2000 Guild X-170 B: some pre-buy questions

[caseygree]

Hey there,

have a chance to score a great deal on a used 2000 Guild X-170 B.

Here's an old for sale link for reference: http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... ld-X-170-B

Had a few questions before I pull the trigger

First and foremost, can it get a lil' mean and dirty if it needs to?
I'm primarily a rock/blues player. The closest thing I've owned is a Hamer Artist (semi-hollow) and it could hang with an LP any day.
I'm guessing this is quite a different beast?

With it being all maple, can it be described as "bright" tonally?
What are the stock pickups in the 2000 model? (They look like new-school HB1s, but didn't know for sure)

Would a 2000 model be Corona or old Guild model?

Any other links/feedback/suggestions apprecieated.

Thanks so much.
Looking forward to getting back into a Guild!

Case

 

[dapmdave]

Hey there,

have a chance to score a great deal on a used 2000 Guild X-170 B.

Here's an old for sale link for reference: http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... ld-X-170-B

Had a few questions before I pull the trigger

First and foremost, can it get a lil' mean and dirty if it needs to?
I'm primarily a rock/blues player. The closest thing I've owned is a Hamer Artist (semi-hollow) and it could hang with an LP any day.
I'm guessing this is quite a different beast?

With it being all maple, can it be described as "bright" tonally?
What are the stock pickups in the 2000 model? (They look like new-school HB1s, but didn't know for sure)

Would a 2000 model be Corona or old Guild model?

Any other links/feedback/suggestions apprecieated.

Thanks so much.
Looking forward to getting back into a Guild!

Case

I'll pick the low-hanging fruit and assure you that Guild was still in Westerly in 2000.

I'm not 100% on the rest, but I would guess that they are Fender pickups (Guild had been owned by Fender for several years, at this point), and maple does usually contribute to a brighter sound.

Dave

 

[Ravon]

To be honest I don't know what kind of HB's are in either of my '96 X170's but I've always assumed they were Fender. I was told here that the later Westerly's are desirable guitars because of good QC and 2000 is definately a later Westerly as said. I play mainly blues/rock as well and like to crank it up through tube amps and I can guarantee you that they can get down and dirty. I don't use any pedals (occasionaly a delay) and prefer just the sound of hot tubes. I was at a jam recently and didn't bring an amp and none were available and just ran straight into an older Peavey board. The guitar still sounded like I was running through tubes (warm tubes but a tube sound none the less 8) ). I've read where you might not want it for heavy metal but any guitar will high gain with the appropriate pedal/amp of course. Haven't had any issues with feedback as I guess the center block helps with that. Put a set of flatwounds on it, control your gain and your good to go for straight ahead jazz too. I've owned Strats and Pauls through the years and finally have found that tone I've always sought, it's just got that big hollowbody/ big guitar sound. In love with the neck too. Experiment with different gauge/brand strings. My Eureka string moment was when I put T/I BeBops on mine. X170's just look cool on stage too, people certainly notice. I obviously think they're great guitars so heck yeah buy it !

 

[AcornHouse]

The guildsby version will work better at blues/rock styles than the non trem model, mainly because of the metal vs. wood bridge.

 

[Alan_M]

I have a 2000 X-170 T and I play all manner of rock to hard rock, rockabilly, blues, and surf stuff, and it sounds mean with a hot tube amp and/or through a distortion unit. If you like Ted Nugent's mid 70's tones, or Billy Duffy of The Cult's "Love" album sound, then you'll like this. The PUPs are Guild/Fenders, not HB1's, but they sound great with the hollow body. Feedback isn't really an issue like a Gibson ES 175 had that I've played in overdriven mode. Mine's all Westerly made, as I believe it was in late 2001 that Fender moved archtop/hollowbody assembly to Corona, though the "kits" were still made in Westerly. I say buy it, I think you'll be surprised. I really like the neck on mine, and they are totally beautiful to the eye. Here it is:

 

[guildman63]

2000 is definitely Westerly...move to Corona was tail end of 2001.

These are great guitars, but one thing about the pic in the link you posted is the pickguard, which is not original. That wouldn't matter to me, but to some it does.

The sound can be almost whatever you choose, it is that versatile a guitar. Here are a few links of a guy named Aaron Saxon playing an X-170, and the first one gets pretty funky. The sound quality isn't perfect, but it will give you a good idea of what the 170 can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHFmRasLUxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDuuWzS5ow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=124fRI4YiJI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K255o3A5WqI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=124fRI4Y ... 2F15C15691

Enjoy!

 

[krysh]

... http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... -X-170-B...

this one seems to be the "mars" model (a special run made for the music store)
non original knobs and pickguard, pickups seem to be not original (probably not the fender PU since these also had 3 screws but the side with the 2 ones had a narrower screw spacing than the hb-1's) since they only have 2 height adjustment screws.

2000 is westerly

aside this I love my X-170T from 2000 with the fender pickups a lot.

 

[guildman63]

... http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... -X-170-B...

this one seems to be the "mars" model (a special run made for the music store)
non original knobs and pickguard, pickups seem to be not original (probably not the fender PU since these also had 3 screws but the side with the 2 ones had a narrower screw spacing than the hb-1's) since they only have 2 height adjustment screws.

2000 is westerly

aside this I love my X-170T from 2000 with the fender pickups a lot.

I didn't notice the knobs and pickups, but I think you're right.

For comparison here is my 2000 X-170T in its all original state...

and then in its current state with a rosewood bridge and harp tailpiece...

It's a very good guitar for whatever I feel like playing.

 

[caseygree]

Thanks so much for the info, folks.
Unfortunately for me, the seller won't answer my phone calls...

Wasn't meant to be, I suppose.
Will post an update if things turn around.

Case

 

[Ravon]

Hey Case. The link says sold but if you keep an eye on ebay they occasionaly come up at that price and less sometimes........and with a case

 

[Alan_M]

For reference, I paid 1300 for mine, and it is dead mint, and so is the OHSC. There are a lot out there in good shape. Be patient and the right on will come to you.

 

[guildman63]

And mine pictured above was $1400 near mint guitar and case if I remember correctly, so keep looking, they are out there.

 

[powerwagonjohn]

I agree with everything that was said. I found my 1992 X-170 when I was looking for a Starfire IV. I didn't know anything about them but I got it for $1200.00 with a case and was blown away buy it. Very versatile, fun and easy to play with that great Guild neck and a nice looker to boot. Find a nice one at a good price and grab it, you will never be sorry.
thanks John

 

[SFIV1967]

To be honest I don't know what kind of HB's are in either of my '96 X170's but I've always assumed they were Fender.

Hey Ravon, that's easy to find out! GAD made that excellent guide regarding the differences to spot if it is a vintage Guild HB-1, a newer Guild HB-1, a SD or a Fender HB-1.
Have a read and look carefully at the pictures and the screw distances of the two hight adjustment screws on one side of the pickup. They are a good first indication to see what it is! (as also Michael mentioned).
Ralf

 

[Ravon]

To be honest I don't know what kind of HB's are in either of my '96 X170's but I've always assumed they were Fender.

Hey Ravon, that's easy to find out! GAD made that excellent guide regarding the differences to spot if it is a vintage Guild HB-1, a newer Guild HB-1, a SD or a Fender HB-1.
Have a read and look carefully at the pictures and the screw distances of the two hight adjustment screws on one side of the pickup. They are a good first indication to see what it is! (as also Michael mentioned).
Ralf

Thanks Ralf I'll check it out, it's been bugging me not knowing!

 

[JBella]

I too am in the market for an X-170.

About half the models I come across online have no "Guild" script on the pickguard, they're all black. What's up with that? Are these aftermarket pickguards or is the Guild label some sort of adhesive that the owners have pulled off (like the Epiphone "E" label)?

Also, I'm unclear on the B, AB, and T suffixes I see on some X170s, e.g. X-170 AB. Can anyone tell me what those indicate?

Thanks.

 

[guildman63]

I too am in the market for an X-170.

About half the models I come across online have no "Guild" script on the pickguard, they're all black. What's up with that? Are these aftermarket pickguards or is the Guild label some sort of adhesive that the owners have pulled off (like the Epiphone "E" label)?

Also, I'm unclear on the B, AB, and T suffixes I see on some X170s, e.g. X-170 AB. Can anyone tell me what those indicate?

Thanks.

Those for Mars Music tend to have the script, otherwise I have found them to be mostly plain in the later years, but not sure about all years.

B is for blonde
AB is antique burst
T is tremolo (Bigsby)

Maybe Hans will chime in.

 

[krysh]

my 2000 X-170T

 

[AcornHouse]

I too am in the market for an X-170.

About half the models I come across online have no "Guild" script on the pickguard, they're all black. What's up with that? Are these aftermarket pickguards or is the Guild label some sort of adhesive that the owners have pulled off (like the Epiphone "E" label)?

Also, I'm unclear on the B, AB, and T suffixes I see on some X170s, e.g. X-170 AB. Can anyone tell me what those indicate?

Thanks.

My '86 X-170 does not have the Guild script on the pickguard. There is no sign of anything having been scratched off. They may have added them later, rather than earlier. Hans?

The suffixes refer to finishes: B=burst, AB=Antique Burst, etc. I'm not sure if T is for tremelo (I.e., Guilsby) or Tennessee orange.

 

[krysh]

X-170T ist the guildsby version.