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1975 Guild Artist Award
Serial #: 124187
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 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 black stairstep Guild-logo pickguard; floating gold Dearmond Model 1100 pickup w/volume control, endpin jack; original gold strap pin.
Notes: No scratches. No checking. Plating still bright as a new penny. What time capsule was this baby in?
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. The neck is true tiger-stripe figure, almost 3D in its depth. Glowing under a warmly ambered blonde finish, the top glows with finely woven cross grain "silk", and shows at the centerline grain so tight as to be almost imperceptible; up to 50-60 grains per inch in places. (This is wood from one very big tree.)
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 a value over $1000 alone at this writing.) The neck profile is a comfy C shape, and the tone is as rich and warm as the deeply ambered blonde finish. The condition of this example is spookily immaculate, in 100% original museum quality condition, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fretwear, and all finish and plating in gleaming shape. Even the original brown Guild hardshell case has nary a scratch. They simply don't come any cleaner than this, period. If you've been waiting for a blonde Artist Award, and only want the best one there is, don't come crying because you didn't call in time: 206-325-3737.
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 brown Guild plushlined hardshell case, with key.
