Goldtop Bluesbird
- Thread starter duke54
- Start date
gravydb
Junior Member
That one was on ebay recently. I thought it was gorgeous, and I was REALLY close to pulling the trigger on it.
My Bluesbird is CM000448, manufactured in 2002, so I suppose yours is earlier than that.
You got a beauty there! Take care of it!
Have fun!
My Bluesbird is CM000448, manufactured in 2002, so I suppose yours is earlier than that.
You got a beauty there! Take care of it!
Have fun!guildzilla
Senior Member
I don't know all the details, but after FMIC closed the Guild factory in Westerly, RI in 2001 and moved production to its plant in Corona, CA, the first Bluesbirds made there were done by the Fender Custom Shop. I had one awhile back with the holoflake finish.
I'm not sure how many Bluesbirds were built by the Custom Shop. Most, if not all, were built with an unbound dot fretboard. Fairly quickly, the model was transitioned to normal production and returned to the bound fretboard with block inlays as had been done on the Bluesbirds built previously at Westerly.
Until they stopped building them altogether circa 2004.
I'm not sure how many Bluesbirds were built by the Custom Shop. Most, if not all, were built with an unbound dot fretboard. Fairly quickly, the model was transitioned to normal production and returned to the bound fretboard with block inlays as had been done on the Bluesbirds built previously at Westerly.
Until they stopped building them altogether circa 2004.
matsickma
Senior Member
Hey guildzilla,
The unbound necks with dot fret markers were used on the Blues 90. If I recall correctly the sparkle bird you owned was very unusual as it was the first time I saw a Bluesbird with humbuckers with the "Blues90" neck. I had owned a Blues90 and now own a Bluesbird 90. I wish I still had the Blues 90 around to compare to the Bluesbird 90. They seem very different to me in my memory. It seems like the Bluesbird 90 neck is even chunkier than a Blues90 neck and the Bluesbird90 is thinner than a Blues 90. The chunkier necks of any style 90 is still comfortable. Your hand doesn't get crabbed up as musch as the slimmer necks.
M
The unbound necks with dot fret markers were used on the Blues 90. If I recall correctly the sparkle bird you owned was very unusual as it was the first time I saw a Bluesbird with humbuckers with the "Blues90" neck. I had owned a Blues90 and now own a Bluesbird 90. I wish I still had the Blues 90 around to compare to the Bluesbird 90. They seem very different to me in my memory. It seems like the Bluesbird 90 neck is even chunkier than a Blues90 neck and the Bluesbird90 is thinner than a Blues 90. The chunkier necks of any style 90 is still comfortable. Your hand doesn't get crabbed up as musch as the slimmer necks.
M
I bought a california fat tele back in 1991 or 1992 ? and there was a gold top in the store some years later. i was in love with that thing! every time either no $ and goldtop avail or had $ and couldnt find one for sale. Yes it was ebay and there is not a mark on it . I could not honestly let it go this time cause its been way too long of a wait. when i opened that box at the ups store i was stunned. two sweeties were also stunned when one said is that a les paul and i said no it isnt. Thank You Gentlemen 8)
guildzilla
Senior Member
Hi, mat -
I'm thinking the neck on that "sparkle bird" I had was a slightly different contour from the Blues 90 I had, but I didn't have both at the same time. Sometimes I wish I'd used inside calipers to measure the neck width for all the guitars I've ever had and kept a record. Mine was part of the holoflake batch built for NAMM 2002. Always thought it was odd that those were made with a dot neck.
I guess this is your guitar now, duke:
http://cgi.ebay.com/198-down-USA-Guild- ... 3e0f536d2-
It's only gorgeous.
I'm thinking the neck on that "sparkle bird" I had was a slightly different contour from the Blues 90 I had, but I didn't have both at the same time. Sometimes I wish I'd used inside calipers to measure the neck width for all the guitars I've ever had and kept a record. Mine was part of the holoflake batch built for NAMM 2002. Always thought it was odd that those were made with a dot neck.
I guess this is your guitar now, duke:
http://cgi.ebay.com/198-down-USA-Guild- ... 3e0f536d2-
It's only gorgeous.
Thats it. waiting on a response from hans about the date of mfg. if i remember the music store was in Greensburg,PA as i see a few from PA on here. His name was dave and i think it was called Pro Music. I think he went out of buisness? He was a real okay guy to deal with. See Ya
tele4tone
Member
duke54 said:
Do you still have the Cali Fat Tele?
I have one and prefer it to any other Tele. I love the five way switching.
Ok veer back now.
Cheers, Jeff
Still have the fat tele in candy apple red. it wont go anywhere. the amer std tele went away. just sounded flat to me? must be them humbuckers? same with this goldtop which Hans has told me was made by fender custom shop in 2001. must have been around the time i bought the std tele i saw the goldtop in Greensburg,pa music store. soon as i figure out how to post pictures i will show them here.Thank You Gentlemen! 8)