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

[Ravon]

On one of my first posts I asked what 'AB' stood for on my X170 and a couple answers were 'Autumn Burst'. I guess we'll just have to wait and get a definate answer when Hans' next book comes out. These were taken in the spring however

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• Bl (Blonde)

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[AcornHouse]

I double checked my label. They were a little more verbose in '86; it's labelled "X-170 Brown Sb". Close to Ravon's, but a little browner (obviously.)

Thread with pics: http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28453

 

[guildman63]

Guild has been known to veer off course at times, but the three primary colors for the X-170 have been blonde, sunburst and Tennessee orange. I have seen variations in the burst, but to my knowledge blonde was an option in each year of production. Therefore, if comparing two models of the same year B would be blonde and AB would be antique burst. If from different years B could be burst and blonde would be something else.

As for the T in X-170T, it definitely refers to tremelo. Guild produced this guitar for Mars Music in the late 90's and early 00's and utilized the Guildsby tremelo, the Guild script pickguard, and a coil tap switch. The trussrod cover, however, says X-170. I would think there is at least one non-Mars model with a factory Guildsby, but I haven't seen it.

I think volume 2 of the Guild Guitar Book needs to be released...Hans? :lol:

 

[Ravon]

Other than the color, can anyone spot the difference between my two '96's :wink: ?

 

[AcornHouse]

Other than the color, can anyone spot the difference between my two '96's :wink: ?

The only difference I could spot was the ends of the fingerboard. Your blonde has squared off corners, your burst (and mine) is rounded. Factory? or replaced? :?

 

[Ravon]

Your right Chris. Both factory fingerboards, Hans mentioned that some came squared and some were rounded at that time

 

[SFIV1967]

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)?

No, the golden script is silkscreened from the underside before the black was put on. So you can't scrap it off.
Here's a late 60ties pickguard after silkscreening of the label but before black paint was applied to the underside and before pickup routing was done. (source)

In some years Guild had different vintages of pickguards without any logos. You see this also on Starfire IVs from the 80ties for instance, they had no Guild script on the pickguards, they were made out of black/w/b/w/b layered material. (so not painted). Here's a picture to show it (Same source as above):

Ralf

 

[charliea]

Well, I started following this thread, and next thing you know I bought this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUILD-X-170T-AR ... 43b0aa6484 . I guess it'll be here week after next. I better learn how to play electric guitar in a hurry! All are welcome to inform me what's wrong with this one, though I guess it's a little late to do anything about it.

Charlie

 

[guildman63]

Well, I started following this thread, and next thing you know I bought this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUILD-X-170T-AR ... 43b0aa6484 . I guess it'll be here week after next. I better learn how to play electric guitar in a hurry! All are welcome to inform me what's wrong with this one, though I guess it's a little late to do anything about it.

Charlie

It doesn't appear that anything is wrong with that...very nice indeed! Even more, that may have just cleared some things up for me, or made them more confusing, I'm not sure which :? . I had never previously seen an X-170T that did not have the coil tap switch until Krysh' above, and yours does not either. Therefore, either this one was not made for Mars Music, or not all X-170T's that were made for MM had a coil tap. As for the pickguard, the script Guild is there, which may also mean that if this is not a MM Guild then the script was for the X-170T as a whole, Mars or not, and the plain pickguard was for the X-170. Of course if this was made for MM that theory does not necessarily hold true.

Based on what I am making out the serial number to be (AK171418) it appears to be in the 1999-2001 range based on the very flawed Guild serial number chart, of course.

It looks like you get the original pups and bridge as well, which isn't a bad deal. Congrats on the great find and enjoy it!

It just occurred to me to check my X-170T that is pictured on page 1 of this thread and check the serial number. Mine is AK171442, and it is a 2000. Therefore, yours is either 1999 or 2000, and our guitars are nearly related :lol:

 

[krysh]

mine is # 318 and definately a 2000, sou yours will be 2000 or later.

the mars model had been a limited run. there have been 2 versions that differed in the position of the switches.
it was supposed to be a gretsch killer I guess. also there are existing older orange ones that seem to be lighter in color which were called amber, and of course the later ones like mine which are a bit darker.
there are even older X-170T, but since the 170 is the follow up of the 175, an X-175T is also there and basically the same guitar. so you definately will find much older factory guildsby equipped X-17x models.

 

[SFIV1967]

Well, I started following this thread, and next thing you know I bought this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUILD-X-170T-AR ... 43b0aa6484 . I guess it'll be here week after next. I better learn how to play electric guitar in a hurry! All are welcome to inform me what's wrong with this one, though I guess it's a little late to do anything about it.
Charlie

Congratulations Charlie! But now you have a serious problem with your "only 4 guitars in the house" policy! :lol:
Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

I had never previously seen an X-170T that did not have the coil tap switch until Krysh' above, and yours does not either. Therefore, either this one was not made for Mars Music, or not all X-170T's that were made for MM had a coil tap.

Hans had given a few explanations here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15318
And also that might be a good read: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12656
Ralf

 

[charliea]

Well, I started following this thread, and next thing you know I bought this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUILD-X-170T-AR ... 43b0aa6484 . I guess it'll be here week after next. I better learn how to play electric guitar in a hurry! All are welcome to inform me what's wrong with this one, though I guess it's a little late to do anything about it.
Charlie

Congratulations Charlie! But now you have a serious problem with your "only 4 guitars in the house" policy! :lol:
Ralf

Tell me! Actually, evaluating my guitar stand, I've found that there's room for 3 jumbo 12's and two thin electrics in their cases, so at least I don't have to sleep with the overflow. One still has to go, so I guess it'll be the F112. I'll be selling it in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty excited about the X170. Boy, am I gonna make a fool out of myself with the Guildsby!

Charlie

 

[Ravon]

WTG Charlie! I played a Stratocaster for many years with a whammy bar and every guitar I pick up now I automatically want to reach down there and give that thing a shake! Maybe one day when the stars align I'll have an X170T

 

[Alan_M]

Congrats! That one is a beauty!

 

[JBella]

Guildman63, AcornHouse, and others.

Thanks for the informative replies regarding the suffixes and pickguards.

- Rob