
( Brand: Guild ), ( Manufacturer Part Number: A-500 ), ( Model: A-500 STUART ), ( Handedness: Right-handed ), ( Type: Acoustic-electric Guitar ), ( Body Material: Maple, Spruce ), ( Body Type: Archtop ), ( Body Color: Sunburst ), ( String Configuration: 6 String )
The Guild A-500 1956 Re Issue Acoustic-Electric Archtop Guitar is a stunning representation of a classic, vintage instrument with modern updates and improved components. This guitar combines the vintage aesthetic of the 1950s with the versatility and reliability of modern technology, delivering an exceptional playing experience for musicians seeking a unique and high-quality instrument.
Design and Construction:The body of the A-500 1956 Re Issue is crafted from carefully selected, solid woods. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are crafted from highly figured and beautifully grained maple. The neck is made of mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard and a 12-inch radius. This combination results in a warm, rich, and resonant tone that is characteristic of high-end archtop guitars.
Electronics and Hardware:The Guild A-500 1956 Re Issue comes with a pair of Lollar Gold Foil humbucker pickups, which provide a crisp, clear, and dynamic sound. These pickups offer a wide range of tonal variations, allowing players to achieve a wide range of sounds from warm jazz tones to powerful rock and roll. The guitar also features a discrete preamp system with a volume control and a 3-band EQ. This system allows for fine-tuning of the bass, mid, and treble frequencies to create the perfect sound for any playing style or venue.
Additional Features:The A-500 1956 Re Issue also comes with several other notable features. These include a hand-rubbed nitrocellulose lacquer finish, which enhances the natural beauty of the wood while allowing the instrument to breathe and resonate. The guitar also features a compensated adjustable bridge and a Tune-o-matic style tailpiece, which ensures optimal string action and intonation.
Conclusion:The Guild A-500 1956 Re Issue Acoustic-Electric Archtop Guitar is a truly exceptional instrument that combines the classic design and timeless appeal of a vintage archtop with the modern features and reliability of a high-end guitar. With its beautiful craftsmanship, versatile electronics, and superior component selection, this guitar is a must-have for any serious musician looking to add a unique and exceptional instrument to their collection.
Guild A-500 1956 Reissue is an elegant and captivating archtop guitar crafted by Guild, featuring Lollar Gold Foil floating pickups. This instrument has been receiving considerable attention in the music community due to its vintage appeal and modern enhancements. For those considering purchasing this guitar, this analysis aims to provide you with a comprehensive pros and cons list to help inform your decision-
Pros:1. Authentic vintage tone: The Lollar Gold Foil floating pickups provide an authentic tone reminiscent of the 1950s. These pickups are renowned for their ability to deliver crisp high-ends, clear mid-ranges, and rich bass frequencies, ensuring a balanced tone.
2. Versatile and responsive: These pickups offer a wide tonal range, making the guitar suitable for various musical genres, from jazz and blues to rock and country. Their unique sensitivity enables players to achieve subtle tonal nuances and articulate fingerstyle playing.
3. Comfortable playability: The A-500 comes with a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that is suitable for most hand sizes, making the guitar easy and enjoyable to play for hours.
4. High-quality construction: The guitar's construction, including its solid mahogany body, arched spruce top, and adjustable truss rod, ensures excellent durability, resonance, and stability. The guitar is a well-crafted instrument that can endure the rigors of regular playing and travel.
5. Aesthetic appeal: The guitar's vintage design, including the tortoiseshell pickguard and sunburst finish, adds to its visual charm, making it a desirable instrument not only for its sound but also for its looks.
Cons:1. Cost: The Guild A-500 1956 Reissue is a premium instrument, and its price reflects the high-quality materials and advanced features. This may make it less accessible for those on a tight budget.
2. Heavy: The solid mahogany body gives the guitar a rich and resonant tone but also makes it heavier than some other archtop guitars, which can be challenging for some players, especially for those who are accustomed to lighter instruments.
3. Limited bass response: Although the Lollar Gold Foil pickups offer an excellent tonal range, they may not deliver the same level of bass response as some other pickups. For players who prioritize a powerful, thumping bass response, other guitars might be a better fit.
4. High action: Some users have reported that the guitar comes with a relatively high action, which may require additional setup work or adjustments. Therefore, it might be worth considering having the guitar set up to your preference by a professional luthier or guitar tech.
Conclusion:The Guild A-500 1956 Reissue is a premium archtop guitar that offers an authentic vintage tone, versatility, and impressive playability. With the Lollar Gold Foil floating pickups, this instrument delivers a versatile, responsive, and well-balanced sound that appeals to a wide range of musical genres and playing styles. Its high-quality construction and elegant vintage design are additional selling points for those seeking a visually appealing and durable instrument.
However, the Guild A-500 1956 Reissue comes with a few cons, including its high cost, weight, limited bass response, and potential need for setup adjustments. Ultimately, the decision to purchase this guitar depends on your priorities, budget, and playing style. If you are looking for a versatile, premium archtop guitar with an authentic vintage tone and a well-crafted design, the Guild A-500 1956 Reissue is an excellent choice. However, if budget or weight are significant concerns, or if bass response is a priority, you may wish to consider other options.
Ships free in the USA and for very reasonable rates worldwide. The added Lollar Goldfoil pickup is mounted to the replacement pick guard. This allows for superb play ability and all notes ringing out clearly. A Guild A-500 doesn't come up very often, much less a first year example.
Acoustically it achieves the tone of some best Epiphany archtop 1940s I've played and floating Lollar Goldfoil pickup is a great match, equally adept at jazz rockabilly tones. The finish is in very good condition overall, but does show some light wear and chipping along the neck heel joint as shown. This one is a great example of the workmanship that was possible from guitar company only 4 years old at time since they were able to bring in experienced archtop Luther's who former Epiphany employees. The volume and tone controls are mounted to the underside of pick guard for easy use.
At the time of its introduction, A-500 was top line archtop from Guild, as demonstrated by choice finest available wood, multi-ply binding, engraved gold-plated tailpiece, and mother pearl/abalone split block inlays reminiscent those Epiphany Emperor. This acoustic tone also gives the player excellent responsiveness when plugged in. The original gold-plated tailpiece is handsomely engraved and shows loss of much the plating. The tuners have been replaced with gold Grover Imperials.
The acoustic tone has the classic Epiphany punch/cut if needed and also sounds great as a solo instrument. I'm sure it can do even more. The model was largely used as the basis for Johnny Smith Award later Artist Award that took spot new top. The guitar comes with a top end TKL archtop case that is fairly new and excellent condition.
At that time holes from the original tuner mounting screws were filled, as can be seen in photo of back head stock. This is all wired to an end pin jack, shown in pics.