First Guild of 2009: 1998 X-170

[tjmangum]

And so yesterday on our drive back to California from Oregon we stopped off at a little guitar shop in Medford that I've been to a few times. While he has some vintage and used, his main deal (since he was a rep for them at one time) is Godin guitars. He always has lots of 5th Avenues and I was checking to see if he was having a post holiday sale or something.
Tried a nice burst 5th, priced at $529 (no sales tax in Oregon) and was scanning the wall to see what else he may have, when behind the counter next to some older Gibsons I spied a blond Guild.
"Let me take a look at the Guild," I asked and as they took it down they gave me the run down about how it was in great shape, blah, blah and listed on ebay at the moment and they kept getting low ball offers from people etc.

Looking it over in the light, outside of a few very faint scratches, swirls, it was in mint condition. I plugged it in and played it for a few minutes and in spite of the strings being a bit old, it had great action, feel and tone.

My wife was looking at some vintage mandolins, so with her her nod of approval, I worked a deal for it.

This is my first Guild archtop and I've got a couple of questions. The tag (from a GC) is dated April 08 and says custom ordered.
1. Would it have been ordered with the tune-o-matic bridge or was this an add on? (The original rosewood bridge is in the case)
2. Is this the original pickguard? I've found some pictures of ones with a logo on it?
3. Recommended strings?
Thanks to all and happy New Year!
tj

 

[hansmoust]

This is my first Guild archtop and I've got a couple of questions. The tag (from a GC) is dated April 08 and says custom ordered.
1. Would it have been ordered with the tune-o-matic bridge or was this an add on? (The original rosewood bridge is in the case)
2. Is this the original pickguard? I've found some pictures of ones with a logo on it?

Thanks to all and happy New Year!
tj

Hello tj,

Happy New Year to you as well!

You mentioned the Guitar Centre tag was dated April 08. You didn't mean April '98, did you?

1. It looks to me like it was added on.
2. If the guitar was tagged April '98, then the pickguard would be correct. The change to the plexiglass pickguard w. the Guild logo took place later.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Graham]

Gorgeous tj!

 

[tjmangum]

This is my first Guild archtop and I've got a couple of questions. The tag (from a GC) is dated April 08 and says custom ordered.
1. Would it have been ordered with the tune-o-matic bridge or was this an add on? (The original rosewood bridge is in the case)
2. Is this the original pickguard? I've found some pictures of ones with a logo on it?

Thanks to all and happy New Year!
tj

Hello tj,

Happy New Year to you as well!

You mentioned the Guitar Centre tag was dated April 08. You didn't mean April '98, did you?

1. It looks to me like it was added on.
2. If the guitar was tagged April '98, then the pickguard would be correct. The change to the plexiglass pickguard w. the Guild logo took place later.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

You're right Hans, the tag is April 98, SN # AK170861. What are the merits of this bridge (if any) versus the original?
tj

 

[Walter Broes]

What are the merits of this bridge (if any) versus the original?

A metal bridge has a little more attack and brightness. By itself, the guitar will likely sound "prettier" with the wood bridge, but might get more easily drowned out in band context. A metal bridge saddle has a little more clarity and cut.

 

[chazmo]

Gorgeous tj!

Ditto that. Congrats!

 

[Guildmark]

Gorgeous tj!

Ditto that. Congrats!

What they said - in spades!
A great start to the new year!

 

[Guilderagain]

3. Recommended strings?

Happy New Year TJ,

Great guitar and congratulations!
I have a Tennesee Orange X-170 made in 2000. It has the Guild logo on the pickguard with the original wooden bridge.

I like D'Addario Chromes Jazz strings. My preference for now is using the light set with .011 high E (ECG24 - Jazz Light). Also, I have tried the Thomastik Infeld's Jazz Swing series (JS111) on my X-500 - though 6-3rd strings are a bit lighter than the D'Addario's. I haven't heard a significant difference in tone compared to the D's to justify the higher price. I have read they will last longer too. The D's have lasted a long time because I'm always carefull to wipe my strings down after playing and store the guitars in their case.

Enjoy!
Alex

PS. My preference to flatwounds are mostly due to their feel and quietness when sliding my fingers during playing. I suppose their muted tone (as compared to roundwounds) has become an appeal as well, especially with the clean sound I typically prefer on my Guild archtops.

 

[X170]

If you don't mind my asking, how much did you land it for? Reason I'm asking is I have it's twin setting in my den that I'm considering selling as I just don't play much any longer. I recently saw two on Ebay. One for a BIN price of $1599. The other with a BIN price of $1399. The pricier of the two sold for the BIN bucks, while the other did not sell at all.