Sold my X-700....

[jbucklin]

....to a local friend and fellow jazz player.

I hope nobody here thought I was a dealer taking advantage of (read: spamming) this forum. I did not see anywhere on this website an area for buying/selling and thought that I had seen threads where members announced that they were selling their Guild archtops. I'm sorry if I broke any rules or offended anyone.

The reason I was so exuberant (pushy?) was because I had just put $1000 down on a Benedetto Bravo. I've now sold enough gear over the past few days to pay the balance and will pick up the Benedetto tomorrow.

Btw, I am keeping my '03 Corona-built X-500. I always loved that guitar more than the X-700. I will never sell it (Lord willing

 

[FNG]

No worries...post up some pics of the new guitar when you get it.

 

[guildman63]

I did not see anywhere on this website an area for buying/selling and thought that I had seen threads where members announced that they were selling their Guild archtops. I'm sorry if I broke any rules or offended anyone.

No problem at all, but as an fyi just scroll down a little on the main board index and you will see a section titled "Fix it or Sell it", and within that "FS/FT" which is For Sale/For Trade.

As for atoning for your sins, please play that new Benedetto Bravo of yours every day, and post several pictures for OUR viewing pleasure. Once that has been done you will officially be absolved of all of your posting sins.

 

[jbucklin]

Got it! I'll even say a couple of "Hail Marys".

Here is a link to some pics on the local Benedetto dealer's website:

http://www.vanhoosevintage.com/details. ... em=2820967

That guitar will be in my possession tomorrow!

 

[john_kidder]

That's pretty.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Congratulations on the new guitar... that's a beautiful burst! I'd be very interested in your take on the Benedetto once you've had a chance to bond with it. I got serious GAS a few years ago looking at a black Benedetto Bravo. It was over my head at the time, but I keep looking at them longingly.

Did you have a chance to compare the Bravo with the Sadowsky Jim Hall or Jimmy Bruno models?

 

[jbucklin]

Thanks guys.

Joe, a little over 6 years ago I went over to Tom Van Hoose's house (Tom is the guy who is selling me the Bravo) and played a Sadowsky Jim Hall. It is an amazing instrument with quality of craftsmanship nearly equal to that of the Benedetto Bravo. I say "nearly equal" because I've played the Bravo now and it is hands down the best guitar I've ever played. But the Sadowsky is *phenomenal* and such a great deal (if you can get your hands on one). Think of it as the best 175 you can imagine. I have not played the Jimmy Bruno model.

At the time when I test-drove the Jim Hall I had already played the Corona Guild X-500 which was at a local music store and was still fresh in my memory. It really didn't seem like the logical choice to buy the X-500, since it's not really in the same league as the Sadowsky---the Jim Hall was simpler in design, much lighter, was louder and richer sounding acoustically, and really did sound like Jim Hall's famous D'Aquisto plugged in (I'm a HUGE Jim Hall fan). But there was something so soulful and unique about the X-500. I remember during that period I started researching Guilds since I had never had one (the only archtop I had ever owned was a '59 ES175 which I sold! :roll: ) and I discovered this forum. Anyway, I would have had to sell two guitars to get the Sadowsky, and the music store that had the Guild let me trade one of the guitars straight up for it (the two guitars were Andersons btw). On the day that I made that trade the owner of the shop, Larry Morgan, offered me a teaching gig there. I ended up teaching at Larry Morgan Music for three years, until they were forced to shut down. Then Larry died about a year later. Those three years were the sweetest years of my long career as a musician. I never thought I could "condescend" to teach beginner guitar lessons in a music store. It's such a beautiful and humbling irony that those were the best years of my guitar-playing life. I also got the employee discount and bought lots of guitars, amps, etc.---including the X-700 which I just sold---while I was there. They treated me like royalty and I learned to love teaching beginners---especially children.

That's why I will never sell the X-500. I play it and remember those days. Plus, it's beautiful and sounds/plays great! It's a Guild!

 

[AlohaJoe]

Thanks for the info and the great story! A friend has a Jim Hall and it's pretty special, but the neck is a bit wide for my taste at 1 3/4" on a 16" body. The Bruno is 1 11/16ths on a 15" body but I've never been able to get my hands on one or a Bravo.

On the other hand, I've got an X150 w a single Biltoft CC pickup and the neck is perfect for me, the action is just right and it sounds fantastic. It also cost about 1/4 of either of those so I should be happy and go practice, but GAS doesn't need a reason.

 

[jbucklin]

but GAS doesn't need a reason.

Truth spoken here! :wink:

I'd love to have an X-150, btw. I found a '53 the other day on some vintage guitar website for $4500 and seriously considered it. It was gone within a day!

I got the Bravo yesterday. It is stunningly beautiful and plays like a dream. It is very loud acoustically. My wife asked if it was an acoustic guitar when I was playing it for her unplugged. I even put D'Adarrio Chrome Flat Wound 13s on it as soon as I got it home and it still has that amazing acoustic response. I may need to look into getting a new amp (Henriksen maybe? That's what I used when demoing the Benedetto at the dealer's house and it sounded great through it ) as it seems that the Bravo and my early 80s Polytone Minibrute III don't get along. The Bravo sounds like a solid-top jazz box with a floating pickup when played through the Polytone, and it is laminated spruce (9-ply!) with a mounted humbucker. We'll see. Maybe the brand new strings has something to do with it and it will mellow out after they've settled in. It seems most people use round-wounds on their Benedettos specifically for that acoustic response, but they're just too bright for me; and I hate how noisy they are when sliding around the neck. I guess I'll have to adapt for the time being---I'm so used to the smooth, dark tone I get when playing my X-500 through that amp.

I'll take some pics of the Bravo and post them later.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I'm totally with you on the flats. I prefer the feel and the darker tone for jazz and hate finger squeaks. Try the Thomastiks (George Benson 13s) sometime if you haven't already. I'm glad to hear you're loving it but surprised about the Polytone, and I'm looking forward to the pics.
- Joe

 

[jbucklin]

Joe,

I lowered the action and raised the pickup (it was set pretty low) and now my Bravo and Polytone go together like peas and carrots!

I used to only use TI Jazz Swing 13s but I started noticing that they went dead pretty quick. The D'Adarrios last a long time, even though they don't sound as good as the TIs before they die. Do the George Bensons last very long?

 

[AlohaJoe]

Do the George Bensons last very long?

They last forever for me, but body chemistry may vary. I have a friend who can kill strings in 20 minutes. I do not let him play my guitar. :evil: :lol: