1954/56 Guild X-175 Manhattan - pics

[valcotone]

hey folks, I thought I'd share some photos of my new Guild X-175 Manhattan. The serial # indicates 1956, but all the physical attributes (except the knobs) say it was built in '54 and kept in the shop for a while. It's got the longer 25-1/2" scale, 1-11/16" nut width, no neck binding, and a larger neck profile than the blonde '59 X-175 I had.

Acoustically it rings like a nice archtop acoustic, and plugged in it's fantastic, especially the neck pickup. When I first got it the pickups were very microphonic and whistled and fed back with metalic overtones when any notes was played even at lower amp volumes, so I followed some advice here and instructions elsewhere and potted them in a double-boiler on the stove with the 80/20 mix of paraffin/beeswax. Perfect results. I spent some time adjusting the pickup height with small wooden shims and think it's just about right now. I also had it refretted since the originals were flat and worn out.

I'm proud to own her. Hope you enjoy the pics.

 

[valcotone]

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Sean; what a really fine vintage guitar that is, just totally superb!!

 

[valcotone]

Thanks John, that means a lot coming from you.


Adjusting the pickup height was a real effort... in order to make any changes you have to take the covers off to get at the mounting screws... and to remove the covers I had to remove the pole piece screws because the covers have shrunk a little bit. So I did as much as I could with the covers removed and pole piece screws installed, then added the covers back on when I was happy things were in the best position. :lol:

 

[GAD]

That's just plain cool. Congrats!

GAD

 

[walrus]

Very very cool! I love those knobs...

walrus

 

[Default]

Excuse me, I've got to take a cold shower. :shock:

 

[Guilderagain]

Guildtastic!

 

[john_kidder]

That's a sweetheart.

 

[mellowgerman]

WOW! :shock: Probably one of the nicest guitars I have ever seen!!!
Just something about it...

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Absolutely beautiful.

 

[jp]

Valcotone, my eyes just about bugged out when your pics loaded. A really fine-looking instrument that just oozes with character. I love the rounded corner inlays on some of the 50s Guilds. For some reason it kind of links Guild's heritage to Epiphone in my mind because old Epis always had different and interesting inlays. Thanks for sharing!

 

[AlohaJoe]

Valcotone, my eyes just about bugged out when your pics loaded. A really fine-looking instrument that just oozes with character. I love the rounded corner inlays on some of the 50s Guilds. For some reason it kind of links Guild's heritage to Epiphone in my mind because old Epis always had different and interesting inlays. Thanks for sharing!

I like to think of Epis as pre-Guilds. What a beautiful instrument. Character is just the right word and I'll bet it sounds as good as it looks!

 

[valcotone]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm glad you're enjoying the pics.

If anyone has any '54-era Guild archtops, I'd love to see them too.

 

[wright1]

A very nice guitar(British understatement). Looks like a very good refret. Did you have it done or did it come that way? Is the nut shimmed? Nice touch not to relpace a good vintage nut just because the frets are tall and new.
All the best Steve.

 

[caveman]

WOW ! That must be quite a kick playing such a guitar. Just looking at it gives me goosebumps. What is it about a real nice guitar that makes our heart beat faster ?

Great pics too, thanks !

 

[valcotone]

A very nice guitar(British understatement). Looks like a very good refret. Did you have it done or did it come that way? Is the nut shimmed? Nice touch not to relpace a good vintage nut just because the frets are tall and new.
All the best Steve.

hi Steve,

I had a local luthier refret it for me, and requested that he save the original nut if possible. He shimmed it just slightly to raise it up to deal with the higher frets. I really liked the result, and his work was fantastic.

 

[Willy]

Excellent, thanks for showing it to us.

That looks like the guitar I'd want within reach at all times. Like an old pair of jeans, something about a great sounding, well used instrument that keeps you coming back like an old friend.

 

[wright1]

Thanks for that info. I don't know what area you are in but would you recommend your luthier? The work looks very clean. I would guess he had to correct a little rising tongue from the look of the board over the neck join. Nicely finished tall frets with a lot of life in them for several dressings. I would be interested to know what fret wire was used. It retains the vintage look with plenty of height.
Have many hours of fun,thanks,Steve.

 

[valcotone]

Steve, this is the shorter variety of "6105" fretwire, it measures .095" x .047" (approximately).

The luthier is in western Canada.