Guild Starfire III opinions

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixmkr
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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
I've got a 60's Guild Starfire III guitar in fair condition. The neck TO ME is absolutely fantastic and plays really great. The rest of the guitar, I am not so crazy about. It is a very low gloss finish...almost like a REALLY rubbed finish, the tuners are very old style, but functional...to a degree, and the electronics are...well 60's Guild electronics..and of course the Bigsby tailpiece. Great if you are a jazzer and could really care less about your tone. Question...I like the playability of the guitar, and would like to use it more..but what would you guys do? New pickups, and/or maybe a finish? I am not concerned keeping it original. I almost kinda chocked when they re-issued them at the >$1000 price. Certainly the guitar isn't worth that.

I throw this out for ideas as I hate to part with it because of the fine neck that fits my hand, and it is so different from my strats, les paul, and other solid bodies, but I can't get this thing to sound good at all for recording.
 
As soon as you swap out the pickups, you de-value the guitar tremendously!

I wouldn't keep guitar unless I liked nearly everything about it. (...and I have 7 guitars!)
If you're only 50% satisfied with the guitar as it sits right now, I'd think about selling (or trading) it for a guitar you really like. If the Starfire was a collectable guitar that will quickly rise in value over the next few years, that might be a consideration... but you'd still have to leave it stock and deal with the crappy tone.
I don't think it's worth it to mod a vintage guitar like that.... especially since it will absolutely KILL what it's worth stock.
I guarantee it will be worth less than half of what it's worth in it's present form, and you may not even like the results of the modifications.

Like I said, try to sell or trade it for something you REALLY like. ;)
 
Does your starfire have humbuckers or the white-top deArmonds??
 
Bdgr said:
Firebird has a brand new Les Paul he would trade you...
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how about a firebird w/custom inlay?..

..no, this isn't a joke. The guitar is a piece of shit, except for the way it plays. Feels light, the electronics suck, the bigsby..well, I was never a fan of them, the finish is substandard, ...

The only thing going for it is its body shape and the sweet little neck. I could give a rats ass about preserving its orginality. I want a guitar that sounds good too. Even unplugged, it sounds cheap too... but damn..it plays fine.

Now...I suppose I just shot myself in the foot when I try to sell it around here!!:p

here...lemme dig it out and shoot a pic...
 

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here's another pic...since that other one was kinda blurry...well..mabye this one is too..... 4 yr old camera...
 

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firebird...the thing is...I don't really want to sell it. I like the body shape, and it plays fine. I just want to make it sound fine (and lay off the jokes now!!). Hence...some better electronics...or am I pissing in the wind?
 
Just save all the stock stuff and do whatever you want. Just don't do anything that can't be put back.
 
I had a '61 Guild CE-100 with the same symtoms, great feel and playability and lousy amplified sound. I changed pickups and it was just what I wanted. Someone else wanted it too and it was stolen.

If you don't have to drill or carve away anything its a no harm no foul situation and guitar will sound a lot better. You might look into those Gibson '57 paf reissues, I really like 'em.
 
For more of Gretsch-type tone you could put a set of TV Jones TV'trons in it. StewMac stocks them now. Or Fralin Unbuckers, or dimarzio Bluesbuckers. But really, I think you should just sell me that guitar...my email is eblewett@nc.rr.com
 
my suggestions:

a) keep everything you replace on the guitar so you can return it to stock in case you ever want to.

b) take off the bigsby and replace it with a normal trapeze type tailpiece, like this:
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=SERVE&sku=0189&ITEM=catalog/sku.html

replace the bridge with something better, like this:
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/haze...action=SERVE&sku=3958-G&ITEM=catalog/sku.html

c) get a new nut (bone or graphite) cut and upgrade the tuning machines

d) replace the pu's and selector and pots. There are a bunch of great pu's out there. I like riograndes a lot:
http://www.riograndepickups.com/

e) if you like the neck, but not the action, might be time for a refret.
 
Be careful about replacing the tuning keys. Many replacement keys need you to drill bigger hole in the headstock.
 
The better way to phrase it is - make sure you buy new tuning machines with the right spacing and diameter posts. Any good repair shop should be able to find the exact ones you need.
 
Bdgr said:
Cant see replaceing the bigsby without totally screwing it
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Absolutely correct!
That's why I stand by my original opinion.

It should sell quite easily since it's in fairly good shape for a vintage 60's guitar. Why take a chance and de-value an original piece that might be worth some decent $$$ in original condition?

There are literally ZILLIONS of new and used guitars out there to choose from and the Guild needs a complete overhaul, according to mixmkr's assessment. I'd be researching the Blue Book value before I did ANYTHING to it. Even if it's not worth a ton of money, it might be worth alot to the 'right buyer' who wants that guitar for sentimental reasons.

Plus, it's always nice to have cash-in-hand while hunting for a new guitar. ;)
 
Buck62 said:
Absolutely correct!
That's why I stand by my original opinion.

It should sell quite easily since it's in fairly good shape for a vintage 60's guitar. Why take a chance and de-value an original piece that might be worth some decent $$$ in original condition?

There are literally ZILLIONS of new and used guitars out there to choose from and the Guild needs a complete overhaul, according to mixmkr's assessment. I'd be researching the Blue Book value before I did ANYTHING to it. Even if it's not worth a ton of money, it might be worth alot to the 'right buyer' who wants that guitar for sentimental reasons.

Plus, it's always nice to have cash-in-hand while hunting for a new guitar. ;)
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Ive seen them go for around a grand on ebay
 
mikedaul...wow...now you got me thinking with those excellent links.

and buck62...you suceed in putting the brakes on...

man... why do people have different opinions?
 
mixmkr said:
mikedaul...wow...now you got me thinking with those excellent links.

and buck62...you suceed in putting the brakes on...

man... why do people have different opinions?
Click to expand...

Because I've seen guys who have tried to do exactly what you proposed and they STILL didn't like the sound after the mods.... and that was after they drilled holes and completely trashed the guitar's original value.

Trust me on this.... keep it all-original! ;)
 
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