Guild X-150 - Help?

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-22-2025, 10:19 AM

I picked up a lovely early 2000's Westerly Guild x150 - single pickup (b/c who really needs the bridge, lol). I'm a bit conflicted about this guitar. If feels and plays wonderfully but sounds a bit thin to my ear. I replaced the wood bridge with a TOM and that helped some and I'm also tinkering with pickup height. I haven't ruled a pup swap either but really don't want to end up on the winding road to Tonetown. Any advice is appreciated. Any insight on pickup height, a swap, or generally getting a thicker, woollier sound is appreciated.

**charleyrich99** · 02-22-2025, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Prof Silverhair

I picked up a lovely early 2000's Westerly Guild x150 - single pickup (b/c who really needs the bridge, lol). I'm a bit conflicted about this guitar. If feels and plays wonderfully but sounds a bit thin to my ear. I replaced the wood bridge with a TOM and that helped some and I'm also tinkering with pickup height. I haven't ruled a pup swap either but really don't want to end up on the winding road to Tonetown. Any advice is appreciated. Any insight on pickup height, a swap, or generally getting a thicker, woollier sound is appreciated.

I had a Guild with x170 with Fralin Pure PAFs and it made the Guild sound wonderful. Perhaps, a pickup swap will get you what you need. Guild made terrific guitars, in my opinion.

**Hep To The Jive** · 02-22-2025, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Prof Silverhair

I picked up a lovely early 2000's Westerly Guild x150 - single pickup (b/c who really needs the bridge, lol). I'm a bit conflicted about this guitar. If feels and plays wonderfully but sounds a bit thin to my ear. I replaced the wood bridge with a TOM and that helped some and I'm also tinkering with pickup height. I haven't ruled a pup swap either but really don't want to end up on the winding road to Tonetown. Any advice is appreciated. Any insight on pickup height, a swap, or generally getting a thicker, woollier sound is appreciated.

As far as I know the later Westerley Guilds had shitty pickups. I forgot why, something about cost cutting production. They look like a proper Guild pickups, but they are not. Swapping them is what most Guild afocinados would do. I think.

**AllanAllen** · 02-22-2025, 11:31 AM

What are your guitar and amp settings?

I do bass 5-7, mid 6-10, treble 0-1 on the amp and if I put my guitar volume down a hair, the tone has a spot above zero that eliminates the P90 hum.

**Cunamara** · 02-22-2025, 12:59 PM

Well, there is a tweed Deluxe right there next to the guitar. Which is about the fattest, warmest, woolliest amp you can find especially on the normal channel. If playing with the knobs and the pickup height doesn't work, I think you're stuck looking at replacing the electronics. Raising the pickup and moving it closer to strings tends to enhance the fundamental of the note, often this will solve a lot of tonal problems.

Or maybe putting a parametric EQ like an Empress or a 10 band EQ in front of the amp; that can fix an awful lot of stuff. There is also the pick rabbit hole to go down, I find that I can make any of my guitars sound thin and cutting or fat and rich just by changing which pick I have in my hand. It seems like thinner picks tend to activate overtones more and thicker picks seem to activate the fundamental more.

As far as replacement pickups go, I would suggest a Gibson Classic 57. 500K CTS pots and .022 cap, the classic humbucker setup.

**2bornot2bop** · 02-22-2025, 12:59 PM

Easy fix. Sell it to me!

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-22-2025, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by charleyrich99

I had a Guildh Fralin Pure PAFs and it made the Guild sound wonderful. Perhaps, a pickup swap will get you what you need. Guild made terrific guitars, in my opinion.

I have an '85 x170 and the pickups are amazing! I was a little suprised to find the x150 pup to sound so much different. But I suppose production years apart could account for a lot of changes.

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-22-2025, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

As far as I know the later Westerley Guilds had shitty pickups. I forgot why, something about cost cutting production. They look like a proper Guild pickups, but they are not. Swapping them is what most Guild afocinados would do. I think.

I'm afraid it may come to that. Before I perform any swap, I was reminded I should check the capacitor - who knows what may have happened in the last 25 years?

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-22-2025, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

What are your guitar and amp settings?

I do bass 5-7, mid 6-10, treble 0-1 on the amp and if I put my guitar volume down a hair, the tone has a spot above zero that eliminates the P90 hum.

Thanks! The amp pictured is kinda it's own thing: 3 interactive knobs and limitless tone options. Tinkering with the tone knob helps and adjusting the mic volume knob really does a thing too. I'll keep tinkering before doing anything drastic, lol.

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-22-2025, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Well, there is a tweed Deluxe right there next to the guitar. Which is about the fattest, warmest, woolliest amp you can find especially on the normal channel. If playing with the knobs and the pickup height doesn't work, I think you're stuck looking at replacing the electronics. Raising the pickup and moving it closer to strings tends to enhance the fundamental of the note, often this will solve a lot of tonal problems.

Or maybe putting a parametric EQ like an Empress or a 10 band EQ in front of the amp; that can fix an awful lot of stuff. There is also the pick rabbit hole to go down, I find that I can make any of my guitars sound thin and cutting or fat and rich just by changing which pick I have in my hand. It seems like thinner picks tend to activate overtones more and thicker picks seem to activate the fundamental more.

As far as replacement pickups go, I would suggest a Gibson Classic 57. 500K CTS pots and .022 cap, the classic humbucker setup.

Thanks for the reply!

For sure on the Deluxe, love this thing.

I'm not big on pedals or EQ. I've come to enjoy and prefer a 'just plug in and turn some knobs for tone' kind of approach. I'm going to check the pots & caps on the guitar and raise the pup some more. If all else fails, I'll track down a new pup and see what happens! I'm leaning towards the PAF/Seth Lover but the Classic 57 is a fantastic option.

**bluenote61** · 02-23-2025, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Prof Silverhair

I'm afraid it may come to that. Before I perform any swap, I was reminded I should check the capacitor - who knows what may have happened in the last 25 years?

The tone caps used in guitars are standard industrial foil capacitors, i.e. they are rated for voltages around 100-400V.
What I want to say, it is most unlikely that the condenser will get stressed by the mV output of the pickup. No change required IMO.
And, any discussion about special types or materials for guitar caps are for Voodoo aficionados.

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-23-2025, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by bluenote61

The tone caps used in guitars are standard industrial foil capacitors, i.e. they are rated for voltages around 100-400V.
What I want to say, it is most unlikely that the condenser will get stressed by the mV output of the pickup. No change required IMO.
And, any discussion about special types or materials for guitar caps are for Voodoo aficionados.

I'm in the 'lots of voodoo' camp of guitar gear as well. I took a look to make sure the cap was there/still soldered. Confirmed a little brown disc...which was enough for me.

**58flame** · 02-26-2025, 07:53 AM

It's the Fender pickup. Replace with SD-1 and you'll hear what that thing is supposed to sound like. My 97 X-170 with the stock SD-1s sounds absolutely fantastic.

**misterjay** · 02-27-2025, 10:22 AM

I have a 1990's Westerly X-150 very similar to yours. Lovely playing guitar. The previous owner had it refinished and added some Benedetto upgrades: wooden tailpiece & pick guard, new electronics and a single Benedetto B-6 pickup. Sounds great! It's my main jazz box.

**Prof Silverhair** · 02-27-2025, 01:22 PM

I have a SD Seth Lover arriving today. I love the SD '59 so I wanted to try a Lover in the Guild. We'll see! I'm pretty confident it'll be upgrade, eager to see how much of one. Thanks all!

**LesB3** · 03-06-2025, 10:45 AM

The 2000s Guilds might have Fender-made HB-1's vs. the (slightly) earlier Seymour Duncan SD-1's, or standard Guild HB-1's. I have an X-180 with the Fender HB-1's and have the exact same "tone" issues that you do.

**arnie65** · 04-01-2025, 10:38 AM

I have the exact same guitar, and it has nothing to do with the bridge at all. Get a screwdriver and screw all the pickup screws flat to the pickup, then raise the pickup to about 3/32" or 4/32", play it for a bit, then lower the bass side of the pickup till you hear it balanced with the treble side. Those Guild pickups are superb jazz pickups, and are everything but thin sounding....

Arnie...