Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips
archtop.com
1979 Guild Artist Award
Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
Serial #: 201338
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Hand graduated bookmatched solid spruce top; highly figured tiger flame maple neck; handcarved bookmatched fiddleback flame maple back; flame maple sides; ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl/abalone split-block fingerboard; ornate "pitcher and star" abalone/pearl peghead inlay; 9-ply headstock binding, 5-ply pickguard binding, triple-bound f-holes, bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original hardware, including engraved gold-plated tailpiece; compensated ebony bridge; gold Grover Imperial tuners; original quintuple-bound tortoise pickguard; floating gold Dearmond Model 1100 pickup, with volume control and 1/4" endpin jack..
Notes: Introduced in 1956 as the Johnny Smith Award, this model was rechristened the Artist Award in 1961. Individually handmade by the most experienced builders at the shop, the Artist Award continued to sport appointments seen only on ultra-deluxe instruments of the 30's and 40's. Inspecting the fit and finish, we were impressed to note seven plies of binding on the body and a full nine on the peghead. The deep ebony fingerboard is trimmed with three plies of inner binding on the face, just like the old Epiphone Emperor, whose ornate split-block inlay pattern was continued in the AA as well. Even the f-holes are triple bound. Who does that anymore?
And the wood. Let's just say that Guild used nothing but the best where it counted. The back and sides are carved from perfectly bookmatched fiddleback maple of superbly tight, deep flame throughout. Glowing under a warmly ambered blonde finish, the top glows with finely woven cross grain "silk". The condition of this fine example is superb, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear.
Finally, the guitar sports the coveted Dearmond Model 1100 Adjustable Rhythm Chief pickup factory installed in gold, the original floating pickup, as used on D'Angelico and other classic jazzers of the 30's-60's, and worth a small fortune all on its own today. The neck profile is a comfy C shape, and the tone is as rich and warm as the deeply ambered blonde finish. If you've been waiting for a top-line all-carved American jazz guitar at a price within sanity, don't wait too long. These beauties are hard to find, pretty as they come, and an unbeatable value in a true vintage classic.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original black plush Guild logo hardshell case.
