Another vintage Guild x 175

shihan

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I’m waiting for Hans to enlighten us. Stacked pots were not standard then, were they? Are they push/pull?
 

Gbart14

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Aside from the knobs question, who here knows what's going on with that wiring/control setup? That looks inordinately complex and I'm too stupid to know what a stacked pot like that would do, especially since it seems to have a single shaft (not like a concentric knob Danelectro/Jazz Bass setup). Seems like quite a bit of wiring going on there. If factory, I'm thinking that's gotta be some sort of experiment or special order and, if not factory, it's super tidy work.
From what I have read, that is factory wiring for the X-175 of that era. Mine is a 1960 and has never been apart. The interesting thing is that in the middle position, you have both neck and bridge volume and tone control. In other words, the bridge or neck volumes do not have to be on at all to get full control of volume and tone. I think I have stated that properly. FYI, these are original knobs and have the little piece of fabric wedged up inside them as described on GAD's blog. https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/09/17/identifying-guild-clear-g-shield-knobs/ Another interesting thing is that there is a trace of spline inside each knob that I have. I wonder if the dual stacked pot thing was not available with a splined shaft back then but they used the splined knobs anyway. Note that both the volume and tone controls are solid shafts with no splines and no splits. As far as I can tell, Guild did not use set screw type knobs on these guitars.
20200903_100638[1].jpg
 

Gbart14

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Based on the trace of spline on the original knobs, I am thinking I should just try some later knobs with splines made for American made pots (1/4") shaft. They are plenty cheap enough and since I am not going to sell it any time soon, that may be the answer.
 

kakerlak

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From what I have read, that is factory wiring for the X-175 of that era. Mine is a 1960 and has never been apart. The interesting thing is that in the middle position, you have both neck and bridge volume and tone control. In other words, the bridge or neck volumes do not have to be on at all to get full control of volume and tone. I think I have stated that properly. FYI, these are original knobs and have the little piece of fabric wedged up inside them as described on GAD's blog. https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/09/17/identifying-guild-clear-g-shield-knobs/ Another interesting thing is that there is a trace of spline inside each knob that I have. I wonder if the dual stacked pot thing was not available with a splined shaft back then but they used the splined knobs anyway. Note that both the volume and tone controls are solid shafts with no splines and no splits. As far as I can tell, Guild did not use set screw type knobs on these guitars.
20200903_100638[1].jpg
If you're saying that each pickup's controls are fully independent, such that you can completely roll one off in the middle postion, that's been true of all the Guilds I've owned. I agree that the wiring looks clean enough to be factory-done, but I really don't think that's standard for this (or any other era). It's interesting!
 

zizala

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My '61 X-175 has an original harness with stacked pots....
...not knowing why such arrangement was designed this way or how it works, for whatever reason its the best control functioning harness I've ever encountered.
Capable of very sensitive adjustments of tone, volume and blend compared to conventional harness/pot arrangements, from my experience.

Mine does have splined shafts but I'd guess yours might be a carryover from the earlier clear barrel and Daka-ware black "stove" type that would have had set screws for smooth shafts. Perhaps they push fit the newer style splined knobs the best they could during assembly.

It works so well that I bought another harness like this on Ebay several years ago to use in the future on something to be identified later.
I'll dig it out and snap a photo of the layout if anyone's interested.
I've also seen this harness on old '60's Martin two pickup DeArmond equipped archtops and those odd twin pickup D bodies.
 
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Walter Broes

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The stacked tone pots are something you see on DeArmond-equipped guitars too, if they have a DeArmond supplied-harness. I don't like them at all, because there's no "neutral" position, you're always cutting bass or treble, even with both pots full up.
 

Gbart14

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All I know is that my 1960 X-175 sounds fantastic through vintage tube amps. It is very flexible tone wise and yet has such a unique sound that it is easily distinguished from my bandmates' guitars. I love it just the way it is. Good job Guild of 1960. FYI, I ordered a set of clear / amber tone knobs from Guild. They are splined just like the original 1960 knobs but are set for 6mm stems. They are only $5.50 ea. I have a plan to open up the inside diameter to just under 1/4" and use them. The originals will be packed away in the original case. https://shop.guildguitars.com/produ...ne-knob-amber-with-silver-top/?v=7516fd43adaa
 

Gbart14

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Here is my finished product: 1960 X-175 with lubricated stacked tone pots - new knobs from Guild are very close to the originals, especially when installed. Had to drill out the 6mm splined holes to 1/4" with a precision 1/4" drill. Three of the knobs pressed on with just enough effort to know they are secure. One knob was a tiny bit loose so I added a bit of thread along the side of the shaft and pushed the knob on so that the thread stayed in place and it all works just great. The knobs are only $5.50 from Guild. Here is the finished product. Original knobs are stored away in the original case.
New knobs installed (1).jpg
New knobs installed (2).jpg
 
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