Guild X 161 FM6HSB

[danforth1967]

I am going to try out a 1989 Guild 161 FM6HSB from a private seller. Of course I've been looking online to find information and youtube movies of people playing this model. There isn't much information it seems. Only a few sites of shops selling one. So does anyone have more info about this guitar. Also estimated recent value of one in mint condition would be appreciated.

Thanks! René

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG René! That's a nice looking X-161! Made in Westerly, Rhode Island.

The X-160 / X-161 were introduced in very late 1988 (only 5 made still in 1988 as far as I see) and had laminated maple top, back and sides.
It has an internal soundpost (just like a plate of wood standing between top and back like a T-bar) to reduce feedback, see arrow:



The body is 16 5/8" wide and 2 1/2" deep.
Two Guild HB-1 humbuckers.

It's a bit a confusing naming of those Savoy models as that Savoy name was used on so many models over decades.
A X-161 should have had a Guildsby but that model obviously came with wooden bridge and normal harp tailpiece as it looks. Typical Guild inconsistencies...

"X 161 FM6HSB" should be spelled: X-161 FM Ch Sb where FM is flamed maple, Ch Sb is cherry sunburst.



Here is what the 1990 catalog showed:



And the January 1990 pricelist:



Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! I think Ralf gave you an excellent overview of the model. I have one and like it a lot. It's very versatile. Mine looks similar to the one you are interesting in, but has a Guildsby tailpiece instead of the harp tailpiece.

 

[SFIV1967]

I have one and like it a lot.

What's the right one? A X-170 ?
Ralf

 

[hansmoust]

What's the right one? A X-170 ?

Looks like an early '90s X-170.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[GGJaguar]

What's the right one?

1991 X-170

 

[danforth1967]

Thanks for your reactions.! Great to have some good information.

I am mainly an acoustic fingerpicker and I am looking for the right electric guitar to extend my sound spectrum so to speak. I am going to try the guitar out tonight so I'll find out myself soon but what do you guys think about the x-161 for a fingerpicking electric.

In reaction to Ralf on the soundpost. Yes I guess this post helps in reducing feedback but the main reason I think they installed that is to prevent cave in of the top by the pressure on the bridge.

I would have preferred a Guildsby on it (Like the one GGJaguar has) but these guitars a pretty rare (more so in Europe) so for now the guitar having the harp is not a very big issue.

Could you guys please help me with a price indication? I mean for this guitar now. The seller says the guitar is in mint condition. Since the guitar is pretty rare I am in the dark about the fact if the asking price is reasonable.

I was also looking for a sixties starfire III. But these are also difficult to find in the private market here. What do you guys think how the starfire III compares in sound to the X-161?

 

[SFIV1967]

...but the main reason I think they installed that is to prevent cave in of the top by the pressure on the bridge.

No, a laminated archtop top would not cave in. They are very strong. The main reason for the sound post was to reduce feedback.

Could you guys please help me with a price indication?

I don't really know the price for those models but my feeling would be to take US$1,500, add $150 to $200 shipment. Exchange all to Euros which is about EUR 1,400 to EUR 1,450. Add 20% for VAT (depending on country) and customs (about 3%) and we are talking EUR 1.725 to EUR 1.785 as a ball park price.
So check Reverb or Ebay in USA for sold prices of X-160 or X-161 from that era, add shipment cost, add VAT and tax (both on the sum of price + shipment).

Ralf

 

[danforth1967]

and we are talking EUR 1.725 to EUR 1.785 as a ball park price.

That's spot on the asking price. So that seems right. Thanks!

 

[walrus]

Good luck, Rene! That's a beautiful guitar!

walrus

 

[chazmo]

I don't know if it's an optical illusion, but the bridge pickup looks a little tilted in its slot. Other than that, yeah, the guitar body looks to be in excellent condition from the picture.

Good luck, Rene.

 

[matsickma]

I may have missed if this piece of info was listed...the X160T and/or X161 are virtually the same guitar separated by a model year or two. However the main point is the Guildsby was installed but it also came with a full wooden bridge assembly.
Suprisingly it worked fine with the Guildsby but many people either replace the wooden bridge with a full aluminum Bigsby bridge or replace the wooden saddle with a Bigsby bridge.
M

 

[GAD]

I have one and the X160/161 is a great guitar. Prices above are spot on in this market. I love that finish, too!

Edit: Here's mine. Looking at my records I paid US $1400 in 2019.

 

[danforth1967]

Yes! Bought the guitar yesterday. Tried it out at the seller. Good that I brought my own amp because the seller had a little cardboard box amp that sounded terrible. I love the neck pickup. Nice warm sound. It's a very good electric to fingerpick on. For what it looks like there is a 0.10 d'addario set of strings on it. I'm going to change that for a 0.11 set with a wound G string. The guitar is in mint condition. The case (which is not the original case I think) looks like it's been though a few world wars. Very happy with my new Guild.

Here's some pics...T

 

[GGJaguar]

Beautiful guitar! Congratulations!

 

[krysh]

beautiful, congrats.

 

[HeyMikey]

Gorgeous! Congratulations and welcome. Looking forward to hearing how it sounds as you spend more time with it.

 

[walrus]

Congratulations! Great score!

walrus

 

[shihan]

Congratulations on your first (of many, if you’re like the rest of us) Guild. You done good; that beauty looks like new!

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Beautiful guitar! Congrats and welcome!