My '53 X400

[skinny]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to the board and thought I'd show you the ace up my sleeve 8) . I got this beauty back in '96 from a shop in So.Cal.
I had started looking for a Gibson es350 and the prices back then were out of my range and sadly they still are. Then i saw Nick Moss (then playing for the late great Jimmy Rogers) playing an X500 which he said was a 1953 prototype? It sounded fantastic!! He mentioned the prices were reasonable for these mysterious Guilds.............hmmmmm. The voice(s) in my head said "game on"! About 6mo. later I came across this beauty on, I think, Gbase or something like that back then. The price was right and she found a new home. :mrgreen: I've played it out on many a-gig, and with the right amp it's got "tone from the gods"!
Enough of my babbling, heres some pics.

skinny

Heres a pic with it's matching amp.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Both pieces are very, very cool, but the two together... whew, stunning!

Is that your usual gig amp?

 

[skinny]

Both pieces are very, very cool, but the two together... whew, stunning!

Is that your usual gig amp?

Thanks AlohaJoe,
The Masteramp is not my usual gig amp. Unfortunately it sounds like crap and haven't ,of late, had the funds to get it repaired.
The last amp I used with the Guild was my Magnatone 213 Troubador with a reverb tank. Sounded real good!

skinny

 

[southernGuild]

:shock: BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! What a great looking guitar!!!! and it doesnt sound too bad either?!!! WHOA!!!!! WELCOME SKINNY...and......What a grand entry you've made! TOO COOL! 8) Southern :wink: Did I say BEAUTIFUL?............REALLY , VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

[hansmoust]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to the board and thought I'd show you the ace up my sleeve. I got this beauty back in '96 from a shop in So.Cal.

Hello skinny,

Welcome!

When you say So.Cal. I assume you mean San Diego or thereabouts. I did see the guitar at Real Guitars in S.F. and I remember it was a cool guitar. Don't remember the exact year I saw it but it must have been before you bought it.

Maybe we should try and find and original bridge for it. That is, if you want to!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[krysh]

welcome and congrats to this gorgeous couple.

 

[Walter Broes]

Beautiful guitar! Welcome to the forum.

 

[Default]

<waves>
That's a good looking couple there! When you do get the Masteramp fixed, any gutshots or information from the tech would be much appreciated!

 

[fab467]

Welcome! Great looking pair you got there... 8)

 

[fws6]

Very nice guitar !!!! A few years ago I had an exacly similar one but a bit lower serial # ..... here's a pic. Sold it because the neck was too big for my taste and I needed the money to buy a Gretsch 6120. In hindsight I should have kept it , as over the years I have learned to appreciate the big neck guitars and sold all the 6120s again for early Epiphone and Guilds..... :x

All the earliest features, reddish burst, 1st variety headstock logo, kluson tuners, block inlays, plain guard, clear knobs...

The bridge looked like an early Epiphone bridge i.e. brazil rosewood bar non-compensated. It also had a Kluson tailpiece not the harp tail yet . I bet Hans must have one in his stock somewhere (becuase I sold him one that came of an x375 that was equipped with a bigsby !)

 

[hansmoust]

A few years ago I had an exacly similar one but a bit lower serial # .....

Hello Frank,

Actually, it was a little higher; serial # 1166 to be precise!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[fws6]

I had a different number in mind but since your bookkeeping is better than mine (actually non existing) you must be right

I can only confirm what skinny says, it was a great sounding guitar , very 'alive' acoustically because of the big body and spruce-topped laminate. Probably a bit prone to feedback but I play at low volume and very clean anyways. Should have kept it but as said I didnt. Live and learn. There are probably not many around as the x400/440 were short lived models. Exactly like the x500 just chrome hardware instead of gold right ?

I bought mine around $1500 approx 2003 then sold it two years later for the same amount to an infamous dutch retailer who, made up a bogus story, doubled the price, and moved it on (you know who I am talking about)

 

[skinny]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to the board and thought I'd show you the ace up my sleeve. I got this beauty back in '96 from a shop in So.Cal.

Hello skinny,

Welcome!

When you say So.Cal. I assume you mean San Diego or thereabouts. I did see the guitar at Real Guitars in S.F. and I remember it was a cool guitar. Don't remember the exact year I saw it but it must have been before you bought it.

Maybe we should try and find and original bridge for it. That is, if you want to!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Hans,
I did get the guitar from a dealer in SanDiego, Chris', If my memory serves correctly.
It did need a little work when I got it.
I would love to get an original bridge, and tailpiece for it!! It came with a Guild bigsby but the bridge kept slipping
around on me. I'm using the tailpiece thats on it, 'cause it has the same hole pattern as an original style Kluson tp that
was on it at one time.
Thanks for the kind words everyone!!

skinny

 

[skinny]

Very nice guitar !!!! A few years ago I had an exacly similar one but a bit lower serial # ..... here's a pic. Sold it because the neck was too big for my taste and I needed the money to buy a Gretsch 6120. In hindsight I should have kept it , as over the years I have learned to appreciate the big neck guitars and sold all the 6120s again for early Epiphone and Guilds..... :x

All the earliest features, reddish burst, 1st variety headstock logo, kluson tuners, block inlays, plain guard, clear knobs...

The bridge looked like an early Epiphone bridge i.e. brazil rosewood bar non-compensated. It also had a Kluson tailpiece not the harp tail yet . I bet Hans must have one in his stock somewhere (becuase I sold him one that came of an x375 that was equipped with a bigsby !)


fws6,
Wow!! that is one beautiful Guild. I love that they have big necks, they don't feel so delicate when playing them.
It's too bad you don't have that one anymore
Maybe Hans can hook me up with a bridge / tailpiece :wink:

skinny

 

[MrBoZiffer]

Welcome skinny! Beautiful gear!!! I love those early 50's archtops. I just posted this in another thread, but here's my '53 X-175...

I love the variations in the finishes on these guys. The sunburst on yours definitely has that old Epi feel. On mine, it's like they couldn't decide if they really wanted sunburst or not. :mrgreen: I've also got a Maggie 213 that I play my X-175 through. I love the sound of the two. I'd love to play those X-400s and see how they compare with my X-175.

Btw, Hans, mine is number 1167.

 

[hansmoust]

I love the variations in the finishes on these guys. The sunburst on yours definitely has that old Epi feel. On mine, it's like they couldn't decide if they really wanted sunburst or not. Btw, Hans, mine is number 1167.

Hello MrBo,

Yes, the finishes on the guitars from that period tend to vary a lot, although I believe that for the most part it is also fading of the dyes that were used at the time; not as U.V. resistant as the modern ones. I like it though!

Your X-175 was already in my database. I guess I got the info from the previous owner.
Beautiful guitar!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[MrBoZiffer]

Yeah, I figured you had it. I just thought it was cool that we had both 1166 and 1167 shown. I don't think I've ever been able to see one of my guitar's "production brothers" before. Cool stuff. 8)

 

[skinny]

Mr Bo,
Wow, thats a beautiful X 175 !
Yes I would be curious to compare both X's,
especially through a Maggie 213 :mrgreen:

skinny

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Skinny,

I think I used to own that X-400. I think it had a bigsby on it when I consigned it through Chris, but his store was in Hollywood.

Wish I'd kept it.

 

[skinny]

Skinny,

I think I used to own that X-400. I think it had a bigsby on it when I consigned it through Chris, but his store was in Hollywood.

Wish I'd kept it.

Hey Darryl,
I think this could be the guitar. I have the bigsby that came on it. I took it off 'cause the bridge kept slipping on me :x I'm not a fan of the rocker bridges.
Was wondering if you happen to know anything about the name left in the finish on the upper left bout? Its very faint but someone named "Cliff" must have owned the guitar at one point as well. Unless that was a stage name for you :wink:
People would notice the name on the guitar and ask "are you Cliff?" or "who is Cliff?" I'd tell them, that is the guitars' name :wink:

skinny