1953 X-220

Vermonter

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I received the X-220 I bought on Reverb and it’s in a little rougher shape than I’d hoped. Non-original stuff includes the tuners, back binding, heel cap, neck binding, nut, bridge, tailpiece, and pick guard. There are more cracks than what I could see on the pictures on Reverb. The finish is all goobered up in places... weird. The front and back of the headstock are painted... painted. The guitar is at the luthier’s for an assessment and eventual repairs. But even with all the faults, she is a beauty. I’ll post pictures to this thread as the work gets done. I’ll keep the back binding, but I’ll replace everything else with original parts if I can find them. The neck binding and nut both need replacement... brutal. I’ll have him remove the black paint on the front and back of the headstock and refinish them.

E329BD22-0EE6-4D0C-B46F-AF5C090DCF07_zpsdkpzz2vx.jpg


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AcornHouse

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You might check with Hans first about whether they did paint the headstocks at this period.
 

zizala

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Glad to see it pop up here.....I was trying hard to get more and better pics and info from the seller and stalking that one for weeks!
Ultimately decided maybe too risky with too little info provided....(and I have too many project guitars anyway).

But still, here it is now giving me some regrets I have to admit!

Congrats Vermonter... and hoping to see it again after its restoration.
 

Vermonter

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Things I’ve learned. The tuners are original after all. The front and back of the headstock have been repainted, but they were originally painted black to begin with.

Something else of note is the thickness of the top. And the top may be the only original finish on the guitar.
 

Vermonter

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Chris, I did, and they were sometimes painted black during this period.
 

GGJaguar

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A worthy guitar for restoration. I hope it goes well! I wonder if those cracks at the butt end of the body are water related?
 

shihan

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Too bad it needs so much work; but the end result should be well worth it. Looking forward to seeing it after the restoration process. Good luck!
 

Vermonter

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Definitely looks water related. They’re pretty stable though so I’ll just leave it as is for now.
 

adorshki

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Things I’ve learned. The tuners are original after all. The front and back of the headstock have been repainted, but they were originally painted black to begin with.
Yes it actually looks very nice and professionally done in the pics.
Something else of note is the thickness of the top. And the top may be the only original finish on the guitar.

Is it laminated?
 

adorshki

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Is it strung upside down?

First reported here by Acornhouse:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?200474-‘53-X-220-non-lefty-lefty/page2

One of the early experiments that didn’t last past the first year; a double pickup non-cutaway. Someone made it into a lefty, but won’t be too hard to un-leftivise it. No hard case. Some beautiful wood there. Serial #1091 puts it in the first 100 made.

Coolness factor: priceless

https://reverb.com/item/29456044-guild-x220-1953-blonde-vintage
So Vermonter bought it and it's been strung righty in the meantime.
:friendly_wink:
 

Vermonter

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I’m reviving this thread be ause I just got this beauty back from the luthier. He did a re-fret job, re-bound the neck, antiqued the new nick binding, added marker dots, reglued all the fingerboard illays, installed a new bone nut, installed a new pot, installed a vintage pick guard, reworked the bridge, glued a side crack, and restrung it. It came out beautiful. It’s not all original, but it is beautiful. Pics coming...
 

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Default

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I'm seeing links, but not images. Once I click on the link, it goes to the image.
 

AcornHouse

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I'm seeing links, but not images. Once I click on the link, it goes to the image.
I go to the error message when I click on them. Are they just visible to moderators? Do you see dead people? ARE you dead people?!? :ghost:
 

davismanLV

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I can see 'em all...... well wait. Those two in a row were fine but the one with four in a row were just links that didn't go anywhere, so I guess no.
 
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walrus

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I can only see a few also, but what I can see is impressive! Looks like a new guitar!

walrus
 
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