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1960 Guild Savoy X-150B

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Serial #: 14458, oval Hoboken label

Body size at lower bout: 17" Body depth: 3 3/8" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Arched spruce laminate top; arched figured maple laminate back and sides; solid Honduras mahogany neck; rosewood fingerboard with block inlays; wedge pearl logo peghead inlay; single-bound body; bone nut.

Hardware: 100% original nickel hardware includes Waverly tuners; adjustable single coil pickup with cream cover; G-logo top hat knobs; compensated adjustable rosewood bridge; harp tailpiece, contoured black screen-logo pickguard.

Notes: When Guild Guitars was founded in 1952, a number of former Epiphone employees joined founder Alfred Dronge in establishing the new company in Manhattan. Along with them, they brought some signature Epi designs, including this fretted marvel of the Eisenhower era. Introduced just two years after the company's birth, the Guild X-150 was modeled after the early the Epiphone Zephyr Regent and the single pickup Gibson ES-350, with its flamed Venetian cutaway body, single coil pickup, and long scale neck. Distinctively however, the Savoy had a soundboard of arched spruce laminate, in contrast to the laminate maple tops found on most Gibson and Epi electrics. This highly popular Guild jazzer was produced until 1965, revived in 1998 until around the early 2000's, and at this writing has recently been made available as a Guild Custom offering.

This example is a rare blonde version of the model, and has been kept in great condition, with all original electronics and hardware. The back and sides show handsome slab cut figure, and the guitar is without cracks or repairs. The deep amber blonde finish is all original as well, showing little in the way of pick wear. A small patch of buckle wear is visible on the back, along with some smooth thumb wear on the mahogany neck.

The neck profile is a gentle C, slim and inviting, and the action is properly low and fast, as befits a hardworking jazz machine. The adjustable single coil pickup is smooth and clear, highlighting the depth and resonance of the full depth body. A rare opportunity to own a genuine New York Guild from the old Hoboken factory, and a classic example of a bop-era favorite. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished as required; 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: Original deluxe Guild black arched plush hardshell case.