NGD: Nightbird

[GAD]

Check out the comparison to the 2010 Les Paul R9 I had in Scotch Burst.

I think the Nightbird is a MUCH nicer guitar and it cost me roughly half what the Les Paul did.

 

[walrus]

How about a picture of the headstock and the "offending" pegs?

walrus

 

[Quantum Strummer]

Yep, this one is a looker. :saturn: Congrats!

-Dave-

 

[GAD]

How about a picture of the headstock and the "offending" pegs?

walrus

Here's what's on there now. Tiny little buttons with 100% of the gold finish worn off.

Here's what my other Nightbird has. I love these, but there's no way to convert without leaving visible holes:

I think that for such a pretty guitar, the pegs look small and cheap, though I don't think they are. I don't know if the tuners are actually Kluson tuners or vintage Grover wafflebacks, but the pegs don't seem to be easily removable, so if I want to change the look I have to change the tuners, and since I'd prefer not to fill/redrill holes, I'd likely replace them with Klusons, which means it will probably end up looking like a Les Paul, which is sort of icky.

I do kind of like these which are very Les Paulish:

But I really REALLY don't like these (because they look like they came from a cheap Les Paul):

 

[walrus]

Ah, thanks, I was wondering what the "issue" was. I agree the second photo knobs look better!

walrus

 

[chazmo]

GAD, that's a toughie, but I too would be inclined to replace those tuners if you love everything else and want to make it a permanent part of your collection.

If you like the gold Schallers, then go that way. Holes can be patched and lacquered over so there's barely any noticeable work done. Frankly, I'd rather have that than stare at tuners that clash with all the rest of the beauty.

Just me talkin'!

 

[kakerlak]

I think those were Gotoh waffle-backs that Guild was using for a little while there in the late '80s. Those Kluson waffle-backs you can buy have press-in bushings, so you'd need to get some conversion bushings to accommodate the larger holes in your headstock (and I'd expect some visible indentation to remain visible from the larger washers on the Gotohs)

What's up with the bridge angle -- is it really that much taller on the treble strings than the bass side? Seems backwards. I like the color on your new guitar better than the R9 -- the mahogany side of it is much prettier than the red that winds up on most of the Gibson reissues.

 

[txbumper57]

Take all that "kind of red" stuff back. Holy crap is this thing ever beautiful in the sun. This one's just for you TX!

That is what i am talking about! You should have to be 18 years of age to view that photo! LOL! Absolutely Beautiful GAD!

TX

 

[GAD]

GAD, that's a toughie, but I too would be inclined to replace those tuners if you love everything else and want to make it a permanent part of your collection.

If you like the gold Schallers, then go that way. Holes can be patched and lacquered over so there's barely any noticeable work done. Frankly, I'd rather have that than stare at tuners that clash with all the rest of the beauty.

Just me talkin'!

I think you're right based on stuff I've seen around the web.

I bought a set on ebay for a good price, so if there is that much of a difference, then I'll take it from there. Fill and lacquer is not something I'd feel comfortable learning on a guitar like this, so I'd need to send it out, and I'm not so sure it's worth it.

Since it's purely a cosmetic thing, I may just learn to get over it. I'm not very good at that, though. :suspicion:

 

[AcornHouse]

I think those were Gotoh waffle-backs that Guild was using for a little while there in the late '80s. Those Kluson waffle-backs you can buy have press-in bushings, so you'd need to get some conversion bushings to accommodate the larger holes in your headstock (and I'd expect some visible indentation to remain visible from the larger washers on the Gotohs)

If the bushings are already in, there's no reason to change them if the posts are the same thickness (usually 1/4").

 

[kakerlak]

If the bushings are already in, there's no reason to change them if the posts are the same thickness (usually 1/4").

That's true in a general sense, however, those Gotoh waffle-backs have screw-down bushings and the Kluson reissue ones have press-fit ones (of a smaller diameter), so he'd need to also buy some conversion bushings. Conversion bushings work pretty well, but they won't hide whatever impressions the old washers have left in the face of the headstock.

[EDIT] that having been said, I'd greatly prefer a 100% reversible mod to drilling a 3rd hole in the back of the headstock at each tuner location and I think whatever impressions of the old washers are still visible would look better than the footprint of the old tuners, plus two visible screw holes, even if filled. Personally, I think the stock tuners are way cool and would leave the whole thing alone.

 

[jp]

What a beauty, GAD. I'm getting Nightbird fever!

The tuners have a cool adjustment capability where you can tighten them with a little allen wrench. Actually, it's not the mechanics of the tuners I dislike, it's the pegs.

I used to own an 80s Ibanez Studio that had tuners with this capability, except without the need for a tool. I know some Sperzels and Gotohs have this too. It's a very handy feature.

I do have to comment, though, that the pickup selector switch seems oddly located to me. Maybe it's just me. :suspicion:

 

[NEONMOONY]

In a slight veer, can anyone elaborate on the different versions/generations of Nightbirds? Is there a thread somewhere? I've been intetested in them but don't really have a grip on the versions.

 

[GAD]

In a slight veer, can anyone elaborate on the different versions/generations of Nightbirds? Is there a thread somewhere? I've been intetested in them but don't really have a grip on the versions.

I think only Hans knows for sure.

The only ones I seem to come across are "Nightbirds" and "Nightbird GGs". I know there are also, Is, IIs, Deluxes, Standards, Customs, etc. and the names vary by year. Click on "Spec Sheet" under the pic: http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/nightbird.html for a sampling.

 

[GAD]

Here's one you don't see every day:

 

[GAD]

What a beauty, GAD. I'm getting Nightbird fever!

I used to own an 80s Ibanez Studio that had tuners with this capability, except without the need for a tool. I know some Sperzels and Gotohs have this too. It's a very handy feature.

I do have to comment, though, that the pickup selector switch seems oddly located to me. Maybe it's just me. :suspicion:

The pickup selector switch is kind of odd, and it seems to be aligned with the knobs such that it always looks off.

 

[hansmoust]

Here's one you don't see every day:

..... and I can only hope this is the only Nightbird that was modified like that!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[GAD]

..... and I can only hope this is the only Nightbird that was modified like that!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Aw, c'mon. Can't you see this guy rockin' a 3-pickup spruce-top Nightbird?

 

[chazmo]

..... and I can only hope this is the only Nightbird that was modified like that!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Dude... Frampton?

 

[GAD]

That's true in a general sense, however, those Gotoh waffle-backs have screw-down bushings and the Kluson reissue ones have press-fit ones (of a smaller diameter), so he'd need to also buy some conversion bushings. Conversion bushings work pretty well, but they won't hide whatever impressions the old washers have left in the face of the headstock.

[EDIT] that having been said, I'd greatly prefer a 100% reversible mod to drilling a 3rd hole in the back of the headstock at each tuner location and I think whatever impressions of the old washers are still visible would look better than the footprint of the old tuners, plus two visible screw holes, even if filled. Personally, I think the stock tuners are way cool and would leave the whole thing alone.

This has proven to be spot-on. The new Klusons do indeed have push-in bushings, and in order to install them I'd need to ream the holes which is not something I'm willing to do for tuners that look like the came from a Les Paul. If they were Schallers, then maybe. :dread:

I like the way the tuner machines look. Very retro and cool, but I really dislike the tuner pegs, especially with the gold all worn off the way it is.

At this point, unless Hans has got some NOS gold Gotoh waffle-backs squirreled away, I'll likely just leave them be. Especially since I imagine NOS Gotoh waffle-backs to be quite rare and roughly the price of a new Toyota. :rapture: