Need Advice

[Rich Cohen]

I am thinking of making an even trade for a 1954 X-375 in really good shape, on Guitarsn Jazz website, for my 1956 A-500. I've bought and sold a number of high end archtops with Lou Del Rosso, a straight shooter if there ever was one. I'm not worried about the quality of the X_375; just wondering if I can continue to hone my jazz skills, while also taking advantage of the rock-a-billy stylistics producable on the X-375. Anyone on LTG who owns and plays a vintage X-375?
What do you think?
Thanks, in advance,
Rich

 

[AcornHouse]

As long as you’re not expecting to perform with it acoustically, I wouldn’t think it would be an issue.

 

[zulu]

Hi Rich, personally I couldn't call it a true rockabilly guitar without a guildsby, but the bridge tone might be what you're after.
Both are beautiful high caliber instruments I wouldn't expect a dissatisfaction.
Lately I've been thinking a great jazz/rockabilly solution would be an x500t

 

[zulu]

That '54 is a jaw dropper

 

[BradHK]

I have a 1954 X375. I love mine but it would not be good for rockabilly with the original caps and resistors in the circuit. The caps make mine very mellow compared to my 1954 M75 which does not have any additional caps. You might want to ask them if the factory caps and resistors are still in place. If so, you might need to remove them to get the sound you want. I chose to leave mine in as the guitar is all original and I have others I can use to get different sounds.

 

[Rich Cohen]

I have a 1954 X375. I love mine but it would not be good for rockabilly with the original caps and resistors in the circuit. The caps make mine very mellow compared to my 1954 M75 which does not have any additional caps. You might want to ask them if the factory caps and resistors are still in place. If so, you might need to remove them to get the sound you want. I chose to leave mine in as the guitar is all original and I have others I can use to get different sounds.

Brad,
Here is a line from the shop website: Rare Guild X 375 has been kept in wonderful original condition, with all original electronics wrapped in original tubing, metal and plastic parts.
So, I think he answer to your point about the caps andc resistors is that they haven't been changed. There's a guy of youtube who has a three part video about his vintage X-375 in which he does remove the caps and resistors to get a more rock friendly or rockabilly sound. I wouldn't want that. I'll ask the shop owner the question about the status of the caps and resistors.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

That’s a beautiful guitar, and certainly capable of all kinds of jazzy sounds — with or without the original caps. The bigger question is whether you want to go to a fully electric Archtop, or whether you would prefer the tone/feel of an acoustic archtop (perhaps with lighter strings and a DeArmond Rhythm Chief). Presumably you’ve answered that question for yourself already.

The next big question is whether this is the right guitar to trade for. It’s gorgeous, and I really love the long-scale NY Guilds. What I don’t love are the three-pickup models. I don’t value those in-between sounds, don’t care for the extra complexity of the switch assembly, and the middle pickup is always in my way — so I’ve accepted that I’m a simpleton, and need to stick with the two-pickup versions. You may well be different, though.

 

[Rich Cohen]

That’s a beautiful guitar, and certainly capable of all kinds of jazzy sounds — with or without the original caps. The bigger question is whether you want to go to a fully electric Archtop, or whether you would prefer the tone/feel of an acoustic archtop (perhaps with lighter strings and a DeArmond Rhythm Chief). Presumably you’ve answered that question for yourself already.

The next big question is whether this is the right guitar to trade for. It’s gorgeous, and I really love the long-scale NY Guilds. What I don’t love are the three-pickup models. I don’t value those in-between sounds, don’t care for the extra complexity of the switch assembly, and the middle pickup is always in my way — so I’ve accepted that I’m a simpleton, and need to stick with the two-pickup versions. You may well be different, though.

Thanks for your advice! Actually, I have a A-500 with a Lollar pickup which produces great sounds. Your comments are making me rethink my decision to leave behind the A-500 and go for the 3 pickup fully electric X-375.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Thanks for your advice! Actually, I have a A-500 with a Lollar pickup which produces great sounds. Your comments are making me rethink my decision to leave behind the A-500 and go for the 3 pickup fully electric X-375.

Sorry to throw a monkey wrench in the works!

When I thought about it from your side of things (would I give up an A-500 for an X-375?), I found it hard to get to a firm yes. Then again, I'm not sure it's a hard no, either.

 

[DjangoLang19]

I played a 1954 x-375 at a guitar show. I really liked the neck, the long scale felt great, felt very playable. I had a good time playing it but the big problem was it was very noisy, a lot of hum. Maybe the electronics needed service. The variation of sounds were really cool but as a jazz player I didn't really think I needed all of the extras. Overall I thought it was really cool. A lot of vibe too it. My X-550 can cover the round fat jazz tone and is also very twangy on the bridge and the middle position is nice too so I don't think I'd find much use for the middle pickup myself. Is having both you're A500 and 375 an option? Lol they would make a great pair.

 

[GGJaguar]

You should revisit the guitars you've owned and think about what you liked about them and why you ultimately sold them. The '66 and '69 Artist Awards and the Benedetto X-700 come to mind. Does the A-500 do something they don't or does it perform the same as the ones you've had? What does the X-375 offer that you are craving? Does the A-500 offer something that you will lose with the X-375? Good luck with your journey!

 

[HeyMikey]

I’ve not played an X375 but I would probably be frustrated trying to manage the three pickups and all those knobs. Too much to figure out and too much to go wrong.

For an all-in-one model to traverse jazz, country, blues I’d probably look into an X170T or SF3 with Guildsby.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Thank you to everyone with has given me advice. I've decided to keep the A-500. The clincher came from Hans Moust, who, not unexpectedly suggested that trading the A-500 for anything would entail an unbalanced situation; not the least of which is the difficulty in finding such an instrument. Also, I can understand that if I'm creative with the types of strings I use on it, I can get the advantages of both the acoustic and electrified sound/tones of the A-500.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

That sounds pretty reasonable to me. Others might reasonably make a different conclusion, but I think I'd probably end up where you did.

I'm a little jealous of that A-500, in any case!

 

[DjangoLang19]

Hey Rich I was just wondering what you're impressions of your A-500 are? I was curious what you may like and dislike about it? I know you've had acoustic Epiphones in the past, how does it compare? How does it stack up to the Artist Awards you've owned as well?

 

[Rich Cohen]

Hey Rich I was just wondering what you're impressions of your A-500 are? I was curious what you may like and dislike about it? I know you've had acoustic Epiphones in the past, how does it compare? How does it stack up to the Artist Awards you've owned as well?

I've owned two A-500s, and both of them were drool worthy and stellar sound machines. The first one I owned had round wound strings on it, and produced more clear tones, including bass tones than my current one; because, the one I have now has Thomastik George Benson flat wounds on it. That said, my current one sounds awesome through my jazz amp (Rivera Suprema 55), but not very pleasing played acoustically. My next set of strings are going to be Newtone double wound round strings, recommended to me by AcornHouse (LTG member). I've used them in the past on flat top guitars, so I know what I'm getting -- a really superior string set. I'll let you know how they sound on my A-500, both acoustically and electrically. It's got a Lollar gold foil floating pickup that's great for the guitar and my style of playing. I've had many different Epiphone vintage archtops, which all were great axes, both acoustically and electric, when I used a floating pickup. I would say from my experience with Artist Award models (3), the A-500 compares very well with them. One of my AA's was a Benedetto, so that's in another league. Crazily, I sold it, and not rue the day I did.