| I tried a Guild Nightbird and so impressed with it that I thought I
would let people know what it was.
A remake of an old Guild Bluesbird with EMG pickups in the front and
rear,a toggle switch for pickup select,a mini toggle for phase,a volume,and
tone which also could be pushed for a tonal change. Ebony fingerboard with
skinny,but high frets. A larger body than a Les Paul and significantly lighter.
The tonal possibilities were very tasteful and it had a very clean
sound yet very mellow tones were also quite easy to get. I compared the
Guild to a Gibson Les Paul,and Ibanez Artist. To the LP it did not have
the muddy sound that is characteristic of Gibson and to the Ibanez which
was very similiar to the Gibson. I read somewhere that the Nightbird is
hollow inside and not really a solidbody even though it looks like one.
I liked it so much I may go back and spend some more time with it
even though I'm sure it's price is well over a thousand dollars. They
couldn't tell me if the guitar had active electronics other than the fact
that usually where you see EMG pickup's that's usually the case.
The neck was different from my Gibson ,but still played nice!
Check it out!
Rick
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| I'd be real interested to check out that Nightbird. This is the first
I've heard of it. I have an old Guild Bluesbird (circa 1960), which I
love. Picked it up in New York about seven years ago for roughly $300
with hardshell case (it was a sweet deal through a friend in the
business: $200 cash plus trade of an Estrada acoustic, which I figured
*might* be worth $100 at the time -- and that was questionable). And
after all these years, I still love to play it.
You're probably correct about the hollow body. Your description sounds
very much like my Bluesbird, except the Bluesbird is just about the
size of a Les Paul. Although it looks solid (no holes, "f" or
otherwise), it's quite hollow. Really surprises people when they pick
it up, it's so light. That partly accounts for the tasteful tone --
kind of round and sweet, but clean. Of course, it also accounts for
the lack of sustain as compared to the solid LP, but what the heck --
it's a different instrument and has its own personality. I've been told
that Guild has made some solid-body Bluesbirds, but I've never seen
them.
The neck on mine is rosewood with low, flat frets. They're kinda
tricky on intonation, but I'm real spoiled by the action. The neck
is shaped just right, the frets are set nicely, and it's just a
pleasure to play. Feels very much like some of the vintage Gibson
335s I've played.
If the Nightbird picks up where the Bluesbird leaves off, that could
indeed be one fine instrument. Please fill us in on where it can
be found.
Thanx,
steve
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