NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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HNB
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Re: NGD 1978 Fender Starcaster

Post by HNB » Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:57 pm

Pacafeliz wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:14 am
Such envy
I can't believe I have it. Super happy. I am looking forward to getting it into better shape so it can be a player again. :D



FYI another thing you can't unsee is how Fender f*cked up the modern Starcaster's pickguard. The vintage ones attach using the upper right ring screw placing the pickguard next to the pickup. Modern ones screw it to the body next to the pickup ring. I couldn't figure out why I though the guard on the newer ones looked funky, but now I know from figuring out how the vintage ones were done. It makes sense that it looks funky when it puts the pickguard over to the right like a 1/4" or so. The vintage one lines up with the side of the neck better.
Christopher
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Re: NGD 1978 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Wed Nov 23, 2022 1:02 pm

Also fyi and to help anyone else out there, the modern Large Archtop Brackets will work fine on these. The two holes don't match perfectly, but they are really close. What I will do is use a drill bit to slightly enlarge both holes on the metal bracket to allow the screws to go in more straight. When tightened, it will not look off and I won't have to worry about cocking up the stock holes.

Image2022-11-23_12-59-27 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
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Re: NGD 1978 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:32 am

Dropped it off with Spencer Lull at Mike Lull's in Bellevue. They are going to put in a new toggle and replace any pots that have gone bad. They will give me the originals in a baggy. I care more about it being reliable than trying to rebuild pots or a switch. :) Those have lasted a good 40+ years. New parts should be able to the same. :)
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Re: NGD 1978 Fender Starcaster

Post by 46346 » Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:25 am

wow - HNB i totally missed this thread but am delighting in it now. Congrats!
it's quite similar to mine, which after decades of trying to try one, i only just found this Summer.

you probably figured this out by now, but yours seems to be 1976 and not 1978. they started putting
the serial numbers on the headstock by 1977. mine is a '77.
simonhpieman wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:57 am

Do be careful with that selector switch. I haven't seen another guitar with the same one and they're expensive to replace. When you take it apart you'll see, it's basically in a plastic housing that'll crack if you switch with too much vigour (i.e. when strumming mid-song and trying to switch on a down stroke).
this happened to me back in Sept.! it's pretty tricky to replace, indeed. but i was able to do it myself for all of $15, and i found the exact original switch (which has a really nice feel)!
but if i had paid an hourly rate for the amount of time it took me to find the part and fit it right, it would have been expensive.

i wrote up a post on it to save people a lot of time - it's on my Starcaster thread from earlier this year:
Chris - if your tech isn't real familiar with a vintage 'Star', you might want to point him here to make life easier. it's trickier than other hollow bodies, and i was tempted ditch the shielding can in order to make it fit. but the can does a great job of keeping the guitar noise-free, so i'm glad i did it the original way:

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=123176&start=45
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Re: NGD 1978 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Tue Dec 13, 2022 8:10 am

Good info! Thanks so much. :D
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Tue Dec 27, 2022 5:06 pm

Back from Mike Lull's place. :) It sounds great! They were able to just clean out the pots. The toggle needed to be replaced. :) I wiped it down with Dunlop guitar cleaner, installed the new Graphtech saddles, and got new strings on. It is ready for another 40 something years now! (The binding is so yellow! LOL)

Image20221227_165338 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165351 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165347 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165354 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165400 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165415 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165427 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20221227_165433 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:14 pm

Repaired electronics demo. :)

https://youtu.be/xW1Kvv2egIQ
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by Mechanical Birds » Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:25 am

Oh my god it looks great!

Hey I just noticed today that the info book was on my dresser - guess I forgot about it. I’ll drop it in the mail for you sometime in the next couple days

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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:20 pm

Mechanical Birds wrote:
Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:25 am
Oh my god it looks great!

Hey I just noticed today that the info book was on my dresser - guess I forgot about it. I’ll drop it in the mail for you sometime in the next couple days
Thanks! I have some pickguards coming in to try on it. :)

It cleaned up great!
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:22 pm

Oh I cleaned the case and insides also. :D
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by Mechanical Birds » Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:40 pm

Did you get the stink gone? I tried really hard - spent like 60 days in the Sun, countless silica packs, baking soda, it tamed it but only a bit

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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:58 pm

Mechanical Birds wrote:
Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:40 pm
Did you get the stink gone? I tried really hard - spent like 60 days in the Sun, countless silica packs, baking soda, it tamed it but only a bit
The case smells fine. The guitar has the smell. LOL I think it is inside so the best we can do is let it air out. :) Not a huge deal. My dad and step mom smoked when I was in school. Familiar smell.
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:23 pm

Paul from Lavaguards totally hooked me up. He pm'ed me letting me know he has a vintage Starcaster and could make a pickguard and bracket for me based off of his. Here is what came in.

Image20230101_140021 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20230101_140031 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20230101_140027 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Here is it installed. Fit great!!! Super pumped to have a pickguard for this now. :D

Image20230101_140420 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20230101_140424 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Image20230101_140642 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr
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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by gishuk » Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:35 pm

I might have to get in contact and see if he can make one for mine then, never seen a real vintage one show up for sale and that looks spot on

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Re: NGD 1976 Fender Starcaster Pics Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Sun Jan 01, 2023 3:47 pm

He uses his stock one as a template. I love it. :)
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