Guild Starfire IV Ebony Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Hoboken, NJ, serial # EL-939, ebony grain laquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, period soft shell case.
The Starfire series has been Guild's most consistently successful electric guitar line since its inception, and was by far the company's most popular electric instruments in the 1960's. This Starfire IV from 1966 is a double cutaway, semi-hollow body instrument with a laminated maple body in a striking "Ebony Grain" finish. This semi-transparent black stain with a clear lacquer overcoat has ambered somewhat with time, giving the finish a smoky dark greenish hue. This was a custom ordered finish option, available at extra cost as a catalog item. Most Starfires from this era are finished in cherry red with mahogany top laminates-this is a fairly rare guitar.
The pickups are the typical 1960's style Guild humbucking pickups, generally similar to but a bit brighter and crisper sounding than the Gibson equivalent. Like Gibson's similar ES 335, the Starfire IV has a solid block running through the center of the body, cutting down on feedback and giving the guitar a tighter tone, with better feedback resistance. This Starfire IV is a very versatile guitar and has been a perennial favorite among players of many styles-they are particularly well thought of as an electric blues instrument. This lovely example has some light wear but remains an excellent player and still an notable bargain compared to similar period Gibson or Gretsch instruments.
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 cm.), 16 3/8 in. (41.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 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.). A completely original and cean example of a 1960's custom-color Starfire, something we don't come across as often as we'd like. There is some light wear and checking overall, a little spot of belt buckle wear and a small area worn off the side of the neck. The original frets have light wear in the first couple of positions and are otherwise very well preserved. The binding is totally intact, with some typical shrinkage in the cutaways. Overall a very nice playing and sounding guitar, and a great looking one as well. Excellent - Condition.
