Guild X-500

**markliel909** · 02-27-2020, 06:55 AM

Hi friends.
I'm considering buying x 500 1992.
I know that vintage 70 year models are good sounding.is it any difference at sound between 92 and 70 or 60 models?thanks

**wintermoon** · 02-27-2020, 06:06 PM

every guitar is different regardless of year made, but a 1960 model came w/single coil pickups/
later models had humbuckers, those will make a difference

**helios** · 02-27-2020, 06:25 PM

Hello,
I think the real question is does the 1992 X500 have the original full sized HB1 pickups that were a hallmark of the Guild sound!
Jimmy D'Aquisto, Jim Hall, and Emily Remler were fans of this pickup, and I'm guessing a 1992 X500 would have them, but you'd have to research that. Here's a link for you:

Guild Full-Sized HB1 and SD1 Pickup Variations | GAD's Ramblings

**cmajor9** · 02-28-2020, 10:38 AM

A 1992 X-500 should have Guild HB-1s, unless they've been changed by a previous owner. It was later, around 1996 or '97 that SD-1s, then Fender self-made pickups started to be installed.

An X-500 from the '90s might be a bit more heavily built than one from the '70s. This might mean its a bit quieter acoustically, but shouldn't really affect the electric tone.

**helios** · 02-28-2020, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by cmajor9

A 1992 X-500 should have Guild HB-1s, unless they've been changed by a previous owner. It was later, around 1996 or '97 that SD-1s, then Fender self-made pickups started to be installed.

An X-500 from the '90s might be a bit more heavily built than one from the '70s. This might mean its a bit quieter acoustically, but shouldn't really affect the electric tone.

The author of the article in the link I posed thought the SD pickups made for Guild (after Guild discontinued pickup production) were not the bad (SD1), but he did not care for the Fender made pickups (HB1) of the late 90's. He provides details on how to tell them apart.

**Archie** · 10-11-2021, 05:56 PM

Went to buy 4 guitars today but 1 had an issue with the truss rod, the other two I couldn't get close enough on price.

The third was this. Who could say no? Not a mark on the body, just a tiny bit of fret ware.

The original bridge is in the case and will be put back on asap.

Guild X-500-1-8-jpeg

**deacon Mark** · 10-11-2021, 05:58 PM

It is a beauty and Guild make great guitars. If you can't play jazz with this one then you can't play jazz. Good catch.

**Archie** · 10-11-2021, 06:38 PM

With Guild you get an extremely well made guitar, that's incredibly easy to play, with excellent tone, beautiful appointments and timeless style.

All in an affordable price range.

What more could you want?

**QAman** · 10-11-2021, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

With Guild you get an extremely well made guitar, that's incredibly easy to play, with excellent tone, beautiful appointments and timeless style.

All in an affordable price range.

What more could you want?

Congrats - thats a beautiful guitar !!
Wishing you years of playing enjoyment.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Fred Archtop** · 10-12-2021, 01:34 AM

Great guitar and nice catch. Congrats!

**Rob MacKillop** · 10-12-2021, 02:44 AM

You do manage to find great guitars!

**Archie** · 10-12-2021, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

You do manage to find great guitars!

I'm going for either

'when it rains it pours'

or

'If you seek you shall find'.

That's all I can put it down to.

**vinnyv1k** · 10-12-2021, 11:13 AM

A stunner for sure ! I love Guilds. I keep hoping they will make real USA archtops again.

**ggjaguar** · 10-28-2021, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

The third was this. Who could say no?

Beautiful guitar and tough to say no to that one! Congrats! Does it have a sound post under the bridge?

**bluejaybill** · 10-28-2021, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

I'm going for either

'when it rains it pours'

or

'If you seek you shall find'.

That's all I can put it down to.

Very nice! What is the scale length and width on those, and is the profile fat medium or skinny? I don't know much about these.

**JazzmanLehmann** · 10-28-2021, 04:57 PM

I have a blonde from 76. Most beautiful Jazz guitar that i played in my life. Hard to come by these days for sure! Yours is in beautiful condition and looks amazing, congratulations. Put some Thomastik 13 swing on, i found that this set matches the best with the guitars nature.

**Archie** · 10-29-2021, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by ggjaguar

Beautiful guitar and tough to say no to that one! Congrats! Does it have a sound post under the bridge?

Hi GG no it doesn't. It think Guild stopped doing that in the early 80's? Correct me if you know otherwise.

**Archie** · 10-29-2021, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by bluejaybill

Very nice! What is the scale length and width on those, and is the profile fat medium or skinny? I don't know much about these.

The neck on this is quite chunky for a Guild, as was my late Guild X-700.
It's reminiscent of some of the fatter necks Ibanez put on the Artist series in the late 70's. Fast but full; not Gibson chunky.
I believe scale length on these is 25/5, which I think has been standard since 1969 and pre 1955? but I would have to double check.

The Guild X-500 is probably the best L5 laminate type guitar around and has been for many years. The Japanese haven't built anything close, in all their laminated replica days. Gibson doesn't have anything close that comes to mind. Tal Farlows are nice but imo the Guild X-500 offers a better playing experience by some way and sonically they are more like an L5 than the Tal.

They have a very woody sound and you could almost mistake them for a solid top. Almost!

My motto would be, If you can't afford an L5 get one of these but that doesn't quite do the X-500 justice. Never played a bad one but that's Guild for you.

**Marty Grass** · 10-29-2021, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

The neck on this is quite chunky for a Guild, as was my late Guild X-700.

I've never heard relinquishing a guitar put that way. It's sounds like there should be an obituary for it.

My very much alive X-700 doesn't seem to have a full figured neck. I would judge it to be medium.

I believe it's only the matters of timing and marketing that Gibson dominated the electric jazz box. Guild could have. Both companies made excellent guitars.

**Archie** · 10-30-2021, 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

I've never heard relinquishing a guitar put that way. It's sounds like there should be an obituary for it.

My very much alive X-700 doesn't seem to have a full figured neck. I would judge it to be medium.

I believe it's only the matters of timing and marketing that Gibson dominated the electric jazz box. Guild could have. Both companies made excellent guitars.

I'm still in mourning Marty.