Guild X-150 Savoy

This is a brief clarification of my previous review, Guild X-150D.

The use of fractions for amp settings in my previous review appears to be unclear.
OK - I roll the guitar volume to around 8 or 9, and tone to 6 or 7. My amplifier (Reverend 60watt, 2 6L6's) is dialed-in as follows: gain around 4 or 5, volume is 7 to full, treb/mid/bass ALL at about 3, presence around 4 or 5, reverb at about 3. These setting render a nice mellow-punch to the highs, and articulate lows without the boom. Different amp - probably different settings. The point is - you CAN get 'the tone' with this guitar.

X-150D, same details as previous review - maple-ply sides/back/top, double humbuckers, sunburst - handsome.

The guitar tone is basically bright, or bright-er than some archtops - but you can get a nice mellow jazz punch with proper dial adj, on guitar AND amp. I use a Reverend 60watt combo (out of prod) with 2 6L6's.
OK - I roll the guitar volume to around 8, and tone to 6/7. The amp is dialed-in as follows: gain around 4/5, volume 3/4 to full, treb/mid/bass ALL at 1/4, presence around 4/5, reverb at 1/4. It took me quite a while to find the sweet-spot, but it's definately there. The presence setting wards off the 'muffled' sound nicely. Not sure this would work with a consumer-level SS amp, or a fender tube. But these settings are the key the 'the tone' with my amp. I suspect any good jazz-amp would work fine.

Really nice neck - every Guild electric I've picked up has had a soft feel, and my X-150D follows suit. I noodled the bridge and truss rod a bit - very comfortable with flatwound 11's.

It's been with me 4 yrs - that maple ply seems bullet-proof

?

I use this guitar for traditional jazz - good choice for a lower-priced archtop. I would characterize the tone (I get) as classic 50's - clear mellow-punch with the highs, articulate lows without boom. Not the deeply acoustic sound of more expensive spruce-tops, but very Wes.

Gloss sunburst poly (I think).
16" archtop with Venetian cutaway.
Straight slant rosewood bridge.
Grover sealed chrome tuners.
24.75" scale length three piece neck with rosewood fretboard, block inlays. Fairly chunky C shape, kinda like some Les Paul reissues.
Hardshell arched case.
2000 made in Corona, CA by FMIC.
Laminated maple body throughout; neck is two pieces of mahogany with a stringer of maple sandwiched between lengthwise (in the middle).
One passive Guild humbucker in neck position; 1 vol pot; 1 tone.

Nice Jazz sound with a tweed Deluxe clone.
Can also get fairly bright, though it's presently strung with Pyramid Gold flatwounds (13's).
Humbucker is quiet, with good output.

Also gets a nice acoustic sound when practicing unplugged. Sweet archtop tone, and fairly loud but not meant to compete with purpose built acoustic archtops with solid 17" tops. Projects well acoustically if you unload the back by not damping it with your body.

The fit and finish are superb!
Evidence of a great deal of care in scraping the binding and shooting a nice gradual fadestain. Rivals ANYBODIE'S build quality and attention to detail. Perfect, in fact.
Everything is precise and beautifully done.
Feels and looks like a much more expensive custom built luthiered instrument.

I don't foresee any problems using this instrument in any situation.
It's sturdy feeling for the type.
I use it on jobs all the time with no backup.
The endpin/strap button is fine.
The upper bout strap button is located off the neck block on this example (could have been installed by previous owner). I would rather the neck strap button be located in the neck curve off-center towards the cutaway side.
Since that would leave a hole where it is located presently, I'll just be careful with it as-is.

Bought used.
I doubt I'd ever need to talk to FMIC.

46 years playing guitar. Joined the AFM in 1974.
My only other guitar is a Yamaha Pacifica 2HB tele style that I primarily use for traveling out of town on family vacations, to avoid subjecting my "good guitar" to hot cars, rapid humidity changes, etc.
My amplifier is a Victoria 20112T.
I've had many guitars and amps over the years, including some very nice (and very expensive) archtop so-called "Jazz" guitars.
Years ago this would have been considered a student grade instrument by people who used Gibson L-5's etc. I don't think of it that way at all though. It is constructed and finished every bit as well as ANY factory made guitar could be, and though the materials are laminated, the attention to detail and finish work is as-if it were a major maker luthiered custom instrument.
Everything lines up perfectly. Even the mitre joint of the multiple back edge bindings is perfect, as is the matchup of the heel cap and binding.
Kudos to the Corona builders.
I've had Gibson, Heritage, Gretsch, Guild, Samick, and Ibanez archtops, and this particular example is the one perfectly executed build I've experienced.
The neck is just right in shape and heft, the fretboard plays wonderfully on medium/jumbo frets (20), the acoustic sound with flatwounds is extremely pleasing, and the finish and lines are a joy to behold.
I guess it's the bottom of the line full thickness archtop from Guild/FMIC, but it performs, feels and looks more like a top-of-the-line instrument.
Best I've ever had, but not the most expensive by any stretch.