Bluesbird vs. Blues 90 - Advice & Help

[swamp2]

When you start looking for an amp, take a look at the Fender Blues Jr. Decent tube amps that are affordable and sound good with a Bluesbird (at least with mine)

Dave

+1 on that. I have a pretty early one, and went through and did a lot of the well publicized mods to mine but even without, they're a pretty darned good sounding little amp. W/ only 15 watts there's not a ton of clean headroom but in terms of good tone for the buck, I think they're tough to beat.

 

[Sarah93003]

Hi folks! I haven't been here in a while. What a busy summer. I'm looking for a little help with a guitar that I'm considering buying. I would like to have a chambered guitar in my little collection so I'm looking at Gretsch Duo Jet, or Guild Bluesbird. After reading several threads it appears there is another Guild model called a Blues 90. A friend is selling his Guild and I believe it to be a Blues 90 versus a Bluesbird. It is not easy assigning a date to these, but perhaps ya'll can help me. The serial number is CL001942 on the back of the headstock. The pot codes are 87 WD 500. Can anyone tell me the year from this information? Also, you can see from the pictures that there are two screws in the center of each pickup. I'm thinking this isn't supposed to be like that. They are located between the A & D strings and the G & B strings. If I buy this guitar what would be a fair offer?

thank you!
Sarah

 

[Qvart]

The serial number is CL001942 on the back of the headstock.

If that is a Bluesbird serial number it looks to be beyond 1997 and your best bet will be for Hans to date it.

Also, you can see from the pictures that there are two screws in the center of each pickup. I'm thinking this isn't supposed to be like that.

That's how many (but not all) P-90 pickups are mounted, instead of with a ring and screws on the sides like humbuckers.

Looks nice!

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Sarah and welcome back; nothing to offer on your questions but others will have useful comments ... good luck with the guitar! CJ

 

[Sarah93003]

Thank you Qvart, I'll PM him.

Thanks CJ! How are you doin' these days? This summer we started an all girl band called, "The White Falcon Band". There is four of us and we do mostly Rockabilly, Classic Rock, and Country Rock. Yours truly is on rhthym guitar and lead vocals. We haven't gigged yet as we just found a drummer and still getting acquainted. The lead guitar player and I play locally at some of the smaller venues just to check out audience reaction to our material. I think it's going to be a blast if it all comes together!

 

[capnjuan]

Doing well Sarah, thank you. A word from a Master about life in a band here ... (... a stretch of road leading to LA ...) Good luck! CJ

 

[Ross]

This summer we started an all girl band called, "The White Falcon Band".

there's a group in Toronto named White Falcon, fronted by Luke Doucet & Melissa McClelland. Yes, Gretsches are played.

 

[hansmoust]

Hi folks! I haven't been here in a while. What a busy summer. I'm looking for a little help with a guitar that I'm considering buying. I would like to have a chambered guitar in my little collection so I'm looking at Gretsch Duo Jet, or Guild Bluesbird. After reading several threads it appears there is another Guild model called a Blues 90. A friend is selling his Guild and I believe it to be a Blues 90 versus a Bluesbird. It is not easy assigning a date to these, but perhaps ya'll can help me. The serial number is CL001942 on the back of the headstock. The pot codes are 87 WD 500. Can anyone tell me the year from this information? Also, you can see from the pictures that there are two screws in the center of each pickup. I'm thinking this isn't supposed to be like that. They are located between the A & D strings and the G & B strings. If I buy this guitar what would be a fair offer?

thank you!
Sarah

Hello Sarah,

The guitar in question is a Guild Blues 90 from the year 2000. Somebody else already pointed out that the two screws in the center of the pickups are supposed to be there. They are there to fasten the pickups to the body.

Good luck!

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Sarah93003]

Thank you Hans! You are awesome!

 

[Sarah93003]

Am I correct in understanding that the Bluesbird and Blues 90 are two separate and distinct models? If so, can someone give me a brief tutorial on the difference?

CJ, great tune by the way! I love Jackson Browne. I swear that man never ages!

 

[capnjuan]

CJ, great tune by the way! I love Jackson Browne. I swear that man never ages!

8) Good luck with your band. John

 

[Sarah93003]

Thank you John. If anything cool happens, ya'll be the first to know!

Can someone tell me when Guild went under FMIC control? If this guitar is a 2000 model, I'd like to know if it is pre-Fender or post-Fender.

I tried a search but that didn't yield the answer.


thanks!

 

[Qvart]

Thank you John. If anything cool happens, ya'll be the first to know!

Can someone tell me when Guild went under FMIC control? If this guitar is a 2000 model, I'd like to know if it is pre-Fender or post-Fender.

I tried a search but that didn't yield the answer.


thanks!

Late 1995. So it's a Fender-era model. Although they were still in Westerly, RI in 2000.

 

[BluesDan]

Am I correct in understanding that the Bluesbird and Blues 90 are two separate and distinct models? If so, can someone give me a brief tutorial on the difference?

CJ, great tune by the way! I love Jackson Browne. I swear that man never ages!

Hi Sarah,

To the best of my ability:
The standard Bluesbird has two Seymour Duncan SH1 Humbuckers vs. the single coil P90's in the Blues 90.

The neck on the Blues 90 will be fatter or "chunky" as opposed to a slimmer neck on the Bluesbird.

The Blues 90 has less appointments, dot fret markers and no neck binding as opposed to block markers and neck binding on the Bluesbird.

Same basic chambered body on both.

Different color offerings, the Blues 90 was very limited with choices. Pretty sure only green, black, and red for the Blues 90.

There is a Bluesbird P90 model which was made in Corona for a couple of years that has the appointments of the standard Bluesbird but is equipped with the single coil P90 pups.

All Blues 90's were Westerly born.

Ok everyone, How'd I do?? I think I nailed it. What did I leave out or screw up? :wink:

Dan

 

[dapmdave]

Am I correct in understanding that the Bluesbird and Blues 90 are two separate and distinct models? If so, can someone give me a brief tutorial on the difference?

CJ, great tune by the way! I love Jackson Browne. I swear that man never ages!

Hi Sarah,

To the best of my ability:
The standard Bluesbird has two Seymour Duncan SH1 Humbuckers vs. the single coil P90's in the Blues 90.

The neck on the Blues 90 will be fatter or "chunky" as opposed to a slimmer neck on the Bluesbird.

The Blues 90 has less appointments, dot fret markers and no neck binding as opposed to block markers and neck binding on the Bluesbird.

Same basic chambered body on both.

Different color offerings, the Blues 90 was very limited with choices. Pretty sure only green, black, and red for the Blues 90.

There is a Bluesbird P90 model which was made in Corona for a couple of years that has the appointments of the standard Bluesbird but is equipped with the single coil P90 pups.

All Blues 90's were Westerly born.

Ok everyone, How'd I do?? I think I nailed it. What did I leave out or screw up? :wink:

Dan

Sounds right. Since I didn't read much relating to Bluesbird (humbucker model) tone, here's my take:

The bridge pickup can be a bit harsh. Good thing there's a tone control. The neck pickup is great, though. Huge sustain and strong "bluesy" vibe. I love playing mine using the neck pickup alone with some crunch in the amp.

Mine's a '97 cherry sunburst AAA made in Westerly.

Dave

 

[Sarah93003]

That sounds wonderful. What is a good price for one that in excellent condition?

 

[dapmdave]

That sounds wonderful. What is a good price for one that in excellent condition?

I have not made a close study of the prices, but from what I've seen on ebay, I think $900 - $1200 is "ballpark" depending on model and condition.

Dave

 

[caliban335]

That sounds wonderful. What is a good price for one that in excellent condition?

I got mine for just under $1000 and it's in excellent condition. I have to agree with others who have expressed reservations about the stock Duncan P-90s. They are extremely hot. If all you want is distortion, you've got it, but if you want anything else it will be tough. I'll probably get a set of Lollars when finances & time permit. The neck is awesome and I prefer the unadorned look of the Blues 90. A truly great guitar.

 

[Tunes]

Seeing how I started this thread ( ) and ended up with a Blues 90 I can say that everything mentioned is about right on. All the Blues 90's I have seen do go for about $900 to $1,200 or thereabouts. So fair or not it's market.

The guitar weighs in a little over 7 pounds, and while light by Gibson standards still weighs on you a little bit after an hour or so of steady playing.

I am an acoustic player, and a real novice at electric, but do find the pickups are indeed geared towards a Blues sound, versus standard Rock & Roll. I do like the neck very much, it feels great in my hands and it's easy to get up and down.

I've had it out to a guitar shop when buying an amp, and over to my music instructors - and the universal feedback is "Hey - nice guitar." Which as you know is the most you will get from musicians unless you have a '57 Les Paul.

I have the red version.