How to find a Guild X-160 Rockabilly?

[jp]

Be aware the pickups are not "proper" Dynas. I like them, though.

There are also a few Gr***ch models you can try, but what about the new X175 Manhattan? MIK but well enough liked. Same pups as the X160

That's right. Parker makes a good point. The PUs in the X-160 are going to be Dearmond 2000s, not the same as the Gretsch Dearmond Dynasonic reissues which are constructed more like the originals.

There's actually an early '60s Guild Duane Eddy DE-500 with Guild Dearmonds on Reverb right now, but the price is . . . well . . . ouch! And another on eBay, which is slightly less painful.

Guild DE-500 Duane Eddy model 1962 sunburst | Reverb

Excellent first year production 1962 Guild DE-500 Duane Eddy modelBeautiful bright sunburst laminated spruce top , 2 piece flamed maple backflamed neck and sides of bodyAll original with guild/bigsby tailpieceOriginal Tuners still hold there tuneDeArmond pick ups sound awesomeEverything works as ...

reverb.com

1963 Guild DE-400 Duane Eddy Standard model electric guitar | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1963 Guild DE-400 Duane Eddy Standard model electric guitar at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[parker_knoll]

That's right. Parker makes a good point. The PUs in the X-160 are going to be Dearmond 2000s, not the same as the Gretsch Dearmond Dynasonic reissues which are constructed more like the originals.

There's actually an early '60s Guild Duane Eddy DE-500 with Guild Dearmonds on Reverb right now, but the price is . . . well . . . ouch! And another on eBay, which is slightly less painful.

Guild DE-500 Duane Eddy model 1962 sunburst | Reverb

Excellent first year production 1962 Guild DE-500 Duane Eddy modelBeautiful bright sunburst laminated spruce top , 2 piece flamed maple backflamed neck and sides of bodyAll original with guild/bigsby tailpieceOriginal Tuners still hold there tuneDeArmond pick ups sound awesomeEverything works as ...

reverb.com

1963 Guild DE-400 Duane Eddy Standard model electric guitar | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1963 Guild DE-400 Duane Eddy Standard model electric guitar at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

you can score an early Starfire with DeArmonds for considerably less.

Also, the strings always slip towards the high E on the Duanes - I'm not sure why, must be the construction and how it ages. Check the pics.

 

[jp]

you can score an early Starfire with DeArmonds for considerably less.

Most definitely. Those come up most frequently out of the Dearmond-equipped bunch.

 

[ChasingGuitars]

Great luck on your hunt. Took me a long while to find one and I am not ready to part with it. You can see mine here and mine is Orange.

http://chasingguitars.com/guild-x-160-rockabilly/

I did swap out the pickups for tv Jones. I still have the original ones and can always swap them back. I preferred the TV Jones although tThe stock ones were pretty good.

 

[freddyfingers]

Gretsch does come to mind for the rockabilly sound. I have a 6120 setzer model with tv jones filters and with the right preamp (atomic brain)and a touch of slapback, it nails that sound. I know some prefer the dyna sound. I do know that the 350 model i recently got with the three franz like pickups also hits that sound with that preamp and slap back. Bigsby included. Through a decent tube amp without a master volume. Even through my tonemaster twin it works. That being said, there is something about the dynas that makes me constantly look up starfires that are equiped with them. But to me its not for rockabilly. Chasing tone can drive you nuts.

 

[GAD]

Atomic Brain! Tavo is the man!

 

[mavuser]

there is a Dyna SF-3 FS on LTG (no affiliation, just a heads up)

FS - Starfire III, vintage

Not available.

letstalkguild.com

 

[freddyfingers]

Atomic Brain! Tavo is the man!

I believe that to be true. Its one of the few pedals i use, its simple, only two knobs, and works a little magic.

 

[Shakeylee]

Tavos’ jr barnyard is excellent also

 

[Shakeylee]

That SFIII with real dearmonds and a guildsby would blow the doors of most rockabilly or bluesabilly guitars.

 

[parker_knoll]

That SFIII with real dearmonds and a guildsby would blow the doors of most rockabilly or bluesabilly guitars.

if it's a good player. always a risk with vintage Of my three Starfires, the 1960 was a beaut and I was a (young and broke) fool to let it go, the '66 was a challenge to play, though gig it I did. The current III-90 is the easiest playing guitar I ever owned. A perfect neck for me. If I ever get a custom, I'll get them to copy that neck.

 

[Shakeylee]

Any large bobbin single coil equipped guild will do the job as long as it’s a good player.
Franz,MM or P-90 are great choices .
Outside of guild, Charlie Christian , P90s,P13s,dearmond,hilo trons,GFS surf 90s,tissue boxes ,etc ,will all get you in the ballpark with a good amp.

 

[josephpnorman]

So I finally talked to the guy selling the X-160 on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/37049980-guild-x-160-rockabilly-tennessee-orange-2002). He wants $2,050 shipped. What do y'all think?

 

[GAD]

Previous completed sales on Reverb were $2,097, $1,395 (lowered from $2097), and $2000. I think whoever snagged that one for $1,395 got a steal.

I paid $1500 for mine here on LTG. While it's mint, it's missing the original pick guard which is impossible to replace. That was also some years ago, was a good deal at the time, and prices have gone up, so I'd say $2000 is not an unreasonable price in mint condition.

 

[GAD]

Also they're uncommon enough that if you really want one you're probably gonna have to bite.

 

[adorshki]

So I finally talked to the guy selling the X-160 on Reverb (https://reverb.com/item/37049980-guild-x-160-rockabilly-tennessee-orange-2002). He wants $2,050 shipped. What do y'all think?

I'd say getting a bird in the hand justifies paying a little over market, if that turns out to be the case. Hard to know just what market price is or should be anyway, when they're so hard to find.


Congrats!!

 

[GGJaguar]

I'd say getting a bird in the hand justifies paying a little over market,

Yup, this. Who knows when you'll see another.

 

[KuuKOO]

Well I’ll just post the image of my old one from waaaaaaay back to encourage your purchase.

 

[GAD]

Damn. You don’t see many black ones!

 

[KuuKOO]

Oh yeah it was gorgeous. But the pickups - which I put spacers under to try to improve - and the narrow nut - were deal breakers. Still one of the things I wish I hadn’t sold. I have a list.