X-175

NEONMOONY

NEONMOONY

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So, I'm am going to check out what is supposed to be a 1955 Guild X175 blond. I've only seen two pictures of it so far. It appears (so far) to be in nice condition. The problem is, if it is in good condition, I have nothing for a reference of a good price range and such an instrument. Can I get some input from anyone, maybe owners of similar guitars? (even if through pm). Thanks in advance.

3E13Kf3Fc5G45E15Kdd1oe8c4082b1f64158b_zps5f2c0335.jpg

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I haven't arranged for a meet yet, only contact has been email.
 
M

matsickma

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It looks to me that the guitar may have had some changes over the years. I may have started out as a single pickup model. It may have been refinished, What is really unusual is the back of the guitar. Never seen an older Guild with such a maple back before.

I would limit my purchase to $1500, maximum.

M
 
twocorgis

twocorgis

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matsickma said:
It looks to me that the guitar may have had some changes over the years. I may have started out as a single pickup model. It may have been refinished, What is really unusual is the back of the guitar. Never seen an older Guild with such a maple back before.

I would limit my purchase to $1500, maximum.

M
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing. I don't recall ever seeing an X175 with only one set of volume/tone controls; of course that doesn't mean that they never made one that way. Also, that back looks way newer than the rest of the guitar, though that just might be the lighting.
 
Walter Broes

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It's beautiful!

It looks like a really early Guild, maybe the knob configuration is original? I think it probably is. I'm still packing to move, and my Guild book is already packed up.

I'd be surprised if someone went to the trouble of replacing the back on that guitar, but then again, anything is possible I guess. The finish does look a little "too good to be true" in those pictures to be that old, but then it's impossible to say from a couple of pics.
 
walrus

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Yes, the back is really totally different. Seems to have not "aged" at all, which makes me wonder about it. As far as the controls, it would not surprise me if they are original, since we know that historically Guild might do things like that.

Hopefully, Hans will give us his thoughts...

walrus
 
Jeff Haddad

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What a bunch of naysayers! :D

That guitar looks beautiful and very well kept. Hans' book states that X175's had 1 vol and 1 tone until '58. Don't let that one get away! (Or let me know and I will try to get the funds together to buy it myself!)
 
walrus

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The more I look at the back, the more it's hard to believe it was replaced. Depending on how and where a previous owner stored it, the front could certainly "age" more than the back.

Whatever the answers, it's hard to argue with Walter's "Wow!"...

walrus
 
Walter Broes

Walter Broes

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Well, front and back were obviously photographed in different light, add to that the front is spruce and the back is maple, ..

Gotta be the prettiest back I've ever seen on a 175 though - see plenty of 500's that were much plainer!
 
twocorgis

twocorgis

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Walter Broes said:
Gotta agree with the "naysayer" bit Jeff, the first thought that hit me when I saw those pics was "WOW!!".
Click to expand...

I don't think I was being a "naysayer" at all, I was just saying that I had never seen a two pickup Guild archie with only one set of controls (valcotone's corrected me), and never had seen a back like that on an old Guild. It's a beautiful guitar, even if it has had a new back.
 
hansmoust

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NEONMOONY said:
FWIW, seller refers to it as a Manhattan "Special".
Click to expand...

If it's labeled as a 'Special' it's probably the 'superstructure' of another Guild model that was 'dressed up' with the regular pickups and hardware of an X-175. They did quite a few of those during the mid-'50s; not all just X-175s. For the most part it was a way for Guild to get rid of stuff that was lying around. It remained a policy at Guild for the longest time. Don't think they would label it as a 'Manhattan Special' though!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
 
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