Features don't always change across all models at the same time. In the case of the X-170, a 5-ply stairstep pickguard was fitted from its introduction in 1986 through sometime around 1999 when it was changed to the black acrylic pg with Guild logo. The Starfire 4 had the 5-ply stairstep guard until 1996 when it changed to the black acrylic pg with Guild logo fitted over the pu bezels then to a black acrylic pg with Guild logo fitted around the pu bezels. The latter change seems to have coincided with the change from Duncan SD-1 to the Fender HB-1 pu's.
Fwiw as a piece of reference info, the ‘97 I have is Starfire III, with Duncan SD-1 pickups. As noted above by GG, the logo pickguard goes over the pickup bezels.