Guild Starfire III

Just pulled the trigger on a Westerly RI made reissue. Not crazy about the color.......natural mahogany (brown). But I've wanted one of these for a long while. With the de armond pickups and a bigsby it should kill. Also bought a 66' Ampeg gemeni 1 to blast it through. Traded a fancy /13 amp that was giving me fits for them and some ca$h.

Anyone else have a Guild Starfire? Should be fun.......:cool:

I've had my Starfire III for about 5 yrs., I put humbuckers on mine tho'. Plays and sounds great, but one of my heavier guitars.

Pics folks. We need pics.

CC

Here's one in mahogany

Got a Starfire IV and got to say Guild's are just absolute class....a Starfire III through an old Ampeg.....hells teeth that's going to sound mean.
Anyway congratulations and check out the LETSTALKGUILD website for all your related Guild ownership needs.

Haven't had a Starfire III yet. Someday. Playing a '73 S-90 now, and a Westerly made Bluesbird. Class is the right word for Guild. The Bluesbird is one of the classiest instruments I've ever tried. So well made.
MD

Here's one in mahogany

That's a Starfire IV of course, semihollow double cutaway like an ES 335.

Starfire III are fully hollow, and single cut.

Here's my late Westerly made Starfire III-90. Called "90" for obvious reasons--Duncan P90s that are essentially Antiquities without the aging.

http://thestevieboy.tripod.com/starfire.jpg

Stevie:

That's exactly the SF III I want to own. Very nice!!
MD

stevieboy that is incredible guitar you have there. love it!
what year is that made?

Great buy. My Studio 302 is a near cousin to the starfire line. Full hollow and very light. Parents bought it for me new in 69.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r127/Jackffr1846/Guild1.jpg

My Main Axe has been a 58 Guild CE100D, kinda like a deep Starfire. Absolutely Killer. Here's a nice video showcasing the guitar, and my Band

The Billy D LIght Trio
txFrsQW3Blw

That's a Starfire IV of course, semihollow double cutaway like an ES 335.

Starfire III are fully hollow, and single cut.

Here's my late Westerly made Starfire III-90. Called "90" for obvious reasons--Duncan P90s that are essentially Antiquities without the aging.

http://thestevieboy.tripod.com/starfire.jpg

Is it alright if I ask how much you paid for this guitar? I am having a tough time finding pricing info for the re-issued Starfire III-90. Is $650 a good deal for one?

USA Guild Starfire III-90...that'll be a Corona built reissue with P90's and Bigsby....$650
did you say....that's what under £500....it's worth twice that...assuming it is in good condition that is not only a good deal it's a "steal".

Yes it is a Corona made Starfire III with the P90's. I did find one on eBay that sold for $1,500...I just didn't know if I was missing something. Thanks for your help, I'm jumping on this guitar and never letting go! haha

iirc, the street price on the p-90 coronas was $1500... they were only made for a year or two, 2001-2002 i think, so there aren't many out there. certainly grab it for $650. for twice that price you aren't going to find a better hollowbody.

the bigsby and aluminum bridge models were called starfire II's by the way. the III has no bigbsy and a rosewood bridge. i have a SFIII from westerly from 98 or 99. one of the last ones. tuxedo, black with white binding.

A used Starfire was the first guitar I tried in my quest for a semi-hollow. Had a price tag of around $700 and I had no idea what it was worth. It was very nice but, by the time I fingered it out, it was gone.

I like the mahogany look.

Actually, Fender moved production of the Guild to Corona from 2001-2004. Took me forever and a lot of searching to find this info! The Starfire III-90 I'm buying does include a Bigsby, and was made in 2004. I am going to get it this afternoon, and I cannot wait to play this beauty. Here are a few pics:



http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/thor_guitar_2127/starfire1.jpg http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/thor_guitar_2127/starfire2.jpg http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/thor_guitar_2127/starfire3.jpg

That sunburst Corona Starfire III-90 is such a bargain for $650....hollowbody with P90's
and a Guildsby and it's a GUILD.....quality and magic made in the USA.....who needs to pay top dollar for a far east Gretsch or Casino when a legendary USA Guild can be found for this kinda money.
If it was good enough for Jerry Garcia and Dave Davies......(Lightning Hopkins and Buddy Guy played Starfire IV's)

I got it home last night, and I could not be happier with this guitar. I think I need to call the police because I feel like I stole this thing for $650. I could sell it and make a nice profit, but I'd MUCH rather hang on to her.

Nice going. Jerry would be proud.

http://dozin.com/jers/guitar/Guild.jpg

haha thanks. I just have one more question.. Does anyone know how much the Corona/Westerly made Starfire III-90 cost to buy brand new? I cannot find this info anywhere!

I'm kind of intrigued with the Starfire series of guitars, but not the single cutaway models. I'm probably spoiled because I have a Gibson es-225 with the single cutaway which to me is one of the coolest styles of electric guitar ever, and the Guild single cutaways just look "wrong."

It sort of reminds me of those Agile "Les Pauls" that have the "wrong" shape in the cutaway.

haha thanks. I just have one more question.. Does anyone know how much the Corona/Westerly made Starfire III-90 cost to buy brand new? I cannot find this info anywhere!

i remember seeing these at West LA Music hanging on the wall with a tag of $1499 in late 2001-early 2002. i don't know what the MSPR was... i'd guess $1999.

i got my model numbers reversed in that post also. the SFIII has the bigsby, the SFII doesn't. same body shape.

I'm kind of intrigued with the Starfire series of guitars, but not the single cutaway models. I'm probably spoiled because I have a Gibson es-225 with the single cutaway which to me is one of the coolest styles of electric guitar ever, and the Guild single cutaways just look "wrong."

It sort of reminds me of those Agile "Les Pauls" that have the "wrong" shape in the cutaway.
Guild went to a new body silhouette for those guitars around 1970, and the post-'70-ones look funny to me too (no offense to anyone in this thread!!).

But does an original SFIII look "wrong" to you too? This is my '61 :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/WalterBroes/IMG_2827.jpg?t=1241896531

Guild went to a new body silhouette for those guitars around 1970, and the post-'70-ones look funny to me too (no offense to anyone in this thread!!).

But does an original SFIII look "wrong" to you too? This is my '61 :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/WalterBroes/IMG_2827.jpg?t=1241896531

Well, judging from the photo (and based on the only angle I can see), the shape looks pretty similar to my es-225. Looks pretty cool.

Here's my Hoboken Starfire.

I'm absolutely in love with it.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii254/NYCBluesTrio/photobucket-593-1339939577340.jpg