question

[mavuser]

if you have a semi-hollow, or seemingly even some "solid/chambered" examples as well, if the bridge is drilled (not floating), why would you have an "archtop tailpiece" and not a tailpiece drilled right behind the bridge (like a 90s SF4). So basically what I mean is some guitars are like a 90s SF4 wih a tailpiece on the end of the guitar. the Bluesbird changed from one to the other when the bridge was no longer a floating bridge, so it is like a regular electric guitar. why would someone have a guitar like that with the archtop tailpiece? I think some Gibsons are like that.

 

[AcornHouse]

The tune-o-matic wasn't developed till '54, so the original LP gold tops still had the archtop tailpieces. The reissues, of course, need to replicate that, and some people just like that retro look.

Thats my best guess.

 

[Sleeko]

Wondered about that myself. Personally I like the look of the tailpiece on the end of the guitar. The stop one just leaves me cold. :confusion:

 

[Default]

Possibly the jigs were set up to do SF lll's and lV's and there wasn't enough of a push at Guild to warrant a stop tailpiece. Considering that the S-100 tailpiece wouldn't work on an arched top, I don't think that anyone figured it would be worth doing.

 

[jcwu]

The floating tailpiece gives you a longer over-all string length, which in my limited experience does affect string tension.

 

[mavuser]

The floating tailpiece gives you a longer over-all string length, which in my limited experience does affect string tension.

I would have to agree with that. It seems to me to really be a game changer. Pretty sure I prefer a regular electric guitar stop/tail on a regular electric guitar. It is just more what I am used to and more comfortable playing. so a later Bluesbird would feel much more like a Jetstar or a Tele than an early Bluesbird. and early Bluesbird is more like a Starfire to me.

 

[matsickma]

I think the SF 4 came with the floating tailpiece because that was Guilds style.The limited use of the stop in the 90's seemed to more up with the times and less interested in retaining the vintage look.
The M75's that were semi solid with tail piece were the result of Guild trying to get solid body performance from the archtop M75. By 1973 they gave up and came out with the solid M75.