Advice regarding X-50, X100 or T-100 gutars

[Los Angeles]

I'm looking at online sellers for scroll era archtops and feel completely out of my element.

I don't want to fall into the pitfalls so to speak.

What is the generally a "good" price range assuming VG to EX+ condition for late 50s-early 60s examples? Just don't want to get gouged.

Is there a particular year or model that is considered better than the rest from this family?

Is there any other advice you might give to help me with my purchase?

Thanks in advance,

Kent

 

[Walter Broes]

scroll era?

 

[Los Angeles]

scroll era?

I'm sorry, maybe I'm using my own terminology. I'm talking about the headstock, specifically the gibson style "open book" headstocks as opposed to the guild "cloud" headstock guild adopted in the 60's and still use today.

 

[hansmoust]

scroll era?

Yeah, I noticed that Kent was using 'scroll era' for his '59 M-30 as well, so I am assuming he was referring to the Gibson-style headstock. I prefer to call them 'center dip' headstocks as opposed to the 'center raised' headstocks of the later years but in the Guild universe I'm used to hearing people refer to them as' 'lip top' and 'open book' headstocks. I would think the scroll headstock is already taken by instruments of the violin family.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Los Angeles]

scroll era?

Yeah, I noticed that Kent was using 'scroll era' for his '59 M-30 as well, so I am assuming he was referring to the Gibson-style headstock. I prefer to call them 'center dip' headstocks as opposed to the 'center raised' headstocks of the later years but in the Guild universe I'm used to hearing people refer to them as' 'lip top' and 'open book' headstocks. I would think the scroll headstock is already taken by instruments of the violin family.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Thank you. I'll adopt my verbiage accordingly. I don't know who first called a gibson headstock a "scroll" headstock around me, but it sure did stick.

 

[Walter Broes]

I get it now. There's no "correct" term of course, but then, keeping the nicknames we use to a minimum might turn out handier in the long run if we want to understand each other.

 

[dean]

I've had a few old Guild hollowbodies, and they continue to be just about my favorite guitars of all time (I have a 1960 Martin D-18 that will probably stay in 1st place for me forever). As far as pricing goes, there are a couple ways to go, but I generally figure out the average of prices from guitars sold on eBay. I'll also google a few of the big shops around the country to see what they are asking. Then, when I have a specific guitar, I'll run it past the members of this forum - the advice here seems to be fair and thoughtful when it comes to asking about prices. Otherwise, it would be best to get a copy of Hans' book, The Guild Guitar Book, if you can - it is absolutely the best way to really see what's available and what you might be looking at. If you can't get one from Hans, it looks like they are also available online. I also check craigslist in the foolish hope that a $200 Starfire III will show up.

As for the production years, I have only owned ones from 1956, '58, '59, and early '60s, and they all had different headstock logos and pickups. The pickups will make a difference in price, so you need to school yourself a bit on those (and ask advice here). As for price, that will vary depending on the model, pickups, and condition. There are some pristine guitars out there that command a premium, and there are some that have some minor issues that are quite attractive at a decent price. For example, I have a 1956 CE-100 on which I'm replacing the fret markers - the old ones shrunk, broke, or were missing. It also came to me with a non-original pickup. I'm replacing the markers with NOS ones I got from Hans, and I have a Franz pickup from a destroyed T-100 that will go in it. Other than that, it's a guitar that I would consider in "Very Good" condition, and when it's finished, it will be a complete Guild guitar, but it will not be the exact guitar it was when it left the factory. When I sell it (after I get the markers in) I wouldn't even think of asking or expecting an amount that a complete, fully original one might garner. I think you might be able to find some of those around.

Keep asking questions here, and when you find one and can be more specific, let us know. And have fun looking.

Dean

 

[john_kidder]

I have some older full-size arch tops, never have owned a CE100 or a T100.

I play mostly swing, some folk/cowboy tunes, and I occasionally try to pretend to be a jazz player.

My two favourites are the '61 A500 I bought from rwmol on this board and a '53 X50 from eBay. But the other older ('53 and '54) guitars are wonderful in the right hands. The (modified with PAF humbuckers) X400 is a particular favourite of a jazzman I sometimes play with.

The X700 is a heck of a guitar, but it somehow feels a little cumbersome, can't say why, same body shape as the other full-size hits, maybe a bit heavier than even the X350.

Hard to go wrong, I think. Your style, your venues, etc., all should be the determining factors. Don't pass up the acoustic arch tops - I had a CA100 for a while, loved it, and the A150 is also a fine guitar - the DeArmond pickups are so clean they're scary.

Have a fine time,
John

 

[Los Angeles]

Thank you for your replies gentlemen!

I've decided that whatever happens, I need to get a lot of time playing an instrument before I go big-body hollow. Even if it's for 30 minutes at a brick-and-mortar guitar store, the only way I'll know I'm making a good purchase is if I fall in love with an instrument and can afford it at the same time.

I impulse buy all kinds of guitars, but this lie/era is too far out of my comfort zone to know that I can do a catch-and-release if I don't like it once I've bought it online.

A buddy of mine has what I believe is an X-50 and it is really fantastic. He got me on this path, and I got a serious case of GAS dreaming about his guitar.

 

[jimmyl51]

Is Voltage Guitars ie Lloyd Chiate still there right off of Sunset? jim in Maine

 

[Los Angeles]

Is Voltage Guitars ie Lloyd Chiate still there right off of Sunset? jim in Maine

I'm sorry, I didn't see your question until now.

Yes, I'm pretty sure Voltage is still there, though I have never been inside. My tastes are very particular, and visits to vintage shops usually disappoint me.

Just found an X-50 on ebay today. I hope it is all that the seller says it is.

 

[zizala]

Hello LA....

I was watching two X-50's that sold yesterday on Ebay.....did you get the circa 1961 with the DeArmond Dynasonic swap or the '55 with the binding problems?

You did good either way if it was either of those two.
I was stalking the '55 but decided to lay out at the last minute!

Maybe you got another I missed but whichever, hope you're happy.

z

 

[Los Angeles]

I got the one with the DeArmond. But I think it's a 59. The serial number suggests that it's early 59 but the label is a ghost label which suggests later 59 up to 60.

This was the same seller I got me st302 from, and the deal was just too good to pass up. In my 302 thread, it was suggested that mbrindel is a LTG member. He clearly has some nice guitars.

 

[zizala]

Yep I forgot to take note of the date on that one....but '59, 60 or 61.....almost always good!

I've got a good number of Franz equipped Guilds, including an extra 1960 CE-100....and just happen to have a DeArmond Dynasonic in the parts stash.....
Have been contemplating trying the DeArmond in that one......with the intent of making it a reversable procedure of course!
So your guitar kind of fired me up for that idea.....

Anyway.....I hope that X-50 makes you happy....

z

 

[hansmoust]

I got the one with the DeArmond. But I think it's a 59. The serial number suggests that it's early 59 but the label is a ghost label which suggests later 59 up to 60.

Hello LA,

Serial #12273 would make it an X-50 from 1960. Not too long ago that guitar still had it's original pickup.
I guess somebody needed the pickup for a more expensive guitar!
Maybe you could try and make it 'close to original' again!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Los Angeles]

I got the one with the DeArmond. But I think it's a 59. The serial number suggests that it's early 59 but the label is a ghost label which suggests later 59 up to 60.

Hello LA,

Serial #12273 would make it an X-50 from 1960. Not too long ago that guitar still had it's original pickup.
I guess somebody needed the pickup for a more expensive guitar!
Maybe you could try and make it 'close to original' again!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Thank you for the information!

It seems you've been tracking this one for a little while. Do you recall the type/style of the original pickup?

 

[hansmoust]

It seems you've been tracking this one for a little while. Do you recall the type/style of the original pickup?

Well, I have not been tracking this one recently but I do get e-mail from people about their Guilds on a regular basis and usually I add the info to my database with the name of the person who gave me the info.
So whenever I get new information, I always check my database, to see if the guitar in question is already in there; sometimes it is and every once in a while there will be 2 or more entries for the same guitar.

Anyway, your guitar was in there as well and I even have a couple of not too high quality photos that show the guitar with it's original Franz pickup. Unfortunately there's no close up shot of the pickup, so here's a photo of a similar guitar from that same general period, that shows the style of pickup that was originally on your guitar:

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Los Angeles]

Thank you so much again! I'll keep my eyes open for a Franz, but in the meantime I will somehow have to "live" with the sound of the '57 DeArmond.