Let's see your S200 Thunderbirds

[leonc]

Any other owners of S200 Thunderbirds out there? Here are a couple of pics of mine. I believe it was made in 1965.

I picked it up from a dealer here in the LA area a few years ago. It has a scratch in the finish on the front and the little rubber feet on each horn (on the bottom) have pretty much crumbled away but it's in perfect shape otherwise. Some of my all-time favorite pickups. So rich and full of personality!

 

[hansmoust]

Hello leonc,

There are several LTG members that have a Guild Thunderbird. Don't have a photo on hand of my 1963 Thunderbird solo, but here it is together with my 1965 Polara.

Notice the unusual ( but original ) pickguard on the Thunderbird.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[leonc]

Very cool Hans. Love it! It looks like the top switch was also black that year.

What were the Thunderbirds with the single-coils (Muddy's?) called? They were S200s too, weren't they? I seem to recall the pickguard on that model extending into the upper horn too...or was that just Muddy's?

 

[hansmoust]

It looks like the top switch was also black that year.

I've seen 'm with black, white and red switches in all sorts of combinations. There doesn't seem to be a pattern.

What were the Thunderbirds with the single-coils (Muddy's?) called? They were S200s too, weren't they?

Those were called S-200 Thunderbird as well.

I seem to recall the pickguard on that model extending into the upper horn too...or was that just Muddy's?

Don't think I've ever seen a Thunderbird with the pickguard extending into the upper horn.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Well since you asked...

'65 Near mint!

 

[fab467]

Hi leonc and welcome:

Here's my contribution; my 1968 S-100 Polara and 1963 S-200 T-Bird.

 

[guildzilla]

"These pretzels are making me thirsty."

- Cosmo Kramer

Killer stuff, guys.

 

[leonc]

fab -Awe-inspiring!!!

Okay, check out this photo. Hans - check the upper horn

These look like maybe they had the regular pickguard:

 

[Qvart]

Okay, check out this photo. Hans - check the upper horn

If that's a pickguard on the upper horn, then it's a pickguard under another pickguard. I think what you're seeing is just light/body shape/finish.

Here, I circled the pickguard edges. If the circled parts are the edges then the parts the arrows are pointing at couldn't be pickguard edges.

Does that sound right? I never paid attention to these before or looked very closely at these pics.

Oh, by the way, welcome!

 

[leonc]

Understood qvart - but look at that photo from the back of Electric Mud (and check out the cover on the actual recording if you can); it looks much more like the pickguard extends into the upper horn.

 

[hansmoust]

Okay, check out this photo. Hans - check the upper horn

Hello leonc,

Looks like you wore out your album sleeve. That's not a bad thing though!

Here's a better scan:

As you can see the pickguard is ending just above the pickups.

But at some point you might have seen this Don Howard drawing:

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Never doubt the Hans!

 

[leonc]

Hans - Too cool! I've never seen that closeup. Thanks man. That certainly clarifies it; in the smaller pic, it sure looked like a pickguard but apparently, it was just the way the light was the reflecting.

 

[fab467]

Hans - Too cool! I've never seen that closeup. Thanks man. That certainly clarifies it; in the smaller pic, it sure looked like a pickguard but apparently, it was just the way the light was the reflecting.

Hi leonc - A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to see Muddy's T-Bird on display at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. If memory serves, the pickguard looked like all the others I'd seen. I know there was some kidding in another thread about sellers describing their guitars on eBay as possessing "Mojo", but this one had all of that and more. 8)

The experience of seeing that guitar up close was very cool, however, I couldn't take a pic - against "company policy" - but at least the image remains in (what's left of ) my mind.

Thanks for sharing pics of your fab guitar!

PS - Thanks Hans for posting the Don Howard drawing - first time I've seen it.

 

[leonc]

I actually got to see Muddy play at the Chessmate Lounge in Detroit when I was about 16. So I guess it was probably about 1968/69. I remember he had Sam Lay on drums and the band was just smokin hot! They did the most intense, killin version of Mojo Workin and I was totally floored. I didn't start playing guitar for several more years so I remember little about the gear, unfortunately. But Muddy had a pumped up doo and used a cane, IIRC. Talked to him on the break a little and got the "go away kid, you bug me" kinda vibe, LOL!!!

 

[fab467]

Now that's what I call a cool memory! I love Mojo Workin but to see the great one perform it live.... 8) 8) 8)

 

[bieke]

my (presumably) 1964 Tbird
poor refinish and neck job

 

[The EH Man]

Here's mine w/ my '67(?) Jet Star bass. I bought the Thunderbird at a yard sale in Mitchell, IN for $75 back around 1988. Saw it from the road, made a u-turn, and made it mine.
The Jet Star I picked up in a trade from Lost Art Vintage in NJ around 1993. More info here: http://www.ronsound.com/jetstar.html

 

[leonc]

Excellent!

 

[fab467]

Here's mine w/ my '67(?) Jet Star bass. I bought the Thunderbird at a yard sale in Mitchell, IN for $75 back around 1988. Saw it from the road, made a u-turn, and made it mine.
The Jet Star I picked up in a trade from Lost Art Vintage in NJ around 1993. More info here: http://www.ronsound.com/jetstar.html

Hi EH - That was a very productive u-turn I haven't seen many Jet Star basses - very rare and very cool!