Guild Bluesbird Goldtop

I have a 2001 standard issue (made in USA) Gold top, mahogany back, two Duncan SH-1 humbucks, Grover tuners, hardshell case, et al. I had an old Guild Bluesbird fom the 60's and was dumb enough to trade it for an amp 25 years ago. I still have a 66 Guild Duane Eddy... so you can see I'm a bit partial to Guild. In terms of features, the Bluesbird is not a gadget guitar. It is neat, simple and darned perfect.

Let me tell you why I love the Bluesbird... First is the sound capability. You can squeeze everything from Hendrix to Stevie Ray to the Beach Boys out of this guitar with authentic original sound capability. The pickup and EQ variety will allow bright to mellow to blusie capabilite with fingertip control. John Denver? Not a problem. Eric Clapton... you're there. Garth or Allman Brothers... it is very flexible. The second reason is that the neck is wider than the typical Gibson or Fender style necks. That might not matter to some, but I find a wider neck gives me a crisper neater sound because I don't inadvertently mute strings on tight patterns. The result is a little more open style of play. You might not notice this until you try to go back to a Strat, which feels tight and inhibiting after getting used to the Bluesbird.

This guitar came from the factory PERFECT. This is not hype... it really is perfectly built. The fit and finish is astoundingly perfect. I keep using that word, but it really is. I could not find one thing that wasn't excellent.

This guitar is rock solid for any level of play. The only problem I have is like that of the new pickup truck owner... who wants to use it and take a chance on scratching it? Oh well... I will at least try to cover my belt buckle to keep from scratching the beautiful mahogany back. Otherwise, I'll be jammin away because I love to play it.

It has a lifetime warrantee for the original owner. Say no more. Guild was always good in the past... don't know how new parent Fender will be.

Overall, I would rate the Bluesbird as one of the best guitars ever made. I have been playing since 1967 (my first guitar was $25 including 3 lessons...lol). I play through Peavey tube and SS amps with a Boss ME33 pedal. My musical style is very broad, from Hendrix to country to blues, Boston, and classical. I have owned many guitars... most of the electric axe classics. This guitar works well for me. I think you'll like it too. If it were stolen, I'd be really p*ssed. I'd replace it in a heartbeat. I'll have this guitar for 30 more years (Lord willin and the creek don't rise) and then give it to my favorite grandchild.

Mine is a 1998, made in the USA. Mahogany LP-style body and neck, maple top, the body is chambered. Two Duncan SH-1 humbuckers, Grover tuners, comes with a nice hardshell case,..blah, blah...

Let me start off by saying that I'm a Strat (w/humbuckers) guy, and never really liked Les Pauls. Could never find one that I liked sound-wise, comfort-wise and PRICE-wise. So when I first time picked up a Bluesbird I was skeptical to say the least. Boy was I surprised, it sounded SOOO damn good. The "beef" of an LP mixed with a bit of Tele/Strat "spank". The neck is a little more comfortable than an LP and the body is lighter due to the chambering, which also adds to its rich tone! After playing if for a while in a music store through a Mashall TSL combo I had to have it. I ended up buying a used one. It sounds great clean or dirty through either my Trem-O-Verb or Custom Vibrolux Reverb, in all pickup selections. I play hard rock, but I think it can cover pretty much any style. It's my main guitar now, and I will probably buy another one sometime down the line.

I bought it used and the action seems pretty darn good. I going to get a set-up done soon though. The attention to detail is wonderful on this guitar, from the goldtop to the mother-of-pearl inlays on the neck and headstock,...beautiful!

Very well made guitar. If you take care of your gear it will be good in return.

Never dealt with them, but I'm sure they are nice people.

Been playing seriously for around 13 years. I'm pretty much just a rhythm player, so I can't speak for guys that do alot of soloing, but it more than suits my needs. If it were lost or stolen I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Love the sound, look, feel, everything about this guitar. It sounds better than any Les Paul I've ever played and it's price tag makes it even that much more attractive. If you're considering a Les Paul, or are a Strat player that would like to have something different, check out a Bluesbird.

This guitar is set up like a les-paul at a glance, two humbuckers, 2 vols and two tones, and a 3-way switch, but pick it up and there is a huge difference. It has hollow sound chamber which make it lighter than it looks. It is a maple top and mahogany back and neck, the finger board is rose-wood, i think, and has rectangular mop inlays, and also is bound around the neck and the body. Controls are basic but versitile.

This thing is amazing. I play various styles and use a huge range of sounds, this guitar can handle it all. It is incredibly rich and full, very articulate. I didn't plan this purchase, I was just messing around with a delay pedal at the local store, i noticed this guitar and asked to play it, I cleaned out my savings just to put it on layaway. Two years later, it is still exciting to play, and nothing i've played (Gibson pauls & 335's, strats, teles, PRS) sounds as soulfull, or cuts throught the mix like this one. This guitar made me a better player, and made me appreciate clean sounds as much as effected ones.

The action was great to me, the neck is soooo great. There was a problem with the bridge though, no big deal, i just had a sharp edge that kept breaking the D-string. The local shop that sold it to me kindly worked it and gave me a free string a set-up each time(took three tries to get it right) and the 3-way switch went bad about 6 months out of the gate. Let me stress though, these are insignifacant, they are not reflections of bad work. Everything else is as perfect as can be expected, truly world-class. Oh, and the gold-top is the best looking one.

Totally solid, there was the bridge and switch thing, but switces and pots will go bad, and the bridge was discovered soon and solved with a simple set-up and some polishing. Everything is top-notch and made to last. This is a dependable guitar, and i would gig it without a backup. The whole guitar still looks new, finish and hardware are holding-up great. I play 2-4 hours a day not including jams with others, and ive always relied on this axe and it is still mint.

I had warrantied repairs done by the local shop where i bought it, and the treated me very well, no charge and no hassle, but think that is more a testament to the shop than the manufacturer whom i have never had to deal with.

I've been playing for eight years, i have a strat and a fender blues deluxe amp, boss GT3, and a mackie PA system. the other day i played with a friend and had all my stuff with me. i got home late and left everything in my car, except my guild. I would replace it if stolen, and hunt down whoever took it. I love the sound, the look, the solid construction, and the neck it the best out there. I've played everything else(PRS, pauls, es335, strat, tele, tom anderson, carvin, ibanez, gretch, new and vintage) this is the best main axe for so many different styles, check the other reviews, on person plays jazz, another mentioned Dreamy rock, another funk, i play classic rock, british stuff, and just my own wierd creations. Sound like this guitar is rare, and a good sound is what we all want, right? This thing is gorgeous and it turns heads on top of the sound and playability. Definitely check one out!

This guitar is the perfect guitar. From the beautiful gold finish, to the Duncan hums, smooth playing neck, and the chambered mahogany body it is THE guitar. The case even smelled good. What else do you want.

This guitar fits into whatever style i'm playing. When I'm playing dreamy space rock it sounds deep and smooth. When I'm playing heavier music it comes through will all the fatness and articulation I could ever want. The warmth that it brings can make any digital delay sound very much like an echoplex.

The action on the guitar is a bit low, but a good setup should fix that. The pickups are at an abnormal angle, but I think I like it. I've had nothing go wrong. It's in perfect condition.

I've played this guitar live 3 or 4 times and it has been great. I'm pretty crazy on-stage, but this guitar seems not to take notice. I like the placement of the strap pegs because it seems to create a balance that keeps the body of the guitar stable while I'm jumping all over the place. That was a real +, because I needed to stay tight with the band while being able to really get into the music. I have to gig without a backup because I don't have the cash for a backup. I trust it though. I don't think it'll let me down.

I have not dealt with them

I've played for 5 years now, and I've had a highly-modded Fender strat, and a custom Carvin SC-90. The Bluesbird is the best of those guitars but much better. I'd compare this guitar to the Heritage Millenium (more money, long wait) and a Gibson LP Elegant (more than twice the money). For the previously noted reasons I chose this guitar over those two. All my friends covet the Bluesbird, and some have even been so convinced that they bought it themselves. This guitar has my highest approval.

The model is a Guild Bluesbird Goldtop. I'm not sure what year this particular model is made because I believe they discontinued these models a little while back. Now the only bluesbird models on the market are the AA and AAA models.

This instrument has 22 frets with a solid gold top. It features two volume and two tone knobs with a three way pickup selector with two Seymour Duncan SH1 humbucking pickups. This guitar also features a Mahogany body, a tune-o-matic bridge, grover tuners, a rosewood neck and all of this came with a very eloquent deluxe hardshell case.

As far as sound is concerned, well that's what this axe is born to do. It's such a responsive guitar and probably could achieve a variety of music styles (blues, rock, country) but I mostly play jazz.
As of now I'm plugging the bluesbird through a Mesa Boogie, but I'm interested in many of today's newer amps (Top Hat, Bruno, Two Rock).
This guitar is so quiet and the humbuckers can really put out! The range of sounds is unbelievable. I can achieve a really nice rich sound on the neck pickup, but then when I switch to the bridge pickup, the guitar really sings!

The guitar was properly set up at the factory, even though I changed my strings right away when I purchased it. The pickups were set about right. There didn't seem to be any major flaws in this category.

I first played the Bluesbird at the Miss FWB Pageant, and I must say that it played superbly! Of course becasue I am a jazz player I played everything clean. So this instrument will withstand live playing. The hardware will last and so will the finish: the finish on this guitar is so well crafted, I really don't think that it will wear out in the years to come. I can easily depend on the Bluesbird to give me the right sounds and comfort that many other axes are incapable of achieving!

I haven't yet dealt with the company even though I'm sure there as friendly and supportive as can be.

Well, I've been playing for six years, and I know what sounds right to my ear. Mr. Ron Harris was really helpful in my decision to purchase the right guitar. I spent hours in that music store trying to find the right guitar for me. I played various Les Pauls, PRS, and Teles and Strats, but the Bluesbird felt right at home to me. I suppose the closest guitar that would compare to it would be a Les Paul, but let me tell you off the back that it's better than a Les Paul. It's more tight, responsive, and it has a personality all on it's own. For once this guitar makes me feel like me when I play and not somebody else. If it were stolen or lost I would purchase this item again!

I am a 35 year old guitar thrasher.I belive that when I first played the Bluesbird I became a guitar player.I have played very expensive pauls ,PRS's,335's,Nothing even compares.I am a blues / rock player.The chunk of tone that this axe puts out is incredible.The SH-1 seymores were the perfect combo for this type of guitar.The guitar almost refuses to go out of tune.The neck is a little wider than my strat.It is very user friendly.The case is excellent also.

As I said tons of tone.It has the thick hollow tone heard on Neil Young albums.On a clean setting on any amp this axe will sound as sweet as any fat Gibson hollow body.It really depends on how you set the pickups & toggle switch.I am playing this thru a fender "The Twin".I also use a mesa V-Twin preamp.I'll take on any marshall stack with that.I am also using a Boss oc-2 & Boss DD-5.I have no dislikes.This is a great rig for blues/rock/fusion/funk.

This guitar played perfect from the day I brought it home.Everything was set up perfect.

The rear strap button did pop out once.I solved that by a drop of super glue.I wish they had used standard strap buttons.I will be a little difficult to add strap locs.This guitar has stood up to live playing quite well it always turns heads with its tone.

never have delt with them

I would replace this guitar in an instant.I have been playing twenty years.this is the only guitar I carry with me at all times.I absolutely love this bluesbird.I think it looks as good as it sounds.I choose this one because it was half of what a Les Paul would cost.I really do think it sounds better than any Les Paul I have ever played.It truly is the super chunk of tone.It weighs a lot les than a Les Paul so you won't get sore having it hang on you all night.