Liberator

Anybody know anything about the liberators? Are they any good? How many were made? The '07 Vintage Guitar Price Gouge says they go for about $900 to $1,100, so I'm thinking they might be good. On the other hand, the Bryan May model goes for thousands, but I'd rather have a beer-cooler tricycle made from a toilet.

The Liberator Elite goes for some high bucks, but even they can have trouble breaking a grand. Most Liberators I see go for about $4-500............

I had a regular run of the mill Liberator.

I didn't like the skinny flat 24 fret set neck. Mueller vibrato with rollers also was not so hot. It was better with StringSavers.

In between settings were off with the 24 fret neck.

Nice quality build, though.

I stumbled on this 1987 price list the other day. It shows the list prices and factory options for all Guilds, including the Liberator and Detonator in first year of issue for both models. So not a bad place to start, Daryl.

http://keyword.netscape.com/ns/boomfram ... 87price%2F

I picked up an excellent condition Detonator on e-Bay about six weeks ago for only $326 winning bid. Another one sold this past week on a $475 BIN, but I think mine is sexier with a Floyd Rose trem bridge and EMG active pickups. Very happy with it.

I've only seen one Liberator for sale in the last 5-6 months and I can't remember where or how much.

Holy cow. That is the longest, most obnoxious url line I've seen so far.

I picked up my Detonator as a left over at a spring blow-out sale for $199 with a case![img:966:1288]http://guildsofgrot.com/images/full_size/Guitars/1987bDetonator.JPG[/img]


















The one think I don't like about it is the huge diference in volume between the single coil and humbucker pick-ups. When you switch for the singles to the 'bucker the guitar almost doubles in volume.

I bought my Liberator Elite from Jay Pilzer of New Hope Guitar Traders, http://www.guildguy.com/ at a Philadelphia Guitar Show. I think he was nice enough to let me have it for under a grand. (I'm sure the receipt is in the case pocket, I'll check it when I get home.)
[img:520:727]http://guildsofgrot.com/images/full_size/Guitars/1988bLiberater-Elite.jpg[/img]

















I don't recall if it has the same volume quirk.

I also got a Liberator Elite from Jay. Sure can get a lot of different tones out of that one. For the unfamiliar:

Each of the three active Bartolini pickups has a switch to turn it off or one of two polarity positions. You can also split the coils on the humbucker (I think). So any one or two or three pickups can be on and in or out of phase with anyof the others. The Feb 2004 VOl 18 #04 issue of Vintage Guitar has an article on the guitar.

I found this tonight. Good reading on this subject.

http://keyword.netscape.com/ns/boomfram ... ID%253D207

Aces, folks. I'm convinced. I'm now looking for a liberator.