Product Description

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Artist AP81 15th Anniversary Spalted Maple Electric Guitar

We're turning 15! We've certainly come a long way from our humble beginnings producing a small range of electric guitars all those years ago! To celebrate, we're bringing you a range of pro-spec instruments at prices that defy belief - just as we've been doing for the last 15 years...

The flagship guitar of our Anniversary Range, the AP81 is a refreshingly modern take on a guitar design that has endured nearly as long as the electric guitar itself has been in existence. With a one-piece mahogany body topped with a stunningly figured spalted maple top, rosewood trussrod cover, and a headstock to match, the AP81 is in a class entirely its own - a completely boutique, high-grade design with the appointments to match! Featuring the small batch Laohao pickups ubiquitous to the 15th Anniversary range, the AP81 produces a clear, bell-like high-end and throaty mid-range with plenty of bite, and compresses beautifully to produce rich harmonic distortion tones when pushed. Voiced somewhere between a vintage PAF and the more modern JB humbucker, these custom, hand-wound pickups perfectly straddle the best of both worlds - unmatched note articulation with plenty of output for those looking to drive the front end a little harder.

The neck is a one-piece mahogany construction, with a stunning rosewood fretboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The modern C-shape is innately familiar to players of all musical backgrounds, while the 14" fretboard radius makes bends and setups a complete breeze. High-grade, 19:1 ratio locking tuners and a 42mm bone nut ensure your tuning remains incredibly stable, while the included strap locks ensure you can headbang to your heart's content, safe in the knowledge that the limited edition Spalted Maple top remains unsullied by the rigours of the road! 

Like the rest of our range, the 15th Anniversary Artist AP81 has been painstakingly designed to perfectly balance professional quality with our famous affordability - the same ethos we've lived by since our first guitar rolled off the line all those years ago.

Whether you've been with us since the beginning, or you've come in late, we can't thank you enough for supporting us in delivering quality instruments at an affordable price. Here's to another 15 years, and many more!


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Reviews (2)

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Classy

By: on 3 March 2026
Bought one of these on clearance, paid silly money and it just oozes quality straight outta the box. It has the sounds you look for in an LP type guitar, I love the finish, and the carve where the neck heel would be on other versions. Super slick build, nice touches with the knobs etc. Fret ends are all smooth and tidy. Exactly what we have come to expect from Artist. No issues at all from the get go, I haven't even bothered to change the strings this time! If you missed this special run make sure you are first in line when they do the next ones. Here's to the 20th anniversary special.

Artist Guitars Response
Thanks for your review! We are always here if you have any questions.

Top guitar

By: on 3 April 2025
Hi, I bought this on the assumption that, like the others I have, it is worth twice the price, and it doesn't disappoint. Looks fantastic and sounds brilliant, easy to play neck and fittings to match. Out of the box it needed to be set up as neck had bowed in transit, but this was easy to do. Thanks Artist!

Artist Guitars Response
We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review. Thank you for the positive rating!

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