Welcome to Gruhn Guitars THE source for the vintage instrument world. "George Gruhn knows more about guitars than anyone on earth," says Tom Wheeler, former editor of Guitar Player magazine. That knowledge has made Gruhn Guitars the world's most famous vintage instrument store and has brought George Gruhn worldwide recognition as an author of definitive books on vintage guitars, an innovative instrument and string designer, and a primary source for insight into the guitar market -- past, present and future.

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Newsletter from George Gruhn: Golden Era instruments... will there be any more?

Spring/summer guitar care. Spring is here in Nashville and summer will not be far behind, bringing a dramatic change in conditions for your guitars. The humidifiers that have been compensating for the dry winter air can be put away, and dehumidifiers should be running to compensate for our hot, humid weather.... (more on seasonal care of your instruments)

January 2, 1970, thirty-eight years ago, Gruhn Guitars started life as GTR, Inc at 111 Fourth Avenue North. The original name was an abbreviation for "guitar" as well as the first-name initials of George Gruhn, Tut Taylor and Randy Wood. Tut and I were partners for the first nine months, after which he left to pursue business on his own and Randy was our repairman who stayed with me for almost three years. When we opened... (more of the Gruhn Guitars Story)

We strive to ensure your satisfaction with these Gruhn Guarantees:

• Expert inspection and repair - including setup. Our staff of eight repairmen sees that all instruments are properly restored and set up in optimum playing order. (For safe shipping, strings are loosened, moveable bridges on guitars and mandolins may be removed, and banjo necks may be separated from bodies.)

• Accurate descriptions. All instruments are personally described by George Gruhn. We take pride in providing accurate representations of age, condition and originality. No brief written description can do full justice to an instrument. Our knowledgeable sales staff is prepared to offer detailed in-hand descriptions and answer questions on the phone or via email.

• Certification. With our written appraisal - free upon request with every instrument that we sell - we authenticate and value your instrument.
  

Check these out...

Hartford banjos and fiddles As a banjo player, John Hartford had his own indidualistic style, and as a fiddler he revived interest in old-time music. We have a pair of banjos and four fiddles that Hartford owned and used.

Fancy Gibsons Despite the waning interest in banjos and the onset of the Depression, Gibson continued to make some of the fanciest banjos of the late 1920s and early '30s, including a 1928 Style TB-6 gold sparkle (flathead), a 1931 6-string Bella Voce guitar banjo, and a 1931 Florentine plectrum flathead (SOLD).

aka Holy Grail(s) Some call it the Holy Grail of flat-top guitars. Some just call it a Martin D-45, and we have several, including a 1940 D-45 (left) and a 1942 D-45, two of only 91 D-45s from the original 1933-42 production period.

Garcia Lederman Byrd Garland Few guitars have as many ties to great guitarists as Jerry Garcia's 1966 Gibson Byrdland. The Byrdland itself was named after Nashville greats Billy Byrd and Hank Garland, and Garcia passed this guitar along to his longtime friend and noted guitarist Perry Lederman. The signature at left is from a notarized letter from Garcia.

Acuff's favorite Roy Acuff's favorite fiddle was not one of those he balanced on his chin, rather it was this English violin from circa 1810 (shown here played by Charlie Collins). It was the most expensive instrument Acuff ever bought, and it was played by fiddlers in his Smoky Mountain Boys from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. It is now offered at $25,000.

Stewart Presentation In the golden age of the "classic" five-string, S.S. Stewart of Philadelphia was the leading banjo maker, and this exceptionally fine S.S. Stewart Custom Presentation from circa 1890 makes as memorable an impression today as it did over a century ago.

Bob Welch's Synth Guitar Pop star ("Sentimental Lady," "Ebony Eyes") and former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch experimented with synthesizer sounds in the 1980s, with this Les Paul Studio, factory customized with Roland synth controller. This cool memorabilia package includes the Roland GR-700 unit and a Welch CD featuring this outfit, and it has just been reduced.

Homer's D'A Homer Haynes of the comedy duo Homer & Jethro always played a fine archtop guitar, and this 1959 D'Angelico cutaway was one of the finest he ever owned and played.

Gibson Custom "art instrument" #01 Gibson's Custom division is famous today for one-off "art guitars," and it all started in late 1987 with this custom Gibson F-5 by Jim Triggs and Greg Rich, serial number 01, made famous through the 1990s and early 2000s by bluegrass mandolinist Butch Baldassari.

The Cowboy/Stromberg Way Stromberg guitars were not only great for cutting through in a big band setting, they were also the perfect companion for a cowboy "Riding the Rhythm Range." For proof, look no farther than this circa 1950 Stromberg G-3, owned by Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky.

0000s, Adirondacks, 1 3/4 nuts... Those are the "hot buttons" for Vince Gill and other discerning guitarists, and those are some of the features available on Gruhn-design Custom Martins, in Styles 16, 18, 28 and a super 28, in quad-ought and dreadnought sizes, featuring a continuation of our 35th anniversary 0000-18 with Golden Era specs.

A touch of O'Connor You may never be able to touch Mark O'Connor's musicianship, but you can touch his instruments. Our offering of O'Connor instruments includes his fretless Pedulla bass and the Ampeg amp head he used with the Dixie Dregs.

And the award goes to... ... one of the most exquisite production models in Gibson's century-plus history, and perhaps the highlight of the Norlin years, the Kalamazoo Award. Our 1981 example features a rich sunburst finish and beautiful quilted maple.

That Osborne sound Sonny's banjo is as vital to the Osborne Brothers' sound as their inimitable vocals, and the new Sonny Osborne Chief five-string is a fitting tribute to this legendary bluegrass musician.