New guy, old guild

Dave_in_Va

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Hi,
I'm an old guy (three chord garage guy) and have become a fan of old Guilds. I have a pretty '68 Starfire V and a really pretty '66 Starfire III and just picked up this '69 Bluesbird M-75. After having the bridge worked on a bit, I really like it. Early impressions are that it is brighter sounding than the other two Guilds. Really light.
I've got a few questions about it.
Is this guitar from Hoboken or Westerly? If it helps, the serial number is DD 3xx.
Is the body maple? It appears that the fretboard is ebony. Since the pickups read in the low fives, I'm assuming that's why it's a little brighter sounding guitar.
Thanks for your help.

y6sZlLc.jpg
 

GAD

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Gorgeous! I’d say probably ‘69 or so, so Westerly but I’m not near the bible and haven’t had coffee yet.

Welcome!
 

davismanLV

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Welcome!! That's beautiful! As the board slowly wakes up and people get more caffeinated you'll start seeing more responses!! Also, Dave, your first posts are moderated for a bit to make sure you're a real person so if your posts don't show up immediately, that's why. Answers are forthcoming..... (y)
 

GAD

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Coffee imbibed and bible referenced.

Looks like '68-69. Another digit of the S/N would help. In that time period there's some overlap between Hoboken/Westerly so someone with more knowledge or caffeine may need to step in.
 

walrus

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Welcome! Great guitar and collection of LP's!

walrus
 

GGJaguar

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Welcome to LTG and congrats on the Bluesbird acquisition!
 

jp

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Welcome to the LTG forum! That's a nice M-75 you have there.

The gold-plated hardware and ebony fretboard indicate that it's an M-75 Deluxe model. As you probably know, yours is one of the hollow models. I have a solid body '76 but I've always lusted after a hollow model. According to Hans Moust's book, most after '68 had laminated maple bodies but could have had a spruce top and mahogany body. The brighter sound may point to yours being maple.

I wonder if the bridge is original or not. Does the body show screw holes under the bridge? If you're using an unwound third string, you may get more accurate intonation with a compensated bridge mounted on a wooden base.

We would love to see your Starfires if you get a chance to post photos too!
 

shihan

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Welcome! Beautiful Bluesbird you have there. I think you’ll fit right in here....
 

Dave_in_Va

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Thanks.
My tech didn't mention any holes drilled into the body under the bridge but I'll ask.
I'm not going to stress about the intonation on the G. I'm not really much of a player. Like I mentioned, three chord garage rock.
Here's the '68 Starfire V. Quite a bit heavier than the Bluesbird or the III. The Bluesbird is at 6#, the V at 9# and III at 7#. The V doesn't "feel" that heavy. Say, the way a 9# Tele would feel.

akr9gBY.jpg
 

DThomasC

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I have never seen a M75 with a bridge that has a wooden base. All of the ones that I've seen, both the Aristocrats from late 50's and early 60's, and the Bluesbirds from late 60's have had floating solid metal feet, one for each end of the bridge. But, I am no expert, especially on the late 60's - early 70's transition models.

Here's a photo of the bridge and one foot of my NS Aristocrat. Here the bridge is a metal TOM. I believe the early Aristocrats had wooden bridges (my M65 does.) Don't know what came on the later M75 Bluesbirds, but that bridge doesn't look stock to me.

M75Foot.jpg
 

fronobulax

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SFIV1967

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...might have wood as might...
Wooden bridge yes, but what we mean is the base which used to be two floating brass feet:

1593459967762.png


Mind that 70ies one also has a slightly different body construction with binding on the back compared to the older black on one from the OP.

Ralf
 
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jp

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I've never seen the hollow models with a floating bridge either, which is why I wondered whether there were screw holes hiding underneath the current wooden bridge base. But with Guild, you never know. . .

Beautiful classic Starfire V! Thanks for posting a pic!

It also appears that you have two copies of "Axis Bold as Love," but I can't be sure. :unsure:
 

Dave_in_Va

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My tech just emailed to say that there were not two holes under the bridge base.
Oh, the serial number is DD 37X

Axis : Mono and stereo.
 

The Guilds of Grot

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I'm going to out on a limb here with the threat of getting "Hans'd" but I think the OP's guitar has a bridge assembly from a larger body archtop IE; T-100, CE-100, X-175, X-500 etc.

CE-100D.jpg


As far as I know without doing any research, I believe the 3/4" body guitars all used the wood bridge with the metal feet.

M-65.jpg

[Waiting to be proven horribly wrong!]
 

SFIV1967

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I've never seen the hollow models with a floating bridge either, which is why I wondered whether there were screw holes hiding underneath the current wooden bridge base.
The vintage Aristocrats all had those floating bridges, the brass feet with the height adjustment wheel were floating (means not fixed to the body)!

1593465453970.png


1593465695267.png


No holes as you can see:

1593465809308.png


Ralf
 
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hansmoust

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I think the OP's guitar has a bridge assembly from a larger body archtop IE; T-100, CE-100, X-175, X-500 etc.
As far as I know without doing any research, I believe the 3/4" body guitars all used the wood bridge with the metal feet.

You're absolutely right! The bridge on the OP's guitar is not a Guild bridge though!
 
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