Bluesbird prices rising

[drunkenguitarist]

That quilted top sets the record for highest price ever for the BIN option. Where is this all leading to? God, I can only hope that I'll be able to score one before the prices get too outrageously high.

 

[california]

That quilted top sets the record for highest price ever for the BIN option. Where is this all leading to? God, I can only hope that I'll be able to score one before the prices get too outrageously high.

Also one of the quickest BIN sales, it just appeared on my watch list and already its gone.

One interesting thing that is very un-Guild, the Coronas are also commanding great prices. Obviously a tribute to the fact that Fender knows how to build a great electric guitar, and their catolog has nothing like a Bluesbird.

 

[guildzilla]

I smirked at the price when I first saw the listing for that one. Then I looked at it more closely and noted all the birds-eye figure in the top. So not really a surprise to me. Very deserving of the new record high price.

As some of you have also noted, the blondes are not my personal favorites, but that has to do with light brown finish color of the back, sides and neck. Not a bad color, but not my taste.

I really, really like the red stained mahogany back, sides and neck on the sunburst and transparent red Bluesbirds.

Yo, Coastie, the black beauty you refer to is my listing. The Mary Poppins metaphor may sound like over the top hype to some, but it is in wonderful shape and has the best-executed black finish I've ever seen on any guitar.

And, Coastie, I can't think of any kids who need a nanny as bad as you and your panther.

 

[FNG]

You would think someone from Fender would be watching this rise in prices, and motivate them to make some really great new Bluesbirds. 8)

 

[guildzilla]

One would think so, but the Fender culture may be too busy persecuting heretics and too distracted to notice. Making Bluesbirds again would also imply rectifying mistakes - ineffective marketing and the decision to halt production - which are corporate no-no's.

Those cynical (and probably unfair) shots out of the way....

I wonder, too, FNG. Intuitively, it would be foolish not to be paying attention, and I know these are not stupid people. Maybe the custom shop will build a few more to test the market again. I have a 2007 Fender desk calender that features pictures of custom shop guitars, and one of the guitars featured is a Guild Bluesbird.

Watching this trend, I'm also noticing/guessing that an increasing number of these Bluesbirds are selling to people outside the Guild Choir, players with low numbers of e-Bay transactions who are buying their first Guild guitar. The guy I sold my Blues 90 to a few months back had LPplayer as his e-Bay handle (he loves the Blues 90).

 

[Swearengen]

guildzilla, I agree. Tobacco Burst AAA looks the best. The black ones too are nice because the black they used in Westerly is kind of smokey, not the usual jet black. And those black one REALLY show off the carved top contours.

 

[california]

I've never seen a natural top "in the flesh", but in photo's they don't appeal to me at all. There are guys here who are great fans, though.

I thought I was all about natural tops until I got my goldtop, it has kept me happy enough to keep me from pulling the trigger on some of those maple beauties that have been showing up lately (not that I haven't kept a couple in my sights, and wow, that black beauty!).

 

[coastie99]

And, Coastie, I can't think of any kids who need a nanny as bad as you and your panther.

'Zill,

We already have one...........

This is Millie.

 

[guildzilla]

Well, fine, but she isn't doing a proper job of behavior modification. Maybe you need to feed her better grass.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

The panther already smoked up all of the better grass.

Coastie, don't let an Australian get your goat.

 

[coastie99]

Coastie, don't let an Australian get your goat.

Pretty horrendous thought.

Imagine how ugly the kids would be !!

 

[NeoFauve]

I've never seen a natural top "in the flesh", but in photo's they don't appeal to me at all. There are guys here who are great fans, though.
I could live with a nice Maple natural finish on a hollowbody, though.

When I bought this I really wanted a Green Blues 90.
http://images.lilypix.com/displayimage. ... 2039&pos=1
But that was before I'd crossed over to the dark side of online guitar buying. I couldn't find one in the flesh. So I "settled" for this.

It looks "natural" to me, though Guild called it Amber.

There are a few more shots in the gallery. The indoor shots show the color pretty accurately. The outdoor shot is pretty, but the contrast is exagerated.

 

[california]

With the rise in prices, I've "settled" for my goldtop. Actually, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

 

[guildzilla]

Actually, prices have come back down rather substantially from the mid-April peak. Must have been that awful cold weather spell, coupled with GAS and extreme cabin fever, not to mention an impressive flock of Bluesbirds that generated the price surge.

I haven't done the math this time, but it appears to me that the average Bluesbird price on e-Bay, May 1 to now is no higher than $1,050. A significant dip from $1,320 a month earlier.

 

[california]

Actually, prices have come back down rather substantially from the mid-April peak. Must have been that awful cold weather spell, coupled with GAS and extreme cabin fever, not to mention an impressive flock of Bluesbirds that generated the price surge.

I haven't done the math this time, but it appears to me that the average Bluesbird price on e-Bay, May 1 to now is no higher than $1,050. A significant dip from $1,320 a month earlier.

You're probably right -- my watch list now has a new Bluesbird showing up practically every day. There are probably more than a few sellers disappointed that they're not getting $1300-$1500 for the guitars that they paid $700 for last year.