Fugly? Weird? Cool? Guild T-Bird ST NGD

[sloppychops]

Found this in the used section of Guitar Center yesterday. Aside from some light pickguard swirling it looked like it had barely been played. I've thought these were weird and wonderful since I first saw them years ago, so of course I had to get it. I didn't even plug it in at the store. It felt right and looked near new, so off we went.

It was strung with really light strings and after trying it out at home I wasn't sure I'd keep it. Changed the strings to .11s and it felt and sounded much better. I'd describe it as a thick, vintage-y tone that's best suited for bluesy stuff. Bridge pickup sounds best, bridge and neck together adds some thickness and chime, and the neck pickup is dark and "wooly"...veering into "muddy," actually. Works well for slide with some overdrive, and maybe jazz type chords played clean, but that's about it.

It's a 2017, so it's pre-Pau Ferro and the rosewood is nice and dark. Smooth fret ends, no gaps with filler around the inlays. 7lbs. even. The looks are either love it or hate it. I like how weird it is, but that's just me. I can totally understand if you think it's the ugliest guitar you've seen.

 

[sloppychops]

It's ok to say how freakin' hideous you think it looks. When I first saw one years ago I was simultaneously repulsed and attracted. Now that I have one, I have to say it's one of the coolest guitars I own.

 

[brookdalebill]

Zalman Yanovsky (Lovin’ Spoonful) and Muddy Waters thought they were cool, too!

 

[MTPoteet]

I had one of those, don't remember what happened to it.

 

[bullfrogblues]

Congrats!!

I always wanted one of those!

 

[rockymtnguitar]

I think they're cool. What are the pickups?

 

[MisterZ]

Especially delicious in white. Nice score!

 

[teleteej]

Nice score... in white, no less! I had a black one and loved it. Happy NGD

 

[39martind18]

May your dreams be filled with this "ugly" build from the good folks at Guild!

 

[sloppychops]

I think they're cool. What are the pickups?

Guld LB-1 ("Little Bucker") Humbuckers. Weird thing is that although Guild modeled these after a set of vintage Guild pickups, the ones they used as the basis for designing these inadvertently came from two different guitars and the output levels differ noticeably...at least that's the story. The neck is 7-something, while the bridge is 5-something. So getting a balance between the two is tricky.

I really wish these had the capacitor that is on the S-200 T-bird that approximates a single coil sound. I've been trying to find out what they used on the S-200 version so I can add it to mine.

 

[Reedo]

I played one once. I fell for it, but didn't part with any cash. They still look crazy cool though. Enjoy!

 

[Donny Osmond fan]

Found this in the used section of Guitar Center yesterday. Aside from some light pickguard swirling it looked like it had barely been played. I've thought these were weird and wonderful since I first saw them years ago, so of course I had to get it. I didn't even plug it in at the store. It felt right and looked near new, so off we went.

It was strung with really light strings and after trying it out at home I wasn't sure I'd keep it. Changed the strings to .11s and it felt and sounded much better. I'd describe it as a thick, vintage-y tone that's best suited for bluesy stuff. Bridge pickup sounds best, bridge and neck together adds some thickness and chime, and the neck pickup is dark and "wooly"...veering into "muddy," actually. Works well for slide with some overdrive, and maybe jazz type chords played clean, but that's about it.

It's a 2017, so it's pre-Pau Ferro and the rosewood is nice and dark. Smooth fret ends, no gaps with filler around the inlays. 7lbs. even. The looks are either love it or hate it. I like how weird it is, but that's just me. I can totally understand if you think it's the ugliest guitar you've seen.

View attachment 1104301View attachment 1104302View attachment 1104303View attachment 1104305

I like them too. Have you seen this one?

 

[S00NERMAN]

Very Gumby-ish! Cool in a funky way.

 

[sloppychops]

I like them too. Have you seen this one?

View attachment 1104987

That's the S-200 Thunderbird. The ones like mine without the trem are called the Thunderbird ST (for "stop tailpiece"). I really like the way the S-200 can approximate a single coil sound. Not sure exactly how they do that, but am given to understand there's a capacitor that does this. It's not a true coil split.

From what I've read, the Hagstrom trem has mixed reviews. There's one on my vintage Harmony, but it has very stiff action and instantly puts the guitar out of tune.

 

[Donny Osmond fan]

That's the S-200 Thunderbird. The ones like mine without the trem are called the Thunderbird ST (for "stop tailpiece"). I really like the way the S-200 can approximate a single coil sound. Not sure exactly how they do that, but am given to understand there's a capacitor that does this. It's not a true coil split.

From what I've read, the Hagstrom trem has mixed reviews. There's one on my vintage Harmony, but it has very stiff action and instantly puts the guitar out of tune.

They new ones are made better than the original trem. Nothing wrong with them.

 

[sloppychops]

I've found out the capacitor that effects a single coil sound is a 3300mf capacitor. But I can't tell from the guy's screen shot how it's connected to the signal chain.

 

[sloppychops]

They new ones are made better than the original trem. Nothing wrong with them.

This is the best review of the S200 I've found. He covers the trem in this piece: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2018/02/28/guild-newark-street-s200-t-bird/

 

[Dismalhead]

Very cool. Love Guilds. Congrats!

 

[BB]

Good enough for Muddy, good enough for me.....er, everybody!

 

[TunedupFlat]

I dig it! Congrats!