Ngd '54 x-50

And now the collection of single-pickup NYC Guild archtops stands at three.

X-50, among the first made, early 1954. Serial # is 1526. It came to me by way of another LTG member, and needed nothing other than a glue and clamp job on the F-holes, where the wood was starting to de-laminate.



Here it is next to its siblings, a ~'54 X-200S on the left and a ~'53 unlabeled cutaway (X-150?) on the right. The X-200 and "X-150" are both 17" and have a laminated spruce top, with laminated maple back and sides, while the X-50 is 16.25" and all maple.

Notice the different finishing treatment each one got.







The "X-150" was just treated to a full refret, while the X-200S still had enough meat left on the frets for a level and dress job. The X-50 does not appear to have been played very much.

They all have distinct personalities, which I will accentuate through the use of roundwounds, flatwounds and semi-flats.

Very nice NY Guild collection you've got there, Neal!

I had a '55 X-50 that was very similar except for a white Franz cover....wish I still had it.
What I really liked was the beefier neck and 25.5" scale.

sweet! beautiful guitars!

zizala said:

Very nice NY Guild collection you've got there, Neal!

I had a '55 X-50 that was very similar except for a white Franz cover....wish I still had it.
What I really liked was the beefier neck and 25.5" scale.

Click to expand...

Did the '55 have the inlaid triangle on the headstock, or the waterside script logo?

I am trying to better understand when the change in logos took place.

Mine had the inlayed headstock like yours.....Hans thought mine was an older body/neck that was completed in '55.
I'd be happy to post some photos if you'd like to see.

Interesting. The few '55 X-50's I have seen photos of had the script logo.

Here it is....#2833

Another beauty, Neal!

zizala, wow, yours looks new!

walrus

Zizala, that X-50 looks like a dead ringer for mine, with the exception of the stove knobs, which incidentally also made an appearance on my X200S.

Hans also believes the X-200S was finished at least a year after the body and neck were assembled, thus the S designation. It also inexplicably has only one pickup.

Absolutely Gorgeous Neal! I love the photos of the trio. Is that an Old Orpheum Banjo Sneaking in the pic on the shelf as well? One day I will get me a NY Guild, until that point in time I will live vicariously through you Neal and Zizala as well! Great find on the X50, I'll bet she sounds Awesome, Congrats!

TX

Indeed it is, TX. Good eye!

I can't add anything new, but wow, that's a great trio of guitars. I would love to hear some sound samples sometime, I'm sure each has a distinct voice.
Congratulations and enjoy!

A trinity of Guild history right there, Neal. Neat!!

Oh, the X-50 is calling me! Really nice instruments here.
MD

Having played the X-50 for a little while, it is definitely the most articulate of the three. It has the best note definition and sustain. Really more of a blues guitar, although I can get a nice jazz tone out of it. Emphasis is on mids and treble.

The X-150 and X-200S are full sized jazz boxes. Much deeper bass response, faster note decay, more "meaty" tone. They were actually too dark with flatwounds, which I might now try on the X-50.

Interesting how different they sound with equivalent Franz pickups.