ARISTOCRATS vs FIRST BLUESBIRDS

[NEONMOONY]

Hey guys- looking for some education. How were those first couple of years of Bluesbirds different from the Aristocrats? The original Aristocrat had P90's and the first, hollow body Bluesbirds had HB1's right? Were there other structural differences in how they were built? Thanks in advance.

Mike

Had to make an edit. I'm in a hotel in Boston and struggling with a small keyboard and touchy mousepad. Guess you can't change the title.

 

[SFIV1967]

... and the first, hollow body Bluesbirds had HB1's right?

No, the re-issues from 1967 had Guild mini humbuckers, not HB-1s. Also the 1967 model had the neck to body joint at the 16th fret vs the 18th fret on 1969 and later models. So pickup- and bridge position is different. The 1967 and the 1970 models also had different tailpieces and the 1970 model had binding on the back as well. Page 57 shows both next to each other. Only end of 1970 the HB-1 was introduced. This info is all from Hans' book pages 57 and 71, where you find all the info you asked about.
Ralf

 

[mavuser]

Ralf he's asking to compare the 67/68 BB to the aristocrat the came before it (not 70s BBs)
i say Hans book holds all the answers.

but Ralf has identified mini humbuckers on the early BBs s single coil ("Franz") P-90s in the aristocrat.

 

[mavuser]

The headstock, the pickguard, truss rod cover, the tuners, in most cases the tailpiece (cosmetically not shape-wise), the pickups as mentioned above, and the big difference probably was that all Arostocrats had spruce tops. Some BBs may have spruce tops but many have laminated maple tops and some mahogany tops.

 

[SFIV1967]

Ralf he's asking to compare the 67/68 BB to the aristocrat the came before it (not 70s BBs).

I got that but just wanted to point out that there were a couple of iterations within a short time between 1967 and 1972 on the re-issue Bluesbird model. Many don't notice even those differences on first quick view. Hans book shows it nicely. So it's not just "one Aristocrat" vs "one Bluesbird" to compare. Other minor differences would be the different shape of the headstock for instance between the Aristocrat and the Bluesbird.

...all Arostocrats had spruce tops.

Laminated spruce tops to be precise. Even if many adds claim they have solid spruce tops they were all laminated as far as I know.

Ralf

 

[Default]

Was that a case of Guild using up old superstructures on the initial Bluesbirds?

 

[Quantum Strummer]

I've played a couple 1950s Aristocrats, many years ago, but have never owned or spent serious time with one. All I can really contribute is this: my Bluesbird (1970, anti-hum pickups) and NS Aristocrat have a very similar—kinda ringy, almost clanky—acoustic sound. It was this that sold me on the latter without even plugging it in, knowing how well that sound amplifies. The Bluesbird's body is all maple rather than the NS Aristocrat's (and most vintage examples') spruce/mahogany combo, but sonically this doesn't amount to much. Laminates… [Edit: the different bridges, rosewood on the BB and TOM-style on the Aristo, might even out an inherently brighter vs. darker acoustic sound.] The 16th vs. 18th fret neck/body joint leads to a different feel in my left arm/shoulder—I prefer the Aristocrat in this respect—while my Bluesbird's narrower neck causes me to play a bit differently…more barre chords, easier thumb fretting. IMO they provide two cool variations on the same unique theme.

-Dave-

 

[SFIV1967]

Was that a case of Guild using up old superstructures on the initial Bluesbirds?

Since the headstock changed the necks were new I'd say. But regarding the bodies you are correct as Hans said here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...sbird-models&p=1253489&viewfull=1#post1253489
Ralf