Bluesbirds: Owners & Long Time Borrowers List

[dmort]

Deoxit F5 is what should be used on pots rather than D5. D5 is great for switches and such

Thank you, I'm sure I can find a YouTube video on how to correctly lubricate the pot.

 

[GAD]

You can try spraying something like Deoxit D5 to clean and lubricate the pot.

Thank you, I'll give it a try.

Deoxit F5 is what should be used on pots rather than D5. D5 is great for switches and such

This x1,000,000! Do NOT use D5 on pots! Only F5.

D5 will break down the grease in the pot and seize it up tight. F5 has lubricants in it that will make it run smooth.

 

[dmort]

I will buy both and use both appropriately! Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Guildocaster]

Thanks everyone for correcting me! Yes Deoxit F5 is the correct one to use. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[MyaByrne]

Got me a killer red flame Westerly Blues 90 at 30th St Guitars in NYC yesterday. It’s been there for nearly two years and I was flirting with it a long time, and finally took it home about a month ago to try it out and just can’t imagine my life without it! Went in with some cash and walked out happy. It has very little obvious wear except the pickup covers. Someone took extremely good care of it.

This is actually my first Guild electric. I have quite a few acoustics and a bass, but have never found a 6-string electric I loved (aside from an og Aristocrat I once played).

I’m not sure what the pickups are; obviously the covers have been changed. I have a feeling they are the originals simply because of the output and that it hum cancels in the middle position, but I’m not sure. The neck carve is nearly identical to my ‘99 F30r, so I’m honestly thinking it might have been carved by the same person?

Serial is CL001968. Not sure where that puts it in production years. Any info welcome. I’ll update on the pickup ID once I take it apart a little.

IIRC I came across a registry for Westerly Bluesbirds? @GGJaguar perhaps that was you?

 

[Hobbesickles]

CL001968 would be year 2000 build. I own CL001999 and the top on mine is very similar to yours! Congrats on the new guitar. I can't comment on the pickups but the originals would be Seymour Duncan P90s.

 

[mushroom]

I quite like the metal covers on this. Very nice.

 

[MyaByrne]

I quite like the metal covers on this. Very nice.

Thanks! I want to pop them off and see what’s underneath at some point!

Hey, anyone know if Guild ever made shiny metal knobs that might be appropriate for this guitar? I like the clear ones just fine but the labels are lifting a bit.

 

[starfire4]

i've wanted a Bluesbird for a long time and have pretty much given up on finding a vintage one. Saw a great deal on a black Newark street one and took the plunge...

it's funny because it's clearly not ideal for me- I don't really like the neck shape + size. The pickups aren't my favorite. And there's kind of a weird volume knob 'notch' where the volume jumps more than it should.

But i still really like it- it's fun to play and very in tune with itself (which goes a looong way for me) and i dig the chambering, which i think adds a nice quality to the sound and feel. And i do love how it looks. So I'm happy to have it to kick around and not worry about 'babying' it like i do with my awesome vintage starfire.

 

[Guilderland21]

In case someone's still keeping a spreadsheet, I now have a 1997 Bluesbird in transparent red, serial number CL000267. More details and pictures in the NGD thread.

 

[nickelwound]

In keeping the BBird thread going I’m going to add mine as well. Picked this one up a few months ago. Almost in unused condition for a great deal. Looks like a year 2000 guitar, s/n # CL 001906.

It sat at the repair shop for over a month for a neck binding repair/reglue. I replaced the bridge as it had been notched poorly and I felt it was better to replace.

It’s gorgeous and plays so easy. The neck is huge at almost 1.75”. I agree with GAD that it’s easily compares to my LP standard, if not better.

Anyone have a guess if this is a natural or amber top? I can’t figure this one out.

 

[mushroom]

CL001968 would be year 2000 build. I own CL001999 and the top on mine is very similar to yours! Congrats on the new guitar. I can't comment on the pickups but the originals would be Seymour Duncan P90s.

I’m in the middle of these with CL001989

 

[Guilderland21]

Anyone have a guess if this is a natural or amber top? I can’t figure this one out.

My guess would be natural, but I wouldn't be too surprised either way.

 

[ChrisMcG]

So it looks like the ‘70s Bluesbirds are the only ones w/ master volume and phase switch? Any idea why they didn’t adopt these with the later versions?

 

[GAD]

So it looks like the ‘70s Bluesbirds are the only ones w/ master volume and phase switch? Any idea why they didn’t adopt these with the later versions?

The answer is almost always to reduce cost.

 

[ChrisMcG]

That’s the answer to SOOO many similar questions!

 

[Prince of Darkness]

The phase switch carried on into the early 80's, with the option also being available to use the switch as a "coil tap" instead. In the late 80's, the Bluesbird had evolved into a very different guitar, with three single coil pickups, vibrato and cake slice headstock.

 

[ChrisMcG]

So here's my '75 M-75. Not as pretty and shiny as it's younger representatives here but likely a few more gigging and partying stories than most. The headstock pic shows it's iconic '70s cigarette burns with a matching one on the high E side as well.
I cannot get over how amazingly easy to play and versatile this guitar is! Warm jazz to all out '70s rock just from picking dynamics and volume/tone and pickup selections.
Still in LOVE

Oh, 1 question: The input jack doesn't keep connection. I'm used to the regular input jacks but this one looks more like a coax jack?! is there cleaning or adjusting that can be done? I now have Deoxit F5 & D5.... F5 was great on the pots btw.

 

[jp]

Oh, 1 question: The input jack doesn't keep connection. I'm used to the regular input jacks but this one looks more like a coax jack?! is there cleaning or adjusting that can be done? I now have Deoxit F5 & D5.... F5 was great on the pots btw.

Beautiful Bluesbird! Regarding your output jack question (and maybe this should be moved to the Tech forum?), was it a barrel jack that looks like this? Although I've never pulled the output jack from my M-75, I've seen one of these used on a Guild M-80 harness; it might be a Switchcraft mono barrel jack.



On the inside of the barrel, you should see the contacts that look like this.



You might want first try bending them inward a bit to make sure they're making contact with the plug and in the right places (tip, ring). Also try cleaning the contacts with Deoxit and a cotton swab to get clean off any corrosion preventing contact. Good luck!

Edit: Fixed nomenclature because brain is mushy.

 

[ChrisMcG]

Thanks, mine does look like that and the inside end looks coax, 2 wires coming from a closed white end. Hopefully I can get to the inside easily enough.
An aside— the pickup switch is also something I’ve never seen before either! It looks like 20’s/ 30s hi tech to me.