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1988 Guild Stuart X-500
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Serial #: JB 100280, Westerly, Rhode Island label
Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 10/16" Body Depth: 3 1/2"
Materials: Arched bookmatched spruce top; arched flame maple back; maple sides and neck; ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl/abalone V-block inlay; G-logo peghead inlay; 8-ply body binding, 5 ply fingerboard binding, triple bound headstock and f-holes, bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original hardware, including hand-engraved gold tailpiece; compensated ebony bridge; gold Grover Rotomatic tuners; 5-ply beveled art deco stairstep pickguard; twin gold humbucking pickups with tone and volume controls, 3 way selector switch and original master volume control.
Notes: Introduced in 1953, the Guild Stuart X-500 was the top of the Guild electric line, and incorporated design features from a number of its ultra-premium competitors. Like the Gibson ES-350, the Stuart X-500 features a 17" Venetian cutaway body, mounted pickups and controls, deluxe multiply binding and gold hardware throughout. From Epiphone's Emperor, the X-500 adapted the abalone/pearl V-block fingerboard inlay. And another New Yorker, named D'Angelico, supplied inspiration for the art-deco pickguard.
In 1963, the X-500 model was equipped with humbucking pickups, and a master volume control appeared by 1971. This example is a product of the Rhode Island factory, where Guild enjoyed its most prolific years, from 1966 until its closing in 2001. The instrument is in virtually unplayed condition, without cracks, checking, pick, buckle or thumbwear, and sports handsome tiger flame beneath a masterful vintage sunburst. A classic working jazz box, the X-500 has a sleek neck profile and a full-depth body that is warmly resonant yet notably feedback resistant. No longer available from the factory at any price, the X-500 is an unbeatable value in a true pro-size jazz guitar.
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: Original Guild black plush hardshell case.
