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I have a '54 x-350 Stratford and would like to touch base with other x-350 players or anyone interested in this model or others from this period.
Newbie with Stratford
- Thread starter Doc Simons
- Start date
Graham
Venerated Member
Welcome Doc, I'm not the guy to talk seriously about any guitar, I just roam from room to room and annoy the regulars. :shock:
However, is the Stratford used here by chance? What a great sound you've got going there. Smooth licks, great vocals, nice groove.
Spicy Hot is particularly kewl. 8)
Welcome to LTG. :mrgreen:
However, is the Stratford used here by chance? What a great sound you've got going there. Smooth licks, great vocals, nice groove.
Spicy Hot is particularly kewl. 8)
Welcome to LTG. :mrgreen:
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Thank you Graham. I'm pleased you found that site. I had forgotten about it! No, both tunes were done with my Frankencaster. I don't have anything recorded with the Stratford.
coastie99
Enlightened Member
Doc Simons said:
Sorry Doc, can't help - but here's a nice Stratford for your viewing pleasure..............
http://www.stratfordnz.co.nz/
And welcome to the club. And not a little lunacy !
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Dear coastee99
Looks beautifull.
Looks beautifull.
Hello Doc,
I just saw your recent message...
I don't have a Stratford, but I do have a similar guitar: an X-660. This is basically the same guitar, but instead of having the pushbutton setup, it has individual tone and volume controls for each of the Franz 3 p-90-style pickups. It also has a master volume control on the lower bout near the pick guard. It is blond, with gold hardware. Hans has seen it and says it is a probably '53, made in NY just after the Epiphone guys came over. So it is a very early Guild.
I bought this guitar from a chauffer I met years ago. He said he had bought it from his teacher in Manhattan in the early '60s. It was missing some parts and had been changed around: middle pickup missing, and it was rewired with a three-way switch. Also, the original Kluson tailpiece was gone, replaced with a gold Hagstrom-branded harp tailpiece. When I opened the case it still had the same flatwound strings on it from the 60s, and the guy's pick threaded through the strings.
It took me years of trolling eBay to find a replacement pickup (I had to buy two - anyone need the other?), and a gold knob and original pot so I could get it rewired. Which I did do, the work done at 48th Street Guitars by Carlo Greco himself! It needed some binding replaced, and he replaced the Hagtrom tailpiece with a chrome Guild part. I have given up searching for an original tailpiece - I think they all fell apart eventually. Actually, I think I am going to put the Hagstrom back on, as the gold better matches the rest of the guitar in color and age.
There is a picture in Hans' book of Carl Kress, the famous NY jazz and session player and partner of George Barnes playing a guitar like this, and Carlo confirmed for me that this in fact was his guitar! WOW! Carlo told me that Al Caiola and Josh White both owned and played X-660s. He said that over the years he has repaired three including mine, one from Tennesee someplace. (Perhaps it's still out there?)
It's a big guitar with a short neck: baseball bat neck, and big body. It's a "man's guitar", I'd say, not really easy to play. You really have to know where you are going on it, but played with authority and definition it really sings. It sounds amazing unplugged, and pretty great electrically as well. The electronics are tricky - you can get many sounds but it takes some figuring out. Wiring is weird: out of phase treble pickup - Carlo got the wiring diagram from a former Guild employee he contacted (who?)
I probably don't play it as much as I should, being as I'm in a surf band right now... :roll: and I rarely take it out of the house. But, I did record with it some years back and it came out sounding great on the swing tunes I used it on.
I will try to post some pictures of it soon.
Dave G.
High Bridge, NJ
I just saw your recent message...
I don't have a Stratford, but I do have a similar guitar: an X-660. This is basically the same guitar, but instead of having the pushbutton setup, it has individual tone and volume controls for each of the Franz 3 p-90-style pickups. It also has a master volume control on the lower bout near the pick guard. It is blond, with gold hardware. Hans has seen it and says it is a probably '53, made in NY just after the Epiphone guys came over. So it is a very early Guild.
I bought this guitar from a chauffer I met years ago. He said he had bought it from his teacher in Manhattan in the early '60s. It was missing some parts and had been changed around: middle pickup missing, and it was rewired with a three-way switch. Also, the original Kluson tailpiece was gone, replaced with a gold Hagstrom-branded harp tailpiece. When I opened the case it still had the same flatwound strings on it from the 60s, and the guy's pick threaded through the strings.
It took me years of trolling eBay to find a replacement pickup (I had to buy two - anyone need the other?), and a gold knob and original pot so I could get it rewired. Which I did do, the work done at 48th Street Guitars by Carlo Greco himself! It needed some binding replaced, and he replaced the Hagtrom tailpiece with a chrome Guild part. I have given up searching for an original tailpiece - I think they all fell apart eventually. Actually, I think I am going to put the Hagstrom back on, as the gold better matches the rest of the guitar in color and age.
There is a picture in Hans' book of Carl Kress, the famous NY jazz and session player and partner of George Barnes playing a guitar like this, and Carlo confirmed for me that this in fact was his guitar! WOW! Carlo told me that Al Caiola and Josh White both owned and played X-660s. He said that over the years he has repaired three including mine, one from Tennesee someplace. (Perhaps it's still out there?)
It's a big guitar with a short neck: baseball bat neck, and big body. It's a "man's guitar", I'd say, not really easy to play. You really have to know where you are going on it, but played with authority and definition it really sings. It sounds amazing unplugged, and pretty great electrically as well. The electronics are tricky - you can get many sounds but it takes some figuring out. Wiring is weird: out of phase treble pickup - Carlo got the wiring diagram from a former Guild employee he contacted (who?)
I probably don't play it as much as I should, being as I'm in a surf band right now... :roll: and I rarely take it out of the house. But, I did record with it some years back and it came out sounding great on the swing tunes I used it on.
I will try to post some pictures of it soon.
Dave G.
High Bridge, NJ
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Thanks for you're reply.
So interesting, these early, NYC Guilds. I know Carlo as well . I grew up in Queens and at about 14 we were allowed to go into Manhatten. Forty eighth street woul be our first stop. Usually Manny's where I'd stock up on Blues Harps @ 3$ a piece. Carlo fixed a mandolin for me a few years ago.
I read about the x660 but saw no pics in Hans' book. Sounds wonderfull. My 1954 x350 was all original from Matt Uminov. I've put a new gold Guild Bigsby on it. Unfortunately, The store people had no idea where it had come from. On the pos. side it was quite pristine except for extensive finish checking.
I almost didn't buy it. The neck pickup sounded weird- just like the tone pot was all the way down. Pickups are usually fine or dead, so I had the sales guy ask the shop to check to see if there was a tone cap hardwired to that pickup. Eurika! Those 50's jazz guys hated treble so much they had to have even more high cut than the tone control gives.
The top on mine gives a full complex tone- but very low volume, unplugged. I don't mind because the guitar hardly feeds back compared to other hollow's and I think that thick, stiff top helps the feedback resistance.
I like the huge neck with the 1 3/4 nut. I wish the cuttaway provided more access. I bet there are plenty of folks here who would kill for a Franz. White or black?
So interesting, these early, NYC Guilds. I know Carlo as well . I grew up in Queens and at about 14 we were allowed to go into Manhatten. Forty eighth street woul be our first stop. Usually Manny's where I'd stock up on Blues Harps @ 3$ a piece. Carlo fixed a mandolin for me a few years ago.
I read about the x660 but saw no pics in Hans' book. Sounds wonderfull. My 1954 x350 was all original from Matt Uminov. I've put a new gold Guild Bigsby on it. Unfortunately, The store people had no idea where it had come from. On the pos. side it was quite pristine except for extensive finish checking.
I almost didn't buy it. The neck pickup sounded weird- just like the tone pot was all the way down. Pickups are usually fine or dead, so I had the sales guy ask the shop to check to see if there was a tone cap hardwired to that pickup. Eurika! Those 50's jazz guys hated treble so much they had to have even more high cut than the tone control gives.
The top on mine gives a full complex tone- but very low volume, unplugged. I don't mind because the guitar hardly feeds back compared to other hollow's and I think that thick, stiff top helps the feedback resistance.
I like the huge neck with the 1 3/4 nut. I wish the cuttaway provided more access. I bet there are plenty of folks here who would kill for a Franz. White or black?
Hey check out this cool video of Philly rockabilly cat Charlie Gracie playing his Stratford, doing "Butterfly" on the Ed Sullivan show in 1957!
http://www.charliegracie.com/video.php
He takes a short solo and you can hear how it sounds.
It's amazing that he still has and is playing that same guitar today. Check out his schedule and the photos. He even features the guitar on his website!
Hans: what do you know about this guitar?
http://www.charliegracie.com/video.php
He takes a short solo and you can hear how it sounds.
It's amazing that he still has and is playing that same guitar today. Check out his schedule and the photos. He even features the guitar on his website!
Hans: what do you know about this guitar?
john_kidder
Senior Member
I'm interested in the period - have an original '53 X-50, and a sort-of-bastardized X-175/X-400 from (perhaps) '54 or '55.
Hans believes that the big guitar was, when made, one of those mentioned in his book with the early long-scale necks built onto a later body. After that, someone swapped out the P-90s for humbuckers, added separate volume and tone controls for the bridge p'up, bound the f-holes, and did a fancy G-shield inlay in the headstock. Then, just to cap it all off, they added a Gibson (can you belives it?) "Custom"-style truss rod cover.
I've been assembling parts for a restoration for quite a while - got the early Franz P-90s, an original pickguard, the top half of the early G tailpiece, tuners, etc. But the guitar actually plays like a dream, the humbuckers are great, and I may just leave it as it is. When the time and the wallet is right, I'll be in the market for same-vintage X-3??.
Good to hear from you,
Hans believes that the big guitar was, when made, one of those mentioned in his book with the early long-scale necks built onto a later body. After that, someone swapped out the P-90s for humbuckers, added separate volume and tone controls for the bridge p'up, bound the f-holes, and did a fancy G-shield inlay in the headstock. Then, just to cap it all off, they added a Gibson (can you belives it?) "Custom"-style truss rod cover.
I've been assembling parts for a restoration for quite a while - got the early Franz P-90s, an original pickguard, the top half of the early G tailpiece, tuners, etc. But the guitar actually plays like a dream, the humbuckers are great, and I may just leave it as it is. When the time and the wallet is right, I'll be in the market for same-vintage X-3??.
Good to hear from you,
I know a guy with an X-350. But he won't be out of prison for another four years. His wife prob'ly pawned it in the meantime. 
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Doc,
Here's a guy who has either a 350 or 375: http://www.dougbsteel.com/index.html
He's a great guy and would be happy to share info with you.
Hatted Frau
PS I'm getting a lot of good use out of your Beautyrest.
(Note to peoples outside the US: "Beautyrest" is a type of mattress made by "Simmons," a name that's close to "Simons."
I apologize.
Here's a guy who has either a 350 or 375: http://www.dougbsteel.com/index.html
He's a great guy and would be happy to share info with you.
Hatted Frau
PS I'm getting a lot of good use out of your Beautyrest.
(Note to peoples outside the US: "Beautyrest" is a type of mattress made by "Simmons," a name that's close to "Simons."
I apologize.
Graham
Venerated Member
Darryl Hattenhauer said:
Post a recent pic and let us decide. :shock:
Graham
Venerated Member
capnjuan said:
That lets me out then. Carry on Frau.
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Hey, SledDog, What a great video and fabulous guitar. It looks like the very end of the Pearl St. (NY) days maybe 56 or so. The headstock and f holes are bound, unlike in 53 or mine from 54. Thanks Doc
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
No it wouldn't. It'd be a cartoon.