1960’s Guild Starfire Bass

$3,650.00

This is a very well-made great sounding bass, same as used by Jack Cassidy and Phil Lesh.

Description

Exceptional Condition  /  SN: 41215
30.5″ scale length  /  All original
Semi-Hollow Body  /  Sunburst

This 1960’s Guild Starfire Bass is a great sounding bass as well as a historically important instrument.  Used by Jack Cassidy (Jefferson Airplane, Starship, Hot Tuna), and Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead).  It features a double cutaway thin semi-hollow body with f-holes, single pickup, one-pc bridge/tailpiece, single Volume and Tone knobs and two finger/thumb rests above the pickup.

It isn’t easy to figure out the exact year this bass was made.  Apparently, these Starfire basses were first produced in 1967, but the serial number charts have serious gaps in them from 1965 to 1970.  From just applying the raw serial to the chart you might think it is from 1965… but, again, they weren’t produced by Guild until 1967, so “late 1960’s” would be the best guess on the date.

The pickup is large and “square-ish” with two rows of pole pieces.  The p/u is mounted on a plastic mount with metal partial cover.  Tailpiece is single angular metal – strings come thru the back and lay on individual adjustable Rosewood (possibly Pau Ferro), saddle pieces.  It is easy to adjust the action and the intonation of this bridge.

Blackened peghead veneer has Pearloid Guild logo inlaid at top with Guild crown and shield inlay below.  Original Guild truss rod cover above the nut.  Appears to be the original nut.  Beautiful Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays.  The body is bound top and back with cream multiple bindings.  The neck is three-piece Mahogany with cream heel cap.
The sunburst is a beautiful three-color sunburst with darker brown at edges, then a reddish-brown sienna transition into golden amber center.

This bass is in great working condition!  It is very lightweight with a good balance.  Everything works well.  It even comes with the original Gig Bag, although the zipper could use replacing.