Guild Starfire V Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967)
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Guild Starfire V Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in Hoboken, NJ, serial # EN-1617, green lacquer finish, laminated maple body, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The Starfire series has been Guild's most consistently successful electric guitar line since its inception, and was by far the company's most popular electric instrument in the 1960s. This well-worn but very cool Starfire V from late 1967 is a double cutaway semi-hollow instrument with a laminated maple body in a deep green livery, semi-transparent, displaying some nice maple grain on the back. This was a custom ordered alternative to the more common cherry red or sunburst, and merited a $20 upcharge at the time.
The hand-written model designation on the label reads "Starfire V Green" with a serial number (also stamped on the headstock), dating this guitar to the second half of 1967. By the time this example was made, the neck joint on the double-cut Starfire models had been moved out to the 18th fret, resulting in better fret accessibility and a feel more akin to Gibson's ES-335 series.
The two pickups are the typical 1960s Guild humbuckers, similar to but a bit brighter and crisper than the Gibson equivalent with a nice wide tonal range. Like Gibson's similar ES-335, the Starfire V has a solid block running through the center of the body, cutting down on feedback and giving the guitar a tighter tone. The V model added block inlay, a Bigsby vibrato and bridge and a master volume control to the IV model specs, upping the price tag by over $100 at the time.
This Starfire V is a very versatile guitar and has been a perennial favorite among players of many styles -- they are particularly well-thought of as an electric blues instrument. This "real relic" example still looks sharp if worn-in, a fine player and still a notable bargain compared to similar period Gibson and Gretsch instruments.
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 cm.), 16 3/8 in. (41.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a very well worn guitar overall, definitely someone's gigger for quite some time but it remains largely original and a very good player. The all-original finish shows extensive wear for its 55+ years on the planet including dings, scuffs, dents and a number of chipped spots on the face. There is also extensive scuffing around the bridge base. The back of the body is heavily belt-buckled, with large areas worn through to the green-stained wood. The back of the neck was stripped to the wood from the base of the heel up through the volute; the headstock finish remains original. The neck is quite smooth and comfortable to play.
There is a repaired crack off the bass side F-hole; this has been cleated underneath but not finished over. There are no other visible repairs. The plastic headstock overlay has shrunken slightly but is not curling up, it has been reglued in a few spots. The instrument appears to have been refretted up to the 12th fret with matching wire some time ago and the nut was replaced; the original is in the case.
All hardware is original and largely complete; one pot was replaced (it is in the case pocket), the strap buttons are ancient Straploks and the plastic pickguard is long gone from the look of it. This is a serious gigging guitar, with the scars to prove it and is a cool "genuine relic" example of one of Guild's best 1960s creations. It retains the original battered but functional HSC. Overall Very Good Condition.
The Starfire series has been Guild's most consistently successful electric guitar line since its inception, and was by far the company's most popular electric instrument in the 1960s. This well-worn but very cool Starfire V from late 1967 is a double cutaway semi-hollow instrument with a laminated maple body in a deep green livery, semi-transparent, displaying some nice maple grain on the back. This was a custom ordered alternative to the more common cherry red or sunburst, and merited a $20 upcharge at the time.
The hand-written model designation on the label reads "Starfire V Green" with a serial number (also stamped on the headstock), dating this guitar to the second half of 1967. By the time this example was made, the neck joint on the double-cut Starfire models had been moved out to the 18th fret, resulting in better fret accessibility and a feel more akin to Gibson's ES-335 series.
The two pickups are the typical 1960s Guild humbuckers, similar to but a bit brighter and crisper than the Gibson equivalent with a nice wide tonal range. Like Gibson's similar ES-335, the Starfire V has a solid block running through the center of the body, cutting down on feedback and giving the guitar a tighter tone. The V model added block inlay, a Bigsby vibrato and bridge and a master volume control to the IV model specs, upping the price tag by over $100 at the time.
This Starfire V is a very versatile guitar and has been a perennial favorite among players of many styles -- they are particularly well-thought of as an electric blues instrument. This "real relic" example still looks sharp if worn-in, a fine player and still a notable bargain compared to similar period Gibson and Gretsch instruments.
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 cm.), 16 3/8 in. (41.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a very well worn guitar overall, definitely someone's gigger for quite some time but it remains largely original and a very good player. The all-original finish shows extensive wear for its 55+ years on the planet including dings, scuffs, dents and a number of chipped spots on the face. There is also extensive scuffing around the bridge base. The back of the body is heavily belt-buckled, with large areas worn through to the green-stained wood. The back of the neck was stripped to the wood from the base of the heel up through the volute; the headstock finish remains original. The neck is quite smooth and comfortable to play.
There is a repaired crack off the bass side F-hole; this has been cleated underneath but not finished over. There are no other visible repairs. The plastic headstock overlay has shrunken slightly but is not curling up, it has been reglued in a few spots. The instrument appears to have been refretted up to the 12th fret with matching wire some time ago and the nut was replaced; the original is in the case.
All hardware is original and largely complete; one pot was replaced (it is in the case pocket), the strap buttons are ancient Straploks and the plastic pickguard is long gone from the look of it. This is a serious gigging guitar, with the scars to prove it and is a cool "genuine relic" example of one of Guild's best 1960s creations. It retains the original battered but functional HSC. Overall Very Good Condition.