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1997 Guild Artist Award
Status: SOLD For instruments now available, please visit our Instruments page here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments as they arrive, please contact joev@archtop.com. 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 #: AA000148
Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 25-1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16'
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: 100% original hardware, including engraved gold-plated tailpiece; compensated ebony bridge; gold Grover Imperial tuners; original quintuple-bound tortoise pickguard; floating gold humbucking pickup.
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 Artist Award. 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 surprised to note 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 was continued in the AA as well. Even the f-holes are triple bound. Who does that anymore?
The back, sides and neck are carved from extravagantly figured chevron bookmatched tiger flame maple. The naural blonde finish is warmly ambered and the bookmatched carved spruce top is laced with cross grain "silk". The overall condition of this example we would characterize "as new", without finish checking, plating tarnish, or fretwear.
An original Rhode Island guitar, the last list on these was around $6500. We understand the new California Guild Artist Awards are listing somewhere in the $9K range. 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, and an outstanding value.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" 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 hardshell case.
