Some Guild Artist Award through the years info

[213Cobra]

Question to AA owners:

I have a 1994 Artist Award, it's my main gigging guitar which I love.. Is there much difference with the AAs made in the 1960s with the shorter scale length? Do I need one of them as well? I see one or two members own both kinds.

Thanks ?

Also have a 1994 here, and two G-Bs newer. I've played '60s, '70s and '80s Artist Awards and intend to buy a '60s Hoboken one sooner or later. I'm indifferent to scale lengths as long as not shorter than 24-1/2". Many players have distinct opinions about and reactions to 24.XX" vs 25.XX" scales. Aside from the scale changes, the AA was tinkered with throughout its history, including top thickness, bracing shapes, neck profiles, etc. So to me, while the Guild AA family voice is strong, the era-to-era, decade-to-decade and year-to-year differences are more minor than the guitar-to-guitar differences. I'd bet our two '94s aren't quite identical. My sense is that especially with top and back carves, the Guild archtop process was somewhat less industrial than Gibson's, so there's a bit more of a "who-made-it-when" factor in guitar-to-guitar comparisons. From the few '50s, NYC-made Guild archtops I've encountered, the Epiphone influence feels and sounds more immediate than "filtered" through the maturing Guild company finding its own path as time progressed.

If you need or want a second AA and you already have a '94, then a Hoboken instrument likely gives you the most pronounced era-contrast. You could also seek a Guild A-500 or even an A-350 from the same period, as alternatives. They are "like" AAs, but not quite the same, removed from the Johnny Smith preferences. The other pronounced era shift came at the end, with the Bob Benedetto collaboration Awards, both AA and JSA. The acoustic voicing shift between my '94 AA, and the G-Bs is greater to me than what I've heard playing my '94 and a Hoboken AA. But maybe that's just me. The '94 and my '99 G-B AA are distinctly different, with still more differences sonically sprouting from my '06 G-B JSA. The Westerly Artist Awards had a pretty consistent midrange-forward acoustic voice for the ~30 years they were made there. The G-Bs have the unmistakable Benedetto voice blended in the mix, yielding guitars that had all the visual cues that they are Guild Artist Awards, but sound substantially revised. Played electrically, those notable acoustic differences are narrowed as the pickup differences dominate, along with choice of amp and settings.

Phil

[lumena]

The golden age of the American factory made archtop is sadly over. Theres.some cool stuff happening in Japan though.

yep, https://www.stringphonic.com/product.../deluxe17.html

Ebony fingerboard, Carved top, Custom Tailpiece. Same type of shop as Walkins although they specialized in acoustic arch tops and gypsy jazz replicas. These are about 3k with fancy case.

[Navigator]

yep, https://www.stringphonic.com/product.../deluxe17.html

Ebony fingerboard, Carved top, Custom Tailpiece. Same type of shop as Walkins although they specialized in acoustic arch tops and gypsy jazz replicas. These are about 3k with fancy case.

Thanks for this, will definitely be researching these guitars!

[Navigator]

Also have a 1994 here, and two G-Bs newer. I've played '60s, '70s and '80s Artist Awards and intend to buy a '60s Hoboken one sooner or later. I'm indifferent to scale lengths as long as not shorter than 24-1/2". Many players have distinct opinions about and reactions to 24.XX" vs 25.XX" scales. Aside from the scale changes, the AA was tinkered with throughout its history, including top thickness, bracing shapes, neck profiles, etc. So to me, while the Guild AA family voice is strong, the era-to-era, decade-to-decade and year-to-year differences are more minor than the guitar-to-guitar differences. I'd bet our two '94s aren't quite identical. My sense is that especially with top and back carves, the Guild archtop process was somewhat less industrial than Gibson's, so there's a bit more of a "who-made-it-when" factor in guitar-to-guitar comparisons. From the few '50s, NYC-made Guild archtops I've encountered, the Epiphone influence feels and sounds more immediate than "filtered" through the maturing Guild company finding its own path as time progressed.

If you need or want a second AA and you already have a '94, then a Hoboken instrument likely gives you the most pronounced era-contrast. You could also seek a Guild A-500 or even an A-350 from the same period, as alternatives. They are "like" AAs, but not quite the same, removed from the Johnny Smith preferences. The other pronounced era shift came at the end, with the Bob Benedetto collaboration Awards, both AA and JSA. The acoustic voicing shift between my '94 AA, and the G-Bs is greater to me than what I've heard playing my '94 and a Hoboken AA. But maybe that's just me. The '94 and my '99 G-B AA are distinctly different, with still more differences sonically sprouting from my '06 G-B JSA. The Westerly Artist Awards had a pretty consistent midrange-forward acoustic voice for the ~30 years they were made there. The G-Bs have the unmistakable Benedetto voice blended in the mix, yielding guitars that had all the visual cues that they are Guild Artist Awards, but sound substantially revised. Played electrically, those notable acoustic differences are narrowed as the pickup differences dominate, along with choice of amp and settings.

Phil

Amazing info here many thanks

[Navigator]

Hi All

Does anyone know of a soft case (preferably well padded) for an AA?

thanks

[58flame]

Hi All

Does anyone know of a soft case (preferably well padded) for an AA?

thanks

You may find this helpful:

Archtop 17 " gigbag

[Navigator]

You may find this helpful:

Archtop 17 " gigbag

Many thanks indeed

[58flame]

Many thanks indeed

You're welcome. One of these days, when I figure out how, I'll post some pictures of my 3 Guilds in this thread. For historical purposes, of course.

[Navigator]

You're welcome. One of these days, when I figure out how, I'll post some pictures of my 3 Guilds in this thread. For historical purposes, of course.

Now that would be interesting!

[213Cobra]

I'm buying a 1963 Hoboken-made Artist Award tomorrow....

So, I'll have Corona, Westerly and Hoboken represented. Then I'll have to go on the hunt for a NYC-originated JSA to close the loop....

Phil

[58flame]

I'm buying a 1963 Hoboken-made Artist Award tomorrow....

So, I'll have Corona, Westerly and Hoboken represented. Then I'll have to go on the hunt for a NYC-originated JSA to close the loop....

Phil

There's one on eBay, but it appears to be cracked.

[213Cobra]

There's one on eBay, but it appears to be cracked.

Got to pace myself. It will be awhile before go looking for a NYC Guild. Although, the person selling the '63 AA says he has a '57 JSA he wants to show me when I see him later today....

Phil

[Stringswinger]

Got to pace myself. It will be awhile before go looking for a NYC Guild. Although, the person selling the '63 AA says he has a '57 JSA he wants to show me when I see him later today....

Phil

Phil. you are going to also need a Connecticut made AA to have a complete collection. They did not make too many of those, so that could be tricky.

Good luck!

[213Cobra]

Phil. you are going to also need a Connecticut made AA to have a complete collection. They did not make too many of those, so that could be tricky.

Good luck!

Oh, gee, thanks for reminding me. That might be one I don't need. In fact, I've never seen a Connecticut / New Hartford AA. I might have to just settle for Westerly representing all New England builds.

[58flame]

Got to pace myself. It will be awhile before go looking for a NYC Guild. Although, the person selling the '63 AA says he has a '57 JSA he wants to show me when I see him later today....

Phil

I'd love to see that Johnny Smith Award.

[213Cobra]

I'd love to see that Johnny Smith Award.

I bought the '63 AA. Here's the seller's 1957 Guild Johnny Smith. -Phil

[58flame]

I bought the '63 AA. Here's the seller's 1957 Guild Johnny Smith. -Phil

Fantastic!

[Navigator]

I'm buying a 1963 Hoboken-made Artist Award tomorrow....

So, I'll have Corona, Westerly and Hoboken represented. Then I'll have to go on the hunt for a NYC-originated JSA to close the loop....

Phil

Amazing!

[Navigator]

Fantastic!

beauty!