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Guild X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Electric Guitar - Malibu Blue

Hollowbody Electric Guitar with Maple Back/Sides, Arched Spruce Top, 3-piece Mahogany/Maple Neck, Ebony Fretboard, 2 x Single-coil Pickups, and Guild Vibrato Tailpiece - Malibu Blue
8 Write review Item ID: X175MSMB
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Guild X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Electric Guitar - Malibu Blue
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Hollowbody Jazz Box with DeArmond Pickups and a Guild Vibrato

The X-175 Manhattan Special archtop is a stellar representation of Guild quality and value. This vintage-styled jazz box is primed for rich tone and great playability, featuring a crisp maple body topped with nuanced spruce for enhanced clarity and detail. The Manhattan Special's multi-ply mahogany/maple neck plays like a modernized classic, and its zesty DeArmond DynaSonic pickups twang, snarl, and howl with the best of them. Even better, the X-175's expressive vibrato tailpiece gives you a taste of that classic wiggle-stick wobble, all without the intonation issues of lesser designs. Take it from guitarists at Sweetwater: if you're after a modern guitar that can get you true rockabilly soul and a host of clean and dirty hollowbody tones, it's hard to top the value you get in the Guild X-175 Manhattan Special.

Related Videos: X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Electric Guitar - Malibu Blue

Based on a classic Guild hollowbody

The Manhattan Special sets its eyes on the Guild Manhattan guitar of the 1950s and '60s for inspiration. Boasting a body made of maple with an arched spruce top, and combined with a special pair of DeArmond pickups and genuine Guild vibrato tailpiece, the X-175 Manhattan Special is everything you'd expect from a modern-made, vintage-styled jazz box.

3-piece mahogany/maple neck

Multi-piece necks tend to be stronger and more rigid than single-piece necks, resisting twisting and warping over the years. Treat it well, and you'll get a lifetime of exceptional playability from the Guild X-175 Manhattan Special.

Dual DynaSonic pickups deliver timeless single-coil sound

Boasting the twang of a classic single-coil and the bite of a P90, the Manhattan Special's DeArmond DynaSonic pickups exhibit a wonderful full-range tone with sweet, glossy highs with tight, well-rounded lows. Run these pups into a clean amp, and you’ll enjoy a muscular blend of snap, punch, and bite. Park them in front of an overdriven amp, and you’ll experience a euphoric crunch that can’t be achieved with any other pickup. A 3-way toggle, two volume controls, and two tone controls give you the flexibility to dial in your sound, even in a fast-paced stage environment.

Guild vibrato tailpiece

The Guild-branded vibrato tailpiece installed on this X-175 Manhattan Special supplies "big" (if you know what we mean) expression and control. From caterwauling rockabilly leads to cascading waves of texture and color, you'll find all the nuance you need in this expressive vibrato system.

Guild X-175 Manhattan Special Hollowbody Electric Guitar Features:

  • Based on the '50s–'60s era Manhattan jazz box
  • Spruce-on-maple archtop body construction
  • Durable 3-piece mahogany/maple/mahogany neck in a Vintage Soft "U" profile
  • Glassy, articulate ebony fingerboard
  • DeArmond Dynasonic pickups pack sweet, zesty cleans and biting overdriven crunch
  • 3-way toggle, 2 volume controls, and 2 tone controls arm you with ample tonal flexibility
  • Guild vibrato tailpiece supplies "big" expression and control
  • ToM-style bridge and Grover Sta-Tote tuners deliver precise intonation

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Electric Guitar Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Hollowbody
  • Body Shape X-175 Manhattan Special
  • Body Material Maple
  • Top Material Arched Spruce
  • Body Finish Satin Polyurethane
  • Color Malibu Blue
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Mahogany with Maple center strip
  • Neck Shape Vintage Soft U
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 9.5"
  • Fingerboard Material Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay Mother-of-Pearl Blocks
  • Number of Frets 20, Narrow Jumbo
  • Scale Length 24.75"
  • Nut Width 1.6875"
  • Nut Material Bone
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece Guild Tune-O-Matic with Pinned Ebony Bridge and Guild Vibrato Tailpiece
  • Tuners Grover Sta-Tite Open Gear
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup DeArmond Dynasonic Single-coil
  • Bridge Pickup DeArmond Dynasonic Single-coil
  • Controls 2 x volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings D'Addario, .011-.049
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 99-742-0320

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Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5

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Guild X175 Manhattan Special

I bought this Guild on 6/29/2021 to replace and older Guild I had sold. I quickly regretted the decision to have sold my older one because I love full bodied Guild Archtops. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. this is my go to Rockabilly Monster. I love the 9-1/2 finger board radius and the DeArmond Dynasonic pickups. The Malibu Blue finish is spectacular. I run this beauty through a Harmony H50 tube amp. Thanks Riley.
by ramiro Flores from Shelton, WA on
Music background: Play for fun at home and sometimes I jam with friends.

Excellent Hollowbody Guitar

Pleasantly surprised with this guitar as the quality of the fretwork, construction, tone and components is top notch. For reference, I own/have owned quote a few much more expensive custom shop, historic, vintage guitars from Gibson, Fender, PRS, Gretsch, etc. I took a chance on this Guild not really having tried one in-person & wondering if a guitar from Korea would satisfy. Happy to report the X-175 Manhattan Special (DeArmonds) is one of my most enjoyable guitars to play. It plays as effortlessly as an acoustic but the electric tones are just beautiful. I am amazed at the quality of the fretwork and how great the neck feels. Not a huge fan of the durability of most flat/satin finishes as they eventually rub away and get shiny in spots but time will tell.

I realize there is often a honeymoon period with new gear where people swear up and down they love their purchase as their "new favorite" and while I am hesitant to make such claims but I would surprised if this wasn't one of my top 3 favorites over time. It is effortless to play and give such great response to the player. I would not call the neck profile slim or fat - it seems just right. The closest possible comparison might be to a full hollow Gretsch or Gibson and I would say the Guild feels and sounds surprisingly better than some of the nicer Gretsches I've owned. I got the guitar for approx $ an at that price it is a very good deal - I might scrutinize it a bit harder if I had paid full MSRP but then again, it is hard to fault this guitar even at full msrp.

Would buy this again if it was stolen ... in fact, I am considering selling my ES-335 which I just cant seem to bond with after getting the Guild. Perhaps part of that is the "dead" feeling of the 335 compared to this and I realize they are not the same (semi vs full hollow) but I just can't to bond with or get the enjoyment and flow that the Guild provides.
by Sweetwater Customer from MI on

Great Hollowbody

This Guild Manhattan X-175 is really a great hollow body for the money. I have never owned or played Guild before and I have been playing Guitar for 50 years and I am very pleased with the resonance and tone. I have had no issues with intonation or tuning stability seems to be excellent. I love the color, quality and workmanship If you want to play this guitar in front of a very loud amplifier (Heavy Metal) stack this may not be the guitar for you because the body really is resonant and it will feedback easily. I owned an ES-330 when I played in rock bands in the early 1970 s and it performs much like the old 60 s vintage ES-330 s, I wish I never sold that ES-330. It is so much like it with the resonance and tone I thought I had my ES-330 back. The sustain is excellent and I like to use the resonance for artistic feedback. Solid bodies just don t have the resonance I like. I think the rock a Billy tone is perfect. I own several Gretsch's and if you are a Gretsch player looking for a little more resonance and a little more bite this Guild will be for you. When I want a clean tone it sound really smooth and clean with reverb and some delay and works great for all styles in my opinion. I highly recommend this as a great buy for country, rockabilly, old rock, and classic rock. I would not recommend for Metal etc. it is too alive for death metal. If I had to recommend an improvement it would be a spit coil humbucker on the neck but the two single coil pickups really sound great I would recommend this as a buy. The price will only go up in my opinion. Finish is more matte than gloss but this allows the wood to vibrate better and I think is better than having a dozen coats of high gloss that weighs the wood down so it won t vibrate. I love it.
by Chip from Eastern Shore of Virginia on
Music background: I have performed with all types of bands at so many venues I can t remember.

Great Tone

I was looking for a hollow body to expand my tonal options. I saw the demo video and this one looked promising for tonal a variety of tonal options it offers between pickups, tone knobs, and volume knobs. It did not disappoint. I am impressed and love the tone. This guitar has great sustain. When practicing, I have accidentally stumble onto some cool feedback tones as well. This will likely be my main guitar for a while. At least while I continue to learn the different sounds that are capable.
by Dustin from Northern Indiana on

Enhance your blues

Wow! Wife gave this as a birthday present and now I spend all my free time with the guitar. I own a few Guilds and thought this would be similar to my Starfire V or possibly my D40 acoustic but boy was I all wrong. The X-175 Special has a personality all its own and she's not afraid to show it. If you have blue eyes the guitar will make them sparkle, if you like to wear denim the guitar will brighten even the most faded. If you have blue suede shoes the guitar will rock you right down to your socks and if you get the blues now and again the X-175 will smurff those blues completely away. Guild claims "Made to be Played" they need to add "and played, and played, and played". This baby just won't quit. Guild doesn't claim any acoustic representation but I found the X-175 to be clean and audible in living room sized settings. Plug in the amp and it's like a beacon of bright white light illuminates the hearing senses. Way to go Guild! Many thanks to Patrick and Sweetwater for helping my wife afford this awesome present.
by Ed Starr from Effingham NH on
Music background: Worship team & small settings

When customers come to Sweetwater looking for great, affordable acoustic guitars, we're always quick to tell them about Guild. At the same time, Guild has brought us some real beauties over the years, ranging from top-end acoustic guitars to timeless jazz boxes, and we're happy to say our most seasoned players agree that these instruments are second to none. As one of the prime Guild dealers, we know that when we sell one of these instruments, whoever gets it is going to love it and play it a lot, especially after we put it through our 55-point Evaluation to ensure it leaves our climate-controlled warehouse in perfect condition. Whether you're looking for your first acoustic guitar or your next archtop, ask your Sales Engineer about Guild.

See also: hollow guitars, Guild, Guild Hollowbody Guitars
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