txbumper57
Enlightened Member
OK, So I am looking through some ads the other day and amidst the sea of Korean made Newark Street X175's I come across a X175 that looks a bit different. After further investigation it turns out to be a 1960 Ghost Label X175 with the Original Ostrich covered case in pretty nice condition. I have never had a Hoboken X175 before so I figured I would see where the bid went and go from there. Needless to say after studying Han's Book on everything from the tuners to the pickup placement I figured I would throw my hat in the ring and bid on it. As the final bidding was going on I couldn't pass it up. If I did I had the strangest feeling that I would start seeing parts of it listed separately from one of the Chop Shop Jerks on Ebay. I wound up winning the bid and it arrived today so this is my Rescue Guild!
I have played some Newark Street X175's and they are Great guitars but I can Honestly say, While they are faithful reproductions made from modern technology they don't come close to the tone and Feel of an Original! The Franz pickups are awesome in this one. The neck pickup can go from clear to smokey and can get Bluesier than any of my Strats. The Bridge pickup will out Twang a Tele in a heartbeat and if I had to describe it in one word it would be Bite! The 2 mixed together in the middle position are out of this world and it truly is a joy to play. Best I can tell she is all original down to the Square peg Kolb tuners. There is a bit of shrinkage on the heel cap and it looks like the binding is starting to shrink at the waist ever so slightly. There are a few marks in the finish from being 56 years old but everything is perfect structurally and there aren't any deep nicks or dents. The neck profile is nice and full but still very comfortable. The tailpiece has a little bit of Oxidation on it and on small spot where the chrome has come off. The frets look untouched and the acoustic tone sounds like you are playing a Guild flat top! Someone must have either taken care of her or never played her one of the two. This is my first Late 50's/early 60's Guild and I can see why folks are crazy about them. I completely understand everything Walter is talking about now when he describes the tone of his 2 Hoboken X175's! I believe the Case is also original or at least time period correct. It has the look of worn down Ostrich skin and you can barely feel the texture on it.
I am going to clean her up a bit tonight as she has plenty of build up on her. I do have a Chrome Guildsby and Guildsbly bridge that will fit her even though they are not from the 60's so I will have to make a decision in the near future If I am going to set her up to play the way I want it to be, Leave it original and just play it as is, or pass it on to someone else who wants it original and find another candidate for the trem setup. Whatever I choose I plan on Enjoying it for the time I have it so she is going to get the hide glue played out of her tonight! Here are some pics from the ad to give you an idea of what she is like and I will post some new ones when she is finished with her spa day getting cleaned up! Enjoy!
TX
I have played some Newark Street X175's and they are Great guitars but I can Honestly say, While they are faithful reproductions made from modern technology they don't come close to the tone and Feel of an Original! The Franz pickups are awesome in this one. The neck pickup can go from clear to smokey and can get Bluesier than any of my Strats. The Bridge pickup will out Twang a Tele in a heartbeat and if I had to describe it in one word it would be Bite! The 2 mixed together in the middle position are out of this world and it truly is a joy to play. Best I can tell she is all original down to the Square peg Kolb tuners. There is a bit of shrinkage on the heel cap and it looks like the binding is starting to shrink at the waist ever so slightly. There are a few marks in the finish from being 56 years old but everything is perfect structurally and there aren't any deep nicks or dents. The neck profile is nice and full but still very comfortable. The tailpiece has a little bit of Oxidation on it and on small spot where the chrome has come off. The frets look untouched and the acoustic tone sounds like you are playing a Guild flat top! Someone must have either taken care of her or never played her one of the two. This is my first Late 50's/early 60's Guild and I can see why folks are crazy about them. I completely understand everything Walter is talking about now when he describes the tone of his 2 Hoboken X175's! I believe the Case is also original or at least time period correct. It has the look of worn down Ostrich skin and you can barely feel the texture on it.
I am going to clean her up a bit tonight as she has plenty of build up on her. I do have a Chrome Guildsby and Guildsbly bridge that will fit her even though they are not from the 60's so I will have to make a decision in the near future If I am going to set her up to play the way I want it to be, Leave it original and just play it as is, or pass it on to someone else who wants it original and find another candidate for the trem setup. Whatever I choose I plan on Enjoying it for the time I have it so she is going to get the hide glue played out of her tonight! Here are some pics from the ad to give you an idea of what she is like and I will post some new ones when she is finished with her spa day getting cleaned up! Enjoy!
TX
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