Another X-350

Mr.Tidy

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I let the A-150 go to buy a X-350 instead! Serial # 1362 supposedly from 1953. Wow, it's 52 years old! I most likely paid too much ($1900), but its beautiful and sounds great.
A couple of questions though...
the tuners are "newer" Schaller Kluson reissues. What originally came on this geeeetar? The bridge is a gold tune-o-matic, but a rosewood compensated bridge was in the case, was this type of bridge original to the guitar?
I am going to buy Han's book but it'll take a few days to get here, so if you guys can offer answers early, I'd appreciate it!
I have pictures if someone can host them...
 

hansmoust

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Mr.Tidy said:
A couple of questions though...
the tuners are "newer" Schaller Kluson reissues. What originally came on this geeeetar? The bridge is a gold tune-o-matic, but a rosewood compensated bridge was in the case, was this type of bridge original to the guitar? I have pictures if someone can host them...

Congrats!

Hope you will enjoy this one!
The tuners at the time would be original Kluson Deluxe tuners. I hope they didn't install the Schaller Kluson type tuners for which you need to drill out the headstock.
The bridge should have been a rosewood one with a rosewood base.
No individual compensating ridges on this one. Just a built-in slant which makes the bass strings longer than the treble strings.

As far as the photos are concerned, just mail 'm to me and I will post them.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
 

Jeff Haddad

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x350

Congrats! Sounds like the one from Dave's. I thought that was a decent deal for that guitar. FWIW, my 55' X500 has Klusons but with oval buttons instead of the tulip buttons. The button material is almost like a perloid instead plain white plastic and doesn't seem to be affected by typical tuner rot.

How do you like that switching system? How about that middle pickup - I was always a bit worried I'd always bang my hand or pick into it, any concerns?

Enjoy the new baby!
Jeff
 

Mr.Tidy

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Yep, I got it from Daves, quick service and well described.
The pickup switching is bizarre, there is no button for middle/bridge. As of right now, I like all three on and won't be switching much during a performance.
The middle pickup doesn't get in the way at all, I use a well worn pick which doesn't protrude much below the strings.
So is 1953 correct (serial 1362).
I have to get a new battery for my camera, then I'll forward the pics to Hans (Thanks Hans)
 

hansmoust

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Mr. Tidy's X-350

Here it is! Mr. Tidy's 'new' X-350 and his 'Rockabilly'.

He calls it "Gramps and the Kid" 50 years of evolution!


GrampsandtheKid.jpg
 

Mr.Tidy

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Performance review:
I used the X-350 last night at a tiny bar here in Detroit. Plugged into a little Gibson Goldtone 15 watt amp.
The guitar is heavier than my X-160. The neck is thinner (Front to back) than the X-160. The longer scale of the X-350 took some getting used to.

The X-160 is a very bright crystal clear sounding guitar. The X-350 was much darker. I am not 100% sure the bridge pickup is doing its job! It is very bright, or should I say, it has no bottom end at all. The neck pickup is very very bassy. The middle sounds crisp, top and bottom. I mostly used all three pickups at once, but it seems as though the neck pickup overwhelms the bridge pickup.
That being said, I used the guitar all night and got comments that my playing sounded warmer than it usually does. To me it seemed a bit muddy.
I've been accused of being too trebly with my X-160 (I love treble).
Maybe this week I can get an ohmmeter and measure these pickups. What approximate number should I be looking for?

I want this to be my main guitar (It's so pretty). So I'm looking for an amp with more clean headroom, some type of Fender probably.
This week I plan on auditioning a tweed bassman, a Deluxe reverb, a Twin and maybe a Super Reverb.
We normally play at small bars, so a Twin might be too much.
Life is good.
 

dklsplace

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So I'm looking for an amp with more clean headroom, some type of Fender probably.

If you're interested in sticking in the Class A area, check out some of the older Ampeg Jet models. I replaced the original speaker in my J-12 D with a Reverend Alltone 1250 & it stays warm & clean up to around 7...which is mighty loud!
 

billydlight

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I have an X-355

My X-355 is a blond. There is usually a bunch of capacitors and sometimes even a resistor(!) on the switch. I suppose they put them there in some attempt at instant pre set jazz tone. They probably put a resistor on the bridge pickup to try to tame it a little. If you remove these it will most likely open up your sound. The pickups will then be able to provide the great tone they are capable of.
 

Mr.Tidy

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Thanks Billyd, I just opened it up, and although I'm an electronics idiot, there certainly is some electrical thingy on both the bridge and the neck pickup switch points. And wow, that 6 button thing looks well made. Very heavy duty!
I might take to a repairguy for advice on altering the wiring. I'd just like to make sure I can make it original again without the changes being too obvious.
 
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