1961 X-175B... Pictures are in!

[guildman63]

If that Bigsby isn't factory, someone put it on there around the time it was bought - the philips screw in the arm is a giveway it's from the same era as the guitar - my bet is that it came on the guitar. Which makes the guitar even cooler!

Pretty good Walter! There's always that chance that somebody added a Bigsby at a later date but in this case ............ we can be pretty sure what really happened!

Here's a partial scan from the Friday Sept. 29, 1961 page of the ledgers from 'final assembly:

If that's of interest to any of you at all, take a look at some of the other guitars they did on that day!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Hans,

This ledger scan you gave us here is fantastic...thanks! How about at the bottom where is lists X 350 SFII as 17190. Why are the two listed together under one serial number?

 

[Default]

Ah, now I see! I like the extra binding and Franz combo.

 

[hansmoust]

How about at the bottom where is lists X 350 SFII as 17190. Why are the two listed together under one serial number?

Hello guildman,

An X-350 with SF as a suffix in the model designation was not unusual but in this case I think it's a mistake that was made while writing up the ledger. I believe that # 17190 should be an instrument similar to the T-200 III with serial # 17191. I'm not 100% sure though. If you're not looking at the database it probably doesn't make much sense what I'm trying to explain. If I will ever come across that guitar I will know for sure, but until then ........ I can only guess.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[skinny]

guildman63,
Great score on a beautiful pair !!
And that ledger scan is awesome Hans, thanks for sharing !!

skinny

 

[guildman63]

It's got me jonesin' for another Hoboken Guild, that's for sure. Perhaps a Starfire from 'boken would be a nice compliment!? Or maybe an Aristocrat!?

 

[Bill Ashton]

What a beautiful pair, nice job!

Impressions on the Thunder 1? Loud enough to play out with?

That guitar is just spectacular...

 

[guildman63]

That is a very good question, and one that I don't yet have the answer to as I haven't cranked it yet. I will turn it up and see what happens. In the meantime, perhaps someone else can chime in on the output. I do believe it is rated at 67 watts, but I am not certain.

The amp is for sale, btw. I haven't listed it yet, but I do plan on selling it as I have a Henriksen that gets most of my time. I haven't yet figured out what I will ask, but it is all original, in full working order, and is in excellent condition, so for those interested feel free to make me an offer. I would prefer not to ship it since it is fairly old and I believe still with the original tubes, but I am willing to talk.

 

[Bill Ashton]

If that amp is running a pair of 6BM8's or some other miniature-style power tube, it is unlikely that the power is that high, most likely around or above a Fender Princeton. "Default" would know for sure

 

[guildman63]

I just found this info online...

Power Amp: Tube; 2 x 6GW8 (main); 1 x 6BM8 (reverb), 12 watts RMS @ 8 ohm
Preamp: Tube; 2 x 12AX7 (main); 1 x 12AX7 (reverb)
Rectifier: Tube; 1 x 6CA4
Speakers: 1 x 12" Oxford 12K5-7; 1 x 8" CTS (ceramic)
Channels: 1; 3 inputs (Microphone, Guitar, Accordion)
Effects: Tremolo and reverb
Controls: Bass, treble, volume, bright switch; tremolo speed, tremolo intensity, reverb
Dimensions: 21 1/2 H x 22 1/2 W x 9 D inches

Guild added a speaker-driven reverb section to the basic Thunder 1 circuit to make the Thunder 1 Reverb amp. The addition of reverb really improved the fidelity of the Thunder 1’s sound. The speaker-driven type reverb is considered superior by many players to the capacitance coupled reverb used by Ampeg and the transformer coupled reverb used by Fender. However, speaker driven reverb only works well on amps that do not overdrive readily since tube distortion makes the reverb sound very muddy. The Thunder 1 is an ideal candidate for the speaker-driven reverb circuit considering it does not overdrive until the volume is near maximum. For such a low power amp, the Thunder 1 Reverb sounds extremely lush and full.

I can't confirm the above, but I got it from www.ggjaguar.com. The 67W initial estimate came from a youtube video I saw of a Les Paul going through a Thunder 1 Reverb, and in the description it mentioned 67W. I would agree that it is probably on the lower end as I did turn it up to 5, and while it was plenty loud it did not compare to Blues Deville, which I believe is 60W.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Well, I knew there was a 6BM8 in there somewhere!

I had thought of Greg's Gagliano's site, but didn't remember he had a Thunder 1, although I did know he had a 66-J, 98-RT, etc.

Back in high school, a friend had a black one that he bought in Boston new with a Starfire...I actually got that amp, third hand...dead!...and used the box for a speaker cabinet for a while. Cannot remember what ever happened to the rest :roll:

Some months ago I saw a Thunder 1 (sans reverb) in a little shop in Amherst, MA...the only other piece like this I have ever seen in the flesh. Good work for scooping that baby!

 

[Default]

Fixit picked up a Thunder 1 Reverb down in Orlando. I was agonizing over that one, so I was glad he bought it and saved me from myself. If the 67 watts you're talking about is printed on the back panel, it refers to watts of power drawn. The 60 watts normally referred to is RMS, which refers to the audio output. Two separate animals, the T-1s put out about 12 watts, which would be good for a jazz gig in a restaurant with a string bass and a piano, in my mind anyway!

 

[zulu]

I played one gig with mine: just guitar, bass and violin in a small restaurant/bar. wouldn't want to play with the bigger band without a mic on the amp.

"pushes about 12 watts going downhill with a tailwind" - capnjuan

 

[Bill Ashton]

Ah, the Cap'n, bless his soul, there was the master! I think our Default is following him closely..the Cap would be proud :wink:

 

[Default]

He left not only big shoes to fill, but a rather large jockstrap as well.

 

[zulu]

He left not only big shoes to fill, but a rather large jockstrap as well.

:shock: I know you knew him well...but not that well! :lol:

 

[Default]

We did a booming business in zucchini for a while!

 

[Jeff Haddad]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but why do you speak of the cap'n in past tense?

 

[Default]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but why do you speak of the cap'n in past tense?

He lost his battle with the big C.

 

[fronobulax]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but why do you speak of the cap'n in past tense?

He's playing Guilds with the angels. Start here.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Oh, I'm so sorry - I had no idea. He was always helpful and shared his knowledge and experience freely. I hope he has found peace.