X170 got my heart

[Mapleman54]

Ive had this lovely guitar a few months, just getting to know it..its needed a couple of set-up tweaks, and thats all. Just plays beautifully in all registers, and acoustically has a lovely 'family is asleep, playing a bit more late at night' kind of acoustic warmth. I've wanted one of these for years as love the thin-body vibe, and with HB1's even better! Its an '86, and with the original (rather heavy) case. Bought at auction in the UK. The question is, do I keep it strung for comfort (11's, plain 3rd) or go for full Jazz hit and put 13's on?

 

[GGJaguar]

Glad you're enjoying that beauty! The X-170 is definitely one of my favorite Guild models of all time. Very versatile, great tone. Why not split the difference and try either flatwound 12s or pure nickel roundwound 12s before moving directly to 13s?

 

[Mapleman54]

Yeah good call...I've never been a fan of flat wounds but put some Chrome 12's on the A500 and it has worked really well with a surprising amount of acoustic tone! Whats nice at the moment is I've given up on my classical nails as all the decades of abuse seems to have stopped my right hand nails growing at all. Plastic falsies when rehearsing with English Guitar Quartet is working very well, and fingertips when playing at home so don't have to worry about fingernail wars with electrics! Think I'll take your advice and tread moderately!

 

[Norrissey]

Beautiful X-170! I have a '97 X-170 TAB (with SD-1s) and totally love it. I'm not in your league as a player and mostly play blues and pop songs on it. Hopefully some classic jazz standards one day! I think these are sleeper guitars. Pretty unknown and underappreciated in the greater guitar world. I also love playing my X-170 acoustically.

 

[Mapleman54]

Beautiful X-170! I have a '97 X-170 TAB (with SD-1s) and totally love it. I'm not in your league as a player and mostly play blues and pop songs on it. Hopefully some classic jazz standards one day! I think these are sleeper guitars. Pretty unknown and underappreciated in the greater guitar world. I also love playing my X-170 acoustically.

Thanks, and I totally agree... they are just so ibeautiful and rewarding, and downright good value! So glad I finally snared one!

 

[GAD]

Glad you're enjoying that beauty! The X-170 is definitely one of my favorite Guild models of all time. Very versatile, great tone. Why not split the difference and try either flatwound 12s or pure nickel roundwound 12s before moving directly to 13s?

I agree. The X170 is a fabulous model that fits right between other models in a great way.

 

[AcornHouse]

There‘s no real reason to go for heavy gauge strings. It was traditional in the jazz world when they were still playing primarily acoustic archtops in big bands. Then, high action and heavy gauge strings were the norm because they needed to hit them as hard as they could to be heard even halfway into the dance floor.

With electric archtops, there’s really no need to go beyond 12s. Even 11s are great, and allow for nice low action. The pickups are doing the dirty work.

I remember reading about Clapton talking with B.B.King one time and he saw that Clapton was using these heavy gauge strings. B.B. said “Boy, why you working so hard?!” B. B. was playing light gauge strings.

 

[dreadnut]

She's pretty, but can she sing?

 

[shihan]

Beautiful! I’m still kicking myself for selling the ‘86 I had. I hope you enjoy yours in good health.

 

[walrus]

Very nice! I'd go for "comfort" and playability!

walrus

 

[matsickma]

I'm also a big fan of the X170 model.
That is one model that should be reissued again. Once you play one the comfortable body, tight tone and feedback resistance makes it a relationship player.

Can't go wrong with an X170 especially an early one with HB1's. I sold my HB1 model but do have a X161 to make up for it.
Great guitars!
Enjoy!
M

 

[GAD]

I'm also a big fan of the X170 model.
That is one model that should be reissued again. Once you play one the comfortable body, tight tone and feedback resistance makes it a relationship player.

Can't go wrong with an X170 especially an early one with HB1's. I sold my HB1 model but do have a X161 to make up for it.
Great guitars!
Enjoy!
M

If you manage to get one of the Mars X170Ts dropping in some TV Jones pickups with English mounts really brings it alive.

 

[Boneman]

HNGD! Glad you found a keeper, and that is a good looking one to boot! Congrats!

 

[matsickma]

Hey GAD,

I do have a Mars Music special run X170T. I like it a lot in the SC mode. I think if it had the flexibility of individual pickup coil split I would like it more. I actually sold a non Mars Music model when I got the Mars. Both were TOrange. I should have held on to both. Also had a Blond '89 at one time.

I'm at the point where I don't sell anything anymore. I will go though a highly controlled purge in a few years when I select the keepers through "the retirement years".

M

 

[GAD]

Hey GAD,

I do have a Mars Music special run X170T. I like it a lot in the SC mode. I think if it had the flexibility of individual pickup coil split I would like it more. I actually sold a non Mars Music model when I got the Mars. Both were TOrange. I should have held on to both. Also had a Blond '89 at one time.

I'm at the point where I don't sell anything anymore. I will go though a highly controlled purge in a few years when I select the keepers through "the retirement years".

M

I don't sell anything either which has become a bit of a problem. LOL

I liked the Mars in single coil mode, too. I just like it with the TV Jones more. I thought I would hate it without the Guild covers but it grew on me pretty quickly.

 

[matsickma]

I had installed the Gretsch reissues Dynasonics on a Blond X170T. They didn't sound as sweet as DeArmond 2000.

Interesting your Mars Music version has both pickup switches on the bass bout side. I think the initial version had that layout. Mine has the dual pickup coil tap switch on the treble side. I'll get a picture posted. I do like the sound/ tone of the Gretsch humbucker so the TV Jones version must be exceptional!
M

 

[GAD]

I had installed the Gretsch reissues Dynasonics on a Blond X170T. They didn't sound as sweet as DeArmond 2000.

Interesting your Mars Music version has both pickup switches on the bass bout side. I think the initial version had that layout. Mine has the dual pickup coil tap switch on the treble side. I'll get a picture posted. I do like the sound/ tone of the Gretsch humbucker so the TV Jones version must be exceptional!
M

Yeah I think the early ones were trying to be "Gretschy" by having both switches there. I wish the switches were on each bout because then I would have put a master volume in!

 

[Prof Silverhair]

Ive had this lovely guitar a few months, just getting to know it..its needed a couple of set-up tweaks, and thats all. Just plays beautifully in all registers, and acoustically has a lovely 'family is asleep, playing a bit more late at night' kind of acoustic warmth. I've wanted one of these for years as love the thin-body vibe, and with HB1's even better! Its an '86, and with the original (rather heavy) case. Bought at auction in the UK. The question is, do I keep it strung for comfort (11's, plain 3rd) or go for full Jazz hit and put 13's on?

I hate to resurrect an old thread, especially as my first post here, but I just came to care for this guitar's older brother - by one serial number. I hope this beauty is still providing joy and inspiration! I feel incredibly lucky to have found Guild and the x170 in particular. I'm thoroughly smitten.

 

[GAD]

I hate to resurrect an old thread, especially as my first post here, but I just came to care for this guitar's older brother - by one serial number. I hope this beauty is still providing joy and inspiration! I feel incredibly lucky to have found Guild and the x170 in particular. I'm thoroughly smitten.

Welcome! This forum is decades old so this barely counts as an "old" thread.

 

[Prof Silverhair]

Welcome! This forum is decades old so this barely counts as an "old" thread.

Thanks for your graciousness. Your blog post on the X170 was a contributing factor in me taking a chance buying an old Guild sight unseen and unplayed. Not to worry, it's really working out.