Ngd: X-170

[JavelinaJoe]

Just picked up the guitar from GC. Condition is very good but I found 2 issues: someone had a different tailpiece installed and there are screw holes evident near the mount; the pickups are the Fender HB-1's and they honestly suck. I'll try to get some pictures posted shortly. The top on this thing is really gorgeous.:love-struck:

Would the new Guild "anti hum" dual coil pickups fit this guitar, and where would I find them? I'd like to keep it original as possible but I really detest these pickups. Maybe I could get them rewound if I can't find a suitable replacement.

JJ

 

[JavelinaJoe]

 

[walrus]

Very nice! Love the flame top! Is the back flamey, too?

walrus

 

[Default]

GAD had his Fenderbuckers rewound. I think they are the size of a regular humbucker, but the minis are smaller for sure.

 

[GAD]

GAD had his Fenderbuckers rewound. I think they are the size of a regular humbucker, but the minis are smaller for sure.

Yes, in my Starfire, and they are magnificent.

 

[JavelinaJoe]

I spent some more time playing and I can see where someone might be OK with these pups. I think I'm particularly jaded from playing the NS X-175 single coils, and and a delightful little Hagstrom HJ-600 I picked up. The Hag pups were solid and sounded great. I have a set of SD Hot Rodded humbuckers I may install while I have the Fender*uckers re-wound. Could be fun.

I read GAD's blog on the pickups. Thank you for the great information and photos. Extremely helpful and educational. Now I gotta find somebody to re-wind these guys.

JJ

 

[GAD]

I had them rewound because I love the HB1-looking covers. The guy who rewound mine wanted to use standard bobbins and they wouldn't fit so he had to reuse the bobbins from the Fender HB1s.

 

[cc_mac]

Congratulations on your new X170. Everyone has different tastes in pickups so you should find what works for you. Earlier this year I acquired from an LTG member a Guild 1999 X150D with the Fender HB1 pickups. I didn't recall many favorable things being written about the pickups but tried to keep an open mind. I noticed that with my guitar the pickups were set high and close to the strings; so much so that I finally realized the magnetic pull of the pickups was choking the strings. I lowered them to resolve that issue and then began to experiment with the pickup height below the "choke" to find what sounded best to me. I also leveled the pole pieces so they were just above flush with the pickup cover and then after playing some more adjusted them to balance out string volume relative to my playing style. I mostly finger pick and use the neck pickup and my strings are Chromes .052-.012. Once settled in I was quite happy with the pickups. I've not owned a Guild with the original HB-1 so I have nothing to A/B them against but I like what I have at the moment. I have given some thought to replacing them with a P-90 style pickup that fits in a standard humbucker mount but that is still in the contemplative stages.

 

[JavelinaJoe]

Very nice! Love the flame top! Is the back flamey, too?

walrus

Sure is! Here's a photo of the back.

I'm really enjoying this guitar. Definitely a keeper.

JJ

 

[mbuc]

Congrats to your new guitar! That's some serious flame. My X-170 is absolutely plain in comparison.

 

[Alan_M]

Beautiful burst, congratulations! I don't understand the comment about the tail piece. Doesn't it just attach with the strap pin? Do you mean they put a non Guild tailpiece on at one point? Why on earth would someone do that? Maybe I'm ignorant on the harp tailpiece since my X-170 has a Guildsby. I guess it's a matter of taste on the pups. Once I adjusted mine I was quite happy with them. Enjoy your new beauty!

 

[JavelinaJoe]

Thanks Alan, The tailpiece is held on by 3 screws separate from the strap pin. It looks like it may have had a Guildsby at one time, hence the extra holes. I'm trying to adjust the pups as you and others have recommended. The neck pickup aint too bad, but I'm still wincing at the tone of the bridge pup. Way too much twang for me.

 

[Alan_M]

Thanks Alan, The tailpiece is held on by 3 screws separate from the strap pin. It looks like it may have had a Guildsby at one time, hence the extra holes. I'm trying to adjust the pups as you and others have recommended. The neck pickup aint too bad, but I'm still wincing at the tone of the bridge pup. Way too much twang for me.

I had to refresh my memory and go look at my X-170, and right you are,there are 3 screws along with the strap pin attaching my Guildsby. Just goes to show you can't trust your own mind! LOL