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1977 Guild Starfire IV
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Serial #: 151253, Westerly, RI label
Body size at lower bout:16 3/8" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 10/16" Body depth: 1 7/8"
Materials: Arched birdseye maple laminate body; solid mahogany neck with maple stripe; rosewood fingerboard with block inlay; pearl peghead inlay; 5-ply body binding, bound fingerboard.
Hardware: All original chrome hardware including Guild 'G' harp tailpiece, Guild HB-1 humbucking pickups, Guild Adjustomatic bridge, Guild Schaller tuners, Guild-logo stairstep pickguard, twin tone and volume controls, 3 way pickup selector switch, master volume control.
Notes: Introduced in 1964, the Guild Starfire IV was a direct competitor to the Gibson ES-335. With twin HB-1 humbucking pickups, and center-block dual cutaway body, the Starfire IV provided enhanced sustain with superior feedback resistance. By 1967, the neck joint had been extended to the 18th fret for enhanced access to the upper fretboard, and the master volume and block inlay appeared in 1973, with the demise of the Starfire V that year. Functionally identical to the Starfire VI, except for the vibrato tailpiece, the Starfire IV continued as Guild's top-line semi-hollow after the VI was retired in 1979.
With its warmly ambered blonde finish on the arched birdseye maple body, the slim-depth laminate design is crack-resistant, and easy to hold on the lap or the strap. The solid mahogany neck makes for a lighter and better balanced instrument than most maple-necked guitars as well. A special plus is the master volume control, placed close at hand on the cutaway horn.
100% original, the instrument is in superb condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. A versatile instrument, this gleaming example has a sleek gentle D neck profile, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup, and original HB-1 humbucking pickups for faithful vintage tone.
A classic performer for the hard-working guitarist, and a true best buy in a vintage Rhode Island Guild. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.011-.052). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original deluxe Guild black arched plush lined hardshell case.
