Chris Capitanio from Maple Street Guitars in Atlanta demonstrates a 1983 Gibson Johnny Smith Master Model and a 1988 Guild Artist Award Johnny Smith model.
Very well done comparison. I bought a Guild Artist Award a few months ago, and both guitars are so rare I thought I would never have the opportunity to hear them compared acoustically, as you did. Their acoustic sound is supposed to be both guitar's best quality, so I really like your video a lot!
@@maplestreetguitars I never thought I would hear a side-by side comparison, for sure. Both those guitars are super-rare and were always super-expensive. They were never intended to be electric guitars like a Fender or a Les Paul; they were the forerunners of today's best acoustic flat tops, where a pickup is there if amplification is needed, but not for everyday playing. Archtops are actually as versatile, but they've gotten a reputation that they're only good for jazz. That's false. The way you demo'ed them shows that versatility. They have a different tone than flat tops , and that is all the real difference.
@@maplestreetguitars Thanks very much for the kind comments. My Guild Artist Award is really special to me; it's one of very few guitars I've wanted ever since I first played one. That desire was very old, going all the way back to 1969. I went into a small local mom & pop music store that sold Guild guitars to buy some new strings for my Martin D-28; I used nothing on it but Guild strings, on it back then, and I spotted an Artist Award hanging on the wall. I played that guitar several times before it was sold, Back then, it cost $1,000, far out of my price range, but I realized that it was the only guitar I would ever need as a full-time professional. It covered all the bases the Martin didn't., but between them, each could do what the other couldn't. And then, I never saw another Artist Award for the following 50 years! When a very good friend who owns a very good guitar store called me last September to chew the fat, he mentioned he'd just gotten in a bunch of really good guitars to sell for the original owner's estate. The he asked me if I knew something about an Artist Award, I asked him to hang onto it for me. He lives in another state, but comes here once in a while, and about 2 weeks later, brought it with him. I've owned many truly fine guitars, and I learned a long time ago that some of my former dream guitars weren't actually so dreamy once I owned them, but this dream guitar was a real exception. I'm not impressed so easily these days by any guitar, but this one still knocks me out every time I pick it up.
I like the Gibson better on the final song u played. The resonance was warmer and stronger on the gibson. I wish you had played some jazz chord solos as that's one of the main things these guitars are built for....
The Johnny Smith archtop doesn't sound like other Gibson archtops !!! The main differences in the Johnny Smith guitar is 2 things ,, number one it has X bracing instead of ladder bracing,giving it a more flatopish sound ! number 2 the heal block extends up and supports the end of the finger board instead of using the problematic extension !
The Gibson without flat wound strings sounds weak... in fact] quite a bit of the tone is missing? Both sound like something is missing, midrange , sustaine , strings should be what the manufacture recommended and equipped accordingly... it's very interesting and Johnny was quite an individual...note, Johnny Smith wasn't happy after seeing and playing the final project from Guild, specifications had been altered from Johnny Smiths original layouts without his approval...? many years later recounted it as a decent instrument, and Guild reintroduced it as thr Guild Artist. Gibson after some time started lacking in the quality it was known for and endorsements ended, Gibson would reintroduce the Johnny Smith model as the Gibson 'Legend'/ Legrand, archtop, another note the Smith model in it's heyday was hand made at Gibson and one of the most expensive guitars available on the planet in it's time.... similar of his famed hand-made DAngelico Custom.... as story has it.... ✨ JD. The Pat Mathney sounds good 👍
The Gibson JSmith is one of the prettiest guitars ever made.
It sounds incredible, too!
Well done! Beautiful sound and pretty looking!
Very well done comparison. I bought a Guild Artist Award a few months ago, and both guitars are so rare I thought I would never have the opportunity to hear them compared acoustically, as you did. Their acoustic sound is supposed to be both guitar's best quality, so I really like your video a lot!
Wow! It almost seems like I made this video specifically for you! So happy to hear that this was helpful for you!
@@maplestreetguitars I never thought I would hear a side-by side comparison, for sure. Both those guitars are super-rare and were always super-expensive. They were never intended to be electric guitars like a Fender or a Les Paul; they were the forerunners of today's best acoustic flat tops, where a pickup is there if amplification is needed, but not for everyday playing.
Archtops are actually as versatile, but they've gotten a reputation that they're only good for jazz. That's false. The way you demo'ed them shows that versatility. They have a different tone than flat tops , and that is all the real difference.
@@michaelstanger6907 Couldn't have said it better myself!
@@maplestreetguitars Thanks very much for the kind comments.
My Guild Artist Award is really special to me; it's one of very few guitars I've wanted ever since I first played one. That desire was very old, going all the way back to 1969. I went into a small local mom & pop music store that sold Guild guitars to buy some new strings for my Martin D-28; I used nothing on it but Guild strings, on it back then, and I spotted an Artist Award hanging on the wall.
I played that guitar several times before it was sold, Back then, it cost $1,000, far out of my price range, but I realized that it was the only guitar I would ever need as a full-time professional. It covered all the bases the Martin didn't., but between them, each could do what the other couldn't.
And then, I never saw another Artist Award for the following 50 years!
When a very good friend who owns a very good guitar store called me last September to chew the fat, he mentioned he'd just gotten in a bunch of really good guitars to sell for the original owner's estate.
The he asked me if I knew something about an Artist Award, I asked him to hang onto it for me. He lives in another state, but comes here once in a while, and about 2 weeks later, brought it with him.
I've owned many truly fine guitars, and I learned a long time ago that some of my former dream guitars weren't actually so dreamy once I owned them, but this dream guitar was a real exception. I'm not impressed so easily these days by any guitar, but this one still knocks me out every time I pick it up.
the GIBSON KALAMAZOO JOHNNY SMITH guitar rules THE WORLD. It is the best...!!!!!!!!
Agrees.They have a unique sound.
I love the Guild if I had to choose.
I like the Gibson better on the final song u played. The resonance was warmer and stronger on the gibson. I wish you had played some jazz chord solos as that's one of the main things these guitars are built for....
Nathan, I'm far from a competent jazz player, otherwise I would have! Hahaha
The Johnny Smith archtop doesn't sound like other Gibson archtops !!! The main differences in the Johnny Smith guitar is 2 things ,, number one it has X bracing instead of ladder bracing,giving it a more flatopish sound !
number 2 the heal block extends up and supports the end of the finger board instead of using the problematic extension !
The Gibson without flat wound strings sounds weak... in fact] quite a bit of the tone is missing? Both sound like something is missing, midrange , sustaine , strings should be what the manufacture recommended and equipped accordingly... it's very interesting and Johnny was quite an individual...note, Johnny Smith wasn't happy after seeing and playing the final project from Guild, specifications had been altered from Johnny Smiths original layouts without his approval...? many years later recounted it as a decent instrument, and Guild reintroduced it as thr Guild Artist. Gibson after some time started lacking in the quality it was known for and endorsements ended, Gibson would reintroduce the Johnny Smith model as the Gibson 'Legend'/ Legrand, archtop, another note the Smith model in it's heyday was hand made at Gibson and one of the most expensive guitars available on the planet in it's time.... similar of his famed hand-made DAngelico Custom.... as story has it.... ✨ JD. The Pat Mathney sounds good 👍
Didn’t know Conor McGregor plays guitar