Guild X-79 refretting question: fret size

[CWBox]

Hey Guys, the first thing I need to do to my X-79 restoration project is replace the badly worn frets. My question is, do you guys think it would hurt the collector value if I went with Larger Jumbo frets? And, if so, would you guys attempt to match the currently installed frets, or just install something else?

 

[GAD]

Hey Guys, the first thing I need to do to my X-79 restoration project is replace the badly worn frets. My question is, do you guys think it would hurt the collector value if I went with Larger Jumbo frets? And, if so, would you guys attempt to match the currently installed frets, or just install something else?

As a collector, if you’re restoring a guitar - unless it’s a one of a kind instrument, it has little “collector” value so do whatever makes you happy.

X79s are not rare by any stretch. I’d say make it play great.

 

[CWBox]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm considering going with the same jumbos that are in my Jacksons. Out of curiosity, why wouldn't you consider the X79 to be fairly fair? They made less than 1800 of them, and stopped making them mid 1980's. After nearly 40 years, I would not be surprised if there are less than 1500 of them still in existence. That's pretty rare for a guitar model. Especially considering the number of Guitars sold annually.

 

[GAD]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm considering going with the same jumbos that are in my Jacksons. Out of curiosity, why wouldn't you consider the X79 to be fairly fair? They made less than 1800 of them, and stopped making them mid 1980's. After nearly 40 years, I would not be surprised if there are less than 1500 of them still in existence. That's pretty rare for a guitar model. Especially considering the number of Guitars sold annually.

People abuse the term “rare” all the time. Maybe I’m jaded but I don’t consider X79 numbers to qualify as rare. At any given time there are a pile of them for sale on Reverb; right now I count five. Maybe that’s uncommon next to the total number of Les Pauls or Strats ever made, but for a Guild electric it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s one of the top 10 if not top five produced solid body models they ever made.

To me it’s only actually rare if I haven’t seen one for sale for years or they made very very few of them. I would be more tempted to call an X80 rare as they made fewer than 200 of them.

Nightbird STs and DXs are rare: they made 20 of each.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

I think that rarity needs to be equated with desirability. To some people the X79 is a very desirable guitar, but that number of people is relatively small. In absolute terms the X79 is a relatively rare guitar, when compared to models produced by the likes of Gibson and Fender (or other popular brands), but because it is not very sought after, it's effective rarity is not that great

 

[CWBox]

I think that rarity needs to be equated with desirability. To some people the X79 is a very desirable guitar, but that number of people is relatively small. In absolute terms the X79 is a relatively rare guitar, when compared to models produced by the likes of Gibson and Fender (or other popular brands), but because it is not very sought after, it's effective rarity is not that great

Yeah, I kind of see it that way also. There are very limited numbers, which makes it rare. But, people aren't hiring professionals to track these down, nor are they having "bidding wars" over these, so the value isn't as high as that of more sought after instruments. That being said, the instruments have already appreciated.

 

[GAD]

Yeah, I kind of see it that way also. There are very limited numbers, which makes it rare. But, people aren't hiring professionals to track these down, nor are they having "bidding wars" over these, so the value isn't as high as that of more sought after instruments. That being said, the instruments have already appreciated.

*All* vintage guitar prices have gone up over the last few years. That said, back to your original question, an all original vintage guitar in excellent condition will always be worth more than the same model with swapped parts even if those parts are “normal wear” parts like frets.

 

[tonepoet]

I see the Guild X-79 as rare due to the limited run number. (About 1,700 compared to how many Strats or Les Pauls?) Also, because, of the wacky headstock shape on them, you see a fair amount of them with the long horn on the headstock snapped off (which happened during shipping on the first one I bought and I restored another with a snapped off headstock horn.)

Having said that, I agree with comments above that if the frets are worn out, make it to play the way you want it. If it's in decent condition and close to being stock and you think you're going to sell it at some point, then maybe you want fret wire near the same as the original. Your call.

 

[GAD]

If you're comparing built numbers to all Strats and Les Pauls then all Guild electrics are rare.

 

[CWBox]

The frets that are currently install have quite a bit of wear. Also, the frets closest to the body, starting around fret 12 are kind of flat & look as if someone had attempted to create some "fall away" without re-crowning the frets. So I have decided to replace the frets with Jumbos & keep the 9.5" radius. My most current project is a 1985 Hohner Shark Fin, and I changed the radius for 10" to 12" before installing the new frets.