First Guild / First Post - Pleasantly Surprised!!!

Buddy

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New fella here and just ran across this forum while looking up info on a Guild SF4 that I just purchased out of the blue today from the original owner who picked this up new around 82-84.

So was just curious about the pickups as I think I found they are Dimarzio XR7's, does that sound correct from the 82 era? and that it seems to have been built in 1982 based on the sn, so I think at that time frame they were also being made in Westerly RI still?

Short story and probably TMI on how I ran across this git today but what the heck :)

I had been wanting to try a Gibby ES 335/339,etc and ran across a FS add for a Guild SF4 with a fender amp while on holiday today and the seller was less than a 1/4 mile from my house up here so why not check it out.

I really had no idea what to expect with the guitar as I have never played a Guild and hardly any ES style tbh and knew nothing about the amp other than it was a fender reverb.

Well once I played it I was like wow, this neck felt so comfy and it was like it plays itself and then he showed me the amp which as an early 82 Fender Deluxe Reverb II.

Done deal at that point and unfortunately he no longer can play like he used to due to arthritis and man I felt bad but he was happy with it going to a good home, so it worked out. Also told him if things get better for him I'd sell it back as it's not going anywhere from this point.

My apologies for the long winded post folks but I'm kinda gushing at how happy I am with this newly found gem of a guit and have heard a lot of great things about Guilds but really never gave em a go..Guess I been missing out but now I get it!!
frTu2DDl.jpg
 
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walrus

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Great first post! Welcome!

That appears to a great deal that you got. That is a great natural finish - looks like Lennon's Epiphone Casino after it was sanded down - I love it!

walrus
 

sailingshoes72

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Welcome to LTG. It's never too late to discover Guild guitars!

I enjoy a good "treasure hunt" in the classified ads tale, so your first post was fun to read. It looks like you scored a beautiful axe there! :applause:

Others will be along shortly with more info about the pick-ups.
 

killdeer43

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Can't help with anything out of the acoustic realm but I can offer another WELCOME TO LTG, and congrats on a great score on your first Guild. Looks like you nailed a good one!

Play it in good health and keep us posted, :cheerful:
Joe
 

GAD

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Congrats! Great guitar.

Based on my frazzled memory at the moment, they could be XR7s and could be California pickups. If you can take closer pics that would help.
 

Cougar

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....I had been wanting to try a Gibby ES 335/339,etc and ran across a FS add for a Guild SF4 with a fender amp while on holiday today and the seller was less than a 1/4 mile from my house up here so why not check it out.

Congrats on a great deal and welcome to the boards!

Yeah, I always liked that 335 style, and the first guitar I got (in the new era) was an Epiphone in that style. Still got it, but I've drifted back into acoustics and rarely play my electrics. (Heck, I'm not even playing my Motif XS much.) Still love that trans cherry 335 copy, though....

lpp381.jpg
 

dapmdave

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Welcome to LTG!

You really did well. To answer one question for you: It is a Westerly-built guitar (should have a label visible through the F-hole). Guild was in Westerly into the early 2000's.

Secondly, the amp is interesting as well. These "II" series blackface amps were designed by Paul Rivera during his stint at Fender in the early 80s. They aren't quite as desirable as a regular Deluxe Reverb, but are still great amps.
 

GAD

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BTW congrats on scoring what is a fairly uncommon iteration of the Starfire. There are lots of '60s, '70s, and '90s models out there, and now lots of Newark Street models, but I'd say that the '80s models with the stop tail and the ebony fretboards are the ones I see the least. I actually went to look at the pics of my '81 Starfire IV to see what pickups it has only to be reminded that I have an even more uncommon one with HB1s. BTW that's not a brag - it's a statement on the fact that I'm traveling too much and have forgotten about the details of a guitar I should be home playing every day. But then again the travel lets me buy such beauties, so I can't complain too much.

5D3_1133_1600.jpg



Take some close-up pics of the pickups and we can tell you what they are, assuming they're stock. Quick tip, though: If all of the slugs are screws, then they're likely XR7s. They look like this:

Guild-1982-X79-Pickups.jpg
 

GAD

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Also I notice that yours has the selector on the upper bout. I like that design better than both the switch on the MV on the lower bout like on mine. If you could post the S/N (minus the last digit if you'd like to keep it reasonably secure) then Hans could tell you what year it is (the online charts are often incorrect).
 

Buddy

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Thanks folks for the welcome and all the feedback/input, much appreciated!!!

So yeah the label inside says made in US, Westerly etc. I just wasn't sure if that was just maybe a normal stamp that was used after they moved. The label states the model # is a SF4-b20 or b10 and then the S/N is GA 100707.

I took a couple quick pics of the pups and I guess they are the XR-7 based on the feedback and pics that was mentioned so thank you!

d8fqjHQl.jpg

eHgdnROl.jpg


I plan on changing the strings tomorrow and will take a peek inside/under at that time as well.

I will say that I'm really enjoying playing her thru my Princeton and the DRII and really curious to how this will sound thru my Marshall type amp once I get back to Fl. next week.

Thanks again for the welcomes everyone and look forward to learning more about these Guild gits and playing 'em..I guess now I'll need to keep a lookout on a full body LP style Guild - This gear craziness never stops!!
 

GAD

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According to the catalog I have they should be XR7s. In fact, the guitar in the catalog looks just like yours.
 

shihan

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Welcome to Guild world headquarters. I think you got a screaming deal there. That is a excellent version of the SF 4; I much prefer the switch on the upper bout. The ebony fretboard is a big plus, too.
The Deluxe Reverb II amp should be an excellent match for that guitar. The pair at that price was a pretty sweet find.
 

sailingshoes72

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So yeah the label inside says made in US, Westerly etc. I just wasn't sure if that was just maybe a normal stamp that was used after they moved. The label states the model # is a SF4-b20 or b10 and then the S/N is GA 100707.

The letters after the model number SF4 are probably Bl. or Bld. indicating that the guitar has a natural or "Blonde" finish on the top. Other finish options in the 80's may have included Sunburst, Cherry and Emerald Green.

And remember... your first few posts on the forum are screened by a moderator, and are often not posted in real time.
 

Buddy

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The letters after the model number SF4 are probably Bl. or Bld. indicating that the guitar has a natural or "Blonde" finish on the top. Other finish options in the 80's may have included Sunburst, Cherry and Emerald Green.

And remember... your first few posts on the forum are screened by a moderator, and are often not posted in real time.

Thanks Bill!, Yeah I think that's it, SF4 BLD, cool thanks!

... And yeah I noticed there were delays on the posting and kinda threw me off at first but I understand and I do remember reading it in the rules now that I think of it too.
 

Buddy

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Welcome to Guild world headquarters. I think you got a screaming deal there. That is a excellent version of the SF 4; I much prefer the switch on the upper bout. The ebony fretboard is a big plus, too.
The Deluxe Reverb II amp should be an excellent match for that guitar. The pair at that price was a pretty sweet find.

Thanks Dennis! Yeah I wasnt really sure what the switch was for tbh prior and then I'm like cool there's a mv here after I started playing it!
 

Buddy

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Great first post! Welcome!

That appears to a great deal that you got. That is a great natural finish - looks like Lennon's Epiphone Casino after it was sanded down - I love it!

walrus

Thanks walrus! Yeah I really liked Lennon's Casino and this finish has some really nice grain lines and the gentlemen took really good care of it..
 
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