X-700 modification question......

[BluesDan]

Ok, I love my x-700, however, I just saw this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0269581207

.....and I got to thinking. How difficult would it be to swicth out from the Harp tailpiece to a bigsby and the HB's to P90's? Would there be holes and/or drilling / fit issues that would kill the value of the guitar? Would there be other potential issues that would make this move ill-advised?
Here is a pic of my X-700:

Thanks,
Dan

 

[FNG]

I wouldn't change a thing!! 8) 8)

 

[capnjuan]

Wassa you no like?

 

[Chris Metcalfe]

Dan
You could modify an x700 in the way you want without damaging it, apart from screw holes, by:
-removing the HBs
-getting a pair of P90s in humbucker cases (SD's, possibly) and wiring the pickups in, making sure they were in phase. They aren't real P90s but they sound similar unless you are a serious pickup obsessive.
- getting adapters to adapt the new single-hole pickup mounts to the guild 2-hole mounting ring on one side. Bluesbird pickups were adapted in this way. NB gibson rings won't match the guild mounting rings - they are slightly smaller - but you could use them, if you don't mind making new screw holes.
-vertically shimming the pickups against the slightly oversize guild mounting rims with superglued clear plastic shims to stop them wobbling around
-taking off the harp tailpiece and installing the bigsby in its place - the holes probably won't match up.
-getting hold of an aluminium bigsby bridge to replace the wooden one

Having said all this, I wouldn't do it either, but this seems the least intrusive approach if you really must. However I think there is a risk of damaging the top if you actually USE a bigsby, if the x700 top is carved and not laminated - there is a risk of causing splits in the carved top. If it's just for the looks, then fine.

How do I know this? you guessed- I've done the pickup-changing part of this ( on an X500) BUT I put it all back again. Original is usually best. And as you probably realise, it WON'T sound like an old X500/X175 with franzes.
chris

 

[BluesDan]

Wassa you no like?

LOL! Hey Cap......wasn't about not liking it, as a matter a fact I love the x-700, but the look of that x-500 coupled with a penchant for P-90's got me thinking. Sometimes thinking can be dangerous, eh?

Most likely will leave alone, especially after reading Chris' first hand experience doing the same with an X-500.

 

[capnjuan]

Wassa you no like?

......wasn't about not liking it ... but the look of that x-500 coupled with a penchant for P-90's got me thinking. Sometimes thinking can be dangerous, eh?

I can relate to the magic of the P90s ... thinking is ok ... it's thinking out loud that can be troublesome! Best, CJ

 

[BluesDan]

Dan
You could modify an x700 in the way you want without damaging it, apart from screw holes, by:
-removing the HBs
-getting a pair of P90s in humbucker cases (SD's, possibly) and wiring the pickups in, making sure they were in phase. They aren't real P90s but they sound similar unless you are a serious pickup obsessive.
- getting adapters to adapt the new single-hole pickup mounts to the guild 2-hole mounting ring on one side. Bluesbird pickups were adapted in this way. NB gibson rings won't match the guild mounting rings - they are slightly smaller - but you could use them, if you don't mind making new screw holes.
-vertically shimming the pickups against the slightly oversize guild mounting rims with superglued clear plastic shims to stop them wobbling around
-taking off the harp tailpiece and installing the bigsby in its place - the holes probably won't match up.
-getting hold of an aluminium bigsby bridge to replace the wooden one

Having said all this, I wouldn't do it either, but this seems the least intrusive approach if you really must. However I think there is a risk of damaging the top if you actually USE a bigsby, if the x700 top is carved and not laminated - there is a risk of causing splits in the carved top. If it's just for the looks, then fine.

How do I know this? you guessed- I've done the pickup-changing part of this ( on an X500) BUT I put it all back again. Original is usually best. And as you probably realise, it WON'T sound like an old X500/X175 with franzes.
chris

Chris,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Exactly what I needed to hear. I do believe the top is carved but am not 100% sure on that. I wouldn't want to risk damage to the top. Either way, sounds like I'm better off keeping the X700 original and perhaps picking up a franz equipped x175 down the road.
Thanks again for the great info.
Dan

**Everyone can breathe easy now.......I'm NOT gonna drill holes in her....... :wink:

 

[guildzilla]

Hey, Dan. I certainly wouldn't be inclined to change the pickups.

If I could change the tailpiece (back and forth) between the harp and a Bigsby B-6, though, without putting extra holes in the guitar, I might consider that for kicks, giggles and variety.

I happen to have a gold Bigsby B-6 that I will be selling on e-Bay one of these days. If you are potentially interested in it, I can measure the hole locations for you to see if a clean change out would be possible. I really don't think using a Bigsby would harm the top (the X-700 is a carved top), unless you're an animal with it. But it would likely lessen the acoustic sound because the pads on the bottom of the Bigsby do rest on the top.

 

[BluesDan]

Hey, Dan. I certainly wouldn't be inclined to change the pickups.

If I could change the tailpiece (back and forth) between the harp and a Bigsby B-6, though, without putting extra holes in the guitar, I might consider that for kicks, giggles and variety.

I happen to have a gold Bigsby B-6 that I will be selling on e-Bay one of these days. If you are potentially interested in it, I can measure the hole locations for you to see if a clean change out would be possible. I really don't think using a Bigsby would harm the top (the X-700 is a carved top), unless you're an animal with it. But it would likely lessen the acoustic sound because the pads on the bottom of the Bigsby do rest on the top.

Hey zilla........thanks for the offer but a funny thing happened since my initial post. I showed my wife the pic of that x500 with the Bigsby and informed her of what I was thinking of doing with the x700. Now you have to understand that my wife is a music lover that looks at each one of my guitars as a work of art, really appreciating the beauty and craftmanship of each one. She looked at the x500, looked at me and said "No!". "You want a guitar with a bigsby or whatever that thing is called......then buy one that CAME with it"

So I got that going for me..........which is nice! 8) :wink:

 

[Default]

Can your wife talk to mine? :lol:

 

[guildzilla]

Excellent maneuver. Sounds like you have permission to buy another guitar.

Be the ball, Danny.

 

[Chris Metcalfe]

Dan
you are blessed more than you know.......
chris

 

[Walter Broes]

Chances are that if you get the X500 with the P90's and the Bigsby, the 700 will spend a lot of time in the case though - if your tastes are anything like mine.

 

[BluesDan]

Dan
you are blessed more than you know.......
chris

Thanks Chris........
Like most guys, I do know, I just don't let her know that I know enough.......if ya know what I mean. :wink:

 

[BluesDan]

Chances are that if you get the X500 with the P90's and the Bigsby, the 700 will spend a lot of time in the case though - if your tastes are anything like mine.

Hi Walter,
Please explain! I have seen some of your videos and would bet we do have very similar tone taste. No bite with the P90's on the x500?? Much different than the Franz with the X175?
Thanks,
Dan

 

[Walter Broes]

Oh, nono, I guess I shouldn't try to say things in a clever way - what I mean is I much prefer the P90's to the X700's humbuckers...or any humbucker really.

I'm a single coil person, and P90's are some of the greatest single coil pickups out there I think. Franzes I sorta see as "one of the many flavors" P90's come in, they're a little twangier and spikier, but in the same ballpark generally.

 

[BluesDan]

Oh, nono, I guess I shouldn't try to say things in a clever way - what I mean is I much prefer the P90's to the X700's humbuckers...or any humbucker really.

I'm a single coil person, and P90's are some of the greatest single coil pickups out there I think. Franzes I sorta see as "one of the many flavors" P90's come in, they're a little twangier and spikier, but in the same ballpark generally.

Hi Walter.....my mistake! I just read your post wrong.......I read it as if I bought the 500 that IT would stay in its case, I just totally missed the "700" part!!! I guess I just had WAY too much to eat this fine Thanksgiving day with family and friends.......it clouded my mind!

I prefer the P90's to the buckers also! Also a big fan of the lace single coils on strats. Thats how this whole thread got started, with me wondering what a 700 would sound like with P90's.

I appreciate your opinion and absolutely love the Seatsniffer stuff you have out there on YouTube. You and Billy D Light are two of my favorite Guild archtop rockers!!! 8)

 

[FNG]

You should sell me the X-700 for what you got in it, so you can find what you really want.... :shock: 8) :lol: :shock: :shock: :wink:

 

[BluesDan]

You should sell me the X-700 for what you got in it, so you can find what you really want.... :shock: 8) :lol: :shock: :shock: :wink:

Effin.......today is Thanksgiving not Christmas!!!! :lol: :wink:

 

[FNG]

:lol: