FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

Introduced in the 1955 catalog, the A-350 Stratford is more or less an acoustic version of the X-350 Stratford. The A-350 was second only to the A-500 Stuart in the Guild acoustic archtop line until the Johnny Smith Award model topped them both in 1957. The guitar shown here is a bit of an oddball. According to Guild expert, Hans Moust, it was built in 1958, but has features from an earlier period such as rosewood fingerboard with rounded pearloid block markers and a 25.5 inch scale length. However, the guitar wasn't completed until sometime between 1961 and 1963 and has features from that period including Kolb tuners, acrylic pickguard, cast tailpiece and metal truss rod cover. In addition, the sunburst finish is typical for Guild guitars made in the early 1960s. The A-350 was last available on the January 1973 Guild price list.

 Body: Hollow; solid 2-piece spruce top, solid 2-piece figured maple back, and flame maple sides; triple  bound top and back

 Finish: Sunburst, nitrocellulose lacquer

 Neck: 3-piece maple/mahogany, set-in; bound stained maple headstock overlay with pearloid logo and G Shield inlay

 Fingerboard: Brazilian rosewood, bound; pearloid block markers

 Number of Frets: 20

 Pickguard: Acrylic

 Bridge: Rosewood on rosewood base with Guild harp tailpiece (gold)

 Nut: Plastic

 Tuners: Kolb, enclosed, gold

 Pickups: None

 Controls: None

 Scale Length: 25 1/2 inches

 Neck Width at Nut: 1 11/16 inches

 Body Width at Lower Bout: 17 inches

 Body Depth: 3 1/4 inches

 Weight: 6.3 lb