Should I buy a Guild X500?

tom3 · #1 04-27-2010, 04:53 PM

I would like to buy a Jazz Guitar. I could get a Guild X500 from 1978. It looks like a new one and it plays wonderfully. The price: 2.300 Euros.

Should I buy it or should I get a brand new Heritage Guitar, the Heritage H 575 Classic Hollow Body?

I love Jazz and Blues, but I have to admit that I started with Jazz at the beginning of this year, after playing Blues, Rock and Folk for some years.

I do have a Gibson ES 335 as well.

Thank you for your help!

randyc · #2 04-27-2010, 05:09 PM

What is the asking price for the Heritage?

brad4d8 · #3 04-27-2010, 05:54 PM

I think that 2300 euros is probably at the high end of pricing for the X-500, but if it's in the condition you describe, should be okay. I would think that the Heritage should be about half a much, but is more in line with the old Guild Manhattan, X-170 or 175, so it's sort of apples to oranges. I'd go with the Guild, but as you can probably tell from my signature, I have a thing about Guilds.

Brad

funkmp · #4 04-27-2010, 06:16 PM

Yes, you should buy it.
All that ebony, gold, MOP and spruce will make you feel good!.

And in Europe that's a bargain.

X-500 · #5 04-27-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom3

I would like to buy a Jazz Guitar. I could get a Guild X500 from 1978. It looks like a new one and it plays wonderfully. The price: 2.300 Euros.

Should I buy it or should I get a brand new Heritage Guitar, the Heritage H 575 Classic Hollow Body?

I love Jazz and Blues, but I have to admit that I started with Jazz at the beginning of this year, after playing Blues, Rock and Folk for some years.

I do have a Gibson ES 335 as well.

Thank you for your help!

Both are high quality American made instruments built by fine craftsmen. The Heritage is a solid maple top, sides and back whilst the Guild is laminate maple sides and back with a laminate spruce top. Many say that maple will produce a brighter sound, but have not found that to be so on my Guild X-170 (albiet a maple laminate).

I can't speak for the Heritage, but the Guild X-500 has a fairly large neck, and if the one you're contemplating has the original frets, they're jumbo in size. I love the feel and sound of my X-500. And as I stated in other posts, it's got that great laminate sound that is distinctive like the Gibson ES-175. Personaly, I'm not a fan of the Florentine cut as in the H-575/ES-175 and prefer the Venetian roundness (a que bella!). Of course, I am a wee little prejudiced when it comes to Guild

Good Luck and Happy Guitar Hunting!

Jazzophobe · #6 04-27-2010, 07:58 PM

I've got a beautiful H 575 Custom (paid $1500.00 US), and it's my number one! Having said that, I also own a Guild X 170 (paid $1100.00 US), and it is a very close second. The X 500 is a step above that I'm sure so I don't think you would lose with either choice...good luck!

randyc · #7 04-27-2010, 08:50 PM

I have similar instruments to the ones that you are considering (although not identical): Heritage H-575 and an older Guild SF III. Although the Heritage is a carved spruce top, it doesn't have a significantly "jazzier" tone than the maple-ply Guild.

The Heritage neck is configured much like late fifties-early sixties Gibson necks (thick) while the Guild is slimmer. I don't mind either configuration. I like the Heritage a lot and I play it frequently unplugged but the Guild is a better instrument in my opinion.

As Jazzophobe mentioned, mine were comparable in price. So I'd still like to know the price of the European available H-575

Steve Hoffman · #8 04-27-2010, 09:15 PM

1978 was a VERY good year for Guild Guitars for some reason. I have a blonde 1978 Guild Artist Award that I got from John Pisano that is really wonderful. Has a great acoustic tone as well as a killer DeArmond. I wouldn't hesitate with the Guild X-500.

Drifter · #9 04-28-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randyc

I have similar instruments to the ones that you are considering (although not identical): Heritage H-575 and an older Guild SF III. Although the Heritage is a carved spruce top, it doesn't have a significantly "jazzier" tone than the maple-ply Guild.

The Heritage neck is configured much like late fifties-early sixties Gibson necks (thick) while the Guild is slimmer. I don't mind either configuration. I like the Heritage a lot and I play it frequently unplugged but the Guild is a better instrument in my opinion.

As Jazzophobe mentioned, mine were comparable in price. So I'd still like to know the price of the European available H-575

Realguitars, the German distributor for Heritage guitars, has two H575s for 2099,- Euros in stock. I guess it's the list price, not yet negotiated.

Tom, if you've played the Guild and it suits you well, go and get it. It's a treasure from days long gone. You can always get a new Heritage anytime later.

randyc · #10 04-28-2010, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter

... Tom, if you've played the Guild and it suits you well, go and get it. It's a treasure from days long gone. You can always get a new Heritage anytime later...

If one condensed all of the opinions previously posted, the above would be a fair summary

The E.U. asking price for the Heritage (assuming that the price cannot be significantly negotiated) suggests that the decision between the two is a no-brainer.

Drifter · #11 04-28-2010, 12:13 AM

I'm curious, what's the U.S. street price for a new H575?

ES125er · #12 04-28-2010, 12:16 AM

If you don't buy it for yourself, please buy it for me.

Jazzophobe · #13 04-28-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter

I'm curious, what's the U.S. street price for a new H575?

I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of $2500.00 US. I could be wrong.
I agree about going for the X 500. Heritage H 575 are still being made and are readily available, but the X 500 may not come around too often. I have 6 archtops. When I see something I like, I try to buy it for my collection (and, yes, I do play them often)...

X-500 · #14 04-28-2010, 08:55 AM

tom3 · #15 04-28-2010, 04:08 PM

Thank you all so much for your comments and recommendations, you've been very helpful. Everything is easy now: I'm gonna go for the Guild!

mad dog · #16 01-20-2011, 02:22 PM

Many months late to this party ... I just this last weekend traded a really nice little amp head plus cash towards a 2001, Westerly built Guild X-500. The dark burst.

I've owned Guilds before - including a wonderful '75 Starfire VI - so am acquainted with the quality and value of this brand. Just as with that old Starfire, this X-500 in person is strikingly beautiful, impressive in every way. The neck, frets and setup are perfect. It's a big handful to pick up, but once in your hands, easy to play. Great pickups too. I am impressed!
MD