Guild Bluesbird m75 conundrum...

[sugabear2133]

Hey friends,

Im in sort of a pickle with a few old bluesbird M75s...

First off, what do you guys think of the bird on ebay right now? Besides the fact that the seller is who it is...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Guild-M75-Bluesbird ... 720wt_1141

I currently own a 69 Bluesbird that is completely hollow. It is a really sweet guitar, however, I have been wondering if a solid body may be better for me. I tend to play big stages and feedback is a definite issue with the bluesbird I have now, even with a gate pedal(sustain killer)...So much so, that half of the gigs i play, I have to leave it at home because I know it wont be able to work in the rock band loud amp setting. This breaks my heart. So I am contemplating whether the solid body would not be something I should consider as the feedback problem would definitely not be as big of deal.

The 69 I have, has lots of mojo, but the mojo does no good staying at home...

So I may have to sell the 69 and grab something like the solidbody on ebay...thoughts?

 

[kakerlak]

Well, first of all, I think your general line of thought is sound. If you like the general look/feel of the guitar, you should like the solid version of the same guitar and it ought to feed back much, much less.

As for particular instruments, I'd pass on your eBay example. For $1,300, I'd want an extremely clean example. The chewed up spots between the pickups would really bother me on this one and it's also got a changed bridge and tuners.

If it were me, since you clearly enjoy your hollow version, I'd be tempted to keep it for recoring and grab a solid one for gigging, but I realize that might not be economically feasible.

 

[sugabear2133]

Greetings from Oklahoma City Kakerlak! Its nice finding someone else from this musical instrument black hole that is into Guilds

I have been considering getting one and keeping both for a bit and seeing which one is better to keep in the long run. The 69 I have is far from orginal, but yes, the dings in the wood and price do seem a bit steep in the ebay bird.

Thanks for the input, it is much appreciated.

 

[fronobulax]

FWIW - I've been told, although I don't have any personal experience, that the hollow and solid M-85 basses are not the same beast. I'm sure much of that comes from the fact that the most common hollow models use the Hagstrom PUs while the most common solids use the Guild humbuckers but the weight and balance are also different. You make a pretty good case for needing to try a solid body M-75 but I hope you don't have to sell the old one until you have lived with the new one for a while. Good luck.

 

[kakerlak]

Greetings from Oklahoma City Kakerlak! Its nice finding someone else from this musical instrument black hole that is into Guilds

I have been considering getting one and keeping both for a bit and seeing which one is better to keep in the long run. The 69 I have is far from orginal, but yes, the dings in the wood and price do seem a bit steep in the ebay bird.

Thanks for the input, it is much appreciated.

Back at you from Norman! I remember your '69 (I think) if it's the one I remember, it's a suburst version with Gibson humbuckers, Gibson/Kluson tuners, a tune o' matic bridge and a modified Les Paul pickguard. I remember thinking that, if those were all real '60s Gibson parts, you could sell them on eBay and probably replace with Guild versions and come out with some extra bucks.

(60s Gibson bumbuckers seem to be selling for $350-400 a piece, ABR-1 tune-o-matic bridges are listed antywhere from $75-$200+, 60s Klusons, if they're single-ring buttons will probably fetch a lot of money if in working order, since they'd be suitable replacements for old LesPauls, SGs, 335s, etc., double ring, late 60s ones will probably still fetch triple the price of new reproductions.)

If that was my guitar, I'd try to find a set of the larger Guild HB-1 humbuckers, since it's gotta already be routed out for the Gibson full size ones, then find new reproduction Klusons, ditto the tuneomatic, and put the Gibson tuners, pickups and bridge on eBay. You'll probably have to enlarge the pickup routes a hair to get the larger Guild ones to fit (they'e a bit wider than Gibson humbuckers), but if it's already been routed out from factory spec, then it doesn't hurt the value to route it a tiny bit more.

All that aside, I think the solid version will sound quite a bit different than the hollow one, but the look and feel should be pretty similar. I would guess that $800-900 should be able to score you one like the eBay example and $1100-1300 should score a really clean/original one.

 

[sugabear2133]

You are correct! It is the one that was tricked out with old Gibson stuff. I did sell the humbuckers as they were out of phase with one another all the time, no matter how the wiring was.

That is definitely something I have considered as far as taking the Gibson stuff off, but finding the time has been another story

 

[kakerlak]

You are correct! It is the one that was tricked out with old Gibson stuff. I did sell the humbuckers as they were out of phase with one another all the time, no matter how the wiring was.

That is definitely something I have considered as far as taking the Gibson stuff off, but finding the time has been another story

Yeah, I know all about how free time and projects cooperate w/ eachother :?

 

[matsickma]

If your '69 Bluesbird has the mini humbuckers on it then I recommend you get them wax potted. That will help high end squeal. Many of the mini HB have this problem. I am told that Guild HB-1 are known for this problem yet I never had the problem.

If that doesn't work for you I recommend getting a modern Bluesbird. They have SD humbuckers. To get more of a mini humbucker sound you may need to pull the stock pups and add a pair of humbucker sized P90's.

M

 

[sugabear2133]

No mini humbuckers here. I actually have Duncan Phat Cats in it(p90s). The feedback is the hollow guitar resonating, not the glorious musical humbucker feedback.

 

[matsickma]

OK then. Get a 1990's-2003 Bluesbird. The chambered body will give you what you seek at any volume. It isn't as soulfull as an "acoustic" but does a nice job.

Another option for you may be to get a X-170. Less prone to feedback that a '60's Bluesbird or a Starfire 2 or 3 for that matter and adds some acoustic body to the tone. However for very loud volumes you will need the chambered body of the 1990's-2003 Bluesbird.

M

 

[sugabear2133]

Thanks so much for the input! It is much appreciated!

Off to research...

 

[guildman63]

OK then. Get a 1990's-2003 Bluesbird. The chambered body will give you what you seek at any volume. It isn't as soulfull as an "acoustic" but does a nice job.

Another option for you may be to get a X-170. Less prone to feedback that a '60's Bluesbird or a Starfire 2 or 3 for that matter and adds some acoustic body to the tone. However for very loud volumes you will need the chambered body of the 1990's-2003 Bluesbird.

M

Agreed on both of these options. I have a 2003 Bluesbird that sounds great at any volume and without the feedback issues. While I have never heard or played a vintage bird my '03 is pretty sweet. I also have two (selling one) X-170's that are fantastic guitars. They are extremely versatile and do give nice acoustic body to the tone for sure. It will feed back at higher volumes, but the feedback is much easier to control and effectively use than it is with a SF-II or III. A few Youtube links to check out on the X-170 are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgIQ_0Mz36k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=124fRI4YiJI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHFmRasLUxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDuuWzS5ow

and for the Bluesbird check out these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUsK2-IeSMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOTRuv1N ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7EP7-QXjNU

Good luck with your search!

 

[sugabear2133]

While I agree the new bluesbirds look sweet,and Im sure they sound even sweeter, Im just not sure about the neck on them. I owned a Blues 90 for a bit and did not enjoy the neck at all. I know the regular bluesbird necks are not as thick as those, but the m75 neck, just feels right.

I think it's about time to crack down and find a solid body m75...

 

[bluesypicky]

Thanks for the links Guildman!
Man, who is this guy on the bluesbird?! :shock: :lol:

Sugarbear: I'm not familiar (yet) with the blues 90, but I can confirm to you that the Bluesbird neck is kinda "full". Not big, but full... ya know, kinda like the difference between a fat woman and a big boned one? :lol:
Seriously, I have medium sized hands and it a perfect fit to me, yet if you go to the inevitable comparison with the Les Paul, the fingerboard is the the same size, but the "C" profile is definitely deeper on the Bird.
One more "good luck" heading your way!.... :wink:

 

[guildman63]

Thanks for the links Guildman!
Man, who is this guy on the bluesbird?! :shock: :lol:

That guy on the bird can play!

 

[matsickma]

That being said I would have to chime in the guy on the X170 is sureal.

M

 

[sugabear2133]

Finally snagged a very nice 74 solidbody bird and it works so much better for my live applications. I hated to see the 69 go, but it went to a great home in Westerly, RI of all places.

Thanks for the input guys.