Questions about 1950s long scale Guild hollowbodys

[DjangoLang19]

Hey everyone, I'm a proud owner of a 1977 Artist Award and now have become a big fan of Guilds. I was already a big NY Epiphone enthusiast and now have the same feelings about Guilds. I'm searching for a an early 50s hollowbody like an x-50, x-150, x-175 or x-500. For me I need a 25.5" scale. I have played an early x-375 and really liked how it played and sounded but I don't think I need the 3 pickups. I play jazz and mostly solo jazz guitar so 1 pick would be more than enough. Just want to hear everyones thoughts if they are willing to share their experiences with this era of Guilds. Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[Neal]

I own a 1953 X-150 prototype. Great guitar. 17” body. Big neck. 1 3/4” nut. Franz pickup. Amazing red sunburst finish.

The binding on the oldest ones is often cracked, but not rotting like a Gretsch.

The pickup is significantly hotter than the P-90 on a ‘50 Gibson ES-150 I used to own. It sound great through an old tube amp, 60-cycle hum and all!

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I’ve got a ‘54 X-440, and I love it — and yes, it’s a very different feel and tone from a shorter scale archtop. With heavier strings and a wooden bridge, it would have an enormous jazzy voice.

 

[GAD]

The scale on your AA is likely 25 9/16” which is just 1/16” longer than 25 1/2”. I don’t know what the origin of that is, but so far as I know it’s a Guild thing. Even the later Benedetto Guild Johnny Smith Awards are 25 9/16”.

 

[DjangoLang19]

Neal, I'm looking forward to playing a Franz pickup through my Sequel Jim Hall Tribute Gibson GA-50 copy, great new octal tube amp.

Smiert, that sounds like a cool model. Yes I really like my Epiphones, they have that old feel with the big neck and heavy strings, I love that acoustic power. My Artist Award is loud but not as loud acoustically but it has a great sustain and sweet round voice, not as punchy though and the neck is slim and very fast(which I like it it's own way).

GAD, yea I hear about that but Its hard to notice between guitars, very minimal difference. Kinda helps with the nut being somewhat narrower than my Epis.

Feel free to post pictures
Here's my Artist Award and one of my Epis with my octal tube amp.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Very cool amp and guitars! I’m not familiar with that amplifier company.

 

[TPMCD]

Just posted regarding the Guild X150; some sales posts for the guitar show it as being 25 3/4", but it's really 25 9/16"? I'm interested in getting a X150 if I can find one, but not sure how I'd do with a 25 3/4" scale length (not sure if I've ever knowingly played a guitar with that long of a scale). Probably fine, but just curious. Thanks.

 

[Default]

As was mentioned in the other thread, the scale length is probably a typo.