Guild Starfire II Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1961), made in Hoboken, NJ, cherry lacquer finish, laminated mahogany body and neck' rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
A very nice early Starfire II, complete with the extremely cool white-topped DeArmond Dynasonic pickups (the same pickup Gretsch employed on their 1950's classics) used only for the first couple of years on this model. Overall medium/dark cherry finish; body triple bound front only and dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard single bound. Original Grover 'Sta-tite' tuners on Gibson-style headstock, early style rounded back-painted pickguard with Guild logo, and amber "G-logo" knobs.
The Starfire series has been Guild's most consistently successful electric guitar line since its inception in 1960, and these previously often under-appreciated guitars have recently become better respected. This guitar dates to the end of 1961 and is a much rarer guitar than the mid-60's version. A very classy thin-body electric; compared to equivalent Gibson or Gretsch models, still a rather undervalued guitar. A great-playing and spectacular-sounding guitar, with a tone you could describe as a 1950's Gretsch crossed with a Gibson ES-330, but with additional high-end 'snap'.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 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.).
All original except possibly later wooden Guild bridge. Some playing wear, most noticeably to the back of the neck with one gouge into the wood behind the 7/8th fret. A nice playing example with moderate finish wear to the back and sides; face quite clean. Original brown tolex red-lined hardshell case pretty well-preserved. Excellent Condition.
