The difference between models

[SFIV1967]

They still can be found in the $1k range:

Here is a 1992 one for a reasonable price, but with the controls on the waist of the body:

Guild SB-BK Black W/Case | Reverb

Check out this very unique and rare Guild SB-BK songbird! The Guild Songbird was used by many greats over the years due to it's extremely ergonomic thin-line design, excellent play-ability and unique tone. This one is in very good shape, shows some cosmetic wear, has one non-original yet ma...

reverb.com

The 1992 one from Guitar Showcase is slightly above, again with the controls on the waist of the body: (looks great to me)

Guild Songbird 1991 Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Here we have one of the most popular acoustic electric guitars of its time, the Guild Songbird. Used by artists like Eric Clapton, Barry Gibb, and many others,

www.guitarshowcase.com

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

I wonder if the SB is overpriced, or the other Guilds underpriced?

buy a Songbird for $1,300...and tell us how u feel about it 2 weeks later

 

[mavuser]

4 years ago these were $600-700. i am talking about the real deal, og, first genny, nitro finished, slimmer, Frankie Hannon variant. I almost bought one, with the case, for $575 or $675, on November 16, 2016, in Pennsylvania. I was driving from Florida to NY. was on the fence since i really didn't need one, just found one in great condition on my way home for super cheap. then I got a $600 speeding ticket in Virginia. which really has nothing to do w the guitar, i'm just a very superstitious person and it seemed like a sign to let the un-needed Songbird go for good...it was one of those..."if i don't buy this one, i will most likely never own one," and at that moment, realized, that was ok. typically in that scenario I would go for it, just to get it out of my system.

years prior to that, I was super hot for a Songbird- largely due to the Frankie Hannon videos. Then I got my F-20, and that need/want/quest was over.

in really learning about the guitar, it is designed for the electric shredder to play lead guitar, plugged in, with a sizable audience. (Clapton, Knopfler, Hannon...). Only other purpose I can think of is a straight collector, or if one just falls in your lap.

enjoy

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

[EDIT] Proven wrong once again but I'm leaving my post "as is" for historical purposes!

I think there might be a little confusion about the controls location going on in this thread.

To the best of my knowledge the Songbirds never had the controls up on the shoulder. I'm pretty sure they started out on the waist.

I present the following for evidence.

This is my Songbird which is #14. As you can see the controls are on the waist.

I believe the confusion might be coming because of the controls location on the Crossroads Series which are on the shoulder.

Here is my FS-46:

And while I'm at it I might as well post it's 12-string cousin. (Hi Jane!)

 

[Nuuska]

While we're torturing op with pictures of our lovely treasures - here goes...

As far I know - both Songbirds are 1990

 

[mavuser]

I think there might be a little confusion about the controls location going on in this thread.

To the best of my knowledge the Songbirds never had the controls up on the shoulder.

at one point the skinny Songbird did in fact have the controls on the shoulder, and there are 2 variants of that design- one of which has no back door/control cavity at all! i believe these either are the very first Songbirds (pre-waist controls), or else right after the waist controls before the fishman barn door

 

[mavuser]

wow look at Nuuska's stash! You are the guy to ask- is a Songbird worth as much as a Nightbird?? that red one is a looker!

 

[cupric]

wow look at Nuuska's stash! You are the guy to ask- is a Songbird worth as much as a Nightbird?? that red one is a looker!

No.....a SB is not in the same league as a NB. I'm my opinion very few electric guitars are.

 

[cupric]

buy a Songbird for $1,300...and tell us how u feel about it 2 weeks later

I get that. I've had three, from the nineties through the 2000s. You could get them for 500. or less. I sold them all. But I still have a fondness. Just be a Guild thing! I often reflect on all the Guilds I have owned. I was always the Guild guy. I owned several other guitars over the years, pretty much everything I wanted. But Guilds were my passion. I'm large groups of musicians I was always the only guy with a Guild. For 30 years, from the 70s on, this was pretty much always the case. And this was in Rhode Island!

 

[SFIV1967]

To the best of my knowledge the Songbirds never had the controls up on the shoulder. I'm pretty sure they started out on the waist.

mavuser already answered this, just to summarize: By the end of 1992 the rotary control knobs moved from the waist to the sholder of the body. Those bodies were still 1 7/8" deep. The deeper body with the slider controls came only in 1995 as far as I read from Hans previous posts.

...and there are 2 variants of that design- one of which has no back door/control cavity at all!

Now that is something new to me. Do you have a picture of such a model with knobs at the sholder and access plate?

First gen before 1992 with knobs at the waist:

Second generation 1994 S4-CE with knobs on the sholder and no access plate:

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

Now that is something new to me. Do you have a picture of such a model with knobs at the sholder and access plate?

Ralf

i do not have a photo, and technically could
be remembering wrong, but pretty sure i have seen at least one that way. maybe it was a very early shoulder variant that still had the back plate and was still a "high gloss songbird" like this:

 

[grmps]

They still can be found in the $1k range:

Here is a 1992 one for a reasonable price, but with the controls on the waist of the body:

Guild SB-BK Black W/Case | Reverb

Check out this very unique and rare Guild SB-BK songbird! The Guild Songbird was used by many greats over the years due to it's extremely ergonomic thin-line design, excellent play-ability and unique tone. This one is in very good shape, shows some cosmetic wear, has one non-original yet ma...

reverb.com

The 1992 one from Guitar Showcase is slightly above, again with the controls on the waist of the body: (looks great to me)

Guild Songbird 1991 Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Here we have one of the most popular acoustic electric guitars of its time, the Guild Songbird. Used by artists like Eric Clapton, Barry Gibb, and many others,

www.guitarshowcase.com

Ralf

I've been eyeballing both of these... The black one is too thick though. It's the one I was referencing in my earlier posts. I like the natural finish looking one, but as I said, it's the wrong color and knobs are in the wrong spot for me to justify spending that much.

 

[grmps]

I believe the confusion might be coming because of the controls location on the Crossroads Series which are on the shoulder.

Here is my FS-46:

That is a great looking guitar too. It looks ridiculously thin... is it?
EDIT... Oh My Good Lord 2k. on ebay! it's a decent looking guitar but waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outta my budget

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

That is a great looking guitar too. It looks ridiculously thin... is it?

Yes, they are also 1-1/2" just like the first generation Songbird.

Here is another FS-46 version:

Then there's this one if you're playing Hair Metal Power Ballads:

Here's the very rare FS-20CE which is also small bodied like the Songbird:

They also produced a "Dreadnought model:

 

[Bonneville88]

Another view of the body depth change

 

[grmps]

Yes, they are also 1-1/2" just like the first generation Songbird.

Here is another FS-46 version:

Then there's this one if you're playing Hair Metal Power Ballads:

Here's the very rare FS-20CE which is also small bodied like the Songbird:

Oh man I love all of those!! I particularly like the "Hair Metal" one but I'm not too keen on the headstock. but the black and red trim are beautiful. The first version is beautiful too.

 

[SFIV1967]

The black one is too thick though.

Nope, same thin 1 7/8" body! It's just an optical illusion as it is black. Only the versions with the slider electronics have the thicker body.
Ralf

 

[grmps]

Another view of the body depth change

THANK YOU! the skinnier one is fantastic!
That's what I'm after but in black with shoulder knobs!

 

[grmps]

Nope, same thin 1 7/8" body! It's just an optical illusion as it is black. Only the versions with the slider electronics have the thicker body.
Ralf

Really? I've been scouring those pictures I would swear the black one was thicker... even the Frankie hannon videos look thicker than that san jose shop one...

 

[SFIV1967]

maybe it was a very early shoulder variant that still had the back plate and was still a "high gloss songbird" like this.

Possible that you saw something like this. But at least other white models had also nothing on the back:

Ralf