NGD - Nightbird II

[GGJaguar]

I never thought I'd get one of these and got lucky! This one is an '89 with a spruce top and Kent Armstrong pickups. I won't go into more detail and will simply refer you to the excellent reference GAD's Guide to Nightbirds. I really like the neck profile and 1 3/4 inch nut width. The pickups lean toward the bright side, have nice clarity and overall make the guitar sound great. My Bluesbird (either with factory Duncans or TVJones replacement pu's) does not come close in terms of sound and playability. I'm very impressed and must say that Guild really came up with a winner here. The only downside to this guitar is the weight. I know most are lightweight, but at nearly 9 lbs (4.1 kg), this example is insanely heavy for a small, chambered body guitar. I have bass guitars that weigh less! Still, it's wonderful to play and I doubt my BB will get much playing time anymore.

 

[29er]

Lovely. Back in 1987 I recall a reviewer saying the Nightbird looks like what a high end electric would be if it existed in the 1920's & 30's. Very classy, I wish I had kept mine!

 

[HeyMikey]

Congratulations! She is a beauty. If I ever decide to take up electric again this would be at the top of my list.

 

[matsickma]

The spruce top Nighbird I owned years back was suprisingly heavy also. If I recall it was a little thicker than a Blues90, Bluesbird and also Bluesbird 90 (thinnest) and felt significantly heavier than those models.
M

 

[ruedi]

Well done Greg, looking good! Welcome to the exclusive club of Nightbird owners

 

[walrus]

Congratulations! Beautiful!

walrus

 

[jp]

Gorgeous, GG. What a fine acquisition :C)

 

[ruedi]

....
The only downside to this guitar is the weight. I know most are lightweight, but at nearly 9 lbs (4.1 kg), this example is insanely heavy for a small, chambered body guitar. I have bass guitars that weigh less! Still, it's wonderful to play and I doubt my BB will get much playing time anymore.
....

My X-2000 is 3.8 kg

Heavier than every other guitar I own, but it is well balanced and ergonomically shaped, so that's acceptable. And superb playability/tone compensate a lot for me, even though I promised myself to not go back to heavier guitars again...

What are you going to do with your BB? Keep it in the collection? Or let it go?

 

[ruedi]

And why do you feel lucky having got one of these? Are they that rare? Or have you been hunting for that exact model with these specifications? Just curious

 

[GGJaguar]

Heavier than every other guitar I own, but it is well balanced and ergonomically shaped, so that's acceptable. And superb playability/tone compensate a lot for me, even though I promised myself to not go back to heavier guitars again...

Exactly the same for me!

What are you going to do with your BB? Keep it in the collection? Or let it go?

Probably keep it for now. The TVJones Magnatrons that I installed are humbuckers that sound similar to DeArmonds so it currently has a unique sound and unique is good.

 

[GGJaguar]

And why do you feel lucky having got one of these? Are they that rare? Or have you been hunting for that exact model with these specifications? Just curious

Mainly they don't show up for sale very often and, when they do, they are out of my price range. But sometimes you get lucky and the timing and price are right.

 

[Canard]

"Major congratulations!" he said out loud as he muttered to himself, "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's axe. Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's axe."