Guild Starfire III Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Hoboken, NJ, serial # EK-1273, cherry lacquer finish, laminated mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Here is yet another fine Guild 1966 Starfire III, the highest-ranked single-cutaway guitar in the Starfire line. This particular guitar has one modification; The original Guild-logo Bigsby tailpiece was replaced (probably at the time) with a period Bigsby B-7, which gives more tension over the bridge and helps make this a very good playing example. This model is a fully hollow thinline body with cherry finish, triple bound top and back and is equipped with Guild's 1960's Humbucking pickups. A great '60's Rock and Roll guitar from the end of the 'Beat Boom' era, and one of the few remaining comparatively affordable original classic American guitars. This model was extensively used by many mid-1960's groups including the Kinks, Beau Brummels, Music Machine, Dakotas and many more and was easily Guild's most popular professional grade electric guitar in the era.
Overall length is 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Overall this guitar remains in quite clean original condition; there minor dings and chips and some typical checking overall but the finish does not show major wear and retains a nice dark cherry color with very little fade. There are some small dings and chips to the back of the neck and some wear to the lacquer but nothing too serious. The clear back-painted acrylic pickguard shows some deeper-than-usual scratching to the top surface, but it is not overly noticeable except on close inspection. Everything on the guitar is original except the Bigsby tailpiece, as noted above. Overall this is a very nice playing example, cleaner than many and an excellent playing, great sounding guitar as well. Includes a period HSC that is fairly well-worn but has the remnants of some period floral artwork to the top that really espouses the'60's vibe. Excellent - Condition.
