Spare parts/NOS? Value? Starfire II F100 DCP

[Mrcg523]

Hi All,

First time posting and had a few questions that maybe folks here can answer. I own , or shall I say inherited an Guild Starfire from my dad. He got it for his birthday back in 1961. I actually have the original receipt showing purchase date and price ($300). I have verified via the Guild website Date your guitar that based on the serial number it was likely mfg'd in 1960 at some point.

So I have a few questions and they are as follows:

1. After my dad got the guitar he decided for some reason to change the tuning machines from stock to Grover machines. They work fine but you can still see the small holes for the stock tuners. Where could I possibly get the stock machines from and would returning them to stock make a difference in possible value for the guitar.

2. I suppose not thinking about possible re-sale or future value, he also decided to customize/personalize the truss rod cover and pickguard. The truss rod cover has his initials on the p/g he engraved his name. Again I have no idea why. Obviously this reduces the value should I decide I want to let it go. Would anyone have any idea where to get a replacement for either item. I have looked online and have not been able to come across either item. E-bay had a pickguard but it was about $230.

I have posted a few pics below. anyone here got any idea of a potential value given the mods made and an opinion of whether finding NOS or replacement would even be worth the effort. FTR, I do noodle around on guitar myself but to be honest I'm a Telecaster guy myself. I don't necessarily want to sell this at the moment but if the price were decent I may consider seeing that I don't play it.

Any insight or help would be very much appreciated

 

[Teleguy61]

Wow!

 

[Mrcg523]

Wow!

What?? LOLOL!

 

[HeyMikey]

Hi mrcg523,
Sorry about your dad…

He left you a very nice guitar. I honestly wouldn’t worry about the tuners or TRC. Let the new owner, should you sell, make changes if they wish. You won’t gain anything in value vs the cost to replace them. One concern is the Bigsby. I don’t know if that was original. @Hans should be able to confirm. In any case it has value in its own right so IMHO I would just leave it as is.

Value wise…. maybe others have a better handle but maybe in the $2500-3500 range depending on condition - if the neck needs to be reset, if the frets needs to be replaced, if the electronics aren’t working properly, etc.

 

[Mrcg523]

Hi mrcg523,
Sorry about your dad…

He left you a very nice guitar. I honestly wouldn’t worry about the tuners or TRC. Let the new owner, should you sell, make changes if they wish. You won’t gain anything in value vs the cost to replace them. One concern is the Bigsby. I don’t know if that was original. @Hans should be able to confirm. In any case it has value in its own right so IMHO I would just leave it as is.

Value wise…. maybe others have a better handle but maybe in the $2500-3500 range depending on condition - if the neck needs to be reset, if the frets needs to be replaced, if the electronics aren’t working properly, etc.

He actually passed a few years back but thanks for the condolences. Much appreciated!

The Bigsby, as far as I know is original to the guitar. I have seen other Starfire models from this era that came with them. As for the neck and frets I will say (and you can see by the pics) all seem really decent shape. I know when he did play it he mentioned saying he he took the time to make sure it was put way clean. Granted there is some checking and finish wear but that could also be just aging (people pay tons for that relic look anyway LOLOL!).

As for the electronics the only issue I have ever had is the guitar feeds back like a mother. I do know that someone I was speaking to who mentioned that the pots maybe bad or dirty and suggested that maybe the pick ups needed to be dipped in wax to prevent that. But I cant say for sure since I am not inclined to do repairs.

Thanks for the insight on pricing and parts. I honestly kinda expected someone to say let the next owner deal. Why spend the money if its not gonna change the value greatly?

 

[Walter Broes]

That's a very early Starfire, the Bigsby might be original, carefully taking it off will tell you. Extra holes will tell.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Grovers, they're vintage in their own right by now.

 

[Mrcg523]

That's a very early Starfire, the Bigsby might be original, carefully taking it off will tell you. Extra holes will tell.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Grovers, they're vintage in their own right by now.

I'm not inclined to remove the Bigsby to verify. LOLOL! I only remember him saying it was original and one of the selling points for him getting it. He loved Duane Eddy who had a Bigsby on his Guilds.

 

[HeyMikey]

Walter, what do you think about the feedback issue? Just comes with the territory for those edgy DeArmonds or could it be something else? I know opinions are mixed on wax potting - on one hand it could help, on the other it might impact tone.

 

[Walter Broes]

It's just three screws, no big deal. It might have been installed by the dealer. If the interior label clearly says "Starfire II" it "shouldn't" have the Bigsby, as that is what distinguished a II from a III.
Then again, anything is possible I guess

 

[Walter Broes]

Walter, what do you think about the feedback issue? Just comes with the territory for those edgy DeArmonds or could it be something else? I know opinions are mixed on wax potting - on one hand it could help, on the other it might impact tone.

That specific type of DeArmond pickup can get very microphonic - i.e. squeal.

Body feedback (howl) - nature of the beast, and potting won't change that much.

I do NOT recommend potting those pickups btw - the poles on those are inside some kind of synthetic material sleeve/sheath that already tends to detoriate with age, and might very well melt in hot wax.

 

[Mrcg523]

It's just three screws, no big deal. It might have been installed by the dealer. If the interior label clearly says "Starfire II" it "shouldn't" have the Bigsby, as that is what distinguished a II from a III.
Then again, anything is possible I guess

This is the interior sticker. Simply "Starfire". It seems based on alot of what I've seen it was like wild west when they put them together. Some say it should say this, others say it should say that when verifying age and features.

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Mrcg523,

Welcome! Your 'Starfire' is actually a T-100C-DP, which at that time was basically the same guitar, but your guitar had some 'extra' features that would become the Starfire II. I doubt the Bigsby is original, but it could have been added at his request.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Walter Broes]

Not a case of "wild west" I think, more likely véry early in the existence of the Starfire model designation.

 

[Mrcg523]

That specific type of DeArmond pickup can get very microphonic - i.e. squeal.

Body feedback (howl) - nature of the beast, and potting won't change that much.

I do NOT recommend potting those pickups btw - the poles on those are inside some kind of synthetic material sleeve/sheath that already tends to detoriate with age, and might very well melt in hot wax.

Yes...they howl like a mother, not so much when just running direct to an amp and using a clean tone but if you add any sort of overdrive... fughettaboutit!

 

[Mrcg523]

Hello Mrcg523,

Welcome! Your 'Starfire' is actually a T-100C-DP, which at that time was basically the same guitar, but your guitar had some 'extra' features that would become the Starfire II. I doubt the Bigsby is original, but it could have been added at his request.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Thank you so much for the insight. I truly appreciate it!

 

[BradHK]

That is a beautiful Guild and I agree with the comments above about not replacing the parts or wax potting the pickups. Regarding the Bigsby, I was under the impression that the arm on a bigsby from 1960 would have the Philips head screw holding it in place then they moved to the smooth top rivet around 1962 or something. I would also expect the bigsby bridge to have been included if the bigsby was factory installed. Here is my 1961 Starfire III with the original Bigsby with this screw and the Bigsby bridge (if you have sharp eyes you will notice that I put on a plain G compensated saddle on the original base. I saved the original). Either way that is a great guitar you have from your father!

 

[Mrcg523]

That is a beautiful Guild and I agree with the comments above about not replacing the parts or wax potting the pickups. Regarding the Bigsby, I was under the impression that the arm on a bigsby from 1960 would have the Philips head screw holding it in place then they moved to the smooth top rivet around 1962 or something. I would also expect the bigsby bridge to have been included if the bigsby was factory installed. Here is my 1961 Starfire III with the original Bigsby with this screw and the Bigsby bridge (if you have sharp eyes you will notice that I put on a plain G compensated saddle on the original base. I saved the original). Either way that is a great guitar you have from your father!

Thanks! Yes his has a smooth top rivet. If he got it in '61 maybe it had that one you had which says "Guild" but looks like a Bigsby and then to imitate his idol at the time Duane Eddy replaced it with on that says brands Bigsby. I don't know. I just know that I was born in 1970 and as far back as I remember this was how it was set up.

 

[Teleguy61]

What?? LOLOL!

It's almost a museum piece, I wouldn't change anything.
If you are going to sell, consult some of the very knowledgeable members here.
You may want to offer it for sale here first, this membership is a bunch very good guys.

 

[GGJaguar]

OMG that's an amazing guitar! Welcome to LTG and thanks for sharing!!

 

[Mrcg523]

It's almost a museum piece, I wouldn't change anything.
If you are going to sell, consult some of the very knowledgeable members here.
You may want to offer it for sale here first, this membership is a bunch very good guys.

Thanks.. I Will keep that in mind. I honestly don't know what yo do with it. Like I said I'm more of a Tele guy. While it's nice and has sentimental value it's not being used. I also don't have kids so there will be nobody to leave it to when my time comes. I guess I'll see what happens. As I mentioned I'm not sure of value so I wouldn't want to give it away either. I suppose I may look Into an appraisal if I decide to let it go. I was more concerned about originality when it comes to that and how much of a detraction from value the changes would make.