Redhead Pics

[GAD]

Finally got around to taking and sorting some pics of my favorite new redhead.

This guitar is awesome. It's got a brassier sound than the X170 Manhattan I had, which I'm attributing to the metal bridge. The sound has a bit more bite to it. Crank up the digital tape echo, add some reverb and I'm there.

I went and played a Gretsch 6120 to see if I was just kidding myself with this guitar. I like the ebony on the Gretsch, and I like the knobs. Otherwise this one does it for me just fine. The switch is still a little goofy, so I'll have to pull it out and work on it some. I called Guild about it and they told me that it's a phase switch, not a coil tap like I thought. He told me that this was technically an "X170 Custom Manhattan" and was a "Custom special order", but admitted that their records were not the greatest.

The color is pretty wild. It really looks red in a darker room, but it's really very orange in bright light. You can see the difference based on how I lit the shot in the pics.

Anyway here are some pics:

More pics here: http://www.gad.net/GAD/Guitar/Guild-X170-Mars/_B0Z6352_800.html

GAD

 

[cc_mac]

Sweet! Give me my e-mail address and tell her I'll treat her right!

 

[GAD]

Sweet! Give me my e-mail address and tell her I'll treat her right!

I'll treat her right without me giving you your email address!

GAD

 

[Qvart]

Finally got around to taking and sorting some pics of my favorite new redhead.

Beautiful!

But I think it's long past time you got Don to fix the typo in your LTG user name so it looks as it should:

"GAS"

 

[GAD]

Finally got around to taking and sorting some pics of my favorite new redhead.

Beautiful!

But I think it's long past time you got Don to fix the typo in your LTG user name so it looks as it should:

"GAS"

Right about when you stop changing your avatar!

Hey - do I see an acoustic in your sig? What did you get?

GAD

 

[Qvart]

Right about when you stop changing your avatar!

What can I say? I get bored with them after awhile. And besides, just about every post does need more cowbell!

Hey - do I see an acoustic in your sig? What did you get?

GAD

Jeeeeez Gary, where you been? Hehe, just kidding...

Yep, found me a nice mid-level acoustic for not much green - 1998 DCE1 - er, I mean a 2001. Other than needing a setup, I'm diggin' it! It's only the second acoustic I've ever owned, and the only decent one.

Checkit:

 

[GAD]

Jeeeeez Gary, where you been? Hehe, just kidding...

Yep, found me a nice mid-level acoustic for not much green - 1998 DCE1. Other than needing a setup, I'm diggin' it! It's only the second acoustic I've ever owned, and the only decent one.

Germany - I was in Germany for two weeks, and STILL managed to get two guitars.

Nice guitar man! A good acoustic is good for your soul. There's just something about the way they resonate into your chest - it's just a good thing. I can have all the fun in the world with my electrics, but when I pick up my Taylor, one strum and I relax. Wonderful.

Be careful though, as many here will no doubt tell you, they can be addictive, and they can make collecting electrics look like collecting matchbooks! I was told once to only buy guitars that "sing to you". When I played my Taylor, I had been shopping for months. I picked this one up and my jaw hit the floor. I bought it that day. That leads me to my advice re: acoustics. Don't play them in stores. You'll find one that's magic and you'll do anything to have her.

GAD

 

[Qvart]

Germany - I was in Germany for two weeks, and STILL managed to get two guitars.

Yeah, saw your picture of Heidelberg. Beautiful.

Nice guitar man! A good acoustic is good for your soul.

Ja, natürlich!

Be careful though, as many here will no doubt tell you, they can be addictive, and they can make collecting electrics look like collecting matchbooks! I was told once to only buy guitars that "sing to you". When I played my Taylor, I had been shopping for months. I picked this one up and my jaw hit the floor. I bought it that day. That leads me to my advice re: acoustics. Don't play them in stores. You'll find one that's magic and you'll do anything to have her.

I won't rule out an acoustic-GAS in the future, but I've always been partial to electrics. I bought this one without getting to try it out, but for the price I figured it was enough like the D4's and D25's I'd seen that it would fill the bill. And you're right, it is relaxing. And that thing rings forever when I strum it. Looking forward to warm summer nights in the mountains sittin' on my porch. The housemate has a couple gits and an acoustic bass as well so I foresee a new routine of pickin' at the ol' homestead in the near future.

 

[Qvart]

I don't know why my response posted twice.

De do do do, de da da da.....

Now it's gone....

 

[matsickma]

Hey GAD,

No disrespect to Guild Tech Support but I beg to differ on the extra switch being a Phase Switch. I own a number of Guilds with a Phase Switch and the tonal characteristic is completely different than the sound of the MarsMusic X170T's. I never made a sketch of the wiring on my MarsMusic X170T when I worked on the switch but it was different from a Phase Switch. The Phase Switch is typically a DPDT that has the outside poles switched.

Check out the wiring diagram of a S100 and X170T. The S100 has the phase switch. the MarsMusic model is not wired up this way.

http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/S-100.pdf

http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/X-170T.pdf

One of the characteristics of a Phase Switch is that you only get a change of Sound when the pickup selector switch is in the middle position. On my Mars Music X170T the tone of the guitar is changed for all pickup positions when the extra switch is activated.

M

 

[GAD]

Hey GAD,

No disrespect to Guild Tech Support but I beg to differ on the extra switch being a Phase Switch. I own a number of Guilds with a Phase Switch and the tonal characteristic is completely different than the sound of the MarsMusic X170T's. I never made a sketch of the wiring on my MarsMusic X170T when I worked on the switch but it was different from a Phase Switch. The Phase Switch is typically a DPDT that has the outside poles switched.

Check out the wiring diagram of a S100 and X170T. The S100 has the phase switch. the MarsMusic model is not wired up this way.

http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/S-100.pdf

http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/X-170T.pdf

One of the characteristics of a Phase Switch is that you only get a change of Sound when the pickup selector switch is in the middle position. On my Mars Music X170T the tone of the guitar is changed for all pickup positions when the extra switch is activated.

M

Yeah I'm not so sure either. When I get a chance I'll trace all the wires. The switch definately affects all positions. The phase switch on my S300 only affects the middle position, so I think you're right there.

I have to say I'm digging the sound with the bridge pickup and the switch on. That along with the metal bridge and this guitar really puts a bite into the tone. I bought it for my Brian Setzer obsession, and I'm really loving it so far.

GAD

 

[db62]

Wow! Fantastic redhead!

 

[AlohaJoe]

What a beautiful instrument!

It's got a brassier sound than the X170 Manhattan I had, which I'm attributing to the metal bridge. The sound has a bit more bite to it.

I'm betting that's right... I had the occasion to play another archtop before and after a switch to a metal bridge and the difference was amazing. After the change it had much more treble, more bite and sounded... well, more metallic! I wasn't really wild about it for what I do, but it was just the change needed to get the sound my friend is going for.

The Setzer big band stuff is awesome... he's great doing anything, but that's really the best for me... esp when played THIS LOUD!

 

[cc_mac]

Sweet! Give me my e-mail address and tell her I'll treat her right!

I'll treat her right without me giving you your email address!

GAD

DOH! That's what happens when one rushes in to be the first smartass on a thread. I'll proof read next time.

 

[matsickma]

The metal bridge option doesn't always work out that well. I had a fantasy that my ideal guitar would be a X170 with a Bigsby, metal bridge and a set of Gretsch reissue Dynasonics. Well I did some careful pickup mounting on the guitar and got the rreissue Dynasonics installed along with the bigsby and bridge. The trouble was that the metal bidge made the reissue Dynasonics sound shrill and harsh. I just about gave up with the idea when I reinstalled the rosewood bridge. That cooled the tone down a bit and made the reissue Dynsonics sound pretty decent. I am not sure If I am going to keep the X170 modified this way indefinitely but it has been an interesting experiment.

M

 

[krysh]

absolutely beautiful.
bring her along when you are in northern germany next time.

 

[hansmoust]

No disrespect to Guild Tech Support but I beg to differ on the extra switch being a Phase Switch. I own a number of Guilds with a Phase Switch and the tonal characteristic is completely different than the sound of the MarsMusic X170T's.

Hello Mike & GAD,

The extra switch on the Mars Music X-170T should be a coil tap.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Walter Broes]

The trouble was that the metal bidge made the reissue Dynasonics sound shrill and harsh. I just about gave up with the idea when I reinstalled the rosewood bridge. That cooled the tone down a bit and made the reissue Dynsonics sound pretty decent. I am not sure If I am going to keep the X170 modified this way indefinitely but it has been an interesting experiment.

Side by side with vintage Dynasonics, the Gretsch reissue ones are shrill and harsh sounding. I had a bridge position one rewound more to original specs (quite a bit hotter), and that brought it much, much closer to what they're supposed to sound like - try it, it's not that expensive, and SO worth it!

 

[hansmoust]

Yep, found me a nice mid-level acoustic for not much green - 1998 DCE1. Other than needing a setup, I'm diggin' it! It's only the second acoustic I've ever owned, and the only decent one.

Checkit:

Hello Qvart,

Your DCE-1 is from 2001, not from 1998.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Qvart]

Your DCE-1 is from 2001

Oops. Thx!