GGJaguar
Reverential Member
Sometimes the logical part of the brain is overridden by the emotional part. For instance, I didn’t need another archtop with DeArmonds and I have an issue with the way the top braces are cut through on the Newark Street series archtops, but this NS X-175 Manhattan Special looked so beautiful that I had to bring it home. The satin Malibu Blue version does nothing for me, but this non-cataloged, high-gloss blonde version is real eye candy. It doesn’t have a true natural finish, but rather an amber tinted finish that makes the flame in the maple “pop”. GAD’s review of this model is excellent, so I’ll skip to the top points of interest to me.
First, the finish is flawless, but thick (just like on other NS models I’ve owned). The faux binding on the F-holes and headstock is the same on the blonde version as on the blue version. Also, GAD’s article mentioned the model designation on the label (X-175B/SP-II) not agreeing with the marketing name (Manhattan Special). For the record, the model designation on the blonde version’s label is the same as on the one on GAD’s guitar. The guitar looks great right out of the box and the only change I made was to replace the white plastic switch tip with a chrome metal tip. I think it's a nice finishing touch.
One thing I like about the NS archtop models is the neck profile and the neck on this guitar does not disappoint. In fact, it feels a bit chunkier than those on the CE-100D and Starfires that I owned. Acoustically, this guitar is lively, responsive and quite loud. It makes me wonder how good the completely acoustic version (NS A-150) might sound. The spruce top is 3.6 mm thick and, for comparison, my Gretsch Country Club has a 4.5 mm thick spruce top… and that guitar sings! The acoustic nature of the X-175’s body definitely accentuates the woody tone when it’s plugged into an amp.
Next, the pickups. I assume the Korean-made DeArmond 2000s on this guitar are structurally the same as the FMIC-made DeArmond 2000s used on the X-160 Rockabilly, but they sure sound different. Of course, the two guitars are different (spruce vs maple top, 16-inch vs 17-inch body), but the pickups differ, too. The FMIC pickups from my X-160 measure 7.4K ohm (neck) and 7.5K ohm (bridge) while the Korean pickups in the X-175 Special are hotter – 7.9K ohm (neck) and 9.1K ohm (bridge). The difference in sound is noticeable and I much prefer the Korean pickups (gasp!). They have a more 3-D sound, are harmonically richer and have more oomph. If these pickups were in my X-160 Rockabilly, I probably would not have changed them out for TV Jones T-Armonds (though these were a great choice for that guitar).
The one thing that is holding the X-175 Special from its full potential is pickup placement. Walter B. mentioned this in some of his posts and I concur. The neck pickup pole pieces are 18 1/8 inches from the nut and the bridge poles are 22 3/4 inches from the nut. Compare this to the X-160 Rockabilly which measures 18 1 1/8 and 23 5/16 inches, respectively. So, the neck pickup is in the same position on both guitars, but that 7/16 inch (11 mm) difference for the bridge pickup is huge IMHO. While the sound of the bridge pickup is useable and pleasant, it lacks the “bite” that my ears expect to hear from a DeArmond. I improved the sound by adding a spacer to raise each pickup by 1.5 mm. Now the guitar has a little more grit to it and I’m much happier with the sound. It’s amazing how such tiny tweaks in pickup height make such a big difference in tone. Still, it could have been even better with the bridge pickup moved closer to the bridge.
Overall, the X-175MH sounds different than my other DeArmond types – the X-160 Rockabilly, Gretsch Country Club and Gretsch 6120-DSV – and different is good. I never bonded with my other Newark Series models, but I cannot put this one down. I’m impressed and it’s a keeper for sure. I think I like it better than my X-500T (oh, did he really just say that?
).
One final note – unlike the US-made Guildsby, the licensed version has a very sharp edge (see photo). I’ve sliced the heel of my hand on both this guitar and my former NS Starfire V, so be careful!
First, the finish is flawless, but thick (just like on other NS models I’ve owned). The faux binding on the F-holes and headstock is the same on the blonde version as on the blue version. Also, GAD’s article mentioned the model designation on the label (X-175B/SP-II) not agreeing with the marketing name (Manhattan Special). For the record, the model designation on the blonde version’s label is the same as on the one on GAD’s guitar. The guitar looks great right out of the box and the only change I made was to replace the white plastic switch tip with a chrome metal tip. I think it's a nice finishing touch.
One thing I like about the NS archtop models is the neck profile and the neck on this guitar does not disappoint. In fact, it feels a bit chunkier than those on the CE-100D and Starfires that I owned. Acoustically, this guitar is lively, responsive and quite loud. It makes me wonder how good the completely acoustic version (NS A-150) might sound. The spruce top is 3.6 mm thick and, for comparison, my Gretsch Country Club has a 4.5 mm thick spruce top… and that guitar sings! The acoustic nature of the X-175’s body definitely accentuates the woody tone when it’s plugged into an amp.
Next, the pickups. I assume the Korean-made DeArmond 2000s on this guitar are structurally the same as the FMIC-made DeArmond 2000s used on the X-160 Rockabilly, but they sure sound different. Of course, the two guitars are different (spruce vs maple top, 16-inch vs 17-inch body), but the pickups differ, too. The FMIC pickups from my X-160 measure 7.4K ohm (neck) and 7.5K ohm (bridge) while the Korean pickups in the X-175 Special are hotter – 7.9K ohm (neck) and 9.1K ohm (bridge). The difference in sound is noticeable and I much prefer the Korean pickups (gasp!). They have a more 3-D sound, are harmonically richer and have more oomph. If these pickups were in my X-160 Rockabilly, I probably would not have changed them out for TV Jones T-Armonds (though these were a great choice for that guitar).
The one thing that is holding the X-175 Special from its full potential is pickup placement. Walter B. mentioned this in some of his posts and I concur. The neck pickup pole pieces are 18 1/8 inches from the nut and the bridge poles are 22 3/4 inches from the nut. Compare this to the X-160 Rockabilly which measures 18 1 1/8 and 23 5/16 inches, respectively. So, the neck pickup is in the same position on both guitars, but that 7/16 inch (11 mm) difference for the bridge pickup is huge IMHO. While the sound of the bridge pickup is useable and pleasant, it lacks the “bite” that my ears expect to hear from a DeArmond. I improved the sound by adding a spacer to raise each pickup by 1.5 mm. Now the guitar has a little more grit to it and I’m much happier with the sound. It’s amazing how such tiny tweaks in pickup height make such a big difference in tone. Still, it could have been even better with the bridge pickup moved closer to the bridge.
Overall, the X-175MH sounds different than my other DeArmond types – the X-160 Rockabilly, Gretsch Country Club and Gretsch 6120-DSV – and different is good. I never bonded with my other Newark Series models, but I cannot put this one down. I’m impressed and it’s a keeper for sure. I think I like it better than my X-500T (oh, did he really just say that?
).One final note – unlike the US-made Guildsby, the licensed version has a very sharp edge (see photo). I’ve sliced the heel of my hand on both this guitar and my former NS Starfire V, so be careful!
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