1997 Guild X-700 Stuart in near mint condition

[Marty Grass]

This one looks like new. I bought it then had Pete Moreno make it look new, set it up, and clean the pots. There are no issues at all, and it's all original.

The woods have a lot of figuring. The top is filled with silking. The specs are in the pics. The electronics work well. It's set up with 12s.

You won't find a better one. It plays easily. It's definitely built for amplification with a top like the L-5. The master volume control sometimes comes in handy.

$3300 plus shipping/PP fees. I'll take a check as well. I have both FedEx and UPS accounts, so shipping is a little cheaper.

Flickr

[Marty Grass]

[Marty Grass]

[Marty Grass]

[Wildcat]

Very very nice! GLWS

[vinnyv1k]

Lord....what a beauty. Guild's are huge bangs for the buck. Mark did that one once belong to Patrick ? I was buying a X700 off of Patrick but he died the day he was going to ship it. Just wondering if that is the one. LOL Buddy ! Beautiful Guild.

[Marty Grass]

Lord....what a beauty. Guild's are huge bangs for the buck. Mark did that one once belong to Patrick ? I was buying a X700 off of Patrick but he died the day he was going to ship it. Just wondering if that is the one. LOL Buddy ! Beautiful Guild.

No, this was not Patrick's. He swapped a Gibson LP R9 for that Guild, as I recall. Patrick inspired my purchases in Guild though.

[silverfoxx]

MG,
A very nice specimen , and at a reasonable asking price, I had a Guild Benedetto Stuart X700
a few years ago , a very nice guitar on par with a top quality Gibson. different but difficult to
choose between an L5CES and the Guild i had both at the time GLWTS.

[Marty Grass]

[neatomic]

quite the beautiful blonde...guilds are the best bargains in the archtop world

luck

cheers

[jzucker]

wow! What year is it? What's the weight?

[Marty Grass]

This is a 1997. I had a 1996 with a wider nut. I'll weigh the guitar.

[Gitfiddler]

What a beautiful X-700!!
GLWYS.

[Marty Grass]

I won't have an accurate weight. My scale is for adult humans. The reading fluctuates between 7.8 and 8.0 lbs. It is not a light weight but is in the ballpark of the L-5CES.

[2bornot2bop]

These are exceptionally great to play. I had Mark's '96 for a bit. Big guitar but man, what a great build quality these are. Don't snooze on this one!

[deacon Mark]

This is a superb guitar in every respect and a complete sleeper. You basically have an American Made L5 that is some may cases might outperform an L5. It cannot be an L5 but just go in the history of jazz guitar and see this Guild as a the one that works, See Rodney Jones............he smoked on his. This has all the touches of the best...........it is blond, great figured woods and no issues at all. The price is a right for the taking. I might add I have bought a guitar from Marty and the guitar was set up PERFECT. I even actually raised the action a bit because it was low and I like low action. It played without any buzz or issues.

Do not let this go out of your hands if you need the jazz guitar sound and it will hold its own.

[citizenk74]

Awesome instrument. GLWTS!

[DMgolf66]

Great price!
I know I wouldn't sell mine for that amount!
Shouldn't take long.

[wintermoon]

A not often seen model and a lovely example! Carved top in natural for $3300? Good luck finding something comparable for that coin.
best of luck w the sale but I don't think you'll need it. someone's gonna be a happy camper.

[vinnyv1k]

A great guitar from a no risk guy.

[Marty Grass]

Bump.

[DMgolf66]

If I didn 't suck so bad, I would post a video of my X-700. Even at my level I think it sounds really great and plays nice.
So pretty, too!

[Marty Grass]

Bump

[2bornot2bop]

Wow, and still no sale for a supreme Guild? What is going on in the world?

[deacon Mark]

Wow, and still no sale for a supreme Guild? What is going on in the world?

Agree completely and cannot simply say covid or economy but that is my opinion. I really think it is the Gibson thing, they are the only archtops now that really will sell at least for a reasonable price and be sellable. I think the present younger generation ( under 40) have no sense of Guild and possibly what is means. A guitar like this cannot be duplicated as it sits for less than $5k or more no way. To me in a number or years and who knows how many? This will be a guitar to be had looking back. I compare it with back in the 1970's nobody want a D'angelico unless it was a cutaway. Now of course one would take whatever is around we cannot be picky. Guild's are great guitars and this is a monster beauty.

[Marty Grass]

Price drop to $3150 plus shipping and PP.

[Marty Grass]

Trying to be as unbiased as I can, this is a great archtop. I had one of the same model a few years ago and took it to a couple of the Heritage luthiers. They weren't thrilled with the plastic pickguard. Otherwise they said the fit and finish is as good as most L-5s and better than many. They were genuinely impressed, especially with the binding and woods.

One of the old timers said that the plastic pickguards hold up better than the wood ones and that the plastic Guild used won't gas out.

Another said that the laminated back has some advantages to a professional player with no real change in the amplified sound by the time you mount two pickups on it.

The master volume is a little bit handy. If you are using a single pickup, it can be used as a kill switch. You dial it to zero and back to 10 when you want to resume playing. If you are using both pickups, it's even more handy. There's no down side to it.

It really is at its best with jazz and is acceptable as an acoustic and superb as an electric. The pickups sound just fine.

[DMgolf66]

Bump

[DRS]

Nice

[Marty Grass]

bump

[DMgolf66]

Bump

[2bornot2bop]

Can I buy it on credit?

[Marty Grass]

Someone asked about which Guild pickup is in this guitar. There are several Guild humbucker models over the years. Mine has what is called the SD-1. This is similar to a SD 59. The HB-1 is more like the Seth Lover.

I've had both the HB-1 and the SD-1 in guitars. My opinion is that both sound very good. The difference in final sound more depends on the strings and technique IMO. There are those who have strong opinions that differ. I certainly would never pull these pickups and put in another humbucker.

Here is some info on Guild humbuckers, probably more than what you want.

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

[Marty Grass]

bump

[shally]

A real treasure. L5 performance for far far less. Someone is going to be very happy

[Woody Sound]

Another said that the laminated back has some advantages to a professional player with no real change in the amplified sound by the time you mount two pickups on it.

The master volume is a little bit handy. If you are using a single pickup, it can be used as a kill switch. You dial it to zero and back to 10 when you want to resume playing. If you are using both pickups, it's even more handy. There's no down side to it.

Beautiful woods. Another pretty spruce top, and gorgeous one-piece lam back. I wish all guitars came with a master vol. Whenever I buy a standard 4-knob guitar I change it to one master vol and one master tone, and leave the other 2 as dummies.

[Hammertone]

Whenever I buy a standard 4-knob guitar I change it to one master vol and one master tone, and leave the other 2 as dummies.

I prefer to convert to the Gibson ES-340 wiring, which offers a much wider range of sounds

Pots:
-master volume,
-pan,
-tone
-tone

3 way switch:
-on
-on, phase reversed
-off

[cmajor9]

I wish all guitars came with a master vol. Whenever I buy a standard 4-knob guitar I change it to one master vol and one master tone, and leave the other 2 as dummies.

For me it’s nearly the opposite: many guitars (even “boutique” ones) now only have a single volume and single tone, where I want to be able to control the blend.

[Woody Sound]

For me it’s nearly the opposite: many guitars (even “boutique” ones) now only have a single volume and single tone, where I want to be able to control the blend.

I hear ya, but for me it's a matter of quick adjustments on stage, no time to mess around adjusting four knobs to get the right blend.

[skykomishone]

Wow! What a beautiful guitar and excellent value. It truly is amazing that nobody has snatched this up yet. It sounds incredible.

My older brother had one of these, but his main instrument was a Hammond B3. I was a teenager, and he got me interested in Jazz, inspiring me with Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith, and Wes Montgomery albums. We did gigs and had a blast. I miss that guitar, and this tread brings all of those memories rushing back.

This is an absolutely fabulous instrument, and somebody is going to get a screamingly good deal. No question about it! Marty has the most incredible guitars. Only the best of the best, and this is one of them.

[Woody Sound]

This is a superb guitar in every respect and a complete sleeper. You basically have an American Made L5 that is some may cases might outperform an L5. It cannot be an L5 but just go in the history of jazz guitar and see this Guild as a the one that works, See Rodney Jones............he smoked on his.

[2bornot2bop]

Bump

[DMgolf66]

Was just playing mine last night and if it sounds good in my hands then it will sound good in anyone's!

[Marty Grass]

The X-700 is dwarfed by the Super 400!

[Marty Grass]

Here's Rodney Jones showing how to use the master volume at 1:35.

[Marty Grass]

Watching Rodney reminded me about the plastic laminate pickguard on the X-700. I showed this guitar to a couple of the Heritage/Gibson builders from the glory years. They were both very impressed with the workmanship. I have known them long enough that they are fully candid with me. They pointed out small details, like the binding scraping, the angles of the binding joints, and the headstock inlays that they found to be as good as the best Gibson did.

They did not like the pickguard and thought ebony would better suit it visually. They added that Gibson used plastic also because the break rate in the factory was high for wood and that professionals would wear holes into wood pickguards or crack them eventually. Plastic is more reasonable for a working guitarist. That decision was not solely a cost savings one. It was for durability.

Heritage uses wood on its archtop pickguards. That looks nice but is more fragile.

[jhbpa]

Is this still available?

[citizenk74]

Is this still available?

[2bornot2bop]

I can’t believe that Guild has been available for 6 months!

[vinnyv1k]

Winter shipping stops many including me. Come spring and tax returns it will be gone.