GUILD JOHNNY SMITH AWARD/ARTIST AWARD (NO. 350-8300) Description
- single rounded cutaway hollow body, bound hand-carved solid spruce top, two bound f-holes, solid highly figured maple back and sides, five-piece maple neck, 20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays with abalone V wedges, multi-ply bound headstock with pearl/abalone inscribed block logo/inlay, three-per-side Imperial tuners, adj. ebony bridge, stylized trapeze tailpiece, bound tortoiseshell pickguard, floating DeArmond single coil pickup, single volume knob and jack mounted on pickguard, gold-plated hardware, available in Blonde or Sunburst finish, 17 in. body width, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. 1956-1999.
This model was originally designed in conjunction with guitarist Johnny Smith, but because of construction disparity, he never actually played the guitar. The endorsement contract between Smith and Guild lasted for five years. In 1961, the guitar was renamed the Artist Award, which is engraved on the pickup. In 1965, an adj. polepiece pickup was introduced. In 1969, a 25.5 in. scale was introduced. Between 1970 and 1972 an 18 in. body width was available by special order. In 1980, a floating humbucker pickup was introduced. In 1989, the pickguard design was changed to come to a point at the waist of the body. In 1995, when Fender took control of Guild, the finishes were officially changed to Antique Burst and Blonde.