1953/54 X350 Now you see it, now you don't
- Thread starter MVTele
- Start date
john_kidder
Senior Member
That was me. It lasted about 17 seconds after I saw it. Didn't wait for details, just went for it. Love those early archtops. Looks all original to me, except for the tailpiece. We'll see when it arrives.
I'll trade anyone 2 Bigsbys and a bottle or two of fine whisky for one ancient Kluson tailpiece and the bottom part of an early Guild (gold) harp.
I'll trade anyone 2 Bigsbys and a bottle or two of fine whisky for one ancient Kluson tailpiece and the bottom part of an early Guild (gold) harp.
Walter Broes
Enlightened Member
Woo, Go John! Very nice, congratulations!!
taabru45
Enlightened Member
Congrats, John, she's a beauty. Will be right at home, and in good company. Steffan 
Congrats, John! It was born the same year as me!
You stole that thing :shock:
You stole that thing :shock:
matsickma
Senior Member
Great deal John.
And now the rest of the story...
I almost had that for $800 yesterday! The guitar was posted at $1200 on craigslist in St Louis on Monday. I contacted the guy and got pictures and lost some interest because it looked to be another project (which I didn't need). I told the guy I would give him $800 and cover all packing issues. I also told him I would understand if I didn't hear from him again. I ended up working very late the next day and got in after midnight and to my suprise got a email saying the guy selling the guitar was interested. He wanted to confirm how he would get the $. I returned an email and said instant paypal. The next morning a email came back at 9 am agreeing. However I was at work and didn't get into after midnight again last night. I checked Craigs list from work before I left and saw the guy reduced the Craigs lsit cost down to $1000 so I expected I would see a email when I got home.
Well with me working late and not getting back with him he decided to put it on ebay.
I was amazed I was able to keep this below the Craigs list radar for so long.
In particular I was thinking of you through the whole period because I knew you would not shy away from refurbishing the guitar.
Off to work again for another marathon day...
M
And now the rest of the story...
I almost had that for $800 yesterday! The guitar was posted at $1200 on craigslist in St Louis on Monday. I contacted the guy and got pictures and lost some interest because it looked to be another project (which I didn't need). I told the guy I would give him $800 and cover all packing issues. I also told him I would understand if I didn't hear from him again. I ended up working very late the next day and got in after midnight and to my suprise got a email saying the guy selling the guitar was interested. He wanted to confirm how he would get the $. I returned an email and said instant paypal. The next morning a email came back at 9 am agreeing. However I was at work and didn't get into after midnight again last night. I checked Craigs list from work before I left and saw the guy reduced the Craigs lsit cost down to $1000 so I expected I would see a email when I got home.
Well with me working late and not getting back with him he decided to put it on ebay.
I was amazed I was able to keep this below the Craigs list radar for so long.
In particular I was thinking of you through the whole period because I knew you would not shy away from refurbishing the guitar.
Off to work again for another marathon day...
M
john_kidder
Senior Member
Wow, Mike, that's a backstory worth knowing - sorry if I unknowingly scooped it from you, but I just couldn't resist. Do you still have the pictures he sent you, or were they the same ones in the eBay listing? I'm wondering in particular about your asssessment of the "project" part?
It does look like a beautiful back. We'll see about the rest.
It does look like a beautiful back. We'll see about the rest.
Walter Broes
Enlightened Member
John, there's a Kluson tailpiece advertised at http://www.philsguitars.com (no affiliation, I just noticed it!). No price, and it probably won't be cheap, but it does like the right one for your guitar.
krysh
Guildarist in the mod squad
congrats john.
john_kidder
Senior Member
Walter - it's pretty close - the Guild version shown in Hans' bible don't have the cutout in the bottom portion, other than that it looks precisely the same.
I'll inquire, thanks for the lead.
I'll inquire, thanks for the lead.
matsickma
Senior Member
Hi John,
It has been a long day and I am just getting home.
In regards to the X350.
First let me say that I don't want to worry you. The guitar you are getting is a beauty and is in good condition and doesn't look to have any problems. The only real issue was the state of the binding which is an easy fix.
Since I had owned a X375 years back I was a bit picky about buying this X350 only because I personally didn't like to play my X375 that much. It was beautiful, had outstanding construction and acoustic tone and was cool. However from a practical issue as a player I didn't like the switching system, the assortment of capacitors that are tone shapers on the switches and the lack of individual control of the pickups. As much as I loved owning and looking at the X375 I didn't like to play it as an electric. On the other had the CE100D I picked up from BillyD is a much lower grade guitar as compared to a X350 but I can't play it enough-totally love it! Since I already explored the X375 model guitar I didn't have as much interest in buying it. The guitar had a refinish (based on my look at the pictures) and need binding repair so I figured it was a player and not a collector. Since I din't like playing my X375 I let it pass. I left one foot in the door by throwing out a $800 offer which I never expected the seller to consider. (At $800 I would just have to buy it). When he got back with me and then dropped the Craigslist price I began to take the opportunity to buy it more seriously. I start thinking about the guitar and figure that at $800 I could modiify it to my liking (AAHH I hear you say) . Well I wouldn't have done real damage to it. But to overcome one of my biggest dislikes of the X350 & X375 being the lack of individual volume controls of the pickups I came up with a plan to remove the existing pickguard and replace it with one I modified to include 3 little independent volume controls POTs for the pickups. (If done carefully I would be able to return it to stock and put the origional pickguard back on.) Now I was started to get excited about buying this guitar.
So in reality it is better that you snagged this guitar and kept it from my alteration clutches. :twisted:
My EX-375!
M
It has been a long day and I am just getting home.
In regards to the X350.
First let me say that I don't want to worry you. The guitar you are getting is a beauty and is in good condition and doesn't look to have any problems. The only real issue was the state of the binding which is an easy fix.
Since I had owned a X375 years back I was a bit picky about buying this X350 only because I personally didn't like to play my X375 that much. It was beautiful, had outstanding construction and acoustic tone and was cool. However from a practical issue as a player I didn't like the switching system, the assortment of capacitors that are tone shapers on the switches and the lack of individual control of the pickups. As much as I loved owning and looking at the X375 I didn't like to play it as an electric. On the other had the CE100D I picked up from BillyD is a much lower grade guitar as compared to a X350 but I can't play it enough-totally love it! Since I already explored the X375 model guitar I didn't have as much interest in buying it. The guitar had a refinish (based on my look at the pictures) and need binding repair so I figured it was a player and not a collector. Since I din't like playing my X375 I let it pass. I left one foot in the door by throwing out a $800 offer which I never expected the seller to consider. (At $800 I would just have to buy it). When he got back with me and then dropped the Craigslist price I began to take the opportunity to buy it more seriously. I start thinking about the guitar and figure that at $800 I could modiify it to my liking (AAHH I hear you say) . Well I wouldn't have done real damage to it. But to overcome one of my biggest dislikes of the X350 & X375 being the lack of individual volume controls of the pickups I came up with a plan to remove the existing pickguard and replace it with one I modified to include 3 little independent volume controls POTs for the pickups. (If done carefully I would be able to return it to stock and put the origional pickguard back on.) Now I was started to get excited about buying this guitar.
So in reality it is better that you snagged this guitar and kept it from my alteration clutches. :twisted:
My EX-375!
M
john_kidder
Senior Member
Thanks for the info, and the picture of that beautiful guitar.
Did you think it was refin from the picture on eBay, or did he send you others?
I've wondered about all those switches, but, stupidly, I had not considered their possible influence on tone. Sounds like a nifty mod you wanted to try.
I'll keep you posted.
John
Did you think it was refin from the picture on eBay, or did he send you others?
I've wondered about all those switches, but, stupidly, I had not considered their possible influence on tone. Sounds like a nifty mod you wanted to try.
I'll keep you posted.
John
matsickma
Senior Member
Hi John,
The pictures I got were the same as the ones he posted. I think the "refinish" was just an application of clear coat (i.e., the finish is pretty glossy).
I received a email from the seller apologizing for selling the guitar. He advised me if the ebay buyer ("from Canada") doesn't come through he will contact me. He also thanked me for my recomendation to put it on ebay. (I forgot I gave him that advice!).
I sent back a message telling him that he had nothing to worry about and that I was sure John Kidder would quickly pay him. I then went on to tell him that I knew you and that a group of us have a hobby of searching the world for Guild guitars to buy. I am sure right now he is scratching his head a bit!
This is just another interesting story for LTG.
Off to work ...
M
The pictures I got were the same as the ones he posted. I think the "refinish" was just an application of clear coat (i.e., the finish is pretty glossy).
I received a email from the seller apologizing for selling the guitar. He advised me if the ebay buyer ("from Canada") doesn't come through he will contact me. He also thanked me for my recomendation to put it on ebay. (I forgot I gave him that advice!).
I sent back a message telling him that he had nothing to worry about and that I was sure John Kidder would quickly pay him. I then went on to tell him that I knew you and that a group of us have a hobby of searching the world for Guild guitars to buy. I am sure right now he is scratching his head a bit!
This is just another interesting story
for LTG.Off to work ...
M
guildzilla
Senior Member
Damn! Wish I'd seen that one first. :x
Nevertheless, glad you nailed in, John. We have an almost uncanny fascination for the same specific guitars. We could practically swap collections without noticing much of a difference.
Best luck with the X-350. What a great deal. First nominee for 2009 Score of the Year.
Nevertheless, glad you nailed in, John. We have an almost uncanny fascination for the same specific guitars. We could practically swap collections without noticing much of a difference.
Best luck with the X-350. What a great deal. First nominee for 2009 Score of the Year.
john_kidder
Senior Member
Thanks - great advice. It was especially clever to tell him that he should list it 20 minutes before I took a look at the the listings.matsickma said:
Actually, he's just charmed. He thought you were a very nice guy, he's delighted that the guitar he was selling for a friend has gone to someone who cares, he thinks you and I knowing each other is very cool, and he was pleased to take the guitar to a nearby friendly luthier who will fix it and ship it carefully to me. This is a very happy seller.matsickma said:
Might it not be possible to mount three of those little thumbwheel pots under the edge of the existing pickguard with hideglue (sorry, hideglue, don't mean to take your name in vain) that you could get off with hot water? Lots of room to get the wires invisibly down through the f-hole. It's a great idea.matsickma said:
It's true about our guitars. Nifty.guildzilla said:
And thanks for the nomination. On behalf of the guitar, I accept. I think I'll start a category with that title - we'll see some great finds over the year, and then we can take a poll at year-end.
billydlight
Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
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- 387
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I have a blond 350 as well oldest Guild Logo the works. I never play it, I just can't kick the CE's and you can imagine what mine are like if the one I sold Matsickma was the one i fancied the least!