Z90 pickups in X170 types?

mad dog

Gone But Not Forgotten
Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
1,269
Reaction score
240
Location
Montclair, NJ
Remembering a discussion in which pickup swaps for X-170 and X-160 Guilds were mentioned. Was it Matsickma who had done this? Anyway, can anyone comment on how these Harmonic Design HB sized P-90s compare to regular humbuckers?

Actually, any pickup swap info would be appreciated. Another choice I'm curious about is minihums. One of the boutique p/u winders (Tom Short I believe) has a set which fit in the full-size HB case. Wondering what this type of p/u would sound like in a hollowbody type.

Thanks.
MD
 

matsickma

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2005
Messages
4,280
Reaction score
1,028
Location
Coopersburg, PA
Yes. I took a pair of Z90 and added to late 80's /early 90's X160T or X161, depending on the exact year and Guilds changing notation. To have the black Z90's stand out a little bit I installed standard flat 2 hole plastic "chrome" HB bezels. They were flexible enough to flex to the archtop shape of the X160.

M
 

mad dog

Gone But Not Forgotten
Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
1,269
Reaction score
240
Location
Montclair, NJ
Thanks Mat. I though it was you. So how do they sound???

MD
 

matsickma

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2005
Messages
4,280
Reaction score
1,028
Location
Coopersburg, PA
The Z90's are more agressive than a normal P90 but not as agressive sounding as the P90's on a Blues 90 or Bluesbird 90. I installed a thin string gauge that doesn't do the Z90 justice. I need to put a heavier set of strings on the guitar. The bridge pup is a little low in output and can be overpowered by the neck pup so I backed it down a bit. The X160 with Z90's does sound different from the Corona Starfire 3-P90 I play. In general I am found of the X160's/X170's model and find the Z90's a nice alternative to the stock humbuckers on these guitars.

M
 

mad dog

Gone But Not Forgotten
Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
1,269
Reaction score
240
Location
Montclair, NJ
I just found an x-170 to try locally. Early 80s. The bridge p/u was lower in volume than the neck. Middle position sounded great. Overall I had mixed feelings about the guitar. It sorta worked for me, sorta did not.

How different are the later, 90s examples? Same neck profile? I have the oppty to trade an amp for one, a '95. Tempted.
MD
 

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,593
Reaction score
17,809
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
mad dog said:
I just found an x-170 to try locally. Early 80s. The bridge p/u was lower in volume than the neck. Middle position sounded great. Overall I had mixed feelings about the guitar. It sorta worked for me, sorta did not.

How different are the later, 90s examples? Same neck profile? I have the oppty to trade an amp for one, a '95. Tempted.
MD

I can't speak specifically for the early 80s X170s, but I have owned many 70s/80s Guilds, and many late 90's Guilds, and in every case the 90's Guilds has 1 11/16" necks while the early ones had 1 5/8" necks. In fact I let multiple killer sounding vintage Guilds go because I couldn't bond with the necks.

I've owned two X170s - a '99 and a '00, and I love the necks on both of them due to the 1 11/16" width.
 
Top