Artisan info needed

[scot pearson]

Hello, I am looking for info about the Artisan model. I found one the other day that caught my eye. Anyone who has played them or know about them I ask for your valued opinion of how they stack up in the playablity, sound quality, history of model types/variations produced, etc. oh, yeah and the $ value too...

[Ken Jones]

Artisans were made in Japan by a company called "Chushin" (this is a phonetical spelling) c.1985. Only 100-125 were ever made.

Most have flamed sycamore tops. All have mahogany bodies and necks. The fretboards are rosewood. The non-flame tops were black with gold hardware (I've only ever seen one of these - I have it). The sound and playability is excellent. The neck has 24 frets.

If you don't like SG's, you probably won't like an Artisan. I find them uncomfortable to play standing up (with a strap) because the strap button is on the back of the guitar. A lot of Artisans will have had the strap button relocated to the upper cutaway. In my opinion, this makes the guitar "hang" from a strap a lot better, but then again, it's a non-original hole in a fairly rare guitar.

I've seen them fetch anywhere from $400-$1000. Any I've seen priced over $1000 sits for A LONG time, and usually gets traded instead of being bought with cash.