True Hollowbody Tone Inspired By The Big Apple
Fresh from Guild, the stylish X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Guitar captures the refined resonant tone of mid-century hollowbodies that fueled countless classics from rockabilly to jazz and blues. Two DeArmond Dynasonic pickups deliver stunning, expressive cleans with ample muscle balanced with sweet clarity and expressive, dynamic response that lets technique and tone take center stage. Guild combined an arched spruce top and maple body for an evergreen hollowbody tonewood combo that makes this guitar stand out with a touch of acoustic zing (the spruce top also enhances unplugged acoustic volume — perfect for quiet practice!). Guitarists at Sweetwater were pumped to see the X-175 equipped with a vibrato tailpiece for enhancing chords and riffs with warble and dives. And we’d be remiss not to mention the X-175’s stunning finish and appointments. Aesthetic touches like a Guild’s “Peak Logo with Chesterfield” headstock inlay combine with an ebony fingerboard, block inlays, and retro Grover button tuners for functional beauty that matches the legacy of this iconic brand. Ready to hit the stage?
Spruce and maple: a perfect tonewood pairing
There’s no better hollowbody tonewood combination than a spruce top with maple back and sides. What makes this marriage so great? The X-175’s maple frame shapes tone with warm, resonant depth that’s balanced and clear. Maple also makes for an incredibly responsive electric guitar that lets technique nuances shine. Such supple response is a must-have for hollowbody players seeking retro tone. Meanwhile, the X-175’s elegant arched spruce top enhances the sound chamber’s acoustic resonance with volume, power, and projection. Long favored as a tonewood of choice for acoustic guitar tops, spruce delivers high-quality hollowbody tone that can’t be achieved on solidbody instruments.
Pliable 24.75-inch fingerboard feel
This guitar’s playability is unmatched and ready for everything from graceful jazz inversions to rowdy rockabilly picking and riffs. The X-175 features a set mahogany neck and a comfortable 24.75-inch ebony fingerboard. This slightly shorter-than-average scale length makes for pliable playability with heightened string responsiveness and low action. The neck’s vintage “Soft U” profile is also a welcome throwback with a curve and shoulders tailored for players who love fretting bass notes with their thumb. Think of it as an alternative to the era’s popular “V” necks prized for their ability to tackle retro-voiced chords.
DeArmond Dynasonic pickups: retro electronics meet modern range
Boasting the twang of classic single-coils and the bite of a P-90, these DeArmond DynaSonic pickups exhibit wonderful full-range tone with sweet, glossy highs and tight, well-rounded lows. Run these pickups into a clean amp, and you’ll enjoy a muscular blend of snap, punch, and bite. Pair them with an overdriven amp, and you’ll experience a euphoric crunch that’s unattainable with any other single-coil. The X-175 Manhattan Special also features a 3-way toggle, two volume controls, and two tone controls. This setup makes for easy pickup switching on the fly, even in a fast-paced stage environment, so you can instantly hop from bridge bite to mellow neck warmth with both levels set just right.
Guild X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Electric Guitar Features:
- Retro-inspired hollowbody electric guitar based on a Guild mid-century classic
- Arched maple back and side fuel warm, responsive electric tone with stellar clarity
- Arched spruce top yields powerful acoustic resonance and adequate volume for unplugged practice
- 2 lively, warm DeArmond Dynasonic single-coil pickups — perfect for vintage genres of all stripes
- 3-way toggle, 2 volume controls, and 2 tone controls arm you with ample tonal flexibility
- Comfortable 24.75-inch ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays and 20 frets
- Set mahogany neck — vintage “Soft U” profile aids thumb bass note fretting for barre chords and inversions
- Ultra-responsive Guild vibrato tailpiece and body cutaway for better upper-fret access
- Bone nut, Grover Sta-Tite tuners, and TOM-style bridge for enhanced tone and tuning stability
- Commemorative appointments, including mother-of-pearl “Peak Logo with Chesterfield” headstock inlay
