Fender Starcaster Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1977)
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Item # 6632
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Fender Starcaster Model Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1977), made in Fullerton, California, natural polyester finish, maple laminate top, back and sides and maple neck, original black hard shell case.
The Starcaster was Fender's most unique creation of the 1970's, an product of the CBS-owned company's heavy competition with Gibson at the time for the professional market. Looking as if a Stratocaster and an ES-335 had mated and produced an unexpected offspring, the Starcaster is built with a traditional Fender one-piece maple neck and a laminated maple semi-hollow body in place of the company's typical solidbody. The body shape maintains the double-cutaway offset contours patented by Fender in 1959, and carries two of the newer 1970's Humbucking pickups created for them by Gibson electronic guru Seth Lover. The headstock is cut with an unusual curved lower edge designed for earlier Fender prototypes by Gene Fields, who was also the major designer of this instrument. The guitar also has a useful feature not found on most Fenders, or Gibsons for that matter: a master volume control, conveniently located near the bridge. The Starcaster was roundly scoffed at when new for its "half-breed" concept but over time has proven itself as a unique and high-quality guitar, and is arguably more popular now than at any time in its history. This is a very nice natural maple example with some fine quilting to the top and back, a much classier guitar than it is usually given credit for!
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Some wear overall but all original; some scuffing to the finish but no major wear. There is one noticeable chip to the accent paint on the headstock edge. Some corrosion to the chrome bparts overall; the pickup covers have some scratching to the chrome (through the plating on the neck PU) and one small corner is cracked off the neck pickup ring. The frets have some wear and have been taken down a bit but still play well. A nice if moderately well used example of this dark-horse '70's Fender classic, still a rather unique guitar almost 40 years on. Excellent - Condition.
The Starcaster was Fender's most unique creation of the 1970's, an product of the CBS-owned company's heavy competition with Gibson at the time for the professional market. Looking as if a Stratocaster and an ES-335 had mated and produced an unexpected offspring, the Starcaster is built with a traditional Fender one-piece maple neck and a laminated maple semi-hollow body in place of the company's typical solidbody. The body shape maintains the double-cutaway offset contours patented by Fender in 1959, and carries two of the newer 1970's Humbucking pickups created for them by Gibson electronic guru Seth Lover. The headstock is cut with an unusual curved lower edge designed for earlier Fender prototypes by Gene Fields, who was also the major designer of this instrument. The guitar also has a useful feature not found on most Fenders, or Gibsons for that matter: a master volume control, conveniently located near the bridge. The Starcaster was roundly scoffed at when new for its "half-breed" concept but over time has proven itself as a unique and high-quality guitar, and is arguably more popular now than at any time in its history. This is a very nice natural maple example with some fine quilting to the top and back, a much classier guitar than it is usually given credit for!
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Some wear overall but all original; some scuffing to the finish but no major wear. There is one noticeable chip to the accent paint on the headstock edge. Some corrosion to the chrome bparts overall; the pickup covers have some scratching to the chrome (through the plating on the neck PU) and one small corner is cracked off the neck pickup ring. The frets have some wear and have been taken down a bit but still play well. A nice if moderately well used example of this dark-horse '70's Fender classic, still a rather unique guitar almost 40 years on. Excellent - Condition.