Greetings everyone. Even though I already had an excellent 1995 X-700 that I love, I couldn't resist pulling the trigger on a 1998 blonde. I'm sure you can all feel my pain. Can you have too many of these? I have always wanted to compare the earlier models from around the time Fender purchased the company with the later ones after the Fender influence had time to kick in. Well, I am now getting to do just that. After I have had time to do a through comparison, I will share my findings. Might save someone the trouble of having to purchase two. Meanwhile anyone who has done a similar comparison is welcome to weigh in with questions or comments. Will attach a pic of my two beauties.
Have I gone crazy?
- Thread starter J. Paul
- Start date
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- Feb 11, 2009
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- 23,220
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- NJ (The nice part)
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Moved to Archtops.
And no, you can’t have too many.
love the sunburst!
And no, you can’t have too many.
love the sunburst!
Lovely guitars! I have noticed that what might be viewed as crazy in the outside world is accepted and even actively encouraged on this forum : ) Are these both SD-1 equipped guitars? Looks like it. Great pickups! Looking forward to your observations.
guitarlover
Member
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Sure you are crazy. But that is just a requirement for a guitarist. So we are all crazy here ! Congratulations 
Mapleman54
Member
For ‘crazy’ read ‘great wisdom’! These are beautiful!
Jeff Haddad
Senior Member
Crazy for asking if you're crazy.
Beautiful guitars!
Beautiful guitars!
Hello everyone, and a happy holiday season to all. Thanks for your interest in my X-700 comparison study and for your assurance of my mental soundness. It is time for a report.
After a thorough examination and spending much time playing the two guitars, I have found that the similarities are much greater than any substantial differences. At least regarding these two examples, I don't find any indication of a downturn in quality under Fender ownership. I suspect that what minor differences I found could be easily explained by normal variance in materials and workmanship from one instrument to the next within the same model line.
Differences: The 98 is slightly lighter than my 95, and it's top is noticeably thinner. After going all over both guitars tapping and listening, I found my 95 to be a bit more solidly built. In fact it has one of the thickest spruce tops I have ever seen on any guitar. This gives it more resistance to feedback than the 98 with its thinner top. The 98 is a little more resonant, and it has a beautiful natural reverb that is very enjoyable when playing around the house unplugged. The pickups on both are the SD-1s, and they sound beautiful.
You may recall from a previous thread that my 95 was the one with the strange fingerboard geometry when I purchased it. I ended up having it plecked and new frets installed, setting the radius at 16". The 98's radius is 12", and I find no issues with the frets or the geometry. The neck carves on both guitars are sublime, and even with different board radiuses, I feel little if any difference in playing comfort. Both have a 1.75" nut. The 98 does have the squared off fretboard end whereas my 95 is rounded. I have wondered if switching to the squared off board may have been a cost and labor saving measure.
Interestingly, the original Guild hardshell cases are quite different. My 95 came in a smooth brown case that has a simulated look of leather. It is arched on both top and bottom. It has five latches. The 98's case is black peblegrain with six latches, and it is arched only on top with the bottom being flat.
Well, there you have my comparison. I should bring this to a close or I might steal GAD'S title as the forum rambler, lol. Frankly, I would encourage GAD to ramble more. I love reading everything he writes. J Paul.
After a thorough examination and spending much time playing the two guitars, I have found that the similarities are much greater than any substantial differences. At least regarding these two examples, I don't find any indication of a downturn in quality under Fender ownership. I suspect that what minor differences I found could be easily explained by normal variance in materials and workmanship from one instrument to the next within the same model line.
Differences: The 98 is slightly lighter than my 95, and it's top is noticeably thinner. After going all over both guitars tapping and listening, I found my 95 to be a bit more solidly built. In fact it has one of the thickest spruce tops I have ever seen on any guitar. This gives it more resistance to feedback than the 98 with its thinner top. The 98 is a little more resonant, and it has a beautiful natural reverb that is very enjoyable when playing around the house unplugged. The pickups on both are the SD-1s, and they sound beautiful.
You may recall from a previous thread that my 95 was the one with the strange fingerboard geometry when I purchased it. I ended up having it plecked and new frets installed, setting the radius at 16". The 98's radius is 12", and I find no issues with the frets or the geometry. The neck carves on both guitars are sublime, and even with different board radiuses, I feel little if any difference in playing comfort. Both have a 1.75" nut. The 98 does have the squared off fretboard end whereas my 95 is rounded. I have wondered if switching to the squared off board may have been a cost and labor saving measure.
Interestingly, the original Guild hardshell cases are quite different. My 95 came in a smooth brown case that has a simulated look of leather. It is arched on both top and bottom. It has five latches. The 98's case is black peblegrain with six latches, and it is arched only on top with the bottom being flat.
Well, there you have my comparison. I should bring this to a close or I might steal GAD'S title as the forum rambler, lol. Frankly, I would encourage GAD to ramble more. I love reading everything he writes. J Paul.
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
- Messages
- 23,220
- Reaction score
- 18,951
- Location
- NJ (The nice part)
- Guild Total
- 112
Nice notes - and thanks!
Very nice report. My hat is off to you for making the sacrifice of having two such fine archtops.
Mapleman54
Member
Loved reading your very authoritative and detailed report, with its fine focus on musical qualities as well as the build characteristics. Thanks for all the great work!