Guild Artist Award Model Sunburst 1987

A rare find: The Guild Artist Award from 1987. One of the finest archtops which can be put in the same category as a Gibson L-5 or D’Angelico New Yorker. The Guild Artist Award was introduced in 1956 as the Johnny Smith Artist Model. After Johnny Smith ended his partnership with Guild in 1961 in favor of Gibson, this model was introduced under the current name.

The Artist Award is a New York style jazz box with a top made of solid, carved spruce and back and sides made of heavily flamed, solid maple. The neck and bridge are made of dark ebony, the neck of maple with walnut stripes. The elaborately crafted inlays on the fingerboard and headstock are made of mother-of-pearl and abalone. This top-quality archtop has an outstandingly defined sound with round basses, a rich midrange and silky highs.

To all fans of fine archtop guitars: Don’t miss this opportunity!