NGD '86 X-170! Pics added.

[AcornHouse]

Trying hard not to drool on my latest acquisition, a 1986 ( I believe ) X-170 in the brown sunburst finish, harp tailpiece, not bigsby. I found it in the used section on the Guitar Center site, languishing in the Tampa GC (any LTGers in the Tampa area, for shame for missing this one...and Thank you!)

Except for the normal fading on the gold HB covers it is in great condition, as is the OHSC.

I'll try to get some pics posted this weekend.

The serial # is HL 100024. Hans, can you verify that it is an '86? And is it the 24th X-170?

Also, it looks to have an ebony bridge. Is that correct? I thought they came with rosewood (not that I'm complaining!)

Will have to wait till tomorrow to plug it into my 99j.

I think I'm gonna have a permanent grin this weekend!

 

[hansmoust]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

The serial # is HL 100024. Hans, can you verify that it is an '86? And is it the 24th X-170?
Also, it looks to have an ebony bridge. Is that correct? I thought they came with rosewood (not that I'm complaining!)

Yes, that would be an X-170 from 1986 and I guess you could call it the 24th X-170 that was made, not counting the prototypes.

And the ebony bridge would be correct for that particular period.

Hope you will enjoy that one!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[AcornHouse]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

Looking closer at the tuners, I see they are Grover locking tuners. Would they be original to a 1986? I don't see any extra holes or witness marks from earlier tuners.

 

[Ravon]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

Great score Chris! Can't wait for the pics. I think the X170's are one of the greatest guitars ever made.... really! :wink:

 

[AlohaJoe]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

A great guitar... I'm looking forward to the pics!

 

[hansmoust]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

Looking closer at the tuners, I see they are Grover locking tuners. Would they be original to a 1986? I don't see any extra holes or witness marks from earlier tuners.

Those would not be original on an X-170 from 1986. I don't think those were already on the market at that time. But since they use the same format, they can be easily changed without showing.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[AcornHouse]

Re: NGD '86 (?) X-170!

Pics!








And, there will be no photoshoot in the house without Thelonious' say so.

 

[Ravon]

Beautiful Acorn! With an ebony bridge, too cool. Give us a review of it soon. What kinda strings are you using and what amps are you running through?

 

[AcornHouse]

Beautiful Acorn! With an ebony bridge, too cool. Give us a review of it soon. What kinda strings are you using and what amps are you running through?

Thanks. Hard to believe its 25 years old. It came with some flat wounds which seem fairly fresh, so I didn't change them. Don't know their make. Feel like 11s.
I plugged into my 1960 99J and it was a marriage made in heaven. Even though they were made over 25 years apart, they were meant to go together. Warm, smooth, buttery tone; pure jazz. The action is low; a little too low on the open strings due to some overly deep grooves in the nut. I'll get a vintage bone blank from Stewmac and make a new nut and it should be perfect. The original plastic nut had shrunk a bit anyway along it's length, so it'll be a win, win.

It is so clean, the only clue that it's from '86 is the faded/rubbed pickup covers. Has anyone tried to replate them? Why do they lose their gold finish more than any of the other parts? The harp tailpiece looks new. (Maybe it was replaced like the tuners were.)

 

[Beat_Dominator]

Beautiful Acorn! With an ebony bridge, too cool. Give us a review of it soon. What kinda strings are you using and what amps are you running through?

Thanks. Hard to believe its 25 years old. It came with some flat wounds which seem fairly fresh, so I didn't change them. Don't know their make. Feel like 11s.
I plugged into my 1960 99J and it was a marriage made in heaven. Even though they were made over 25 years apart, they were meant to go together. Warm, smooth, buttery tone; pure jazz. The action is low; a little too low on the open strings due to some overly deep grooves in the nut. I'll get a vintage bone blank from Stewmac and make a new nut and it should be perfect. The original plastic nut had shrunk a bit anyway along it's length, so it'll be a win, win.

It is so clean, the only clue that it's from '86 is the faded/rubbed pickup covers. Has anyone tried to replate them? Why do they lose their gold finish more than any of the other parts? The harp tailpiece looks new. (Maybe it was replaced like the tuners were.)

Welcome, and beautiful guitar! I have #65, It's nice to see another '86 in the forum!

I have read that Gold plating can hinder the magnetics of a pickup so if you plate a pickup cover it has to be as thin as possible, I would guess that's why it's so delicate. My covers are the only worn thing on my x170