What's a good price and year for an X500?

[jzucker]

I was told by a few folks that I should look for an X500 made before 1978.

I found 2 on gbase going for an asking price of $3500. Sounds a tad too high. One was a '72 and had the 1 11/16th nutwidth which the seller claims is rare for that era.

Just wondering what these should really be going for.

Thanks in advance!

Jaz

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

I find GBase prices to be consistently high but won't try and generalize from my experience watching basses to your X500. Why 1978 or earlier? I don't know that product line well but unless there was a period of no X500's followed by a reissue I can't think of any reason to prefer one year over another.

 

[jzucker]

Welcome.

I find GBase prices to be consistently high but won't try and generalize from my experience watching basses to your X500. Why 1978 or earlier? I don't know that product line well but unless there was a period of no X500's followed by a reissue I can't think of any reason to prefer one year over another.

This info was relayed to me by a well known NY jazz guitarist who wishes to remain anonymous. Not sure his reasoning. I would be open to other years as well but nothing post fender. Anyone know of one available?

 

[fronobulax]

If my quick attempt at X500 history is correct then Guild produced it from sometime in the 1950's until 1993 and then reissued it, presumably in the late 1990's. Still don't know what changed in 1978, though.

As for

nothing post fender

you, and your friend, are entitled to your opinion and those of us who lived through the acquisition of Fender by CBS and saw "pre-CBS" become synonymous with high prices and a perception of higher quality will forever be cynical about changes in ownership, be advised that the people who actually made the guitars in Westerly have repeatedly expressed their opinion that quality did not deteriorate under Fender and may have improved.

I'm not trying to pick a fight but don't want you to miss out on "your" guitar because you ruled out some years because of factors that might not apply.

Good luck with your search.

 

[jzucker]

If my quick attempt at X500 history is correct then Guild produced it from sometime in the 1950's until 1993 and then reissued it, presumably in the late 1990's. Still don't know what changed in 1978, though.

As for

nothing post fender

you, and your friend, are entitled to your opinion and those of us who lived through the acquisition of Fender by CBS and saw "pre-CBS" become synonymous with high prices and a perception of higher quality will forever be cynical about changes in ownership, be advised that the people who actually made the guitars in Westerly have repeatedly expressed their opinion that quality did not deteriorate under Fender and may have improved.

I'm not trying to pick a fight but don't want you to miss out on "your" guitar because you ruled out some years because of factors that might not apply.

Good luck with your search.

Ok, thanks for the info. Do many X500s come around these parts and what's a good price for one?

 

[AlohaJoe]

It looks like this one from one of our esteemed (or just steamed) members is now on hold:
http://www.gbase.com/powered/gearde...045e-11d6-420a-9147-4d99274b7be1&item=2735083
The price was quite low at around 2K, and I'd keep an eye on it just in case... that finish is very rare. The price range for these instruments seems to currently be between 2 and 3K+, depending on age and condition.

An X175 is worth consideration too... here is some info on this model:
http://www.archtop.com/ac_68x175.html
This one is a beauty (love that master volume control):
http://www.gbase.com/gear/guild-1975-x-175-manhattan-1975-blonde#

 

[jzucker]

Thanks. I had already emailed Jay about the one you just linked to. Regarding the X175 is it just an X500 with rosewood board?

Oh, i see it's got a mahogany neck too. What's a good price on one of those?

Thanks for your help!

 

[jzucker]

Interesting....This one has a maple neck. Possibly ebony board but hard to tell
http://cgi.ebay.com/Guild-X-175-Hollowb ... 3a620f156c

 

[AlohaJoe]

I think the one at Mass Street is a good price... I'd grab it right now if I wanted a divorce. :lol:

 

[southernGuild]

I think the one at Mass Street is a good price... I'd grab it right now if I wanted a divorce. :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Your in good form Joe :lol: and not alone with that one! :lol:

 

[jzucker]

how about this ce100?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1965-Guild-CE-100-B ... 51972096a3

 

[AlohaJoe]

Nice, and very cool, the CE100 is a different animal... slightly thinner, with a 16" body. More comparable to an ES175 (but half the price). Some good info here: http://www.archtop.com/ac_65CE100.html

 

[jzucker]

Nice, and very cool, the CE100 is a different animal... slightly thinner, with a 16" body. More comparable to an ES175 (but half the price). Some good info here: http://www.archtop.com/ac_65CE100.html

thanks. How does it compare tonally to a '60s 175? And is that a decent price or a little high?

 

[AlohaJoe]

To me they seem a little brighter, and that price is a bit high IMO.

 

[jzucker]

It looks like this one from one of our esteemed (or just steamed) members is now on hold:
http://www.gbase.com/powered/gearde...045e-11d6-420a-9147-4d99274b7be1&item=2735083

Got a weird email from him. He first emailed me saying it was sold and then the next day emailed me again asking why I wanted larger pictures (I was wanting a picture of the screw holes under the bridge). I emailed back saying I was confused and that I thought it was already sold.

Did you say he's a regular here? I assume he's a good guy?

 

[capnjuan]

Hi JZ and welcome to LTG; the dealer has been a member here for a long time, has a good reputation, but doesn't post all that often. Maybe 'hold' means that someone has expressed interest, put of some earnest money, but the deal hasn't closed. As such, the dealer might not want to be too quick to sell the guitar out from under an existing offer.

If you have a question that you think larger pics might answer, you might consider asking him the question. Otherwise and from his perspective, you might be asking him to take another series of pics for a guitar (1) that might already be sold and (2) in which your interest isn't much more than idle curiosity. Good luck in your search and welcome to LTG.

 

[jzucker]

Hi JZ and welcome to LTG; the dealer has been a member here for a long time, has a good reputation, but doesn't post all that often. Maybe 'hold' means that someone has expressed interest, put of some earnest money, but the deal hasn't closed. As such, the dealer might not want to be too quick to sell the guitar out from under an existing offer.

If you have a question that you think larger pics might answer, you might consider asking him the question. Otherwise and from his perspective, you might be asking him to take another series of pics for a guitar (1) that might already be sold and (2) in which your interest isn't much more than idle curiosity. Good luck in your search and welcome to LTG.

i just wanted to make sure he was a good guy and on the up and up because it was somewhat odd...

 

[capnjuan]

... i just wanted to make sure he was a good guy and on the up and up because it was somewhat odd...

Hi; there are a number of members here who've done business with him and I don't recall anybody bad-mouthing him. Good luck with your search.

 

[jzucker]

... i just wanted to make sure he was a good guy and on the up and up because it was somewhat odd...

Hi; there are a number of members here who've done business with him and I don't recall anybody bad-mouthing him. Good luck with your search.

Well, as I said. I replied back saying that I thought it was sold. Maybe the guy he was holding it for backed out. I get the impression he doesn't check his email a lot so maybe something got lost in the translation. Anyway, is that a good price ($1995) for a x500 in fair-good condition with screw holes under the bridge? Seems like it's a tad high.

 

[AlohaJoe]

To me, the price seems very good and I think it takes into consideration the holes, a minor issue IMO. I believe the price recently dropped from around $2250. I'm a little prejudiced... it's the only one that color I've seen, but in any finish X500s under 2K are uncommon.