Custom Shop X-550T

[GGJaguar]

I know that Custom Shop X-550s built by Chris Fleming have been briefly discussed in the past. I came across photos of this Chris Fleming X-550T which, I assume, is the thin body version. It appears to be a bit deeper than the 2-inch body of the GSR T-500 and has a 1-piece back, but otherwise could have been a template for that model.

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[Stuball48]

Thanks for beautiful pictures Jaguar!
I need to make myself learn how to post pictures. The Hank Williams Jr. model G45 that I got from Richard P. is a beautiful maple, also

 

[GGJaguar]

I need to make myself learn how to post pictures.

It's really easy. Just click the little icon that looks like a mountain and a box opens. You can either click and drag a photo into the box or just click in the box and menu appears where you can select the photo from your device. That's how I added the photo below of the GSR T-500.

 

[HeyMikey]

What a beautiful guitar!

 

[GAD]

You can just drag a photo into your message.

Beautiful guitar and useful pics!

 

[Default]

OK, I'll play.

 

[guitarlover]

BEAUTIFUL !!!!!

 

[Walter Broes]

GG, did you find those pics on the Gear Page? I seem to remember seeing them there, and the owner got the guitar straight from Mr Fleming, or something like that?

Fleming's the guy who built the extremelly short lived and rare X550P, and this looks like a thinline version of one of those with the wrong Bigsby.

 

[walrus]

How cool is the back of the headstock?! "1 of 1"!

walrus

 

[sailingshoes72]

That is a beautiful two-piece Spruce top on the X-550! Great photos!

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Would this guitar - it’s gorgeous by the way - have been built before or after the X550P?

I’d be concerned about that style Bigsby which normally used on a semi-hollow guitar since it screws to the top, but I’m sure that must have been taken into consideration during the build.

 

[SFIV1967]

Would this guitar - it’s gorgeous by the way - have been built before or after the X550P?

I only read that Mike Eldred and Chris Fleming copied Dave Gonzales 1957 X-550 and gave the prototype to Dave during the January 2002 NAMM show. Which would mean the Dave Gonzales project was already started during 2001, so during the closure of production in Westerly. Without knowing when that 1 of 1 was made I would assume Chris built that 1 of 1 probably in 2002 or later.
Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

GG, did you find those pics on the Gear Page? I seem to remember seeing them there, and the owner got the guitar straight from Mr Fleming, or something like that?

Unfortunately, I don't recall.

 

[kakerlak]

GG, did you find those pics on the Gear Page? I seem to remember seeing them there, and the owner got the guitar straight from Mr Fleming, or something like that?

Fleming's the guy who built the extremelly short lived and rare X550P, and this looks like a thinline version of one of those with the wrong Bigsby.

It really does look like a thinline X550P. I wonder if that non-Guild Bigsby was all they could source in nickel/chrome at that point or if this left the factory with a harp.

 

[SFIV1967]

GG, did you find those pics on the Gear Page? I seem to remember seeing them there, and the owner got the guitar straight from Mr Fleming, or something like that?

Yes, those are the pictures from there. The owner is/was living in the same town where Chris Fleming used to live. (near Scottsdale).
Ralf

 

[Walter Broes]

As I understand it, the template for that body shape was copied straight from Dave's late 50's X500 - Chris Fleming had that guitar on loan to copy. The main difference is that the X550P (and the GSR models too) got a longer scale neck, which the original didn't have. That's what Dave told me about the guitar anyway.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

I got to see the Paladins in about August of 2002 at a small club in PA. They were on the way to a car show in New England and I think they booked this gig because they were driving by, it was right off the Interstate highway.

I got to meet Dave before they played and he brought his signature model X550P to the table I was sitting at to show me. He handed it to me to check out - talk about an “I’m not worthy” moment! I remember how thrilled he seemed with the guitar.