• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

60's Guild Jetstar bass

#41
ukulelelab said:
Welcome Captainbs. Do you any pics? Does it have the bisonic pickup or the later 'Mickey Mouse' one?
To give you an idea that original '66 (serial SD 240) with 'Mickey Mouse' pickup + original gig bag sold on ebay.com 2-3 years ago for (if memory serves well) just under $2k. I saved the pictures for reference but can't remember if it went with a Buy It Now or not.

66jetstar.jpg
66jetstar2.jpg
66jetstar3.jpg
66jetstar4.jpg
Click to expand...

I have a second Jetstar I'm going to restore - had some "unfortunate" headstock mods - as in - some rocket scientist made it into a 5-string at some point - and then it was turned back into a 4 string but with giant Fender-style tuners. DOH!!

The serial number has been pretty much obliterated by the "5th tuner" - looks like the last two digits are there - "56" - so I'm gonna guess that its SD 256, since I'm pretty sure it earlier than my other Jetstar SD 320 (its routed for a Darkstar but looks like it had the big trim ring to fit a "Mickey mouse" Dearmond) - and its not the earliest 2 X 2 headstock - so doubtful it'd be SD 156.

But the question I've had is what kind of tuners were originally fitted - the pattern looks correct for Japanese-made "can opener" tuners - and it looks like thats what was fitted on the Jetstar in the Ebay auction (SD 240) AND on Peter Tork's Jetstar - do you (ukelelelab) have a higher definition image of the back of the headstock of SD 240 ?

Thanks!
 
#43
Bflat said:
guitar garage,
I have a 66 Jetstar SD 222 identical to SD 240 if you need pics tell me what you need and I will post them for you
Click to expand...

Thanks Bflat - actually Bob/ukelelelab sent me some super detailed pics of SD 240 - and looks like my weirdo Sekova bass did have pretty much the correct tuners, but different keys - but I was able to swap parts with some other Japanese tuners in my parts drawer and kluge together a complete set !

But - when I compared the mounting holes to the back of my headstock - which has at least 3 sets of tuner holes - none of them matched up with the Japanese tuners - but there was an old set of holes (3 holes per tuner) that matched up with a set of Hagstrom/Van Ghent tuners - so now I'm pretty certain that's what my bass came with originally.

Next question - anyone have an idea on where to get a piece of black overlay material similar to whats on 60s Guilds ? Seems to be some sort of "filled" plastic - I have the original but I think using the original pearl logo with a new overlay is the way to go.

thanks,

Krishna
Guitar Garage
 
#45
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
#47
Yeah it is possible its the original finish - I'd love to know for sure - I refinished my Jetstar a few years ago - and it ended up looking almost exactly like that one.

Then I saw a bunch of clips of Peter Tork playing (miming) with his Jetstar and the burst looked very different - more of a two-color reddish-brown and yellow burst as opposed to a Fender-esque 3-color burst - and I was considering stripping it and re-redoing my Jetstar
!!

But who knows - there were so few of these basses made over a 4 or 5 year stretch that the finishes may vary from batch to batch.


DSC_0002.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: ukulelelab
#50
I just had my first chance to ever play an original Jetstar bass in person. It's for sale at Guru Guitars in Raleigh, NC. Ironically enough, I just sold my Dearmond Jetstar two weeks ago. I was sorely tempted to buy it but luckily my rational side won out.

It is still there, in case anyone is looking to purchase one. I know how rare they are.

A quick run-down of it for anyone interested:

The Bad:
-I'm pretty sure it's a refin (it's a road worn semi translucent green)
-Original pickup has been replaced with some sort of Dimarzio humbucker
-Tuners are Fenders

The Good:
-The refin is actually a cool color
-The replacement pickup sounds pretty good
-The tuners look like they could be original (ie fit the headstock well and have the right patina)
-Plays great, the only bit fret buzz at all was on the open E if you played aggressively.
-$750

I left my phone in the car while I was there, otherwise I would have snapped a photo. Their website is http://www.guruguitarshop.com but I don't think they have it listed yet.
 
#53
circuitspore said:
-I'm pretty sure it's a refin (it's a road worn semi translucent green)
Click to expand...

Could that finish actually be an original Emerald Green? I mean after all Guild did produce some basses and guitars with that custom finish in the mid to late 60's. So far I have only seen Starfires but who knows they might have done some solid bodies in emerald green too (?)
 
Last edited:
#55
Got some pics of the bass - its a pretty worthwhile restoration project in my opinion, though not sure I want to invest in it at the moment.

Pretty sure the green isn't original - doesn't look like its necessarily even lacquer in the closeup of the front. Though it is very close to what Emerald Green over mahogany looks like in tint. Hard to tell until you look inside the cavities to see if there are traces of a different finish or see it in person and see that theres no checking, etc.

Probably the little bat logo isn't original either ....

The tuners are early 70s Fender full size tuners - so the headstock has been drilled out and so has the black overlay on the headstock as a consequence. Not the end of the world but it will be visible unless new plastic is cut for the overlay and used with the old pearloid logo.

But - apparently has no breaks and has the original bridge and knobs - and Curtis Novak will whip up a nice sounding version of a "Mickey Mouse" pickup for around $100 or so.

Pics attached. Howard at Guru Guitars is very responsive and seems like a nice guy.
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: GotRoot? and JIO

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back