Artist Guitar?

What is an artist guitar? Here... these are artist guitars: GVCG Tele, Zemaitis (any 'Z'), Roger Sadowsky re-built 1980's '57 reissue Strat., modified '74 Tele (like the one I had of Rich Robinson's... it had a Custom body with humbucker & tele singelcoil, and a Deluxe neck, modified to a four bolt configuration... it also had a Rolling Stones 70's tour sticker stuck on the case and falling off)... or maybe a brand new Andy Summers Tele, built by Dennis at the custom shop...if you are Andy..ok, got it? Now... what are NOT artist guitars? (I am not going to say what you think)... NOT artist guitars....'57 Tele 'Collector Grade'...why?... consider no shielding for modern electrical interference, and risk of theft, and that volume pot from '57 suddenly going nuts in front of an audience having a great time. NOW... modify that tele... do what EVH did on the inside of his Frankenstrat... line the electrical cavities with metal paint, for sheilding... replace all the old pots, and 3-way switches...maybe new pickups custom built... unless you are playing a Les Paul in Gun's and Roses... then maybe you have an original humbucker or two (in your Les Paul), which you have thoroughly checked out with your tech. What if you are a session player? How many call-backs does a guy get, when his old guitar keeps having problems? (My friend the session player swears by his Nash Tele, with white binding and rosewood fretboard). What it comes down to is... would you take your 1927 Model 'T' on a trip to see relatives 3 states away...in the rain?