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1993 Guild Artist Award
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Serial #: JA100363
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 251/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .82/.91
Materials: Handcarved 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 body and headstock binding, 5-ply pickguard binding, triple-bound f-holes, bone nut.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes engraved harp tailpiece; Grover Super Rotomatic tuners; quintuple-bound tortoise pickguard; compensated ebony bridge; Guild floating humbucking pickup, with volume control and endpin jack. Additional Artist Award pickguard included, with gold Johnny Smith pickup included.
Notes: On August 31st, 2001, Guild rolled the last guitar off its factory line at Westerly, Rhode Island, thus ending an era of quality fretted instruments lasting almost half a century. A favorite of players from George Barnes to Johnny Smith, Guild guitars have always represented a high standard of craftsmanship at prices the working pro could afford. Which is why we're pleased to be able to offer this outstanding example of Guild's top of the line jazz guitar: the legendary Artist Award.
Introduced in 1956 as the Johnny Smith Award, the model was known as the Artist Award from 1961 until 2007, when it was finally discontinued. Individually handmade by the most experienced builders at the shop, the AA continued to sport appointments seen only on ultra-deluxe instruments of the 30's and 40's, including a full nine plies of binding on both the body and 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 lives on in the AA as well. Even the f-holes are triple bound. Who does that anymore?
The back, sides and neck are carved from skillfully bookmatched fiddleback flame maple, with a warmly ambered blonde finish over a fine grained carved spruce top. All binding is original and tight to the body, and the guitar is fitted with its original Guild full-size floating humbucking pickup, volume control and endpin jack. Action is smooth and low over a gentle D profile neck, with a fresh high-precision setup.
In gleaming condition, the instrument has been well maintained, without cracks, checking, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a bit of wear to the pickup cover, the instrument remains in showroom condition. The voice is warm and woody, with excellent clarity and balance: a true jazz classic. A genuine Rhode Island Guild, and a perennial favorite of working players, this distinguished instrument is a top-line all-carved American jazz guitar, at a price within reach of the working player. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings (.013-.056). 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 Guild logo black arched plush lined hardshell case, with factory booklet.
