I have a Guild X79 in solid black. It is an sexy and elegant guitar (ignore the Fender trolls who just can't get over it), with an incredibly-fast neck and amazing action. The cut-out gives you unparalleled access (no, REALLY!) to the 24th fret, and the body is comfortable either against your body or sitting down to play. On a strap, it is well-balanced and light. The mahogany body gives a nice warm tone, and the maple/ebony neck (finished in body color) gives you a nice bright counterpoint to the mahogany's depth. Pickups (I have the double-humbucker model) are special-wound Guild pickups which are versatile and work for any kind of application. Knob placement is common-sense, and the toggle switch as well is easy to access and manipulate in a hurry. The only downside (if you can call it that) is that the body design under your right arm does not provide as much support as conventional shapes, and so you may find your picking hand in an odd position if you're used to resting it against the body of a Strat, LP, or Explorer type.Other than that, the guitar's extreme playability, tone, and finish really make up for it. Highly recommended, if you can find one.