Bluesbirds: Owners & Long Time Borrowers List

[StanBlues]

Pwal,
Just to add .... if the serial number is CM and not CL it could be from '03 and be a Corona Bluesbird.
Just thought of that. So double check for me and I will make sure I get her listed correctly.

Rock on!
dennis

 

[Pwal]

Hey Dennis,

It's definitely CL000771. The previous owner told me it was a 2000 or 2001, but he could have been wrong. Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger picture.

J-F

 

[StanBlues]

Well then I would say you would be even more pleased, knowing that she is that clean and at least three years older then you thought!
Seriously though, she is in really great shape.... and I am sure she sounds great....
I cannot tell you 100% that it is a '97. I can only bracket based upon the other serial numbers on the list. Using that information I am going to list it as a '97 unless you tell me otherwise.
Someone else might have the list around or might chime in with a definite answer.
CL, of course is the designation for Westerly BB's and '97 was the first year of that line. Thanks for posting!
I will get the update out in the next day or two.....
Also if anyone is interested in having the actual spreadsheet, let me know. I can email it as an attachment. Almost everyone has given me serial numbers so far so I am able to bracket almost all the later models into their particular year group. Still working on a better way to correctly identify AAA and colors.

Rock on!
dennis

 

[SFIV1967]

It's definitely CL000771. The previous owner told me it was a 2000 or 2001.

Since the S/N list is not accurate for those numbers I am not 100% sure, but that seems to be a 1997 or 1998 one. I would tend to 1997. If the search function would work I could tell you because Hans has dated tons of Bluesbirds in the past, but I can't search for those posts currently. Dennis: Until Hans has published his second book with the new serial number list, you might even add a field behind the serial numbers in your internal database (not the public one) where you say "Confirmed by Hans: Yes/No", so you know which dates are 100% correct and which dates are just guesses. So far the Guild webpage list shows for 1997: CL000153 to CL001013. But that could also potentially include 1998, I know Hans answered this all in an older post which I can't find so far..
Ralf

 

[StanBlues]

Ralph... good idea... I will scroll back and see what i can come up with.....
by my estimate it is a '97, but it just slides past the last known and confirmed '97 (Wilfred 721)... so you are absolutely right....it could slide in at the beginning of '98.
This would be a good one to confirm.....I hate to keep bothering folks with SN questions..... so I will let it be ....
If you happen to find that post let me know or just PM me the link ..... i will go from there.....
I know that picky, you, me and a few others have been confirmed with dates... so that helps me a lot.....
I will start making a back up comment for "Confirmed" BB's.....
also if someone has the original paperwork .... that is always a plus.....
I have both hang tags for my BB's but they don't say much on them....just the model number and some of the specs.....
they didn't even put the color code on the end of the model number.....
I am pretty lucky since it is tough to mistake a cherry sunburst or a black guitar!
Rock on!
dennis

 

[Pwal]

Well then I would say you would be even more pleased, knowing that she is that clean and at least three years older then you thought!

Cool! That's good to know!

 

[Harpymorgan]

I'm sure someone else had told you this, but there are 2 recently sold 1967 Bluesbirds (I know - they weren't officially bluesbirds til 68), one from Retrofret, and the other from Dream Guitars. You may be able to chase these 2 out - they both have serial nos on the website

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm sure someone else had told you this, but there are 2 recently sold 1967 Bluesbirds (I know - they weren't officially bluesbirds til 6, one from Retrofret, and the other from Dream Guitars. You may be able to chase these 2 out - they both have serial nos on the website

Yes, but this list is a owners list of LTG members owning one, so unless somebody from LTG bought them they wouldn't belong in the list that Dennis created. I mean it is up to him if he wants also to create a second list of other Bluesbirds found...but such list might be with Hans anyway.
Ralf

 

[StanBlues]

I agree with Ralph. The list is for LTG members, not that I want to exclude anyone, but the task of tracking all BB's is just too much for me.
The list is completely voluntary and the "Owner/Long Time Borrower" must list his/her guitar on the thread. All are welcome, as I stated in my first post on this thread.
I will do my best to keep the list appropriate to the guitars the fall into the Bluesbird category, full knowing that some of the early predecessors were not actually called Bluesbirds.
We have generated great discussions regarding what is or isn't a Bluesbird, what colors, styles and models we recognize, and I have tried my best to accommodate all who have made an argument either way. The LTG community has been a great place for people to post and talk about their Guilds (and some other stuff too!).
I would say that if you know someone who has a Bluesbird or any Guild for that matter, that you recommend that they join LTG. I would gladly welcome another addition to the family.

Rock on!
dennis

 

[Harpymorgan]

Dennis

I have a 1967 Bluesbird that I purchased recently. I've always wanted one and I had thought about getting one this year on a trip to the USA. There is a guy in California who has 3 70's ones on Ebay. they are all a little battered, but this seems to be the way of most of the 70s ones. they've been on Ebay for ages- its a pity as they are a very under rated guitar. One came up from a studio in London that were looking to sell some vintage gear to pay some bills. I love it, and it is almost identical in condition to the one that sold recently at Retrofret, although I don't think I paid anything like the price they were asking.

 

[StanBlues]

Harpymorgan,
Congrats on the Bluesbird.... You are bound to get some good natured harassment here until you post a picture, but don't worry it is all in good fun and only because you are dealing with a special breed here.
These folks are borderline fanatical about Guilds and we LOVE pictures! Also welcome to LTG!
If you can post a picture or two of your new Bird that would be awesome! Also if you can post the serial number, model number (M-75?) and color designation I will add as much detail as you give me to the list! Is it all original? I am not too familiar with the early Birds, so give me the run down, what you like, don't like etc..... I agree that they are a very cool guitar. That's pretty much why we have this thread.
Congrats again....now let's see that bird....
BTW if you don't already know you need to get an account with someone like photobucket or imageshack, upload there, copy the URL for the image and then use the picture button above, copy the link in the pop-up and you should be able to post.
Let me know if you have any trouble.

Welcome, and Rock on!!!
dennis

 

[Harpymorgan]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/bluesbird.jpg/

Hi Dennis

Try this one - hope picture comes through. bit low quality - if this works I will put some better ones on.
Guitar is all original apart from one silver knob where the rest are gold topped. The body is full hollow and it is very light. The feel is very much like an acoustic, although the neck is much thinner than an acoustic. I have seen some criticism of the smaller frets, which I can see, but I guess its what you get used to. The frets have tons of life left and the neck is dead straight - the intonation is very good. The only thing I will need to do is to polish the frets above about the 13th fret as the strings bind a little on the bends. The sound electrically is fantastic - I made my own 2 watt valve amp last year, and it really cuts through that - the neck pickup is a lot jazzier than say a Peter green sound, but both the pickups have a lot of bite. I'll put a sample of (my mediocre playing!) on youtube at some point. Don't know much history apart from that it was a studio guitar in London for several years, which is where I bought it, as they needed to raise funds to keep the studio afloat.

 

[SFIV1967]

Harpymorgan: Just right-click on the picture in Imageshack and use that "Directlink": (http://imageshack.us/a/img835/8477/bluesbird.jpg)
(Don't use the "links to share this image")

Here you go:

Ralf

 

[laverda]

Hi folks, here a few pics of my Goldtop taken in my studio. The guitar was a present for my 40th birthday last year and enabled out of the US by LTGer Raven. To say I love it would be a gross understatement!

Year is 1997 and serial number is CL000920

And here she is with her family...

Cheers,
Mick

 

[Noun0]

1997 Westerly

 

[StanBlues]

Harpy, laverda and Noun0,
Great guitars all around... not a bad one in the bunch..... Sorry I have not posted in a little while. There was a problem getting on to LTG and of course my work here has been busy lately.
laverda, got you posted with serial number. Good to hear from you again. I know how much you love that bird! What a great guitar man!
Harpy, If you can get me a serial number I will get it on the list. Also I am listing as "sunburst" for the color if that is OK with you. Fixit has a '68 and has it listed as a "Sunburst" so unless you tell me otherwise I will keep it the same. Also a great looking guitar. I bet if you ask around you can replace that knob with an original.
Noun0..... I don't know what to say except...WOW. Great looking Bird man. I would be interested to see a few more pics in different lighting to see how that top looks. I will list as "Cherry" for now and it looks like a quilted/AAA top to me, but I will let you call the ball and I will adjust based upon your model and color choice. Also get me the serial number and I will try to confirm as a '97.

Just a little thread veer here, but I figured, it is my thread and nobody seems to mind anyway. So I am no Pascal and don't play the blues/rock very well, but I have been really digging Paul Kossoff lately and FREE. While his career was sadly cut short, he produced some great music. Lately I have been working on "Remember" off of the Fire and Water album. In my humble opinion it was a completely underrated song and just has that summer feel to it. The solo starting around 2:11 is a great example of his work. Lots of vibrato, double stops and cool Koss bends. My friend tabbed it for me and posted a video for instructional purposes on youtube. Koss tuned it a little sharp on the recording, but you can also play it in standard tuning if you like. The shuffle is pretty easy, but getting that Koss sound can be a fun trip. If you are into that kind of music or just feel like trying something new, I would check it out. I also like the fact that, at least as far as I know, Kossoff did not use a bunch of effects, but rather plugged in to the amp and made great music. (in my opinion) There is also no live recording of "Remember" at least none that I can find. If I played well enough I would do a video myself.
Well Rock on! and I will post the updated list soon.
Keep those Birds coming and don't forget to post serial numbers, model and color as you are able.

Best,
Dennis

 

[StanBlues]

OK... so here is the updated list.
Please let me know if there are any corrections. Seems my attention to detail has been slipping lately.
Rock On!
dennis

[/IMG]

 

[StanBlues]

Fellow LTGers......
Listen ... I just noticed that we are still missing the ever elusive '98 Bluesbird......
I have seen them on ebay.... and around....even saw one listed a while back at GC...... I know someone out there has one....
So just fess up already!... 2nevets probably has three of them.... or maybe Grot is holding out.....
Ok... so PM your buddy you know is hiding his bird(s) and tell him to post the goods!

Rock on!
dennis

 

[AcornHouse]

Here's my entry to the registry. A black Bluesbird (can't we call them Blackbirds? ) from '97, #292.


Apparently Imageshack doesn't want to work today.:livid:

Fixed it.

 

[StanBlues]

Chris,
Great post! I am very partial to the "Blackbird" flavor of the BB line. I kind of like the name too! I think we would just wind up confusing the heck out of people with that even unofficial designation.
I also really like the black on black behind the pups.... that is a great look for a sweet guitar. She cleaned up really nice!
I will get you on the list asap and post the update as soon as I can.
Congrats!
Dennis