Guild x 175 - 1968

[guitarlover]

I received these images from the seller. What is your opinion about the neck/bigsby angle ?

 

[guitarlover]

 

[guitarlover]

Some headstock veneer shrinking also apparently.
Any advice welcome. Certainly about the neck and bigsby angle ofvthe strings over the saddles.

 

[kakerlak]

I don't like the looks of that. I'm guessing, based on where the bass side is, that the treble side is all the way down, or very nearly so. It looks like there's a little break angle to play with as far as sanding down the bridge base, etc, but those strings look like they're sitting really high. Could be okay -- maybe there's some relief to be adjusted away, maybe some of it is a trick of camera angle, but I wouldn't buy that one over the internet.

 

[guitarlover]

Thanks for your answer. I had also the impression that the action was a little higher than it should be.

However the seller - who appears to me to be very sincere and has a good "online"reputation wrote me yesterday before any questions were asked :
Guild`s action is great (on a lower side/not too "jazzy") and there's even space to lower it few millimeters, but doesn`t need to...

So maybe this is indeed " a trick of the camera". Maybe if I asked "the mesurements" of the action on the 12 string (bass and treble side) this can become clear ? Denis

 

[guitarlover]

And what do you think about the angle on the bigsby ?

 

[gilded]

I am in agreement with Kakerlak. It needs a neck set, unless you'd like to put the original tailpiece back on. With the original tailpiece you'll have a more acute break-over angle and you can play it happily forever.

Guitars that are designed to use Bigsbys usually have a shallow neck set (I'm thinking Gretsch).

In the Guild/Bigsby world, if you had a Guild X170T (for tremolo) and an X170 side by side, you'd probably see that the T model has a shallower neck set than it's 'non-T' brother.

Now, add 10-15 years to the age of the guitar and the neck break-over angle will change and all of sudden, you'll have a guitar that you have to spend $400-700 for a neck reset (the difference in price reflects the market pricing where you live, plus a lot of guys would get a fret job at the same time). If you don't mind the extra expense, go ahead and buy it.

Another thing, the pic of the bass side of the neck by the fingerboard extension shows that the finish has chipped off of the shoulder and cracked loose right along the extension. The other side looks fine, but some sort of event has happened there.

In closing, I wish you the best of luck with that guitar. I'm not trying to knock it, just trying to save you the expense that I've put out more than once, chasing the Grail.

gilded

 

[kakerlak]

What the heck is "not too jazzy" supposed to mean?

 

[guitarlover]

Thanks for your remarks. I can live without the bigsby but I need to think this over because I want to buy my "dream" guitar not an instrument that gives me frustrations and makesme worried....

@kakerlak : not to jazzy is referring to the fact (?) that jazz players play with higher action I suppose ...

Thought crosses my mind : Maybe this is all a bit "above my head " and I should keep it simple and just stick with my korean guitars that I bought brand new and in a guitar shop that I know and can trust and go to if there is a problem... (guitar bar in Antwerp with forum member Walter Broes btw )

 

[Guildadelphia]

If you have reservations, then I would recommend you pass and keep looking. I bet something more suitable that isn't as much of a project will come come along.

 

[GAD]

Plenty of better examples will come along for a “dream guitar”.

 

[Walter Broes]

In my own experience, it's almost impossible to really tell from pics like those. To see the break angle, you'd need a perfect sideways pic with the guitar laying perfectly flat, and even then lens distortion could play tricks on you.

Still - one thing to keep in mind is that those roller saddles on that bridge are pretty tall. That could be one of the reasons the thumbwheels on that bridge are sitting pretty low.

I wouldn't spend 2.5K on that guitar in that shape anyhow - that's almost X500 money in my head, not late 60's X175 with a lot of finish damage.

 

[kakerlak]

In my own experience, it's almost impossible to really tell from pics like those. To see the break angle, you'd need a perfect sideways pic with the guitar laying perfectly flat, and even then lens distortion could play tricks on you.

Still - one thing to keep in mind is that those roller saddles on that bridge are pretty tall. That could be one of the reasons the thumbwheels on that bridge are sitting pretty low.

I wouldn't spend 2.5K on that guitar in that shape anyhow - that's almost X500 money in my head, not late 60's X175 with a lot of finish damage.

I didn't catch that this had a $2.5k ask. That's easy $1k too high, even if it's a player.

 

[guitarlover]

Thanks all for your reactions again. I guess I had some sort of " tunnel-vision" but somewhere deep in my my little brains I was also thinking that in this state the price was too high.

I appreciate your efforts to answer my questions and your patience with me !

 

[jp]

Why not this?

https://reverb.com/item/34323102-guild-x-170t-circa-1998-tennessee-orange-westerly-ri-made

LTG member ChasingGuitars is also selling this:

https://reverb.com/item/34193973-1966-guild-x-175-with-hard-case-excellent

 

[guitarlover]

I live in Europe and forum member ChasingGuitars does not ship internationally.

 

[jp]

I live in Europe and forum member ChasingGuitars does not ship internationally.

Ah--I feel for you. I understand how difficult and costly it can be to acquire vintage Guilds in the EU.

 

[Shakeylee]

I dig the Gibson P-13’s on that harmony in the background!!

 

[guitarlover]

@ Jp : If you really feel for me you can sell one of yours for cheap to make up for it

 

[jp]

@ Jp : If you really feel for me you can sell one of yours for cheap to make up for it

Hah! Unfortunately, I've pared down to my absolute keepers right now, or I'd help you out.

I really do understand. I've been hunting European sites for a vintage Guild for my son in Sweden right now. So expensive, esp. with VAT.

FYI: There have been members here who have helped our non-US members acquire Guilds before. Where are you located?