Aloha!
I just signed up to the forum today, finding it after a google-binge looking for some info on my Guilds. Nice place, thanks all for the info here!
I've been a long-time Guild user, although pared down to two (a mid-80's Pilot bass, and my longtime companion M-75GS walnut-and-gold Bluesbird which I assume is probably a 1970 or '71).
I realized I've had this absolute chunk of beautiful mahogany for over 30 years... which made me feel old.
A family member originally purchased it new in the early '70s, and it was later passed down to me when I started bashing bad punk rock out of it in the mid-80's. I learned to appreciate what I had later, and naturally, it's got some wear as it started life as my high school learning/bump-around/beater!
A long time ago, I thought about trading it in on some probably-now-disposable Charvel but the shop made me an offer of, like "maybe it's worth $250..." Even as a kid, I knew that was wrong! I held on to it - whew - and thankfully made it past those fashion '90s years of dayglo squealing strats. I admit, as a concession to my generation, I did pick up a Steinberger M type as concession to my generation, though.
Your ideal guitar, first kiss, etc. is generally gonna be based on that first experience. So MY ideal Guild Bluesbird means it's got the stairstep pickguard, straight stopbar tailpiece - not the flowery old style one, and enclosed Grover tuners, just like mine has. When I started googling for "bluesbird" and "M-75" I got a ton of other pick guards and tailpiece types, and that was initially confusing as to what model and year I had. It looks to me like the stairstep pickguard puts it between 1970-72, but it doesn't have the master volume or switches - just four knobs and two gold-plated humbuckers. Serial is 53780. I'm keeping my eyes open for another just like it, but the walnut "root beer clear" colored ones are hard to find, period - it seems that they're all black from that time period, or if they are woodgrain, then they have the old stylized tailpiece. Anyone has any comments or info on my baby, I'm all ears!
Thanks,
SWTC