NS X175B First Impressions

[Guildadelphia]

The placement of the bridge pu goes back to Mike Lewis who was responsible for the Newark St line when FMIC had Guild. The purpose was to get a "fatter" less "spiky" tone from the bridge pu when it was being used by itself. Lewis spec'd the Electromatic Gretsch 5120's he was involved with previously the same way for the same reason. If it was up to me, I would prefer the vintage pu spacing as I am also a both pu on guy most of the time. That being said, I do like the fatter tone of the bridge Franz when used by itself. Either way, I don't think it's a deal breaker for most people and as Walter describes it, an easy mod that is reversible.

 

[marcellis]

I just bought a used (mint) NS X175B and I have to say that so far I'm quite impressed.

Why? Put it this way: I've owned a few nice Gretsches (Setzer SSLVO, for example), and have played many Gretsch Electromatics. I've also owned two Guild X170s, a pile of Starfires, and so-on. I generally prefer higher-end instruments and generally dislike the lower-priced counterparts such as Gretsch Electromatics and Epiphone copies of Gibson guitars. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford nice guitars, and though the Electromatics (for example) are fine instruments, they don't have the feel of a nice high-end Gretsch. I've always just accepted that this was the price of lower-cost guitars.

Not so with this X175B! While it doesn't have the attention to detail in places like the fretboard inlays, when it comes to playability, sound, and most importantly feel, this guitar blows away any similarly priced guitar that I've ever played. The X175B makes an Electromatic feel like a 2x4. If I had to compare it to any of the guitars I've owned, I'd have to say it most closely feels like my Gretsch SSLVO. I payed $2000 for that guitar new. This X175B cost me almost on FOURTH that much.

I may need to write a complete review of it, I'm so impressed!

Here's a pic, because PICS!

Something that concerns me about the Guildsby on my SF III, also shows up in your photo. Note the closeness of the 1st string
to the vibrato bar. It's the same on my SF III. At low tunings, they touch and buzz. I haven't plugged mine in yet or even
tuned it up to exact A440 pitch. It's on the other side of the world right now. Maybe all Bigsby's/Guildsby's are like that.
When I did tune the SF III up w/o a tuner, it was ok. No contact - no buzzing.

But I have no experience w/electric guitars, vibrato's or roller bridges. My big jazz box has one pick-up and a movable
Rosewood bridge.

 

[GAD]

Here's the Bigsby on a Gretsch SSLVO:

And on a Guild X-170T

Starfire III-P90

I've never experienced buzzing, but then the lowest I tune is Drop-D from standard.

 

[GAD]

Note also that you can move the strings when stringing a Bigsby. I will often nudge them over when tuning up for the first time because if they're not straight, then they can shift while playing and pull out of tune.

 

[kakerlak]

I think he's talking about the tip of the bar hitting the strings. You can buy a taller spring that will fix that.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

Rickenbacker experimented with bridge pickup placement back in the late 1950s after they stopped using the "horseshoe" design and adopted the smaller toasters. My Model 450 is from late '59 and has the bridge p'up forward of the spot Ric would eventually settle on. This particular guitar has a high-pass cap in line between the p'up and the volume pot. Sounds great! I've shunted around the cap, and while that's also a solid sound I find the dual-pickup blend is superior (and has more vol/tone knob tweaking latitude) with the cap in play.

A pic:

Anyway, this is where my idea for an X175 wiring mod comes from.

-Dave-