Since the Hoboken, New Jersey days, the Guild name has always been tied to quality archtop guitars. Guild released the X-170 in 1985 as a slightly more compact, more approachable take on their flagship Manhattan archtop. The X-170 is a shorter scale–24.75"—and the X-170 is only 16-5/8" across on the lower bout instead of the full 17" of the Manhattan. But what also sets the X-170 apart is the 1/2"-wide sound post block underneath the bridge. In higher volume situations, hollowbody guitars can be tricky, but the sound post helps to reduce feedback and make this Guild archtop ready for the stage. Made in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1998, this X-170 sports a gorgeous Sunburst finish that highlights the stunning Flame grain of the laminate Maple. The laminate construction also helps keep this archtop more stable than a Spruce top. This X-170 can handle pushing the volume and using overdrive/distortion and other effects. Two humbucker pickups deliver rich, powerful tone. It has an adjustable rosewood bridge, engraved Guild harp tailpiece, and Grover Rotomatic tuning machines to keep this honest. The nut width measures 1-11/16", and the neck is a fast shallow C profile. In many ways, this 1998 X-170 would make the ideal jazz box, but it has more range than you expect! The neck pickup is big, wooly, and dark—especially as you roll off the tone knob—and the bridge pickup has good cut and surprising bite! Because of the block underneath the bridge, this archtop remains more stable and predictable for overdrive, high volume, and rock and roll. In combination with the comfortable body size and slinky 24.75" scale, this Guild X-170 is versatile hollowbody with a lot to offer. This 1998 Guild X-170 shows some signs of age and minor signs of use. The worst is a repaired ding on the treble side (see photos). The pickup covers show some tarnish, as do the tuner buttons. There is a ding on the treble side of the back of the neck, just behind the 5th fret, and there some scratches around the strap button where the neck meets the body. There are also some scratches to back in that same location—probably the result of a strap with metal rivets. At the moment, the setup is low and inviting with .011-.048 strings. Because of the way the bridge is compensated, the intonation is better with a wound third string, so we have it strung with a nickel-would .018. This 1998 Guild X-170 includes its original hardshell case.
