Guild 1968 catalog, page 10. Details of three Guild carved top (electric) acoustics, the very fine Guild Artist Award (with floating pickup), and the fully-acoustic Stuart A-500 and Stratford A-350. Both of these acoustics were available fitted with the Artist Award pickup at an additional $50/$55 (chrome/gold plated respectively).
The Artist award was the second most expensive guitar in the 1968 Guild line (after the Acousti-Lectric shown on page 9). It is described as follows:
Acoustic versatility in a class all its own! Besides its exquisite styling, the major feature of this unique guitar is its Guild-developed single control pick-up assembly. This gives the instrument complete electric as well as acoustic versatility—as preferred by many jazz guitarists. Has a hand carved, solid select spruce top and a hand carved beautifully flamed curly maple back. Size of the cut-away body is 17" wide by 21" long by 3 1/8" deep. It is luxuriously bound at the top and back with 8-ply ivoroid. Fast-action neck is 5-piece hard maple and walnut, with adjustable steel neck rod. Imported ebony fingerboard is inlaid with 8 two-tone deluxe mother-of-pearl position markers. Headplate is elegantly inlaid with mother-of-pearl and Mexican abalone, in the form of a distinctive Artist Award Model plaque. Both headplate and finger-board are bound with black and white .ivoroid. Has hand engraved gold-plated tailpiece, luxurious gold-plated non-slip pegs, and finest Guild Strings.
June 1968 US prices for these guitars were as follows: Guild Artist Award $800 (Sunburst), $835 (Blonde); Stuart A-500 $675 (Sunburst), $695 (Blonde); Stratford A-350 $495 (Sunburst), $520 (Blonde).
$7490
$8000