By describing it as such we're referring to a significant change which took place beginning in the 1968 model year. Prior to this change, the Starfire IV was nearly identical through the '67 production year, the only exception being that P-90 pickups were replaced with Guild humbuckers before the '64 model year began.

But the major change we're referring to with the '68 model year was the moving of the neckjoint from the 16th to the 18th fret. Even though the Starfire IV was a double cutaway, there were concerns that there was enough access to the upper frets. Thus, 1967 Starfire IV was the last to have the joint at the 16th fret.

Other than that, the Starfire IV didn't change all that much until the 1970s. The guitar's center-block construction mimicked the Gibson ES series with a solid block of wood running from the neck to tail. Incidentally, the Starfire IV was the first in the line to use the center block. It also featured a laminated body of maple or mahogany and a three-piece mahogany/maple neck with rosewood fretboard. In 1967 there were about 100 made with a one-piece mahogany neck.

What professional and amateur musicians like most about Guild Starfire IV is its easy playability. Normally, sound tone is compromised in order to gain playability, but in the case of the Starfire IV, you get both. Perhaps that's why so many musicians still prefer it over Gibson or Gretsch.