1953 Guild X 440 guitar

[mbrindell]

Hello Guild guitar lovers. This is my first post to this site so I hope that my photos from photobucket come though. I have been playing guild guitars for many years now. My latest edition is this 1953 Guild X 440. Serial # is 1008. I have read that guild serial #s started at 1000, so I am assuming that this is the 9th guitar that Guild made. If someone has any info that would coraborate this conclusion please do. This X 440 is all original except the pots and the output jack have been replaced. I have the original parts. I do not have any real history on the guitar like who may have owned it prior to myself. The condition is excelent. If the photos show up I think you would agree. It sounds absolutely unbelieveable for Blues and roots rock which is what I mainly play. The franz pickups scream. The binding is perfect. 8 ply pickguard, original tailpiece and knobs. No serial # on the back of the head, but it is on the sticker in the f-hole. The guitar plays well, but I will probably do a refret on it soon since the frets are very small and low. It would make it play much better. I am also considering installing a NOS Guild logo bigsby and bridge for my own preference. Of course I will keep the original parts in case I ever decide to sell. That is very unlikely though. I have wondered how many of the first ten guitars Guild made are still left. Does anyone have a lower serial # than this one? According to what I have read some people say that this guitar is sort of a mongrel being made with the neck of an x350 and parts from other guitars. I do not think that is true of this guitar. The x440 was in Guild's orginal lineup in 1953 so I believe it is an original model in it's own right. Please correct me if I am mistaken. It was in Guild's 1953 original catalog was it not? I have also come to another assumption. Please tell me if I am mistaken. According to my research that the X400 and X500 series are the same guitar except for the hardware color. The 400s had nickle hardware and the 500s had gold hardware. Please correct me if I am wrong with my assuptions. I will now attemp to leave the link to the photobucket page. Guild guitar lovers unite. Thank you for checking this post.
http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 ... 20X%20440/

 

[geoguy]

Maybe Hans Moust will chime in with some info for you . . . cool guitar, btw:

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Welcome! You've definitely come to the right place to discuss this guitar. I'm sure Hans Moust will be along shortly -- he's the expert on old Guilds, literally having written the book on them.

The X-440 is exceedingly rare, and I've never seen one with such a low serial number. There are a few pics of mine below.

To call it a "mongrel" suggests it was pieced together from scraps, which is not the case. What is definitely true, though, is that model numbers weren't very well established, and there are a number of guitars with inconsistent specs. In general, the X-440 is built on the same platform as other 17" archtops, with cosmetics that are upgraded from the base model (X-175), but not as fancy as the top end (X-550, etc.). It looks like your guitar is similar to mine in that it has block inlays, single-ply binding, and Kluson tuners. There are differences, though -- the headstock logos are different (though that's a matter of the era), and yours has a maple neck while mine is mahogany.

There was a similar gorgeous blonde X-175 at Lucchesi Vintage Instruments a few years ago that some of us were ogling -- not sure what became of that guitar (sadly, LVI is no more, since Frank L. died).

Googling around, I also just saw this one, which is later than mine. Surprised that a sunburst guitar would be called an X-440, but I suppose that just speaks to the inconsistencies.

http://www.mygear.com/items/view/33708/ ... ric+Guitar

I'm sure Hans can offer more specifics. In any case, great guitar!

 

[walrus]

What a beauty! That thing must rock!!

walrus

 

[skinny]

Welcome mbrindell,
Thats quite a beautiful guitar!! :shock: Another beautiful blonde :wink:
Hans Moust should be along any time and able to answer any questions you may have that any of us LTGers can't.
I'm not sure about your neck question, but the headstock logo is slightly different from the headstock logo on my X-400.
I'm pretty sure you are correct on the nickle hardware for the X-400 series.
Anyway, welcome aboard and enjoy your stay!!

skinny

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I'm sure mb knows about these, but for others, this appears to be more pics of the same guitar:

http://www.mygear.com/items/view/33101/ ... +ORIGINAL#

 

[mbrindell]

Thanks to everyone who has replied already. I can see I am going to like it here. The above post are photos of my guitar that were put up by it's previous owner. I have read that the X440 is a dressed up X175. But does anyone know the differences between the 400 series and the 500 series other than the hardware color? And yes, I will be getting a copy of Hans' book. I also have a '66 Starfire III that I love and also a very nice sunburst '58 X 50. What are some opinion about the newer 70s-90s Guild archtops? I was actually looking at a '92 X 500 when I saw this one for sale. Thanks again.

 

[F30]

Welcome mbrindell!
Stunning Guitar. Great to have you among us.

 

[kakerlak]

Thanks to everyone who has replied already. I can see I am going to like it here. The above post are photos of my guitar that were put up by it's previous owner. I have read that the X440 is a dressed up X175. But does anyone know the differences between the 400 series and the 500 series other than the hardware color? And yes, I will be getting a copy of Hans' book. I also have a '66 Starfire III that I love and also a very nice sunburst '58 X 50. What are some opinion about the newer 70s-90s Guild archtops? I was actually looking at a '92 X 500 when I saw this one for sale. Thanks again.

Differences b/w yours and the X-500/550 are wood and trim. Most of the 500 series ones will have fancier binding (more plies), ebony fretboard, more highly-figured maple (usually), inlays will be pearl blocks with an abalone triangle, plus gold vs. chrome...

The newer Guilds are very well made guitars. I have a '74 Starfire VI and a '94 X-700. Both play very well, are pretty to look at and I like the way the pickups sound. I'd love to have a 50s Guild like yours, but, if you do enjoy the sound of articulate, fairly low output humbuckers, you'll probably like the Guilds with the larger 70s-90s pickups just fine. I don't think you'd have any qualms with fit and finish.

 

[zizala]

Ooh la la.....Congrats mbrindell!

What a great way to get into Guilds......

I certainly don't need any more encouragement but this one's inspiring me to go places I've never quite been before.....

Thanks for showing us.....

ziz

 

[AlohaJoe]

Beautiful guitar, and welcome!! I look forward to seeing pics of the rest of your herd.

 

[mbrindell]

Hi,
Can someone tell me how to post an avatar please? I have been searching but have not been able to find out how to do it. Thanks.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Beautiful and historic guitar, mb!

For the avatar, go to user control panel at the top right of the page, and then click on profile and you'll see the link.

 

[mbrindell]

Thanks Jeff. Yours is a beauty as well. What year is yours? Looks to be in great condiion as well.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Thanks for the compliment. The one in the avatar is a '55. The binding had shrunk and has been somewhat repaired (pro job). Other than that, it's in good shape and original except for a Gretsch strap button. Gotta love the big blonde Guilds! 8)

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Jeff, that's a beauty. Is that your X-550?

 

[CA-35]

Hey beautiful guitar. Stunning. And, welcome.

As far as your avatar go to user control panel, go to profile, go to edit avatar. Its simple except you have to reduce the size of you pic.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Jeff, that's a beauty. Is that your X-550?

The one in my avatar is my '55 X550:

hmmm...now that I look again, and based on discussions here, maybe the harp tailpiece isn't original?

 

[Walter Broes]

Hey, might as well put a Bigsby on it then! 8)

Beautiful guitar, and I love the amp too - who made that faceplate for you?

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Bigsby, huh? I don't know if the holes line up, but I may have to check - good idea! I don't know about the faceplate, I bought the amp like that - it's got a raw (mids) control on the back and a presence knob in back also if I recall. I think the vibrato circuit was tweaked also, I haven't played that one in a few years. It's loaded with 3 - Eminence alnico 10's. It may be an older Rodgers' plate, I'm not sure.

Sorry for the thread hijack! :?