FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

The sunburst X-500 and the blonde X-550 were the top-of-the-line electric archtops in the Guild lineup during the 1950s. These models are identical except for finish and were patterned after the Epiphone DeLuxe Zephyr Regent with its 17-inch laminated maple body and laminated spruce top. The earliest X-500s had 5-piece necks with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Very few X-550s were made in the 1950s with production running just a few each year. This particular guitar has "Special" inked in on the label. This denotes the use of DeArmond single coil pickups instead of the standard Franz pickups. These pickups were used sporadically in the late 1950s and early 1960s, so any Guild equipped with them is considered extremely rare. Many changes were made in the 1958 model year and and include an ebony fingerboard and bridge, acrylic pickguard, Kolb tuners, and return to the 5-piece neck. Unfortunately, this guitar has been refinished, has replacement tuners, and the pickguard is missing. However, the refinish is very old so that it retains a vintage vibe and feel in addition to still sounding great. The 1950s X-500s are a favorite of Dave Gonzalez, guitarist for The Paladins. I had the pleasure of chatting with Dave about Guild guitars and Ampeg amps for 3 hours in 1997. He even signed my copy of Hans Moust's excellent The Guild Guitar Book which is the definitive reference for Guild guitars made from 1953-77.

 Body: Hollow; laminated 2-piece spruce top, laminated 1-piece figured maple back, and laminated figured maple sides; 5-ply bound top and back

 Finish: Sunburst, nitrocellulose lacquer (non-original)

 Neck: 5-piece maple/mahogany, set-in; stained maple headstock overlay with pearloid logo and G Shield inlay

 Fingerboard: Ebony, bound; mother of pearl block markers with abalone inserts

 Number of Frets: 20

 Pickguard:  None

 Bridge: Ebony on rosewood base with engraved, Guild harp tailpiece (gold)

 Nut: Plastic

 Tuners: Grover Rotomatic, nickel (non-original)

 Pickups: Two, DeArmond single coil with adjustable pole pieces

 Controls: Tone and volume controls for each pickup, 3-way pickup selector

 Scale Length: 24 3/4 inches

 Neck Width at Nut: 1 5/8 inches

 Body Width at Lower Bout: 16 7/8 inches

 Body Depth: 3 1/8 inches

 Weight: 7.6 lb