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Vintage Guild Starfire Value Guide (1960 to 1970): Models I to VI
A 1960s Guild Starfire is a thin Hoboken or Westerly electric: Starfire I to III are single-cutaway hollowbodies, IV to VI are double-cutaway semi-solids. Originality, model, finish and any refinish or modification drive value. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or text us photos.
The Starfire line, model by model
Guild launched the Starfire in 1960 with three single-cutaway thin hollowbodies: the Starfire I with one pickup, the Starfire II with two, and the Starfire III, which added a Bigsby tailpiece. In 1963 Guild added the double-cutaway Starfire IV, which, like the Gibson ES-335, has a solid center block to cut feedback. The deluxe Starfire V followed the same year and the Starfire VI in 1964.
The first thing to settle on any Starfire in your hands is which family it belongs to. The single-cutaway guitars (I, II, III) are hollow. The double-cutaway guitars (IV, V, VI) are the ones most players mean when they say "Starfire" today, and they are the semi-solid ones.
Model | Introduced | Body | Pickups and tailpiece |
|---|---|---|---|
Starfire I | 1960 | Single cutaway, hollow | One pickup, harp tailpiece |
Starfire II | 1960 | Single cutaway, hollow | Two pickups, harp tailpiece |
Starfire III | 1960 | Single cutaway, fully hollow | Two pickups, Guild-branded Bigsby |
Starfire IV | 1963 | Double cutaway, center block | Two humbuckers, harp tailpiece |
Starfire V | 1963 | Double cutaway, same family as the IV | Two pickups, master volume, Guild Bigsby |
Starfire VI | 1964 | Double cutaway, top of the line | Gold-plated hardware and Guild Bigsby |
All of them share a thin body about 1 7/8 inches deep. The V and VI add a master volume knob and better tuners than the IV. Check the center block on any V or VI by inspection rather than assuming it, since the block is documented in the sources on the IV.
Guild also built Starfire basses: the single-pickup model arrived in 1965 and a two-pickup version in 1967. They are a separate market from the guitars, so this guide stays with the six-strings.
Hoboken or Westerly: which one you have
Early Starfires came out of Guild's Hoboken, New Jersey shop. Guild was sold to the Avnet Corporation in 1966, and production moved to Westerly, Rhode Island. Sources disagree on the year: Wikipedia says 1966, while Vintage Guitar magazine and Vintage Guitar and Bass say 1967.
In practice, treat 1965 and earlier as Hoboken, 1968 and later as Westerly, and 1966 to 1967 as the gray zone where the serial number, not the date on a listing, has to settle it. Our Guild serial number lookup and dating guide has the serial ranges, so we are not repeating charts here.
DeArmond single coils vs Guild humbuckers
The pickups tell you roughly when a Starfire was built, and whether it has been changed.
Early single-coil era (1960 to 1963): DeArmond single-coil pickups on the single-cutaway models.
Guild humbucker era (from 1963): Guild's own small "anti-hum" pickups arrived with the double-cutaway guitars, and the full-size HB-1 humbucker came later. Some V models are documented with DeArmonds as well, so a DeArmond on a V is not automatically wrong.
Swapped pickups are the most common alteration. A dealer listing for a 1966 Starfire V, now marked sold, spelled it out: "Unoriginal Guild humbuckers with black bezels." If the pickups are original, say so in your photos. If they are not, say that too. It saves a round of emails.
The Bigsby and the harp tailpiece
This is where Starfires get confusing. The I, II and IV left the factory with a harp-style tailpiece. The III, V and VI came with a Guild-branded Bigsby vibrato. That Guild-branded Bigsby is part of the original package, not an add-on.
That gives you a quick check:
A Starfire III, V or VI with a Bigsby is as it should be. One with a harp tailpiece has had a parts change.
A Starfire IV with a Bigsby deserves a closer look. Look for extra screw holes in the top near the tailpiece and for lacquer shadowing where the old tailpiece used to sit.
A Bigsby that is not Guild-branded is most likely a replacement on these models.
Bring the guitar's story with it if you have one. A guitar that has always had its Bigsby, with the original case, is easier to value than one with a mystery parts history.
Finishes
Cherry and Sunburst were the standard finishes, and most Starfires you will see are Cherry. Guild also offered custom colors, including green, black, white, blonde, brown and natural. A verified original custom color is worth documenting. A color that looks like one of those but is really a refinish is a different story.
Finish checking, fine cracks across the lacquer, is normal on a guitar this old, and so is light wear on the back. What you do not expect is a Starfire that looks too new, with no checking and an even gloss. That calls for a close look at the f-holes, the binding and the edges of the cutaways for overspray. Another documented tell on these thin hollow guitars is the binding: one sold 1965 Starfire III listed binding that had "shrunk and lifted in some areas but is secure."
What an original Starfire is worth
Starfires are not priced like ES-335s. They are a different, more modest market, and the spread between models is wide. Here are the documented comps, with the source named each time.
A 1965 Starfire III in Cherry was listed at $1,800 on Cream City Music, marked sold. The page called it a well-worn player.
A 1966 Starfire IV in Cherry was listed at $1,999 on Cream City Music, marked sold, in "very good shape overall."
A 1966 Starfire II in Cherry was listed at $2,095 on Chicago Music Exchange, marked sold out, with light cosmetic wear.
A 1966 Starfire V in Cherry was listed at $2,999 on Cream City Music, marked sold, with its original hardshell case and, as noted above, replacement humbuckers.
A 1965 Starfire III in Cherry was listed at $3,850 on Chicago Music Exchange, marked sold out, with light play wear.
Those are asking prices on dealer pages that now read as sold. The page does not show the final sale price, so treat the numbers as where good dealer examples were priced, not as guaranteed sale prices. They cover roughly $1,800 to $3,850, and the top figure is a single dealer's ask. We did not find a verified Starfire VI sale, so we are not putting a number on the VI.
What moves a Starfire up or down:
Original pickups, tailpiece and tuners. Parts swaps cost the most money on this guitar.
Original finish. A refinished Starfire is worth well under an original one, even when the work is clean.
Original hardshell case. It helps prove the guitar has not been through many hands.
Condition of the binding and top. Light wear is expected. Cracks, lifted binding and repairs take money off.
Model and color. The V and VI with a Bigsby are the top of the line, and a verified original custom color is worth proving with photos.
Edgewater's cash offer usually lands about 20% under that market figure, and less for refinished or modified examples. Because no two Starfires match, the accurate number for yours comes from photos. Start with the free estimate form or try what's my guitar worth for a quick read.
Starfire vs Gibson ES-335 and ES-330
People price a Starfire against the Gibson ES-335, and that is a mistake. The ES-335 came in 1958 with a solid maple center block and humbuckers. The Guild Starfire IV copied the idea in 1963, so on paper it is a close cousin. The ES-330, released in 1959, was fully hollow and carried P-90s. That makes it closer to the single-cutaway Starfire III in spirit than to the IV. Players such as Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia used Starfires, which gives the line a following of its own.
How to sell your Starfire
Send front, back and headstock photos, plus close-ups of the f-holes, the tailpiece, the pickups and the serial number inside the body. Tell us about any repairs, replaced parts or refinish. Mention the case if you still have it. If you are ready to move forward, see how we buy vintage guitars. We buy nationwide.
A word from a seller: "I sold them a 60 year old fender and they were honest and forthcoming with everything about the guitar. They made me a fair offer." Mike R., Google review.
Ready for a number? Get a free estimate, or call or text (440) 219-3607.
Frequently asked questions
How do I date a vintage Guild Starfire?
Start with the serial number, then check features. The Starfire III, V and VI carry a Bigsby, the I, II and IV a harp tailpiece, and the pickups move from DeArmond single coils to Guild humbuckers around 1963. Our Guild dating guide has the serial ranges.
What is the difference between a Starfire and a Gibson ES-335 or ES-330?
The ES-335 has a solid center block and humbuckers, and the Starfire IV, V and VI follow that semi-solid idea. The ES-330 was fully hollow with P-90 pickups, which is closer to the single-cutaway Starfire III. Do not price one off the other.
Where was the Starfire built, Hoboken or Westerly?
Hoboken, New Jersey, until Guild was sold to Avnet and production moved to Westerly, Rhode Island. Sources put the move at 1966 or 1967, so a 1966 or 1967 guitar needs a serial check.
What is a vintage Starfire worth?
Dealer pages for 1965 and 1966 Cherry examples show asking prices from about $1,800 (Starfire III) to $3,850 (a Starfire III at Chicago Music Exchange), with a 1966 Starfire V at $2,999 and a 1966 Starfire IV at $1,999. Original parts, finish and case move the number.
Does a refinish or a swapped Bigsby hurt the value?
Yes. A refinish, replacement pickups, a missing Guild Bigsby, or a harp tailpiece on a guitar that should have a Bigsby all lower what a buyer will pay compared with an original example.
What problems should I check for on a vintage Starfire?
Look at the binding for shrinking or lifting, the finish for overspray or a too-clean gloss, the pickups and tailpiece for swaps, and the top for cracks. The single-cutaway III is fully hollow and can feed back at volume.
By Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars. Last updated: October 2026.
