Guild AAA Bluesbird

this here guitar is a '73 AAA Bluesbird. it is the best guitar that i have ever played, and i even have the serial number tattooed on my ankle. i bought it from a knuckleheaded guitar store that thought it an imitation les paul for 500 bucks.the two humbuckers (groundbreaking, i know) sound warm as hell, but the sweet option here is a tiny mid lift switch among the volume and tone nobs. this little switch works kind of like the middle pick-up on the "sg-esque" les paul custom double cutaway. the inside of the chambered all-maple body has been lined with copper foil to insulate. glued on neck. beautiful burst.
one time my band shot a video and they through a bucket of fake blood on my guitar and myself. that night we had a big show, and the guitar sounded like it was under a huge pile of laundry. i had to have the pick-ups delicately cleaned out.....so dont ever do that.

guitars dont really sound like this anymore. in my opinion, guild has sucked since day one that fender bought it. its always warm, especially on a small amp. these are not high output pick-ups, so pinch harmonics dont always sustain that long... but what do i care, really, im older than 14. i did however start using an overtight e-string in place of the "a". this made a huge difference in the warm low-end.

this git-fiddle has been to hell and back, but it still looks wicked pisser! the nicks, scratches, and belt buckle mar add to the personality. i was going to get this thing re-clearcoated a couple years ago, but it would be like giving a facelift to sophia loren...still unnecessary after all these years.

i break alot of strings. other than that everything is still original and 30= years old.

its a fender company now.

ive used her for every show(except when i had blood filled pick-ups) and every recording i have made since i first bought it. its great for slide, too. ive combo-ed this thing with every amp from marshalls to a red bear to ampegs to mesas, and the best sounds ive got were from a tech 21 trademark 300 and a crappy crate tube GL50. its a blues guitar so any little amp sounds great, especially for recording. oh, yeah...and old men lose their mind when they see you with one...playing hardcore or punk.

2002 I believe it's Fender made, no problems there. Arch top, like a Les Paul but an inch wider. Chambered semi-hollow body, which makes it lighter than a Les Paul. Flame maple top, with tobacco finish, absolutely beautiful!! 2 SH-1 Seymour Duncan pickups, I'm usually not a SD fan, but these PU's sound great in this guitar. Neck is a little wider than I'm used to, but you get used to it, and it's very east to play. My only complaint about the guitar is that it is harder to reach the upper frets on the higher strings because of the way the neck joins the body, but there again, I can over look that because of the TONE. Tuners are fine, guitar stays in tune.

This is where this guitar really shines, it is a TONE MACHINE!! I play it through my Fender Bassbreaker on the neck pickup and it has the best bluesy type tone you can get, and when you switch to the bridge PU you get that Les Paul bite, and singing sustain. This guitar has a lot of sustain, probably because of the hollow design.

I had to set it up for 10's and lower the action a little, but you have to do that with any guitar you buy to get it where you like it. The pickups have 3 screws for adjustment, which is really cool, because you can also adjust the tilt of the pickups to match the string angle, great idea. The top of this guitar seems to be matched fine, I don't know what a perfectly matched top is supposed to look like. I know it is one of the prettiest guitars I have ever seen. Quality of the guitar seems top notch. Frets are fine, not too high like a Gibson.

I'm sure this guitar will stand up to any amount of play, and will probably sound better the more it is played over the years. The hardware finish is chrome, and will last as long as any other guitar. I would definately use it without a backup at a gig.

Don't know, probably never need any...

I have been playing for 15+ years, and the Bluesbird is one, if not THE best sounding guitars have ever owned or played. I love the looks, playability, and especially the TONE of this guitar. I own 5 other guitars, and they are all unique in their own way, and every guitar has it's own voice, but for the price, you will not find a better made or better sounding guitar for the money! Forget the overpriced Gibson!

2003 Guild Bluesbird AAA tobacco sunburst. Absolutely beautiful! Chambered mahogany body, which gives it it's awesome tone. Neck is a little wide, but easy to get used to. Body is wider than a Les paul but is still comfortable to play. SH-1 Seymour Duncan pickups, which I am impressed with, I normally don't care for Seymour Duncan PU's. Tuners are fine, guitar stays in tune...BUY IT!

I play mostly blues/rock and this guitar is awesome for that style of music.I use most of the time through a Fender custom shop Bassbreaker, which really brings out the guitars nuances. The tone of this guitar is what it's all about, nice rich,woody bottom end, with a Les Paul bite on top.....BUY IT!

I had to lower the action a little, other than that, it plays great! Pickups can be adjusted not only up and down, but you can also adjust the tilt to match the strings.
My only problem with the guitar is accessing the very upper frets, the way the neck joins the body, it's hard to reach up there.
The AAA top woodgrain is absolutely stunning, beautiful sunburst, no flaws...BUY IT!

This would be a perfect guitar to gig with, it should withstand alot, but it's so pretty, I don't want to play it hard, or scratch it up.
I would definately use it without a back up....BUY IT!

Haven't needed it, probably wont....BUY IT!

Been playing 10+ yrs. I have 2-Strats, a Reverend Slingshot Custom, Schecter C-1e/a, Gretsch New Jet(a lot like a bluesbird). I would not hesitate to buy another Bluesbird if I could afford it. The Bluesbird is an amazing sounding guitar, don't waste your $$ on a overpriced Gibson Les Paul....BUY IT!

i have a 1998 AAA bluesbird made in USA. It came from thee westerly rhode island factory before fender took them over and moved them to California. it has 24 frets. solid flame maple top (beautiful). it has two volume knobs, two tone knobs and a three way pickup selector.
H/H. two seymour duncan humbucker pickups. passive electronics.mahoghany back sides and neck flame maple top. flamed top finish. singlecut. tune-o-matic bridge. locking grover tuners. medium thickness neck. comes with case and attachable pickguard.

I play jazz, blues, rock, and punk rock. the bird works for everythiing. i use it with a fender pro reverb. it sounds great. it is only noisy on distortion with the neck pickup. it has every sound you ever want the body mis chambered out in four places so it can sound like a jazz box, or a hot les paul. i love everything about it.

the guiotar was setup perfect at the factory. when i got it i didnt have to change except for the strings. pickups were adjusted perfectly. poperly bookmatched and routed. th only flaw with the hardware was a loose tuning peg.

with live playing you may want to have a backup it feels kind of fragile. it seems like there is a lot of repairs to do on the hardware but nothing out of the ordinary. it is not the sturdiest hardware ever. t5he finish is great. both strap buttons are really sturdy. it is dependable. i would use it with a backup just in case but you should not have a problem.

i had a problem with an acoustic from guild it was still under warranty so they took it no questions asked straight to the custom shop fixed it asap and had it back to me within a week.it was great.

i have had for two years with out major problems. i would buy it again in a heart beat. i love everything about it. i compared it to a stratocaster. i would reccomend this guitar to anyone.

Used mint condition 1997 pre-Fender sunburst AAA Bluesbird. Sweet Duncan SH-1 pickups. The neck is a Louisville Slugger. Could stand to be smaller, but that's just my opinion.

It's got that Les Paul "wood tone" to it. I try to play a variety of styles.

Perfectly set up. Haven't had to touch it.

Haven't played it live yet. I'd feel safe playing it without a backup. Chrome hardware is still in excellent shape.

Haven't dealt with them.

Playing on and off for 23 years. If it was stolen, I'd put a contract out on that person's life. The Guild Bluesbird is probably the most underrated electric made. It is the biggest secret in the industry. If everybody knew how good these guitars were, the used ones would be terribly overpriced just like the Gibsons. If you see a used one, GRAB IT! You won't be disappointed.

Made in late 2001 by the Fender Custom Shop (has the CS logo on the back of the headstock). 22 frets, mahogany body with sound chambers and a AAA flame tobacco burst maple top. Bound body and neck. Absolutely stunning to look at. Only slightly larger than a Les Paul, as my LP fits in the Guild case with only a small amount of room to spare.

Has 2 humbuckers (SH-1's I believe) with volume and tone for each, just like a Les Paul. Tune-o-matic bridge, grover style tuners, and a chunky neck that feels great to me.

One thing I find disappointing is that it comes with a plastic nut. For the price, why not ship them with a bone nut????

Came with a hardcase, wrench, strap, picks, a short Fender cable, and a free set-up by the dealer. Got to give it a 10, even with the plastic nut. The only thing it didn't come with is instant talent for the player.

I play mostly blues and a little classic rock, and this fits the bill. I play it through either a Fender or Peavey tube amp, and it just doesn't get any better than this for what I play. Great clean and distorted sound, and the pickups provide good tonal variety.

Set up was pretty good, however, I noticed when I replaced the strings, the A string bound in the nut. Don't know if this was the case with the original strings. This will be fixed when I take it in for the free set-up.

I've heard some people complain that Guild guitars will go downhill now that Fender is making them. BALONEY! I've looked at a bunch of Guilds, including a side by side comparison between this one and a Guild manufactured Bluesbird, and there's no sacrifice in quality that I can see, or hear.

The top is bookmatched near perfect, and everything seems to be fine, except for the nut. I really looked this over before buying it, and quite frankly, I couldn't find a finish flaw anywhere. Since I have to take it in to get the nut fixed, I'll give it a 9.

I'm certain this would stand up to live playing. Finish and hardware appears to be durable.

As for gigging without a backup - if you can drop $1500 on one of these, you probably have something else you can drag along as a backup.

I haven't delt with Fender customer support. Never had a problem with my strat, my son's strat, or my amps. The dealer will stand behind the sale, so I anticipate no problems.

I currently own a Fender USA strat, Gibson LP Studio, and a Samick 335 knock off, in addition to the Bluesbird. I am so pleased with this guitar, I'm giving the LP to my son. He acquired a MIM strat and a couple amps that way too. The USA strat has always been my favorite - but the Bluesbird may take over the top spot.

If it were lost or stolen, I'd sell my other gear (except the strat) to buy another one if I had to. If I killed someone trying to steal this guitar, I'm sure the judge would deem it justifiable homicide.

There isn't a single thing about this guitar I don't like. Hard to believe, but it's true. It sounds great, it looks great, and my wife didn't go postal on me when I brought it home. I'd take this over a Les Paul, obviously since I'm giving mine away. Don't get me wrong - Gibson makes a fine guitar, and when I had to deal with their customer support, they were extremely helpful, but this Bluesbird is a whole lotta bang for the buck. I can't think of another solid body humbucking guitar I would prefer over this one, and I've looked at a bunch of 'em.

2002 Guild Bluesbird AAA made in USA. 22 frets, Large body similar to a Les Paul but, with sound chambers. Light weight with Mahogany and a solid Maple top. Other than that, standard Les Paul features. Read prior reviews for details.

I play in a Rock/Punk band but, I am a Blues enthusiast! This guitar sounds great with low gain and a nice tube amp. However, if you are shooting for heavier music, this may not be your ax. This sound is very middish (if that is a word). Somewhat nasal when played through a high gain amp (Mesa Triple Recto). I like the crisp and sustainful clean tones through my Class A 50 watt tube amp that I designed at home. This ax has its place.

The action was perfect from the factory and I have yet to touch the pickups. The top is beautiful and perfectly matched. These are the reasons why I purchased this guitar. Solid, nice feel and beautiful design.

I have had some problems with small details such as... the strap pegs suddenly popped out completely when playing a gig. Also, The bridge pickup seems to have some wiring flaws that I will have to get fixed. When I switch to the neck pickup and then switch back, the pick up will not function. I have to toggle the switch several times to get the bridge pickup to work. Pain in the ass but, easily fixed.

I have yet to deal with the customer support but, I am sure that it may be difficult after the Fender aquisition.

I have been playing for 15 years. I watched the quality of the Les Paul go down the tubes. This was a nice alturnative. Light weight, beautiful finish and American made. I love the guitar but, the small problems are quite frustrating. I will most likely switch out the pickups for my rock band's sound. However, the guitar has a great feel and sounds good with the right set up.

See other reviews for features. Simple design with high quality craftmanship. Has all I'd ever need. Also, Duncan SH-1's are primo.

This guitar is very versitle for an H/H guitar. I find that I can dial in many tone colors using the volume and tone controls.

Action is wonderful. I play .011-.048 gauge strings and this guitar is very easy to play with them.

Set neck is immaculate. Finish is quilted maple top with cherry sunburst. Looks just like the one on the Fender Frontline 2002 catalog!

Beautiful!

Seems pretty solid to me.

Haven't dealt with Fender.

I've been playing 30 years mostly Blues/Rock/Jazz style Christian music (I'm even starting to learn some Country now.) I also own a Carvin Vai Legacy 4x12, Peavey T-60, Gallien-Kruger 250ML.(See my reviews)

If stolen or lost, I would get another.

I love the look and feel. Very "Les Paul," without the weight and with more warmth to the tones.

Along with the Peavey T-60, this is one of the best values available in guitars today!

I just got a used 1997 Guild AAA Bluesbird Cherry Sunburst from Eddie's Guitars in St. Louis. It has the Seymore Duncan SH 1's, it's got the four volume, tone controls, the grovers, the block inlays, it's got the tone chambers and everything else mentioned by others here. It's simple to play and simple to understand. It is a classic looking electric guitar shape and very pretty finish.

It is as sweet as honey and as tough as you want to get. The tones are beautiful and the primary reason I bought it. If you want sustain you got it even at low volumes and clean. I have Boss GT-3 Guitar Processor and have observed how some guitars will sound better with different settings. The Bluesbird adapts to all the settings with ease.

Action was very good, intonation very good. The quilted maple top looks exquisite. Beautiful to look at, to hold and to play.

I've only had it a week, but so far so good. It appears to be well made. The guitar is in perfect shape for being four years old and I thank the previous owner for taking such good care of it. I hope I can be as successful.

I have not had dealings with Guild, but the store I bought it from is always very helpful and willing to work with you to make things right. I would defer to the experience of others who have contacted Guild in the past.

I've been playing for over 30 years. I have a '66 Strat, a '69 SG and a newer Epiphone Casino. This is the nicest electric I own. I have already asked myself why I didn't get one sooner, but there is a time and place for everything. I know Les Pauls set the standard for the solid body single cutaway, but if you are in the market for that kind of instrument then consider the Bluesbird. I don't think that you'll be disappointed. It is less expensive and I think a more attractive and better sounding instrument. Did I mention the sustain? I did? Well, I am mentioning it again, because it has so much susssssttttaaiinnnnn. Can't go wrong.

This is a (1999?) Guild Bluesbird AAA Flame Tobacco sunburst top handmade in USA. There are 4 controls, 2 for each seymour duncan pickup (volume and tone) and a 3 way switch. neck is mahogany fretboard is rosewood (i think). it is a les paul style with a tunomatic bridge and stop tailpiece. grover tuners. it came with a hard shell case with velvet inlay and locks .. very sweet setup, although i dont like the tuners.. cheap plastic, they look hokie

i play rock/grunge/metal/classic rock/blues and its pretty sweet for all. i run it through a marshall jcm2000 602. this thing can get loud. i record a lot, so the pickups have to be below 1 when i do. this guitar has a full les paul sound for about half the price. it never goes out of tune, its a BEAUTIFUL guitar.. my amp doesnt have much reverb, but the guitar makes up for that lack.

the action is a tad low, witha little fret buzz, but easily fixable. the pickups were perfect. the G string tuner is a bit loose, but nothing major.

i play for hours on end (and hard i might add) and it holds up beautifully. i polish it every day and it looks dreamy. i dont lock the strap (too afraid to drill a hole) and it has slipped off my buddy's shoulder, but he doesnt play guitar.. if you have ever played standing up, this wont be a problem. i would not need a backup for this..

n/a

ive been playing off and on since i was 14 (14 years ago) and this guitar is way better than anything ive ever played. i have a peavey raptor and an ibanez AE18 also, but the guild puts them to shame. i sometimes play with a boss overdrive and compression, but it doesnt need it. i chose this guitar because i wanted a handmade les paul type w/out paying 4 grand. i got a sweet deal.