Guitarist Smurf

We often talk about the different colour and marking variations that can be found on a particular smurf. But rarely do we talk about the different names a smurf has been given in its life time….. Until now! Let’s have a look at Guitarist Smurf, article number 20023. 

Guitarist could be found playing an electric guitar, with his mouth wide open and his eyes shut while wearing his customary white trousers and hat. In the beginning it was produced with a small leg stance though overtime the leg stance became wider. It can also be found with many different colour variations, from peach coloured guitar to a dark red guitar. The chords on the guitar can also vary from yellow to brown.

Markings: W.Germany Schleich emblem © Peyo and a mustard paint dot.

When Guitarist smurf was first released by Schleich it was referred to as Beat Schlumpf. It was referred to as Beat Schlumpf from 1977 to 1994 in the Schleich catalogues. Even in Der Schlumpf Katalog IV which was published in 20013 they still referred to it as Beat Schlumpf.

In 1978 when National Benzole started selling smurfs in the UK, they gave it the name Rocker.  They sold a couple different colour versions, light pinkish orange guitar with yellow chords and a red electric guitar with brown chords.

When Wallace Berrie started selling Guitarist in 1979 they referred to it as Bass Guitar. This may have something to do with Lute smurf being referred to as Guitar. By 1982 Lute was no longer being sold in the USA and Guitarist is now referred to as Guitar in the collector’s booklets but in the Dealer catalogues they still referred to it as Bass Guitar. This appears to be the case right through to 1985 when they stopped selling smurfs in the USA.

Markings: Made in Hong Kong Schleich S © 1977 Peyo

BP Australia also sold Guitarist and used the name Bass Guitar on their posters. Like the ones sold in the USA these were made out of Hong Kong with a red electric guitar with yellow chords.

In France, MAFI who was the main distributor smurfs in 1984 used the name Rock n Roll for Guitarist.

In Brazil when Hering were making smurfs sometime between 1984 to 1986 they referred to as Guitarrista. These look very similar to the ones produced for Wallace Berrie in the USA. 

In Spain during the 1980s they referred to as Guitarra. It is unclear whether these were licensed or not.

In 1996 McDonalds was celebrating it’s 25th anniversary in Germany and The Netherlands. Guitarist was included in Series 1. These smurfs had the ‘M’ and the golden arches embossed onto back of their head. 

In 2013 when Gian & Davi Collezioni published The Smurfs Official Collector’s Guide they referred to as Guitarist. On the Toydreamer website it has been given the name of Rock n Roll. 

So I guess it really doesn’t matter what you call your smurfs, as long as you know that’s all that matters. Rock on!!!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B