Artist Award build questions

[BradHK]

I have casually been keeping my eyes out for an Artist Award but recently I have decided to get more serious with my GAS. I lean toward vintage instruments. No real rational reason but that is my preference. Were there any changes in the build of Artist Awards across the years of production? I know the pickup changes, pickguard shape changes, etc. However, I don’t know if there is anything similar to the flat tops where they started to get a slightly heavier build around 1973 or so. I believe when Benedetto got involved he lightened up the top and such but wasn’t sure if they were built lighter originally then got heavier around a certain build date. Thanks!

 

[GGJaguar]

Hans would probably know for sure, but let me speculate.

My 1996 AA is only about 6 ounces (170 g) heavier than my '58 A-350. The difference can probably attributed to the AA's bigger headstock, heavier tailpiece and tuners, and electronics. I've seen a couple of other early 90s AAs that were a few ounces heavier than my '96 and a '97 that weighed the same. In addition, I've seen a couple of early '60s JSAs that weighed nearly 6 ounces (170 g) less than the '96 AA. So what does us all this tell us? Maybe because they were all hand carved by a few individuals (compared to being built to a spec like the flattops), the weights are all over the place. That's my guess, anyway.

On the other hand, my Benedetto JSA is lighter than my other two: 3 ounces (85 g) lighter than the A-350 and 8 ounces (227 g) lighter than the AA. It's nearly a full pound (454 g) less than the early 60s JSAs. And it's X-braced so it has a different voice than the parallel braced AAs and early JSAs.

 

[chazmo]

One other thing, Brad, is that I think the Benedetto Artist Awards are quite a bit more valuable than earlier ones. Everyone who has one for sale knows the connection as his signature and COA are so well known.

 

[BradHK]

Thanks for the replies and additional insights

 

[Archie]

I know the Johny Smith Award is a different body shape to AA's. It seems at some point the old Hoboken Guild shape (tight wasist etc..) changed to the A series shape. I'd be interested to know more about this too.

I also don't think the Benny ones are the same shape as the standard AA. They have a very different carving and the horn section is much tighter and pronounced.

I know that in 69 they changed the scale length from 24'3/4's to 25'5.

 

[banjomike]

While I've never weighed my AA, it feels very close in weight to a modern Gibson L-5, which is a very similar guitar in general.

Except for the tone. They both have 'parallel' braced tops, but while the Gibson's tone bars are basically parallel, the bass bar on the Guild is more like half-X than parallel. The tone of the AA is warmer and woodier sounding than an L-5, but not as much as an X-braced Gibson like the L-7.

The GAS thing was real for me; I only played one AA before I bought mine, and it had been 50 years ago when I played that guitar. After that, I had lots of opportunities to buy L-5s, but I never wanted one as much as an AA.

Things like body proportion, finish color, age, and most stuff don't mean much to me compared to 2 things: tone and feel. When a guitar has both in abundance, it will be memorable to me.

I always thought the AA was the right combination for me as an all-round working guitar, but I never saw another one until I had retired from playing professionally. I still like it a lot as my main couch guitar these days. And I'm still glad I had an opportunity to buy one at last!