GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria 1953 Guild X-350

All images and text copyrighted and property of Greg Gagliano.

FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

Of all Guild models, the X-350 Stratford has the most obvious ties to Epiphone. In this case, it is very similar to the Emperor Zephyr Regent, with the main differences being that the Epiphone had an 18 inch body, ebony fingerboard, fancy inlays, and different pickups. The pushbutton pickup selector system, though aesthetically cumbersome, was far more versatile than the systems used on other 3-pickup guitars made in the 1950s; specifically, the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson ES-5. The X-350 was second only to the X-500 Stuart in the Guild electric archtop line. The guitar shown here is a very early example of this model. Although the X-350 was officially introduced on the April 1954 price list, based on its serial number, this particular guitar was most likely made in late 1953. It has features from both the 1953 period (black pickup covers, Kluson tailpiece) and 1954 period (pearloid block markers, Guild logo). In 1957, the X-350 was given a 24 3/4 inch scale, and by 1961 it had a laminated maple top, ebony fingerboard, bound headstock, and new style pickguard. In 1963 it received humbucking pickups and a year later was discontinued. In 1963, Guild also produced a very short lived variant, called the Stratford Starfire, which had a laminated mahogany top and body, Bigsby tailpiece, and DeArmond pickups.

GUILD X-350 STRATFORD (1953)

Body: Hollow; laminated 2-piece spruce top, laminated 1-piece figured maple back, and laminated flame maple sides; single bound top and back