Rich Cohen
Senior Member
I'm about to take delivery of a 2014 American Patriarch X-500 Stuart, for which I'm trading my 1956 A-500. This model was part of the three model American Patriarch custom shop series at New Hartford. I think mine is one of the last to be made at NH. One of the Fender execs grabbed this one just before the factory closed in 2014. It never was for sale, thus there is no label inside, though the serial number is stamped on the back of the headstock in the usual place.
My question for those who know details of the various X-500 iterations, one, where did the "Stuart" name come from for some of the early Guild models. Second, I heard that the waist of my X-500 is more narrow than later iterations of the model. And, based on a 1957 X-500, this re-issue has the Franz "frequency tested" single coil pickups, instead of the later HB-1s. Any other differences I would appreciate to know about.
My question for those who know details of the various X-500 iterations, one, where did the "Stuart" name come from for some of the early Guild models. Second, I heard that the waist of my X-500 is more narrow than later iterations of the model. And, based on a 1957 X-500, this re-issue has the Franz "frequency tested" single coil pickups, instead of the later HB-1s. Any other differences I would appreciate to know about.
Although the name was originally Stewart, by that time the spelling had been changed. During the 16th century French influence led to the adoption of the spellings Stuart and Steuart, because there was no letter "w" in the French alphabet!
