Sorting out X150, X160, X170, and X180

[cc_mac]

I am looking for some advice/opinion/thoughts from you folks.

I've owned and played a 1969 Guild Starfire IV since 1982. I found this forum while I was looking for repair advice and have really enjoyed being here. Over the last 2 months or so I've been thinking about getting another Guild electric and have been narrowing down what I want based on my playing style and interests (which are often too aesthetically driven.)

I've settled in on and X-150D or X170 and would also be fine with an X-160 Rockabilly or an X180 should one pop-up. I've researched these with great interest for over a month and have found some information but sometimes things are not clear or information from one web site conflicts with another. I am going to summarize and see what you folks with more knowledge and experience think.

The information below is basically about 1990s and up Guilds.

X-150 (single pick-up) X150D two pickup. aka Savoy (re)introduced sometime in early to mid 90s maybe right after Fender purchased Guild.
16.5 x 2 1/2" body Available in blonde or sunburst with chrome hardware. No T(Bigsby option)

X-160 Rockabilly (not the same as late 1980s X-160) Same body and neck as X-150. Has two single coil pickups and Bigsby. Only made for a few years - maybe 1999 in Westerly, RI and then a year or so in Fender plant in Cali. 3 years? Finish options are solid colors, Black, Orange,Blue, Red. Hardware chrome but I've seen at least on pic of a gold hardware/orange finish.

X-170 (Manhattan) Same body as X-150, and X-160 Rockabilly. 2 humbuckers, Gold hardware, finish options blonde and sunburst. Bigsby was available as an option ( model X-170T) sometimes available with chrome hardware. Various reports of having or not having a sound post. Note that this model began production sometime in the mid 1980s as a replacement for the discontinued X-175 which had been made or since the 1950s. Although there are many detail differences the main one is a thinner body - 3* for X175 and 2.5" for X-170. The X-170 appears to be the base model that Fender used to augment the line with the other models listed here. Essentially a platform with different trim levels and features.

X-180 (Park Ave) basically and X-170 with binding on the headsock. sunburst finish seems a little darker than X-170. Found a picture of a factory white finish with gold hardware. May have only been made for a year or two at Fender plant in CA. (2001-2002?) Maybe to use up leftover X-170 bodies from RI.

Random observations that might be wrong.
-At some point after Fender bought Guild in the early/mid 90s they used the existing X170 as a platform to create the models listed above.
-Not all X-170s have sound posts.
-X180s do not have sound posts
-X150s are not very common
-X150D are even less common
-X150(D) do not have sound posts
-Cannot really tell the difference between X150D in blonde and the random X170 blonde with chrome hardware. Maybe binding.
-All models listed above have laminated maple tops
-There are body differences in Westerly and California made X-160 Rockabilly. Not sure if any X-150, X-170 were made in California. Maybe they just finished leftover bodies from RI but that doesn't explain the difference in X-160 bodies between the two plants
-All X-180s were made in California
-I couldn't find anyone to say much if anything bad about any of them.

A random Theory
Fender ceased production of Guild electrics in Favor of making Gretsch hollowbodies because of greater brand awareness and therefore more sales. It's all about business

OK, now feel free to correct me on any of the above!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[matsickma]

Hi Chris,

A few points of clairification...

1) The body depth of a X170 is 2 1/2 inches deep and is thinner that a X150. The X150 is closer to 3 inches.

2) All X170's have sound posts-none made in Corona

3) The X160 Rockibilly is based on the X150. They are hollow, no sound post. They were made in Westerly and Corona. There is a different body depth difference (I don't have the specs).

5) X150's are not rare.

7) The X170 has superior feedback resistance as compared to the other X models. The thinner body "mini Manhatten" is easy to handle and comfortable to play.

8.)All models listed are excellent and great buys for the money.

9) Some X160 Rockibillies from Corona have a weird "lump" in the neck around the 8th fret.

10) The Fender HB1's sound a little different from the Guild HB1's but many people would not notice.

In comparing the X series to a Starfire 4 you will find the feel a little more crammed on the higher frets. The X models have a neck-to-body position similar to a Starfire 3 and not a Starfire 4/5. You can get used to it. To many players the neck on the X guitars may feel a little more comfortable than a SF4/5 because you don't have to extend your arm as much. However I find the neck of a SF4/5 ideal for my taste.

My comments are base on observation.

Hans is the final authority of the Guild guitar facts.

M

 

[guildzilla]

The X-170 is a very cool guitar. However, if you want an archtop with nice unplugged tone and volume, the X-150 hollow body style is better suited. The sound post inhibits feedback on the X-170 but has an adverse effect on its acoustic characteristics, IMO.

 

[matsickma]

I agree 100%.

 

[cc_mac]

Excellent points so far! I can't thank you enough and look forward to more comments and corrections. You are helping me a great deal.

My comment about the X-150 being rare was based upon what I've seen for sale on various websites in the last 4 weeks or so. The vast majority have been X-170s. I've run across 3 or 4 X-150's, 1 X150D, a couple of Rockabillies and 1 X-180 that was really pretty and I kind of regret not running up a credit card for it but......Anyway, my data is now very scientifically collected.

I will also say that I thought the few X-150s that I saw did look thicker but I didn't run across a specific spec so I was wondering it was my imagination but now know it wasn't I am so glad you pointed out that obvious and important difference especially about the sound post.

I think I'll be OK with a single cutaway electrics as I have other similar guitars. One is an Ibanez Artcore AK95 which is totally hollow with an ebony bridge and spruce top and has a nice voice and for the price is a really nice insturment. I also have a Gretsch Electromatic 5120 which has a sound post (really a 3/4 x z4" footprint ) under the bridge. I would think this is more along the lines of the acoustic sound of the X-170. Both of these will most likely go to make room for the future Guild.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[dbirchett]

The width of the X-170 changed after Fender transferred production to Corona. Mine is 16 1/2 I think. They changed it to 16" after the move to Corona.

There was also an X-160 and X-170 under the Gruhn ownership of Guild. They are different from the later incarnations.

The earlier version of the X-170 was an X-175 that was more of a deluxe X-150 with the deeper body. It may have had a laminated spruce top, I don't recall.