screws on the neck pickup buried and maxed out all the way down.
z
Looks like the regular cherry finish to me, but some fade and color shift gives it an orange tint.
Probably the lighting has something to do with it as well.
I'm a big fan of that version of DeArmond pickup (with row of large pole screws in the center).
The pair on my '60 Starfire are very hot....to get it where i like, I've got some of the pole screws on the neck pickup buried and maxed out all the way down.
z
drc
Senior Member
All I know is now I want a SF III with the same pickup. Let the search begin!
mavuser
Enlightened Member
Thanks, Ralf. The one picture I have seen of Norah playing the old one makes it look like a SF 1 but it does seen to be well documented as a 2. The Alberta cross one def sounds super nice! Considering all the musicians Norah plays with, I suppose she associated with several Guilds. Her current one is a tone monster.