X-700 modification question......

[thumbpicker]

Just my two cents worth here. I have a sunburst X700 and play the Travis/Atkins style. I installed a B6 Bigsby with the Travis stationary handle. The top 2 holes lined up but the bottom hole is shorter than the stock tailpiece. I play with a Bigsby and I really wanted it on. I had Bryan Gunther ( B & G Pickups ) send me up two P90's in Humbucking size that drop right in. PU ring holes line right up. What he does is take P90 pickups that would have the dog ear covers and clips them down to fit a humbucker size. They are black and give me that vintage P90 growl and sustain. That old X700 really sings now. But, it's all what you want as the other guys have said in their posts.

 

[BluesDan]

Just my two cents worth here. I have a sunburst X700 and play the Travis/Atkins style. I installed a B6 Bigsby with the Travis stationary handle. The top 2 holes lined up but the bottom hole is shorter than the stock tailpiece. I play with a Bigsby and I really wanted it on. I had Bryan Gunther ( B & G Pickups ) send me up two P90's in Humbucking size that drop right in. PU ring holes line right up. What he does is take P90 pickups that would have the dog ear covers and clips them down to fit a humbucker size. They are black and give me that vintage P90 growl and sustain. That old X700 really sings now. But, it's all what you want as the other guys have said in their posts.

TP, that's along the lines of what I was thinking of doing when I started this post, drop-in P90's and the Bigsby. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you had it modified and have there been any problems associated with stress on the carved top?? Also, got pics?

 

[thumbpicker]

BD, I have had the Bigsby on for 3 years and knock wood, no problem. Years ago I had a Gibson Super 400 with a spruce top and the Bigsby was on for 10 years. Don't ask me why I sold it (dumb ) but the Guild X700 is just as good as the 400 but not as large. Same size as the Gibson L5. The PUP's are B&G pure 90's. Guitar Fetish also has the Mean 90's which sound real good and cheaper. An amp with a 15" speaker is great for that Travis/Atkins sound. Mine is a Music Man with a 15" Altec Lansing in it. Real heavy though. If you have a good amp with a 12" speaker, run your guitar through a Bass Exciter and you get that same big sound. I am not very good at this but how do you post a photo on the board. Hope this helps. TP

 

[BluesDan]

TP,
There have been a few threads on posting pics, they can probably explain it better than I could. Here is one of the most recent:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10200

Thanks for sharing your experience of modding your x-700, great stuff. Now ya got me thinking again!! Basically, with the drop-in P-90's and the B6 Bigsby, the only "un-do-able" mod is the addition of one screw hole where the bigsby dosnt line up with the harp, correct? And no regrets?

 

[thumbpicker]

Thanks,
I'll try to post. And yes and no regrets.

 

[thumbpicker]

Tried to post a picture of X700 but all I got was the little one on the side. A little to complicated for this ol' picker.

 

[BluesDan]

Tried to post a picture of X700 but all I got was the little one on the side. A little to complicated for this ol' picker.

Thanks picker. Here's your pic, sweet looking x700 indeed!!!!

 

[thumbpicker]

Thanks BD,
How did you get the photo on? I spent half the day trying.

Thanks again.

 

[BluesDan]

Thanks BD,
How did you get the photo on? I spent half the day trying.

Thanks again.

TP, I post photos through photobucket.com You open an account with them, its free, and there is a simple process to upload photos from your computer to your page on the site. Once the photos are in the photobucket site, you just copy the "image link" code and paste it in your post. Seems like alot to do to just post a photo, but once you get the hang of it, its a snap. Basically I just copied your avatar to "My Photos" on my computer, uploaded it to photobucket, then copied and pasted the image code here. Give it a shot, you'll get it!

 

[thumbpicker]

Thanks BD,
I'll give it a try.

 

[danerectal]

That's one hell of a vibrato arm. :shock:

 

[thumbpicker]

That's the Merle Travis stationary handle. It does not swing. You can hook your little finger in the loop and play single string notes with vibrato if your Travis. I still make a mess of it. It's a good conversation piece anyway. If anyone is interested you can get the Merle Travis Town Hall Party DVD where he is playing his custom Guild X500.

Thumbpicker

 

[billydlight]

You and Billy D Light are two of my favorite Guild archtop rockers!!!

Thanks Dan!!!