Guild Artist Award info?
- Thread starter gungineer
- Start date
Welcome to a great guitar forum which specializes in loving Guilds. Just from looking at the back of the headstock, leads me to say you have a rare and beautiful Guild.
You will get your answer from folks many times more knowledgeable than me.
You will get your answer from folks many times more knowledgeable than me.
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What kind of information are you looking for?
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Welcome. Stick around - nice bunch of folks around here. Expect some oohing and aahing over your Artist Award.
Based on Guild's notoriously inaccurate serial number lists, that guitar may have been made in 1994.
Based on Guild's notoriously inaccurate serial number lists, that guitar may have been made in 1994.
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
Your best bet is to look at Artist Awards that have sold on eBay and Reverb.
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Without intending to sound flippant, that depends mostly on condition. Is it pristine? Some light wear? Looking like it was gigged every night of its life? Does it need any work like a refret or even a neck reset?
No offense taken. The arm that holds the pick guard to the body is showing some oxidation and needs to be replaced or repaired. Other than that it looks like it is very good condition. I will post more pictures when I have a few minutes. Frets look good and the neck is in good order. No body damage etc.
FNG
Enlightened Member
Awesome guitar. Pretty top end, these aren't cheap. Don't follow prices on these that close but I bet you could get 3500 out of it, maybe more. Just a guess though. Looks pretty clean.
ClaytonS15
Member
While I can’t comment on value, I will say this: that is a beautiful guitar! It may be worth looking at the Jazz Guitar Forum as well.
A beauty! As has been aid, some internet research will give you a good idea of value.
walrus
walrus
Pictures are very good here and a Guild electric lover will, surely, be drooling. Good luck with the sale and pulling for LTG member to take possession.
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
In general, blonde (natural) finished archtops like the Artist Award are more desirable than other finishes, such as sunburst.
- Joined
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I have the sunburst version from 1988 which is from the same design period as yours:
This is probably one of the least desirable of the Artist Awards largely due to the terrible pickup they came with. Now, understand that "least desirable of the Artist Awards" still means that it's a crazy nice guitar as they are all top-notch hand-made instruments with very few made every year. I paid ~$4000 for mine and it's basically like new aside for someone having removed and then reinstalled the pickup. It's an amazingly well built instrument that sounds divine unplugged but is a bit hampered by the very pedestrian pickup when plugged in. What's worse, the pickup seems to be an odd size and none of the other Archtop pickups I found would fit properly in the cutout in the pick guard. That could easily be fixed with a new guard, but I like the Guild guard.
The back on mine is one of the finest pieces of flamed maple I've ever seen. I seem to recall reading that the wood was of the quality normally held for cellos, but I'm too tired to look that up.
I want to say yours is from '94 but the serial number chart is notoriously innacurate. Hans will be along to correct the year if necessary.
This is probably one of the least desirable of the Artist Awards largely due to the terrible pickup they came with. Now, understand that "least desirable of the Artist Awards" still means that it's a crazy nice guitar as they are all top-notch hand-made instruments with very few made every year. I paid ~$4000 for mine and it's basically like new aside for someone having removed and then reinstalled the pickup. It's an amazingly well built instrument that sounds divine unplugged but is a bit hampered by the very pedestrian pickup when plugged in. What's worse, the pickup seems to be an odd size and none of the other Archtop pickups I found would fit properly in the cutout in the pick guard. That could easily be fixed with a new guard, but I like the Guild guard.
The back on mine is one of the finest pieces of flamed maple I've ever seen. I seem to recall reading that the wood was of the quality normally held for cellos, but I'm too tired to look that up.
I want to say yours is from '94 but the serial number chart is notoriously innacurate. Hans will be along to correct the year if necessary.
Thanks for all the kind replies and answers to my questions.
I think I am going to post it on Reverb for a bit more than asking price. If you or anyone you know may be interested please let me know. I would much rather see it in the hands of an enthusiast instead of someone trying to flip it for a quick buck.
I think I am going to post it on Reverb for a bit more than asking price. If you or anyone you know may be interested please let me know. I would much rather see it in the hands of an enthusiast instead of someone trying to flip it for a quick buck.