1958 Guild Johnny Smith Artist Award

[rsarmento]

Hello,this is my first entry.I inherited [for $500.00 from my cousin] my uncle's 1958 Johnny Smith Artist Award.My uncle died in 1984 and this guitar has been sitting in it's case[original Guild] since then.I searched online and elsewhere and I can't find a picture of one with the Bigsby tremolo which this one has.This guitar is absolutely beautiful.It has the floating DeArmond pickup.Does anyone have this guitar or one similar?
..............Rich

 

[BluesDan]

I don't have one but I would love to see one, can you post pics?

And welcome!

 

[FNG]

What a tease.... :lol:

 

[john_kidder]

I don't know who else might have a '58 Johnny Smith, but there's no doubt that you've raised the already high lust quotient on this board to a new level.

But the story? Come on - "inherited from an uncle"? You can tell the truth here with fear of blame - who did you mug? What store did you smash-and-grab? What jazz player did you have the goods on?

Yes, please, pictures.

 

[JazzWest]

Interesting if the Bigsby was special ordered? One way to tell is to have the Bigsby professionally removed/reinstalled to see if there are any extra holes under the tailpiece hinge? But doubt you'd want to do that? Is there another (stock) tailpiece in the case?

In the meantime, does your Award look similiar to one of these? Below are a '57 and an '60 that are nice:

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... tem=859928

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1662926

I know Elderly Instruments had some very early 60's Guild Johnny Smiths a while back, they are not common but do show up. I think Hans would be able to shed the most light here...

 

[matsickma]

Hi there rsarmento,

If you acquired the Johnny Smith model in 2009 for $500 you are a strong favorite in winning the "Deal of the Year Award" that has got off to a great start with J. Kidders X350 acquisition.

Let us know more and show pictures.

Guy's, where is the Deal-of-the-Year posting?

M

 

[hansmoust]

Hello,this is my first entry.I inherited [for $500.00 from my cousin] my uncle's 1958 Johnny Smith Artist Award.My uncle died in 1984 and this guitar has been sitting in it's case[original Guild] since then.I searched online and elsewhere and I can't find a picture of one with the Bigsby tremolo which this one has.This guitar is absolutely beautiful.It has the floating DeArmond pickup.Does anyone have this guitar or one similar?
..............Rich

Hello everybody,

Here are some photos of the Guild Johnny Smith Award Model in question:

As you can see it's a beautiful example with a 'blonde' finish and from the photos it looks like the instrument is in very good condition. By the way the pickguard was cut out it looks like the original DeArmond Model 1000 pickup was replaced by a DeArmond Guitar Mike at a later date.

A Bigsby unit is kind of unusual on a full-acoustic archtop guitar but I would think that if somebody would have ordered a Johnny Smith with a Bigsby he would have gotten a gold-plated version. It's also not really the right model for a 17-inch body guitar. However, it is a late '50s /early '60s model Bigsby, so I guess it is possible that the guitar left the factory with this unit.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[FNG]

I'll give ya 600 for it. :shock: :lol: 8)

 

[taabru45]

Come on FNG, I'm disappointed in you. Don't insult the man, at least make it $650, times are tough but I know you could make the stretch. :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[FNG]

Okay. 645 and it's a deal. :shock:

 

[Graham]

Okay. 645 and it's a deal. :shock:

Done! Ship it to him Rich before he changes his mind.

 

[rsarmento]

I think I'm feeling a little jealousy here boys.......Rich

 

[taabru45]

Naah Rich just a few good ol' boys here.....just make sure you look both ways before crossing the street. :roll: Steffan

 

[Walter Broes]

beautiful guitar!

 

[krysh]

welcome to ltg rich,
and a beautiful guitar. take good care of it.

 

[JazzWest]

Very nice JS Award, those are a gem. I wonder if Hans has this one recorded in original Guild logs?

Now...if it were mine, that Bigsby and aluminum bridge would be gone in a NY minute, the sight of those on a JS Award.... :evil: But guess when you pull off the Bigsby you can see if it they were added later by evidence of extra holes. In any case, you may want to consider putting it back to "proper" order with a Guild Harp tailpiece and ebony archtop bridge if they're not original.

 

[rsarmento]

Hello Gents,I took the Bigsby off and underneath there are filled in holes where I'm assuming the Harp Tailpiece was.However there is a larger hole that was'nt filled in about a quarter inch in diameter.I'm not to familiar with this but I'm assuming that the guitar strapholder is screwed thru the tailpiece????[Hans???]I'm sure after looking at pictures of my uncle playing this guitar in 1968 that the changes to the guitar were made in the early sixties or earlier since the Bigsby is of that era.There is no logical reason to change these parts,pick-up, Bigsby,bridge.Is it possible that the guitar was made of "mongral parts"since Johnny Smith did'nt accept the guitar as it was designed anyway?Just some food for thought.I knew my uncle and I just can't see him doing this......In 1967 he custom ordered an Epiphone Emperor....It's designed just like the JS.It has a single pick-up with a trapezoid tailpiece.It even has the volume control thru the pickguard........Yes,I do own this also....It's not listed in the price list [Vintage Guitar Magazine]Only the semi-archtops Emperors are.Sorry,I did'nt mean to get off of Guild but I'm trying to make sense of this........................let her rip.............Rich
Hans,I will take those measurements for you in the near future
By the way the Bigsby has a number 1 stamped on the back of it.I don't know if this means anything

 

[Zol]

Very cool rsarmento! I wish I had some relatives that had played guitar. My grandmother played piano - that was it!

Happy pickin' - Z