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1957 Guild Manhattan X-175
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Serial #: 4837, New York label
Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 10/16'
Materials: Arched spruce top; arched flame maple back and sides, mahogany neck with maple stripe; rosewood fingerboard with block inlay; G-logo peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard, bone nut.
Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes harp tailpiece and Kluson Deluxe tuners; twin white Guild Franz single coil pickups, compensated rosewood bridge; black bakelite 'stove' style master tone and volume knobs; three way pickup selector switch. Vintage correct aged beveled multi-ply pickguard.
Notes: To the casual observer, the Manhattan X-175 might be mistaken for Guild's answer to Gibson's perennial ES-175. But with its larger 17" body, contoured Venetian cutaway, and master volume and tone controls, the X-175 is actually better compared to Gibson's legendary ES-350. Finally, the lightweight Honduras Mahogany neck of the X-175 makes for a physically better balanced instrument than many of the neck-heavy maple necked archtops.
Introduced in 1954, the X-175 model was equipped with single coil pickups by Franz, which are individually spaced for both neck and bridge string position, a Guild innovation at the time. This example is the earliest version of the model, and a product of the Hoboken, NJ factory, Guild's headquarters for a decade after it's opening in 1956. The guitar is in gleaming condition, with its subtly shaded sunburst finish, metal hardware and electronics. Lovingly maintained, the guitar shows no cracks, pick or buckle wear, and only a tiny patch of thumbwear to the back of the neck. Binding is original and tight to the body, showing only a bit of shrinkage around the rims in places. A tortoise heelcap has been installed, along with a vintage correct aged 5-ply pickguard.
A classic working jazz box, the X-175 has a sleek neck profile and a full-depth body that is warmly resonant yet notably feedback resistant. An outstanding value in a 50's era jazz classic, the Manhattan X-175 is a true Golden Era standard for the performing guitarist. One only: call now.
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 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Original deluxe Guild black plush lined hardshell case.
