Looking for a Guild x-375 switchplate

[larry.richardson]

Recently inherited a 1955 Guild Stratford x-375 Blonde. In really good shape but the switchplate is cracked on both ends. Looking for a replacement before I send the guitar in for a thorough cleaning and repair. Hoping someone on LTG has parts available or can point me in the right direction.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! Now that's a nice guitar but it will be a difficult search as parts from that periode of time are hard to find. But maybe you have luck here.

Ralf

 

[Walter Broes]

If you still have the cracked original plate, it shouldn't be too hard for a luthier, or anyone handy with a router and a drill press to fabricate a good looking copy - it's laminated plastic just like the pickguard

 

[hansmoust]

If you still have the cracked original plate, it shouldn't be too hard for a luthier, or anyone handy with a router and a drill press to fabricate a good looking copy - it's laminated plastic just like the pickguard

Hello Larry,

Welcome! They were done like that, but during the period that this X-375 was made the plates were made of some kind of 'plastic' sprayed gold from the bottom; pretty much the same look as the barrel knobs. The majority of the ones that I've seen have deteriorated to the point that they were falling apart, pretty much like some celluloid parts from this period often do.

Here's another one with such a plate that is almost at the end of its life!

Making a copy would not be all that hard.



Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Walter Broes]

Oops! My bad.
I have a little bit of an excuse....I was projecting....I have something I haven't posted on the forum yet...mine for a couple of months now

 

[hansmoust]

That's a really nice one! It's from 1960 if I remember correctly; did see it about 10 years ago when it still had a harp tailpiece and a regular wooden bridge. Cool guitar! Congratulations!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[GGJaguar]

mine for a couple of months now

Looking forward to your NGD report!

 

[larry.richardson]

If you still have the cracked original plate, it shouldn't be too hard for a luthier, or anyone handy with a router and a drill press to fabricate a good looking copy - it's laminated plastic just like the pickguard

Hopefully it can be easily fabricated - suspect the current plate was already a replacement (done badly). Not sure if the original was dark in colour like the pickgaurd or gold in colour like the volume/tone control knobs.

 

[Walter Broes]

That's a really nice one! It's from 1960 if I remember correctly; did see it about 10 years ago when it still had a harp tailpiece and a regular wooden bridge. Cool guitar! Congratulations!

Thanks! You're 100% right of course, and I'm happy to report I have the original tail and bridge too!

 

[Rocky]

Hello Larry,

Welcome! They were done like that, but during the period that this X-375 was made the plates were made of some kind of 'plastic' sprayed gold from the bottom; pretty much the same look as the barrel knobs. The majority of the ones that I've seen have deteriorated to the point that they were falling apart, pretty much like some celluloid parts from this period often do.

Here's another one with such a plate that is almost at the end of its life!

Making a copy would not be all that hard.



Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

That sounds similar to the construction of a Gretsch pickguard. On the GretschPages (RIP) there was some step-by-step documentation of the process. There might be similar on Gretsch Talk.

Failing that, the folks at Decoboom might be able to help you out. https://decoboom.com/

 

[GAD]

Oops! My bad.
I have a little bit of an excuse....I was projecting....I have something I haven't posted on the forum yet...mine for a couple of months now

Magnificent!

 

[jp]

Nice, Walter!

That's in brilliant shape. Lots of beautiful figuring on the top, and I like the Duane Eddy arm. Are those Kolb tuners with the rounded square buttons?

@larry.richardson
I've sent you a PM.

 

[chazmo]

Oops! My bad.
I have a little bit of an excuse....I was projecting....I have something I haven't posted on the forum yet...mine for a couple of months now

Walter, you were holding out on us, buddy!!!! That's extremely gorgeous, as I posted in Hans' thread on the subject too. WOW!!!!

I'll bet those buttons are hard to keep (electrically) clean. Do you treat them with some kind of graphite or something? Now, that my friend is an archie for life!!!!!!

 

[chazmo]

Recently inherited a 1955 Guild Stratford x-375 Blonde. In really good shape but the switchplate is cracked on both ends. Looking for a replacement before I send the guitar in for a thorough cleaning and repair. Hoping someone on LTG has parts available or can point me in the right direction.

Welcome aboard, Larry!!!!!

What a great entrance to LTG. Looks like that axe is gonna need some TLC on the switchgear, but wow... What a gorgeous soundboard, etc. Can we get some more pix!?

Again, welcome aboard!!!

 

[HeyMikey]

Welcome Larry. That is a beautiful old Guild you have there! Good luck with the restoration. Please report back with the solution.

 

[larry.richardson]

Welcome Larry. That is a beautiful old Guild you have there! Good luck with the restoration. Please report back with the solution.

Appreciate it. I will certainly provide updates as I go through the restoration.

 

[drlucky]

Welcome Larry! Beautiful Guild...congratulations!