Guild Bluesbird AAA

I Traded my U.S Strat even for mt Bluesbird, & I have never regretted it for a second. It's a mahogany chambered body, and mahogany neck, figured maple top, seymore duncan SH-1 pick ups, grover tuners, just an all around work of musical art. The one and only complaint I have, is that the strap peg on the bottom of the guitar is a spike, and does not allow the use of a strap lock, you could fill the hole, and then drill to do this, but I wouldn't have the heart to put a drill anywhere near this guitar.

I play a mix of blues, and heavier classic rock, and this guitar suites every style. Big thick sound on the neck, sweet smooth in the middle, and the bottom pick up could slice butter. There's a lot you can do with combining the pick ups as well. You can go from S.R.V. to Yngvie on this baby.

When I first saw this guitar, I was skeptical, I thought it would just be like a Les Paul, (not my fav guitar), but after playing it in the store for only a few short minutes, I had to have it. The action is beautifully set, from the top, to the bottom, it almost plays itself. There was a very small ding on the back of the neck, but barely noticeable to the touch.

I play live at least once a month, if not more, and I have gigged one more than one occasion with no back up guitar, and never been worried. You can hammer on this puppy all night, and she will only ask for more. It stays in tune, adapts to different temperatures well, the finish looks as beautiful as the day I got it, and the pick ups have never let me down, ever!

I never have had to have anything done as far as repairs, or adjustments, so I can't comment on costumer support, but with such a well made guitar, I can't imagine their phones ringing to often.

I have played since I was 13 years old, I have probably owned over 70 guitars in my life, some great, and some absolute garbage. I've went from, Gibson, to Fender, to Lado, to Ibanez, to B.C.Rich, & I have played beauty's in all those brands, but none compare to the Bluesbird for me. The only comparison I could give you would be to say, imagine the nicest Les Paul you've ever played, now ad 5 times the sound, and playability, and remove about 30 pounds in weight. I would definetly purchase another one of these guitars if I came across one, but I have seen very few in my travels, and have met very few people who recognize this guitar. If you ever have a chance to purchase one of these guitars, don't think twice, do it, you will never regret it.

I got this beautiful baby on ebay for 1100 bucks NOS from a dealer in Cal. Natural AAA quilted top,duncan pickups, like a les paul but one inch wider and 3 pounds lighter due to the chambered mahogany body. 2 vol, 2tone controls,3 way p-u switch. Looks like one piece mahogony back, best I've ever seen.Grovers.What else? I changed the guild knobs for fender radio knobs to match the ones on my Vibroking.Also the pickguard had to go.This guitar is worth 3 grand.

I play jazz, rockabilly, country and classic rock.At first I thought I wouldn't be able to cut the tele stuff but I was wrong.The sound lives somewhere between an LP and a 335 but I like this guitar better than either one. Ernie Ball vol>Fulltone fulldrive2>Boss DD3>VibroKing. Unreal, best sound I've ever had. I leave the fulldrive on, and the amp cleans right up from the vol pedal. Warm, focused, and macho.

The guitar is gorgeous as well as a brilliant idea, I mean to look like a les paul but bigger, then to end up being both lighter and meaner. If its discontinued, its a major Fender f-up.

The neck p-up was shorting out for a while, but I think thats because the dealer changed the p-up rings.

I got a great guitar at a great price and no one else has one. AS soon as a well known player gets off his complacent ass and discovers the best new electric in decades, these will be very popular or very expensive.

My 1999 AAA flame top Bluesbird was made in RI quite sometime after Fender purchased Guild. I purchased it new (it had been in their shop all this time) Febuary 2006 from Durdels Music In Toledo, Ohio over the internet (fantastic people, trustworthey).

The Seymour Duncan Pickups are factory original.
The finish on the guitar is excellent, this combined with the flame maple top creats a real jaw dropper.

I love the way the knobs look, kind of retro. You can see the numbers easily while playing.

It has the the features required to make it a guitar, what more do you want?

The sound is incredible. It is fat with out being boomy. The highs cut through and can be either smooth and silky or biting. The tone and volume adjustments work to make this guitar incredibly versatile.

I have not found a bad or useless tone in this guitar. Each position of the pick up selectors is distinct and soulful.

I can see file marks on some of the binding (from about 8" away, this is a little anal but I want to be honest) but the inlays look and feel about perfect.

The top is beautiful (think $3000 or $4000 and up Gibson).

I had originally planned on taking it in right away and having it professionally set up, but this thing came from Durdels set up incredibly well.

I thought that the action was too low at first (but no buzzing anywhere), but after playing it for a while (about 5 minutes) I got used to it. I can still grab the strings and bend the hell out of them.

I installed strap lock buttons, I would hate to drop something like this, its to beautiful.

I think you could gig without a backup if you have that kind of personality. This is a mechanical device. All mechanical devices can have problems. A back up just gives you an excuse to go buy another Bluesbird so you can try out some different pickups and keep the first one oiginal. I would recommend 3 or 4 at least (there are lots of colors).

A discontinued Guild guitar from Fender. I have never had ocassion to need service, but I would not expect much, so it will be easy to impress me if I ever need manufacturedr service.

I own a Fender American Deluxe Strat. A USA custom shop swamp ash Schecter S-Pt (Telecater tyle guitar). A 1965 Guild F-30 acoustic.

Three different class A power amps (love the THD Univalve).

I am a Metal Head, but also play blues.

The neck is great. Not too fat (Gibson 50s) and not to thin (skinny tele),

I have already purchased another Bluesbird and have another on order.
I plan on hording all the Bluesbirds that I can afford. I now no longer have any interest in buying a another Gibson, except maybe a cloud nine and they are rare and far, far, far more expensive.

I forgot to mention that the bluesbird wheighs less than my Strat and Schecter custom.

This guitar is incredible and it will only become more rare as they are no longer made. If you are tired of the same old thing buy one of these. If you tink that the same old thing is the shit, you will never know how wrong you are.

Made by Fender, 2 Volume, 2 tone controls, 2 Seymour Duncan SH 1 'buckers, flamed maple top,chambered mahogany body, mahogany neck milled out of a nice tight grained mahogany 2 by 4,rosewood fingerboard, cherryburst with a properly applied polyurethane finish (not sticky),Tune-O-Matic, stop tailpiece,Grovers, Les Paul grade case that I have to keep closed lest I find a cat sleeping in it. This axe is the REAL THING, although I would like a master volume pot (too many years playing Fenders and G&Ls).

I play blues and classic rock, the neck PUP provides s really rich blues/jazz tone and the bridge PUP has a nice bright sound that is easily adapted to a Pete Townshend style. Effects and amp; Toadworks Compressor>> Toadworks Death Rattle 2>> Foxrox Hot Silicon fuzz>>Foxrox Captain Coconut 2 (w/Germanium fuzz)>>Demeter Tremulator>>Traynor YCV 20 amp. Or, straight into a Vibra-Champ

I bought this guitar used but from reading reviews from others, I think it has retained its factory setup and the action is nice and low and the intonation is perfect. The bookmatching is symmetrical but there are a few minor dark lines in the wood. The PUP covers are corroding some, I guess that's common with nickel covers, the trade off here is nickel reduces eddy currents around the PUPs. Despite that it's pretty much perfect, it has a neck as straight as an aicrft carrier flight deck. If this were a custom shop axe I'd give it a 9, but considering it's not............

Despite its relatively light weight this seems like a solid guitar, the mahogany is tight grained and the switch and wiring are first rate. I would never gig w/o a backup as a matter of principle but I can envision 40 years of woodshedding with no major problems.

There are a couple of caveats on this instrument. The PUP covers (see above) and the heel of the neck (not the neck itself)that is very thick past the octave; another trade off, this time for resonance. In fact this thing is so resonant I have had to change some damping techniques but I really don't care. This is a magnificent instrument, fast action, beautiful tone. Oh, heck, I have to go and play it.

2003 Bluesbird AAA. Color is "amber", really a natural flame top. Beautiful look! Optional Duncan P-90's for pickups. Very well built guitar, solid as a rock. Not too heavy - chambered rather than a true solid body. Neck is fast, great action and feel. Grover tuners - the best!

Sounds great! Nice cross between a solidbody and hollowbody - spound silky smmoth. Handles heavy stuff, as well as smooth jazz sounds. Very versatile. I use either a small Peavey with lots of effects built into it, or a big Roland that I play through clean.

Nice set up. Also gone over by the music store I bought it at, so I don't know if they made any major adjustments - I doubt it. The fit is tremendous - no way to tell where one peice of wood ends and another begins - typical Guild quality.

We'll see - too new to tell. I have a Guild acoustic that is over 20 years old that has held up great, and I feel confident this will do the same. You can just tell by its feel that it is rock solid.

Have not dealt with them.

I've been playing for over 30 years, and can say without hesitation Guilds are my favorite guitar. I have had a Martin, an Epiphne, a Fender, but all I have left are my Guilds - no, I have 1933 Epiphone Olympic archtop acoustic, too, but that's a different animal.

The only problem is how hard it is to find a Guild dealer. Fender does not promote them very well, but they very quietly make a great, high quality guitar - at least the US made ones. I highly recommend this guitar for any type of playing!

This Guild Bluebird AAA is a 2004 and I obtained it used (not even four months old). The guitar and case sre in like new condition!!! The specs are listed on several other reviews. The only difference is that the previous owner had a SD Antiquity Humbucker placed in the neck. The guitar is a beautiful AAA cherry sunburst flame top!

This guitar is so under rated. I understand it has been discontinued. What a shame. It compares to any Les Paul I own and is lighter. This guitar is suited for any style. I play blues, rock, pop and jazz.

The only adjustment I made was changed the strings and raised the action a little. I don't know it the other owner kept it factory set or not. The sound and finish is flawless.

This guitar will stand any playing (live, studio or bedroom). It is a quality built instrument and the finish is very good. All the hardware is good and sturdy. This baby will withsatnd anything I can give her.

Don't know. Never had to contact Fender/Guild for any problem or concern. I own other Fender guitars.

I have been playing over 35 years and this is my first Bluebird AAA. In the future I would like to find one w/ p-90s in it. This guitar is just as good as a Les Paul. This guitar will get a lot of playing time. I own Gibsons, Epiphones, Fenders and PRS.

This is a 2004 Cherry Sunburst triple AAA. It is basically the same configuration as a Les Paul, thought it has a chambered hollow body, which makes it lighter. It is also a little wider, so it is easier to play sitting on a chair. Semour Duncan Pick-ups, cream bindings (gorgeous yellowed). The looks of this guitar is stunning. Mind you that a honybust Les Paul is also not bad looking at all. Neck is a little bit chunky, reminds me of a reissue Les Paul with a big neck. Not my preference but the sound was so nice, I could'nt resist. The finish and the attention of the luthiers who built this guitar are flawless.

I was debating between a Les Paul , which is a safe value nowadays, a Brian Moore (synth access) or a Godin. I used to play in Clubs and hotels and at the time I had a Trini Lopez Gibson (same as 335 but with Fender Headstock and diamond shape soundhole). The sound of the Bluesbird is reminescent of a semi-accoustic Gibson and a Les Paul. I would say that for Jazz and instrumental clean stuff, it has more bite , less mudiness, and way more definition than a Les Paul. It tends to have more clarity than a Les Paul, without loosing the warmth of a hollow body. Now compare to a Godin: the Godin is beautifully constructed and has synth access; however, it has only one volume and one tone for the Humbuckers; you cannot really mix the amount of bridge and neck pickup like you can on a Paul or 335 and the Bluesbird. It has also a more focused sound, with less harmonic complexity. As far as market value, a Les Paul is a sure bet, but I always wondered why. I had 5 Les Pauls, custom, Special, Standards. I even saw a 1971 Black Beauty on EBay going for $1800 or $2000 US. I can't really understand why; I had a good one at the time a 1971 also and they were awfully heavy with barely no frets (fretless wonder remeber that?) and were not very versatyle unless you wanted to play Hocus Pocus or Framton. Les Paul is a strange breed; one out of twenty will sound fantastic; lately I tried a beautiful honyburst, which in my view was way way better than my older 70 or 80 Les Paul. It really captured the essence of what Gibson used to build in the fifties. But again , it was one out of twenty. I belive that people in general want so much to stay in the pack that they think only a Strat or Tele and Les Paul can do it! Those are the same people who buy Hondas four door and Toyotas based on reputation and Customer Reports only even if the cars are so blend looking. The new generation is so conservative that they miss good opportunuties . Funny to say that but the only thing that they will revolutionized is the way they do their hair. Other than that, they act very similar to the Nice guy with a tie in the sixties.

Set-up was perfect. Lowest action possible from factory. Lower than this, I would have had to carve the bridge. Intonation was perfect. Always buy a Guitar in the summer or sring; humidity and dryness is more predictible.

I would say that Guild build durable guiars. My teacher used to have an M75 Aristocrat which dated from the 1950 I belive, Still plays great

Never had to deal with them. Never will I suppose.

I have been playing since 1968 and I am a schooled Musician(I can read music, which by the way is another thing that never ceased to amaze me; guitar players, in general have an allergy about reading). I own Steinberger, Rainsong Jazz Guitar, Mex Strat (Roland ready) , Us Telecaster and A beautiful Gibson j-45. I have to say that none of those instruments are perfect but for Top 40 and all around Guitar, Strat is a Good choice. For Les Paul type of music or commercial and standards, Bluesbird is a wonderful instrument. I hate to rate 10 because I think it has too many times something to do with the price or the reputation that a product commands.But the Bluesbird is truly a perfect 10 (like the girl I saw at the esthetic surgeon lately, but this is another story...) If you want one, hurry, they are discontinued by Fender.

Mine was a mid-late 90's (can't recall exactly.) Triple A flamed maple top, the rest just as described here. At the time was in a blues/road-house/honky-tonk band, wanted an LP style git to compliment my Strats. Had had a Gibson LP Studio and, many years ago, an early 70's LP Deluxe (never shoulda sold that one, sighh...) Have also owned a number of LP and 335 clones, wannabes, "nearly likes", etc.

Anyway, I was tired of lugging LP style chunkiness and Gibson necks (which are not my cup of tea) around, and someone suggested the BlueBird. The only one I could find locally was the AAA flame-topped model, so I started playing that at my favorite git store.

It was love at first sight. My custom '62 RI Strat (the only stock parts left are the body, pots, and pickguard) will always be my #1, but this BluesBird (and my Taylor) are a couple of the few guitars that will make me put down the Strat.

I give it a 10 for features because, although it doesn't have a lot of features, it is so beautifully conceptualized, designed, and produced that I could give it no less. Someone else noted that the flame top BB's are works of art, that is how I see it as well...

The BluesBird has sweet tones and can really sing. The body is chambered and is very resonant (at least for any kind of "solid" body guitar.) IMO it definitely was made for blues, it just cries out to be made to cry. I'm not big on a lot of other styles, but I imagine it'd do well, with the S-D humbuckers and nice action. I think that in ultra-high-gain situations (punk, thrash, metal, whatever the buzzwords are) the highly resonant body (from whence the tone comes) would be a liability, but for others this guitar is top-notch.

Every thing was perfect. Have never detected a flaw and have never had to make any adjustments. I wish most guitars (including some approaching "boutique" status) would come this well setup.

I don't believe the guitar is frail, as has been suggested. The thing is very well made, the finish appears to be pretty durable, and so far I've not noted that the guitar is either frail or soft (scratch-prone, whatever.) Handled with a little care and diligence, I see no reason this guitar should not be around for at least a generation or two.

However, mahogany *is* a soft wood, and with much of the body wood gone (chambering), I have to believe the guitar will not stand up to *abuse* well at all. That's not a problem for me, I take care of my gear and it is never left with others who don't, but ymmv.

Never needed any.

I currently own just the custom '62 RI Strat, the BluesBird, a Taylor 815c, and a Takamine. There's also a "PRS" Santana (Korean-made PRS design) in the family (my daughters') that I could use if I wanted to.

FWIW, when I bought the BluesBird I was past my years of accumulating gear, so it was a very deliberate and well-thought-out addition.

I bought this guitar new. Made in 2002 or 2003 at the Fender facility in Corona, CA. It has Seymour Duncan SH-1(59)humbuckers in both bridge & neck positions. Case candy: combination truss-rod/phillips screwdriver & polishing cloth. Cherry sunburst flame-maple top. Everything else has been covered in other reviews so no need to be redundant.

I play many different styles of music, mostly as part of a worship team. This guitar sounds great and is able to cover a wide range of. I traded in a Les Paul Studio & American Strat for it...outperforms them both. As others have described the sustain is superior, especially when using high gain. It sings and is able to cover a wide range of musical styles. The resonance is distinct & very noticeable when unplugged. The "59" pickups are top quality.

The factory setup for string height was medium (1/16 inch at 12th fret)although the amount of neck relief was above 1/64 inch and probably a bit high. Wood moves so it was no surprise. A small turn of the truss rod is all that was needed & a bit of tweaking for action & intonation. However some individuals would probably have liked the setup as recieved. Pickups were set just fine. The nut was a bit tight & dry. It was grabbing the "B" string during tuning. I filed a very small amount from the slot to correct it. I did a visual inspection of this guitar with a magnifying glass before I bought it. The only flaw I could find was a very small amount of filler around some of the fingerboard inlays. Otherwise the quality was outstanding.

If properly taken care of this guitar should provide many years of service. However I did have a problem with the pickup selector switch. When switching to the bridge pickup the volume level was greatly reduced on two separate occasions. I used some "air duster" to blow out the contact area of the switch. Since then it has been OK. Others have had similar complaints. Covered under warranty.

Since I have not dealt with the company I cannot comment.

I've been playing guitar off/on for about 30 years. Other than the Bluesbird I have a Fender American strat with humbuckers, a Johnson JM120 modeling amp, & a Peavey Delta Blues 210 all tube amp. I would replace the guitar if necessary. The Bluebird is a professional quality instrument and when properly setup plays like a dream. One of my favorite features is the neck which is thick & meaty. The harmonics when played during high gain are superb. I would have liked the guitar to have a coil splitting setup (pickups) for more flexibilty. For the price it is an excellent value. I'm very happy with my purchase.

I purchaced my Guild Bluesbird about two years ago used. As best as I can figure it was made between 1996 - 1998. I know that most of the specs of this guitar have been mentioned in previous reviews but just to recap it's an American made guitar but because of the ambiguity surrounding it's production date it could have been made either in R.I. or California, 22 fretts, the top is carved maple, two volumes, two tones, one three position toggle, two Seymour Duncan SH1-59s humbuckers, passive, chambered Honduran mahogonay body,the same mahogany was used for the neck but with nice slab of Indian rosewood with a 12" compound radii (flattens out closer nut but it is a but more rounded near the octave, Dean does this with some of their guitars), I do know that the focus of the review posted here have been on the AAA version of the Bluesbird one should not rule out the polyurethane versions either, same woods, same attention to detail, hundreds less, and while a lot of people call the Bluesbird a Les Paul style guitar for a quick point of refrence in my oppinion the Bluesbird is much closer to it's body style to some of Gibson's less loved guitars such as the L5 and L6 or even the Marauder but just let's call it a single cut and have done with it, Adjusto-matic bridge with a stop tail piece, Grover (!) machine heads, 24 3/4" scale neck, medium jumbo fretts, the afore mentioned rosewood rosewood fretboard, and 1 11/16" bone nut set this thing up to be comfortable for almost any player for any style.

One other reviewer said this guitar does not have a lot of voodoo knobs and mojo switches but if you want them there's a ton of old B.C. Rich's that need a good home.

I have to coment on the neck; in my opinion it is much more like a cross between a Fender "U" shaped Strat neck and a late 60's early 70's Gibson SG. I liked the neck so much that I had it copied (except for the scale and frett size) to be used on a Tele. I have pretty freakin' big hands but I am not a fan of super chunky Les Paul necks so for me this is a nice blending of classical designs and modern taistes. Just 'cause it's old dosen't mean it's great.

Because I bought my Bluesbird from a shop it did not come with the stock case nor did it come with a strap.

I'll be the first to admit I am much more of a drummer than I am a guitar player so please bear that in mind while you read this. Style; let's just call it "doom" (Eyehategod, Sleep, Down, Crowbar, Black Sabbath) and I plug the Bluesbird through direct into one of two amps, a little Marshall MG 10 CD and a larger Rivera MS 60. While "doom" is much more my focus the Rivera MS 60 allows me to play with it's dizzying aray of sound options, vintage Fender Tweed, check... Vox Super Beatle, check... Marshall Plexi, check... they are all there and the Bluesbird responds in kind. The Bluesbird will take you anywhere your intrests and skills will take you with the possile exceptions of twang orientated country or surf but it's got humbuckers in it so you won't get that tone out of 'buckers any way.

I have played a ton of Les Pauls in the past and played back to back I think the Bluesbird just mops the floor with them. It's a thicker, punchier, more complex tone than you can get out of your garden variety Les Paul and if you have been lusting after having both a Les Paul and an ES 335 in your quiver, save your money, buy the Bluesbird and you will get a single guitar that will fill both bases, trust your ears and your pocket book will thank you. I will say that the distortion on the Bluesbird is much nicer than any ES 335 that I have heard because it will not get all fuzzed out the same way an ES 335 will.

One other reviewer had comented on the Bluesbird's sustain and let me say if that is part of your style then the Bluesbird will deliver sustain as if it's life was depended on it; rich, warm, singing sustain. Who says you have to have a heavy guitar to get sustain? The Bluesbird is more of an SG weight than it is a Les Paul so you will not feel nearly as wrecked by playing it as you will to the single cut the Bluesbird has been compaired to.

I will say this, however, my only real dislike is that it can sound a bit boxy with the Rivera (oddly enough so will my Tele, go figure)and there is a volume drop when you click on both the bridge and neck pick ups but a lot of Les Pauls will do the same thing. For me, it dosen't matter too much because I use the neck pickup much more as a bass and mid boost any way.

I love the Duncan pickups but I did reconfigure how they were set up from the factory. I followed the recomendations that Bill Lawrence posts on his website so the pickups are tilted closer to the high E string and is lower in relationship to the low E. I found it leads to a much more even resopnce across the whole tonal spectrum and it may save you some cash rather than replacing the stock Duncans.

I have tried both the SH 1-59 version of the Bluesbird and the second version that uses P90s and I will say I like the P90 version better, they are a little punchier even with a lot of amp gain and they have a characaturistic "bloom" to them that I really like. To best describe it when you first strike the string with the P90 version you first hear the note then it is quickly followed by a glorious cascade of gain. I think that is one of the reasons I set up the pickups the way I did was to mimic the sound of the P90s. I would have loved to have picked up the P90 version but I could not find one in my price range.

Because I bought the Bluesbird used I can only guess how it was set up from the factory so when I got it the person who had it before me had the guitar set up with really high action and with 11s on it. Yeouch! I pulled off the strings it came with, srung up some GHS 10s and lowered the action. Aaaaah....

I don't know who had the guitar before I did because I just want to slap them silly. There was a pretty good gouge on the top cap (did you watch The Kid's Alright too many times buddy?) and there was another deep one the back of the neck. As I had mentioned it did not come with the stock case but some ragged acoustic case with a bunch of hippy and Greatul Dead stickers on it. Needless to say they have all been ripped off and I'm going to get a new case when finances permit.

That said, despite it's abuse it still plays wonderfuly.

As mentioned before the guitar was pretty rough when I first got it and I accidently contributed to it's misery when my foot got caught in the chord while turning off an amp and I yanked it off my stand and fell face first like a drunk on a New Years Eve binge. Oh... the horror... the heartbreak. I have have seen a lot of Les Pauls and SGs with broken headstocks so I braced myself for a worst case scenario but despite it's case of gravity poisoning it survived it's impact with a minor chip at the headstock.

Not that I would want to repeat the accident, nor do I recomend abusing an instrument but this thing is pretty darn tough.

I have also pulled out the ass end strap peg but with a couple of gentle taps with a soft malet it went back into place without any further problems. Had I been thinking I should have put in a little wood glue.

I wouldn't take the guitar to a gig with a lot of people who are prone to diving off the stage or huck beer bottles at you but short of that gigging shouldn't be a problem at all.

I haven't had any need to and since it's used it will not be covered under warranty any way.

I am embarassed to say that the guitar is a secondary instrument to me so most of the people on this board will have been playing considerably longer than I have so I will just leave it as such. That said I do have a couple of other guitars, a custom made Tele by Michael Dolan in Santa Rosa CA, a Martin D15 and a 1930's Stella/Westbrook.

I wished I asked who the @#$&*!!! owned the guitar before me becuase they took such poor care of it. Nnnnnrg... Never trust a junkie.

If lost or stolen would I replace it? Oh hell yeah. I would have to sweat blood in order to buy a new one but I would replace it with another. If the choice came down to two Bluesbirds, both the same price, one with humbuckers and the second with P90s I would be tempted to go with the P90s. If it were finacially impossible for me to replace it with a duplicate guitar I would probably go with either a Thinline Tele and gut it's stock pickups and drop in some Bill Lawrence or some Duncans humbuckers or I would look at a "Faded" series Les Paul.

The Bluesbird is Mr. Flexiablity and Mr. Tone. It is not a country or a surf guitar so you can forget about that right away. I have a pretty ganked left shoulder so I can apreciate the lower weight of the Bluesbird (my ash Tele just kills me after a while). I do wish that the Bluesbird did have better high fret access (there are people who play bast the octave ya know) but I don't think it would nearly have the same amount of sustain if the neck were joined another way.

To compare the Bluesbird to any other guitar would do it a diservice. It really is it's own unique blend of engineering, style, and playability. Any person serious about buying a new electric should at least play the Bluesbird. Even if you don't fall in love with it you must admit it is one hell of a guitar. As far as I am concerned you can have your PRS, I can apreciate the fine level of detail that goes into them but an extra grand for finish work? Nah. Fancy finishes do not make music, guitars, amps, fingers and guts do.

I would have liked to have had the original case but for the price it was hard to say "no".

Because it is asked as part of the review process if there was any thing else I would like to share and that is, yes, not every one who plays heavy music, not every one who listens to heavy music, are idiots. I have a college degree, I have writen ballet and opera reviews for a magazine, I have been playing clean and sober for the last ten years and I will say it is a lot easier to play now than it was the prior twelve years @#*!ed up.

1998 guild bluesbird. usa westerly rhode island. 22 frets. solid top chambered out body. 3-way pickup selector. 2 tone knobs 2 volume knobs. 2 seymour duncan pickups. passive electronics. mahogany body and neck rosewood fretboard. flame top. single cut. tune o matic bridge. grover tuners. fat rosewood neck. case.

the bluesbird is perfect for everything i do. I play a lot of different styles like jazz, blues, rock and punk rock. the bird is perfect for all styles. i use it with a fender pro reverb. noise is not too bad but on distortion it is a little bit noisy. it can sound like anything you want it too. bright twangy rich full it is awesome. great variety. i love everything about it.

the guitar was setup great at the factory but the action was a little bit high for me. pickups were right on. everything was perefectly bookmatched and routed. no flaws.

it will take almost anything you canb throw at it. hardware is sturdy and should as long as you own it. with lots of playing you might take off a little finish but it would take a lot of playin. yes the strapbuttons are perfect. definetly dependable. for sure. it hasnt failed me yet. the only thing you will ever have to worry about is the ocasional briken string.

I had a problem with a guild acoustic from them they were very concerned and took care of it right away under the warranty at the custom shop asap. lifetime warranty.

2002 All American Craftmanship. Made in California just after the Fender aquisition. Large single cut-away chambered mohogany body with a nice book matched solid flame maple top. Standard "Les Paul" control features with Seymore Duncan pups. Check prior reviews for specifics. Quality parts on this beauty and a nice hard shell case to boot.

I play Metal and rock. I was looking for a bargin on a Les Paul and found this beauty. I was disappointed with the lack of punch initailly. However, this guitar had great tone and sustain. I changed the pups out with Dimarzio DP-100s (super Ds). Now the punch is a death blow. This ax now screams out of my amp. I play through a Mesa Recto stack and it loves the guitar. The hot pickups articulate as well as the standard pups but are much louder and the distortion can get out of control. I use a Boss noise gate to control it. No need for any type of gain processor in this setup.

I love the ax for it's incredible looks and the fact that it freaks all of my other guitar playing friends out when they play it. IT GETS UP IN YOUR FACE! I would love to try this guitar out on a small tube amp. It would drive the hell out of the tubes and sound incredible.

Nice set up from the factory. Changed the pups after a week. The Cherry Sunburst is incredible. I did have a strap peg pop out during a show. I fixed it and now its solid. I also ended up having to replace the pickup selector. I would lose signal when switching PU from time to time. It should have been solid from the factory but, I did make some personal modifications.

This ax is solid as a rock now. However, I wonder about quality after the Fender buy out. This was a very early production (serial number reads 49) of the actual Guild BB. I hope that Fender will work out the little things after the move from Rhode Island to California.

No dealings with CS. I take pride in the fact that I customize all of my guitars personally.

Great guitar with high end features and an incredible sound. I've been playing for 15 years. This is my number one ax. I play a Fender Strat for my clean stuff. The Guild BB is my nasty monster now. I love it.

2000 Caved Flamed Maple in a dark cherry finish top with a translucent red chambered mahogany body and mahogany neck. Grover tuners with neck and top of body cream binding.

24 3/4" scale length and two Seymour Duncan SH-1 (59) Humbuckers that are controlled with their own seperate volume and tone knobs. The neck is similar to the '59 rounded necks Gibson offers on some of their les paul models and their ES-135/7 series guitars which means this neck is round and beefy, but not with the boat rudder of the vintage V necks. It's still C shaped so your hand won't fatigue like it would on a V style neck.

This bird came with a nice hard case. The finish is most likely a polyurethane or poly blend of some sort as nitrocellulose is becoming more and more rare due to higher EPA restrictions in most states. Sure Gibson claims nitrocellulose is better, but for one thing, it cracks and wears faster then polys, and I have plenty of guitars with a poly finish and I have some Gibson's with their nitrocellulose and I am selling the Gibson as I don't want to part with the others.....That ought to tell you just how great the nitrocellulose finish is. It won't turn a mediocre guitar into a great one. On the other hand, a nice and finely balanced poly finish on a great instrument will protect it and add to the cosmetics without damping the tone.

I guess if I were to rate features on the basis of how much crap is on the guitar, this section would score medium to low. However, I like to grade features from a different angle. It doesn't have to have all that bullshit like active switches, coil taps, locking tuners and a car wash all rolled into one guitar. It doesn't have to sound like 5 different guitars. In fact, I find all that stuff really annoying. Now you you have active/passive and piezo/fishman acoustic/smoustic and the blasphemy of all things A MODELING GUITAR! Good grief man....give it up!

Sorry for the rant, but sometimes technology is nothing more than a fart that starts a fad only to be realized by most later down the road where they turn back to the real stuff. Feature wise, I think the appointments on the Bluesbird compliment this instrument nicely and I wouldn't want anything more on it that it already has. Very nice.

One word can describe how I think this guitar sounds....Great! I sold a BB Goldtop last year and bought a Robin Avalon. The Robin is a great guitar, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with the Guild I had. In fact, I was in love with the guitar. I thought I needed more punch only a solid body guitar could give me. How wrong and how dumb I was. The Guild gives you plenty of punch and warmth without being muddy or harsh. On top of that it's a real pleasure to play. the Gibson was dull and made weird buzzing noises when I played it, while the Robin did sound great, but had an imposing neck joint that reminded you when you got past the 12th fret. Also, it's great to collect and have guitars. You really can never have too many...But, I notice I pick up a few and don't really play the rest. So, why not get rid of two and have one that does both? And that's what I did.

I can say I have never played a more smooth sounding humbucker guitar. And I've had a les paul and a 335, a Paul Reed Smith CE22, along with the Robin and the 135 and they've all left me with the feeling something was lacking. I've never felt that with the Bluesbird. The other guitars did offer me a great sound on one or two settings, but not on all settings like the blues bird.

This is trully an exceptional sounding guitar and will work with any amp you plug it into. I've also noticed you don't have to be as pickey with these guitars as you do on others meaning the consistency and quality control seems to be good enough to know you're going to get a great sound no matter what or whose bluesbird you pick up and play.

As I said before, consistency seems to be the name of the game for this guitar and I found the action, playability and finish to be top notch.

Consistency from the factory generally means reliability and durability. Take a look around these reviews. And not just the AAA flamed reviews either. Look at the standard and the goldtop and find a guy or gal that was pissed at the quality of their guitar. You just don't see it like you would on the average guitar review where at least a few people are unhappy with something breaking or going out after a short period.

Quality all around safe and sound......Pun intended.

I know I'm popping out 10's like flies seem to pop out of poop, but I've given some less than stellar reviews before when I thought certain aspects of a product warranted a lower score. So, for you guys that get mad at people who give out 10's you can rest easy. I am not giving a score here because I've never had to call them or email them for anything. Which should tell the rest of the world that since the guitar was built right in the first place, there is little need to contact the manufacturer.

20 years of playing and I've been through a lot of gear and still have quite a bit. I've consolidated my stash (if you will) of just having lots of guitars for bragging purposes to keeping the guitar that inspire me to play while still providing a different sound. Currenty I have an Am. Standard Strat, an Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport (fantastic guitar) a Paul Reed Smith Custom22 Soapbar and now the Bluesbird. I've recently sold my G&L ASAT Classic, the Robin Avalon and the ES-135. If I had a million bucks, I'd have kept the guitars I sold because they were great guitars. But.......The guitars you see above are the guitars that make me smile when I play....I smile because they feel damn good in my hands and they make great tones regardless of what (or if) they are plugged into. They all have unique characteristics but also are very versatile and I could easily take one of them out with me and not need another guitar.

I suppose the only thing I wish it had was a different color.....Not really, but I have 3 other red guitars and a change of pace would not have hurt my feelings. But seriously, I am very satisfied with the appointments this guitar came with.

Lost or stolen, I'd try and get another one for sure and the only other guitar I thought about getting was another 335 or Les Paul. Two big reasons I stuck with the Bluesbird....1.) I like the bluesbird better than either of the two mentioned. 2.) The above two mentioned are way too expensive and overpriced not to mention consistency with Gibson is like Russian Roulette. I've had several gibsons and the 335 was the only one that I didn't have some sort of problem with. I guess I should make a third point which is: 3.) The bluesbird can do both of the above mentioned without a hickup at about half the price of either one of the other guitars, so like an ealier reviewer said...Save your money and get a good amp head or combo...It would be totally worth it to go that route and you'd be getting as good, if not, a much better guitar.

Am I biased? Yes. Why? I don't work for Fender or Guild, but I like the guitars and their pricing strategies a lot better than Gibsons. Also, unlike Gibson, who buys a company and turns it to shit, Fender can acquire another corporation and keep that companies logo on the headstock while ensuring that product is probably going to be of consistent quality. And if anything, a better product thanks to great quality control.

So, if you're in the market for a versatile double humbucking guitar that looks great, but really uses its playability and tone as its selling point, then you should strongly consider a Blues Bird, because the Eagle Flies high at Guild.

2003 Bluesbird AAA Cherry Sunburst Finish. Gorgeous quilted maple top (identical to 2002's Fender Frontline cover), Seymore Duncan SH-1 Humbuckers... great grover tuners. Feels much like a Les Paul but with far more substance due to the larger body. The Bluesbird's chunky neck feels wonderful, and the action right from the factory needed no adjustments, aggressively low and playable.

I play mainly blues, blues rock, some country-esque rockabilly etc. I'm running the Bluesbird through two different rigs; a yamaha DG-80 112 with yamaha s112 extention speaker cabinet and a Fender the Twin (Evil) running through a Boss ME-50 Guitar Stompbox. This guitar sounds absolutely incredible. The chambered body gives this axe a voice of its own, sustains are huge and rhythmic tones are lovely. The Duncan SH-1 humbuckers are quiet, confident, and well-suited to this instrument. I've found that this guitar is equally at home with many a musical style and sound, from jazzier neck pickup business to searing rock on the bridge bucker, or from Peter Green-esqe leads on the combination setting to Ry Cooder-esque tremelo riffing on any setting. The guitar responds well to changes in amp and effects sounds, and easily holds its own against my strat and tele. In fact, I often prefer the sultry tones of the bluesbird- its quite versatile.

Good lord, this guitar makes my others look bad for playability. The action from the factory was really low, and I'm considering raising it slightly so that when I switch to the strat or tele the difference isn't so noticeable. The action is so fast, and the shape of the bluesbird neck allows for wonderful flying up and down the board... Pick-ups were perfectly adjusted from the factory. I was extremely irritated however with the faulty pick-up selector switch on my bluesbird... the metal piece that completes the contact circuit broke right off not twenty minutes out of the case (the same thing happenned on another bluesbird i tried in the store, and I'm not abusive with the switch at all). I immediately installed a Gibson pickup selector and it works perfectly. Plus, I thought the original chrome selector switch looked a bit inappropriate so the new cream colour of the gibson switch is a visual improvement (especially against the cream binding and pickup mounting rings) Plus, the hardshell case that accompanied the guitar had a long cut along the edge of the covering.... so for that and the selector switch difficulties it gets a slightly lower rating.... additionally, the front strap button was loose and the thread stripped, so that needed some wood filler etc.... after these issues it has been a dream.... the finish is truly the most spectacular I've seen, and I couldn't be more pleased... perfectly bookmatched quilt/flame.....awesome

There isn't much that can fail on this guitar, and after making the aforementioned selector switch modification I'm sure the reliability will be flawless.

I've been playing for tweleve years, and mainly use a strat deluxe plus and a tele deluxe... (both mid-nineties era) If It were stolen or lost I would without question replace it. The craftsmanship in my opinion is superior to that of your average les paul, and for half the price you have a more versatile, beautiful guitar. The finish continues to amaze... kudos guild, on a job well done.

this is my baby. i seriously would have a hard time choosing between this and a girlfriend. no lie...i actually have the serial number tattooed on my ankle.tahts how much i love it. its a '73 new-old-stock i picked up for $580.00 in springfield, il. the funny part is the tag said "les paul copy". 22 frets. les paul style selector. not sure on the pick-ups...definately pre-seymour duncan...guild or maybe dearmond. its got two humbuckers, but also a mid-lift type switch to sound like a les paul custom triple-humbucker-style configuration. all maple. tobacco to purplish flame.

fits any style. ive used it for punk,blues,country,hardcore,metal, jazz, classical, raggae, anything really. i use a red bear mk60 with a boss super-overdrive in the punk/blues hybrid im doing now. as far as sound goes it has its own tones. it sounds like the best les paul you ever played(maybe a '59). the only thing i dont like about it is the signal is so hot that it overloaded a boss ds-2 that i used to have and i think it ruined my metal-zone pedal. it could mean that these pick-ps are microphonic.

it came with an adjustomatic bridge, so i can keep the action minimal.
the pickups are "lab-monkey" simple to adjust with the action.the finish is gorgeous. BUT...im not a fan of glue-on necks.

i have played over 100 shows, 500 or so practices, and an estimated 4-hours-a-day-outside-band-practice practice without any sign of a problem. ive only brought other guitars to shows if i needed a different tuning for a certain number. the strap pegs it came with are not locking. i put a locking one on the neck, but i couldn't get the rivet-style peg from the tail...ever!in fact i was trying to unscrew it with channel locks when they slipped and i pinched the palm of my hand so hard that blood squirted out!

guild has been owned by fender for a while now, and quite frankly the stuff from guild now-a-days is pitiful compared to the vintage. i havent ever tried to talk to the company.

this guitar buries everything else...hands down. if you can get your hands on an early seventies bluesbird like this...for god's/devil's/krishna's/hubbard's sake, man, do it!

Of course, made in "God Bless the USA!" 22 fret, AAA gorgeous Amber top with Grover tuners. You know the deal. www.guildguitars.com. I've owned many guitars in the past from Gretsches to Gibsons but nothing compares to this piece of artwork. As far as the looks, I'd be offended if they told me this guitar looked like an LP. In my opinion, LP's got a long ways to go to match up to a Bluesbird. Killer looks and light weight so you don't have to take 15 minute breaks between sets as with your LP. Got a nice hardshell case with it.

I'm almost debating getting rid of my Strat to use this full time. I play anything from blues to modern rock so demand for a unique sound is high, and this guitar provides just that. Seymour Duncan SH-1's provide you with a mile long schreeeeeches, or if you'd prefer, full, clean, and warm non-distorted tones it delivers just that and more. You won't miss your heavy wood sound of an LP with this guitar, because it can do much more than that!

When I first got this guitar, the action was a bit high, due to non-setup by the previous owner. Now it's got better action than my '57. Cosmetics on it are just flawless. The neck is a big bulky for my taste, but does not affect my playing.

If there is one suggestion I can make with this guitar, it needs a second straplock on the tail. It only comes with one straplock so you can't really go crazy with your over the head playing or guitar flinging tricks. If I wasn't so damn rough on the strings (my 10's break all the time), I'd not need a second guiar on stage.

Put a straplock on it and call it a 10!

I've only owned this guitar for few weeks. No CS yet...

Keep your 1000 extra bucks and buy yourself a nice amp head. You DON'T need an LP. I am so happy I sold my Gibson to get this one. You don't need a Gibson to make history. You need this guitar to make yourself and your audience happy.

Amber Maple Bluesbird, bought new October 2001. Les Paul type configuration, Duncans, Grovers, Gotoh bridge, etc. Quilted maple top looks like a million dollars. Honduran Mahogany back and neck. Superb action straight from factory, ultra low strings, no fret buzz, still very good resonance.

Normally play strat, or archtop. Fell in love with look and playability of this guitar before plugging it in, even thought I did not think it would suit my playing style. Very surprised with flexibility of sound. Has Les Paul sustain, but light bell like, lively tone. Clean sound great for jazz, punchy Duncan SH 1's wail with the volume cranked. Cannot fault the sound, it begs to be played unplugged, or cranked.

Setup as close to perfection as factory can achieve. No flaws whatsoever.

Problem with selector switch, replaced it and don't anticipate any other issues. Very sturdy.

No idea

Been playing since just after Hendrix died. Long time strat guy, but have always liked Guild archtops, thought their solids were great guitars, but a bit ugly till I saw this one. Absolutely superb looking/sounding/playing guitar for $1500. I could not resist clearance deal of $799. I have more than 20 guitars in my collection. This one stands up against any other I own, or have ever played.

2001 Guild Bluesbird AAA, Semi-Hollow Body, Maple top, HH config, Amber finish (sooooo pretty), blah blah blah, pretty much what you get when you buy a guitar. It's nice and light too (comparitively of course to standard les pauls and such, thank you semi-hollow)

Clean sound is just wonderful. Gets a wonderful jazz-like tone when played, and if you pick harder you can get a nice blues sound. I'm playing through a DBX 486 Tube Preamp into a Marshall AVT150H and Slant Cab. The sound distorted is fantastic, pretty much my dream guitar in every sense of the word dream. I was thinking of changing the pickups to Classic 57z, but decided no need in getting something better than perfect for me.

Action was set a little high when I got it, but I got it set up and it plays like a dream.

I treat this guitar like a baby essentially, so I don't pull any hendrix stops and such. I don't play with a backup, mainly because I sold them to get this, although I do use a Martin D15 along side this to gig.

Haven't dealt with them yet, hopefully won't have to.

I honestly haven't been playing guitar that long, I just decided to pick up and play one day to learn another instrument to contribute to my composing. Then I started up my band platypi (http://www.mp3.com/platypi) and I started writting just bout everynight and practicing. I also play harmonica, piano, organ, and low whistle. The majority of my equipment is for harmonica strangely enough, but considering its mostly guitar effects, playing the guitar comes in handy. I shudder at the thought of the lil guy being stolen, I think I would go into solitude for around a year or so. No question would I buy this guitar again, its exactly what I was looking for. My band plays Dave Matthews styles with Blues Traveler mix, so its kinda funky, sometimes laid back, and sometimes pretty hard (When I want to kick in A Perfect Circle, Tool, Sevendust stylez), so the guitar does it all. But of course, don't take my word for it, try the sucker out. It rocks no doubt. Peace.

My Bluesbird is kind of a unique beast. Although I bought it new, it has some features I've never seen on another Bluesbird and that aren't listed on the Guild web site. It is an AAA model, but instead of a flame top it has a quilted top. In addition, it has a clear finish which is no longer an option. It is beautiful! Has two Seymour Duncan humbuckers, a cream binding on the body and neck, MOP block inlays, chrome hardware, and a volume and tone for each pickup. It has a mahogany body and mahogany set neck. The body is hollowed out. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

I play blues, jazz, all types of rock, progressive metal......basically whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. I use the BB for all of them, into any of a number of tube amps, but typically use a Carvin Legacy or Bel Air.

The clean sound of the BB is awesome....it's full and rich-sounding, and the hollow body lends a nice woody tone. It isn't jangly and sparkly like my Strat, which makes it my first choice for jazz and other technical chording. It sounds tonally much richer and feels livelier than a Les Paul for clean licks and has a certain something you can't put a finger on. It just sounds great.

Played through some pushed tubes, the BB really comes to life. It's fat and thick but still detailed and articulate. You can still hear the distinct tone from the hollowed out body, and she sings and cries without ever getting muddy. The BB feels alive in your hands and ready to do your bidding with sweet singing emotion. If you hold a note with moderately high gain, the note eventually turns into a beautiful 5th harmonic and sustains forever. It doesn't get any better than this.

The only problem with the sound of the BB is that every time I pick up a different guitar I'm disappointed.

The factory setup of the guitar was damn near perfect, and completely perfect after 10 minutes of setup. The quilted top is beautiful, the mahogany on the back and neck is straight-grained and evenly colored. The finish is flawless, even around the neck joint and other tight places. Inlays are fitted perfectly with no filler and the rosewood board is quality. The only slight discrepancy was in the control cavity size versus the cover plate size, and that was TINY and to be expected with hand-made guitars. The whole guitar feels like one piece of wood. Gibsons can't even come close until you are in the $3500+ range, and even then it's inconsistent.

The hardware is all top-notch stuff, except for the cheesy tone and volume knobs (a tiny nitpick). The finish does not appear to be polyurethane like the newer BBs, I believe mine is nitrocellulose lacquer that will get better with age. This guitar will be around long after I'm dead and gone, and I would not hestitate to count on this guitar 100%. But alas, I never gig without a backup.

No idea, never dealt with them.....but I DON'T like the fact that since the Fender acquisition you can't contact them from thier web site, and no phone number is listed. The documentation included with the guitar has this information, though.

I've been playing almost 9 years and have loads of gear. This is my first Guild, and I love it. If it were stolen I would mourn for months since I could never get an identical one. I can't think of a single thing to hate about this guitar, it is one of the best guitars I have ever played

I can't think of a single reason to spend my dough on Gibson products when I can get a superior guitar for 1/3 of the price. If word gets out, these BBs might all get snapped up!! If you're even remotely considering one.....GO BUY IT. You will not be disappointed.

AAA Cherry Sunburst Guild Bluesbird made in Westerly, RI in the year 2000. Hollow chambered body, flame maple top, HUGE thick neck with rosewood board and block MOP inlays. Two Duncan HB's. Everything you want in set neck guitar.

First off, the hollow chambers make this guitar very acoustically alive--it's quite a pleasure to play by itself when the neighbors wouldn't take kindly to plugging it in.

The setup is Bluesbird into several effects (Soulbender, Budda Wah, Line 6 MM4, Ibanez AD-9) and then a Hot Rod Deluxe. Clean, it sounds very full, but a bit brittle when compared to a strat. But I don't think people buy these kind of guitars to play clean. This thing roars with the HRD's drive channel and has tremendous sustain. With the Soulbender, it's very easy to get a lot of Cream/Zeppelin tones.

Since this guitar draws a lot of Les Paul comparisons, I'll ad my $.02: It's a bit brigther and has less sustain than a LP. But this thing really is its own instrument.

Arrived with a very good appearance and setup. I've since tweaked the setup to get the action very, very low. Only flaw was one of the Guild stickers fell off the knob the day I got it. A little glue fixed that problem.

Only owned it 2.5 months. Appears to be extremely durable.

Never dealt with FMIC/Guild

I was looking for a set-neck, two HB guitar to compliment my American series strat, and I found a keeper in the Bluesbird. I play blues, rock, funk, etc. My strat still is my #1 since it sounds better clean, but the Bluesbird is a close #2.

Top of the line basic features: 2000 USA made solid-top 2 tone and volume, Seymore Duncan SH-1 (59's) HH configuration, quilted flame top(tobacco sunburst), Gotoh tuneomatic bridge, Grover tuners, and Guild deluxe case. Flame top is one of the nicest I have ever seen!!! Also it has sound chambers that make this baby growl and for that reason and the quilted flame top I will give her a 10!

Best sounding guitar I ever heard and played!!! Awesome crunch and excellent open clean chord sound. I play mostly classic, hard rock, (Sabbath, Rush, Zeppelin) and folk music like Neil Young. I play through a peavey backstage 110 at home and through a Carvin x100b with a digitech RP2000 processor when playing with my band. Guitar is very versatile and is perfect for my style!!!

Perfect!!! The guitar came out of the box perfect!!! The tone and volume knobs are kinda of cheap but no bid deal. Most importantly the nicest quilted flame top I've ever seen!!!

Seems very durable and since it has sound chambers its light so its not going to strain your back or rip out your strap buttons like Les Pauls! I never had any problems.

Since Fender bought Guild you can't get much information but all the times I had to call Fender they were pretty helpful. I have no complaints with them. Guild web site looks good but you can't contact them!!! The best information regarding Guild guitars is this forum dedictated to Guild's/DeArmonds.
http://www.fenderforum.com/fdp.html?message_area_number=9&lastpost=2000-08-2812:24:41

I been playing guitar for about 15-20 years. I played an old Kramer and Aria Pro but never got very serious until I bought my first bluesbird (Black) a couple of years a ago. Since then I play an average of 2 hours a day. My playing has drastically increased because of this guitar. I love this guitar so much I bought another one (AAA Tobacco sunburst). This guitar easily compares to LP Elegant or Heritage and they cost about $3000 list for $6000, but with a little more edge!!!

22 frets, bound fingerboard, mother of pearl inlays all the way to the 17 fret, 24 3/4 scale, the neck is a bit wider than an American
Standard Stratocater, chambered mahogany body, flamed maple top,
a pair of Seymour Duncan SH-1 " '59-classic" humbuckers, Grover tuners, Gotoh "Tune-o-Matic" bridge. Looks like a Les Paul, except
for the less sharp cutaway.

The sound is great. If you are thinking of buying a Les Paul for around $2000 (That's the mediocre one), then check out this baby!
Man, you get better sounds, it's more versatile than a Les Paul, it
sounds tighter, more focused and musical. It has this hollow, scary
tone perfect for any music where you need to scare people. It is
beautiful!

The choice of finishes are better than the aforementioned Les Paul,
the handwork is more detailed, very comfortable back, and the action
was perfect. I just needed to adjust it to my taste.

I use this weapon, I mean guitar, to play all types of gigs. Its
absolutely perfect sounding every time I need to use it. It barely
gets out of tune. It feels like a boulder. Totally reliable. No
real need for a backup.

I have note dealt with Guild, so I can't say.

Everything that you need and almost nothing that you don't. I do wish that it had bigger frets, though. Adding straplock buttons is a must, as the vintage-style buttons can lose your strap.

Counting build quality as a feature, as you SHOULD do, this is one fine guitar! Better than it's rival models from That Other Company and for half the price.

Clean - I can't say enough about the clean sounds you can get with this guitar. "Rich" would be a good way to describe it. Subtle would be another. You know how the Coke in those little glass bottles is just plain better than from a can? This guitar has that untouchable "something" that makes all the difference in the world. It makes even the crappiest amps sound good. Honest. I played mine through a 1957 Tape-O-Matic tape recorder for a while and was awesome! "Leave your acoustic guitar at home next gig," is what I'm saying here

Distorted - The Bluesbird is great for those who like to plug stait into an amp and turn all the way up. Harmonics! Soul! Fire! Ballsy slide licks! Through a mid-power combo you'll get the tone you always wanted but thought was not available from a new guitar. It also responds very well to ditortion pedals, and seems to favor amps that have a single tone control. Show that kid with the LP and a million effects who's boss!

The action was great after I fixed the "professional setup" from the music store. I've used everything from 8's to 13's and, with a few adjustments, it handled everything very well.

Fit and Finish are excellent. Beautiful craftsmanship.

Take care of this guitar and it will take care of you. Pass it on to your grandson or hot punk-rock granddaughter before you die. It will probably last forever. It feels solid because it is solid, and that's why I bought one. Top notch components. If you like having a backup guitar, buy two Bluesbirds. That's the only way your "backup" will ever see any use.

N/A - Never had to contact them.

Can you tell I LOVE this guitar? You will too. The tones are great, it's playability is great, and it looks fantastic.

American made. Chambered mahogany body with carved maple top. 1-Piece Mahogany neck. Rosewood fretboard. 24 3/4" Scale length. Beautiful AAA Amber finish. Cream top body and neck binding. Adjust-o-matic bridge. Stop tailpiece. 2-Seymour Duncan SH-1 Humbucking Pickups.

I play Blues based hard rock (Izzy Stradlin, Ted Nugent, Old Aerosmith, etc) and 80's Eurometal (UFO, MSG, Thin Lizzy, Accept, etc.) I have a 60 watt Carvin X60 Tube Combo Amp and a
15 watt Vox Cambridge small Tube Combo Amp. I use a Proco Vintage Rat
for distortion. Dirty this Guitar sounds: rich, full, sweet and sustains well. Clean this guitar sounds beautiful (sound chambers) and
I feel no need to use "clean effects".

Action and Fret size fit like a glove.
Pickups well adjusted.
Beautiful finish. You could show this Guitar as a piece of American
art.

This guitar is not as solid as Les Paul. However if you treat it like
Ted Nugent treated his Birdlands and ESs you should have no problems !!!
This guitar is so light that I can not imagine someone dropping
it.

I compared this guitar with Gibson's LP Standard, LP Classic, LP Gary Moore, LP Studio, SG Angus Young, SG Standard, Flying V Gothic, DC Studio and Fender's American Standard and American Fat STRATS.
The Bluesbird looked, felt and sounded better than all !!!