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1965 Guild Cordoba X-50BL
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Serial #: 40852, New Jersey label
Body size at lower bout:16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 10/16'
Materials: Arched slab-cut maple body; solid mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays; bound body, bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original chrome hardware, including harp tailpiece and Guild DeArmond single coil pickup. Original compensated rosewood bridge; nickel open back tuners; beveled art deco stairstep pickguard,
Notes: Introduced in 1954, the Cordoba X-50 model was a member of Guild's initial lineup of electric archtop guitars. The blonde version (X-50BL) is the rarest and most highly prized version, as the natural option did not appear until 1958, and was manufactured in very small numbers until 1970. This example is a late product of the Hoboken, NJ factory, which closed the year after this guitar was built.
The guitar is in 100% original condition, with all original hardware, warmly ambered original blonde finish, right down to a rare set of complete original literature. Superbly maintained for over 30 years in time-capsule condition, the guitar shows no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Even customary finish checking is absent from this pristine example, which looks virtually like new old store stock.
A classic working jazz box, the X-50 has a full-depth body that delivers more warmth and resonance than your typical cutaway guitar, yet remains notably feedback resistant. Finally, the sleek, lightweight Honduras Mahogany neck makes for a distinctly better balanced instrument than most maple necked guitars, which can be neck-heavy. Gibson's ES-125 was it's direct competitor to the X-50. Virtually identical in dimensions and materials, the 125 had one big drawback: you couldn't get it in blonde. Guild was happy to outflank the competition with this eye-catching natural beauty. An outstanding value in museum quality condition, this Cordoba X-50 is a true under-the-bed classic for the performing guitarist and collector alike.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Black plush hardshell case.
