Couple of Nightbird Questions

[nmiller]

I just picked up an '85 Nightbird. It was at a local store, and as soon as I plugged it in I had to have it. The design is a great compromise between a hollow and solid body, and despite the blocks under the pickups & tailpiece it retains significantly more of a hollowbody character than, say, a Starfire IV or V.

I've read that Nightbirds with Kent Armstrong pickups came with coil splits, but mine does not. However, it appears to have all its original components and I see no signs of re-wiring. Is this less unusual than the old catalogs suggest, or is my guitar an oddball?

Speaking of unusual components - I can't find any pictures of another Nightbird with this particular bridge or these strap pins. The strap pins would be easy to replace without leaving a mark, but I think the bridge and studs go together. Any thoughts?

 

[GAD]

I think yours is an early one because of the fater inlays and the gg on the trussrod cover.

Hans knows best, but Nightbirds came in a fair number of different configurations. Of the four I've owned, two had those strap pins and two did not.

As for the bridge, it's not what I'd associate with a Nightbird, but one of mine has the same one as yours:

That same Nightbird has the same strap pegs:

Mine, however, does have the coil split and phase switch, as did the others I've owned, but that is by no means representative of them all.

Congrats on the score! They're fabulous guitars.

 

[GAD]

The green one I has had what I'd consider to be the accurate Nighrbird bridge:

It also had "normal" strap pegs:

 

[GAD]

Finally, the one I'm fondling this week has normal strap pegs:

And the Nightbird bridge and a coil split push/pull tone pot.

 

[nmiller]

Yup, it's a very low serial, from the first year of production. The bridge on mine isn't quite the same as GAD's; compare where the studs poke through the top. Definitely looks like the same strap pins, though.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

The strap pins are original. I believe Guild did not use them for long because they had a habit of breaking!

 

[Quantum Strummer]

An usual bridge/stud config: skinny ABR-1-ish bridge, fat studs. Are the studs that big all the way into the guitar's top?

Edit: make that "unusual config". Oops.

-Dave-

 

[nmiller]

Are the studs that big all the way into the guitar's top?

Actually, they get even bigger - 0.36" diameter according to my calipers.

 

[hansmoust]

I've read that Nightbirds with Kent Armstrong pickups came with coil splits, but mine does not. However, it appears to have all its original components and I see no signs of re-wiring. Is this less unusual than the old catalogs suggest, or is my guitar an oddball?

Speaking of unusual components - I can't find any pictures of another Nightbird with this particular bridge or these strap pins. The strap pins would be easy to replace without leaving a mark, but I think the bridge and studs go together. Any thoughts?

Looks all standard for that particular period. Since you stated that the guitar is from 1985 I assume, by looking at the specs, that your guitar is really close to the #BL1001xx-range. Is that correct?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Ron Thorn]

Here's #162....same buttons and bridge.

 

[GAD]

Here's #162....same buttons and bridge.

Ooh - purdy!

 

[Ron Thorn]

Thanks. A little too "clown-burst" for me...I don't think I have it any longer.

 

[GAD]

Thanks. A little too "clown-burst" for me...I don't think I have it any longer.

Yeah, I can see that. I'd have wanted a smoother transition from color to color, but that top is fantastic! It looks like roiling water. I generally describe this one as "Lava Burst", due to the cool wood pattern. I get yelled at when I post it too much, though. Maybe I should call it "Envy Burst".

 

[Ron Thorn]

That is a beauty!

 

[walrus]

"Envy Burst" - I like it!

walrus

 

[JohnW63]

Budget Burst might well be accurate.

 

[Stephen]

My last but not least Nightbird was a very tastefully toned down clownburst.

 

[walrus]

Oh yeah, beautiful grain on that top! That's really more of a flamed top, but those "streaks" add a cool effect to it.

walrus

 

[GAD]

Clownburst is a term used on Les Pauls for a bad sunburst where the outside almost looks like it was painted with lipstick without the smooth transition of a good sunburst.

Here's a couple of Clownbursts:

 

[Stephen]

I don't know what percentage of the early production Nightbirds were finished in black, but despite the preponderance of "Gretch Orange-burst" finish NBs (which dominated the post-Gruhn issues), the "night" in Nightbirds suggests that black was the color that suited it best. Naturally others will disagree. :tongue:

The "Gretch Orange-burst" has me reaching for the Pepto. :sour: