1957 Guild X-500

[theoldians]

Hi to all Guild & guitar lovers!

I have the chance to get this beautiful 1957 Guild X-500:

I´ve read about that this model was made with solid tops till 1960 more or less, somebody know if this information is true?

I have now a Gibson Es-165 Herb Ellis of 2003, (the model with a floating pickup:

I can change one guitar for the other and in first I´m sure that this is a good deal, but I´m sure that somebody of this forum maybe can tell me something about it.

Cheers

 

[krysh]

wow, what an entry!
congrats and enjoy your great guild guitar. post well and post often.

 

[walrus]

If you are saying you can "swap" one for the other, I can't say if its a "good" deal or not. Two very different guitars! All I know is I would do it! That '57 is in great condition!

If you are buying the Guild, the question is what price.

Either way, it is a very impressive entrance to LTG - welcome!

walrus

 

[jimmyl51]

My God if you are actually getting the chance to 'swap' a ES-165 for a 1957 Guild X-500 RUN RUN RUN RUN and grab it! I own a 1957 X-550 which is the exact same guitar except in natural. GRAB IT REGARDLESS NOW!!!!!! jim at Tinker AFB Oklahoma City, Oklahoma p.s. you can ALWAYS get a ES-165............you CANNOT always find a 1957 X-500 in this kind of condition!!!

 

[AcornHouse]

Obviously, we may a little biased :lol: , but, just going by the Vintage guide, a '57 X-500 is valued from $2,600-3,200. Just from the pics, I would put that towards the top of the scale. An '03 Herb Ellis is valued at $1,600-2,000.

If the playable conditions are good (fret wear, string height, etc.), I would say go with Guild. In addition to the rarity factor, which was already mentioned, there is a magical quality about old wood. (And old electrics, if in good shape.) 8)

A no brainier if you ask me, but, again, we may be a wee bit biased. :mrgreen:

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Welcome, and that is a gorgeous X500! It looks pristine! As stated earlier, you can probably get another Herb Ellis sometime, but these Guilds don't come along too often! Price-wise you are doing okay with that deal too if you're trading or just selling to fund the purchase.

I don't think the X500 were ever made with solid tops, but I'm not sure. Hans or somebody with authority should be along to answer soon.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

[Walter Broes]

Wow, that's a very nice looking X500!! No solid tops on X500's.

 

[theoldians]

First,

Thanks to all for your fast answers!

In fact, I don´t knew so much about this beautiful instrument till this week, and the most important information for me is to be sure if his top was made laminated with 3-ply spruce top as I have read, or with solid tops?

Walter, then, the only instrument made by Guild with solid woods is the x700?

Greetings from Barcelona

 

[SFIV1967]

Greetings from Munich to Barcelona and welcome to LTG! That is one of the best looking X-500 from that time that I have ever seen! I would definitely try to buy it if I was you. The best information source about old Guilds is Hans Moust from the Netherlands. He wrote The Guild Guitar Book, click on the blue link to Amazon Spain.
I think X-700, Artist Awards and Benedettos had carved solid tops. (that's just my current guess).
Ralf

 

[ArchtopAnimal]

How many Euros ?

 

[theoldians]

Around 2000€

 

[theoldians]

Thanks Ralf for the info!

All the best!

 

[SFIV1967]

Around 2000€

That's actually a very good price for Europe! (I assume the guitar is in Europe already). And you have no import tax/VAT charges compared to buying in USA.
Ralf

 

[X-170SB]

Hey theoldians,

If for any reason you decide against getting the guitar, would you let me know? I'm also in Europe and have wanted an older Guild archtop like this for a long time! (I'll PM you)

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[ArchtopAnimal]

I'd pay that .

 

[theoldians]

Some more pics of this beauty X500:

 

[theoldians]

I´m determined to buy it, but, I want try to conserve the Es-165, because is beauty too, (the only thing is for me this neck is so hard to work on it, coming after years playing a Ibanez 2355 with a cream neck).

Herb Ellis pics:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Absolutely stunning instrument!

 

[walrus]

Gasp! That is an unbelievable looking guitar!

Thanks for the "new" pictures!

walrus

 

[ArchtopAnimal]

That 500's had a charmed life . Spent half a century in a case , by the look of it .
You'll find those pickups utterly different to the Gibson. I like the small humbuckers
of the early sixties Guilds . Low output and totally Jazz

Bridge from my '62 :