MorrisrownSal Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I have bought a new guitar or two online from them in the past. I get their inventory emails. I inquired about a specific 50's guitar they recently added to their inventory, thinking about dipping my toes into an old Gibson, like Dan did. I emailed the guy I dealt with in the past, and he just responded. He told me that he thinks the guitar I am inquiring about is not the best way for me to dip my toes in vintage, and that it doesn't have the sound he wants to see in that model. He gave me some reasons why, and I am so impressed. I was floored. What a great dude. Gruhn's is trusted for a reason. I only wish I lived closer to their shop. I cant wait to visit Nashville, shake this gentleman's hand, and eventually buy a guitar that will rock my soul. I just wanted to share... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 You don't find that too often do ya? Faith in humanity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 It is very inspiring to have dound "a guy" that will look out for your best interests, and has an idea of what blows your hair back. My "guy" is Mollie at Willies Guitars in St Paul MN. I cannot tell you how many times she has been of value in giving me a "head-up" on something she knows fits me, and discouraging me from stuff she knows I would probably not be happy with long-term. Thes types of salespeople are exactly the "relationship" oriented folks that a guitar geek needs, and values. Good on ya Sal - I want to travel to Nashville and meet "that guy". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 That is nice to hear. You have to start somewhere for a "vintage". My first "vintage" guitar was a 1962 Martin D 28 I bought brand new, and still play it daily. I've heard of others with the same experience with Gruhn's. Great folks. Don't be afraid to take that first step, as long as you realize there'll be no turning back. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8_4thesh0w Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In the mid nineties I studied classical guitar. I had to go shopping as all I had were steel strings. I hit most every place in town and Gruhn was among the first, and found a Gibson C-? model that played pretty well. I needed to know if that was the one so I hit a couple more places and tried several but nothing that played any better than the one at Gruhn. When I returned I was horrified to see it wasn't back on the wall! I feared the worst - that it had been sold. There was a small crowd there and as I asked a couple of employees about the guitar I got nowhere. I soon found the reason for the crowd was because Ricky Scaggs was there. Evidently George had sensed my worry and came over to allay my fears and tell me that all was well; the guitar was in the back being looked over. To say I was relieved would be an understatement. Even more than that, I was extremely impressed that George would take time out to assure me, a nobody, that he still had my $400 guitar, with such an important customer on the floor. He's a class act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Did the same with me a few years back. I was looking at one of his "As Is" instruments. I had been looking for one of these guitars for years so was very interested in it. Did not sound too terribly bad on the website but when I talked with him about it he pretty much recommended I avoid this particular instrument unless I could do all of the work that was needed myself. George Gruhn is a truly knowledgeable and interesting guy. They say he is a hard to deal with though when trying to sell him a guitar as he will pick the thing apart. But what you have posted is incredibly refreshing and great to read. I cannot tell you how many times I have read in forums that somebody bought a guitar that some sales guy at some store swore up and down was the best sounding example of that model they have ever gotten in the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 What heartening tales. I live in he UK so there is literally no chance that I will ever see Gruhns in person. However I have read a good bit about George and I've seen videos of him being interviewed and showing folk around is collection and hearing him speak so knowledgeably . I always had the impression that he looked and sounded like a very decent human being - and he apparently is. Wonderful stuff!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 OTOH, maybe it's an amazing guitar and he doesn't want them to sell it before he's saved up enough to buy it himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I have bought a new guitar or two online from them in the past. I get their inventory emails. I inquired about a specific 50's guitar they recently added to their inventory, thinking about dipping my toes into an old Gibson, like Dan did. I emailed the guy I dealt with in the past, and he just responded. He told me that he thinks the guitar I am inquiring about is not the best way for me to dip my toes in vintage, and that it doesn't have the sound he wants to see in that model. He gave me some reasons why, and I am so impressed. I was floored. What a great dude. Gruhn's is trusted for a reason. I only wish I lived closer to their shop. I cant wait to visit Nashville, shake this gentleman's hand, and eventually buy a guitar that will rock my soul. I just wanted to share... Aha! But which 50s guitar, Sal? You neglected to mention.....LG2/3? J45? Cynical says maybe Keef wants it - my experience with local guitar shops says they would rather set fire to their naughty bits than miss a sale! But Gruhns do have a reputation of honest appraisal for email questions - I asked about a National a few years back and the reply was against. It was needing lots of work and I thought my local guy could bring it up but they advised against. Then I bought an old ripper locally.... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I visited that shop over the weekend. Really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I am hoping to get there in early December and have a look myself. Good folks to deal with from past experience. On a slightly different subject, I was in Randy Woods Music Store and Pickin' Parlor last week. He had some nice guitars but nothing in the Gibson row that I could get excited about. A good thing because my pocket wasn't quite ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Aha! But which 50s guitar, Sal? You neglected to mention.....LG2/3? J45? Cynical says maybe Keef wants it - my experience with local guitar shops says they would rather set fire to their naughty bits than miss a sale! But Gruhns do have a reputation of honest appraisal for email questions - I asked about a National a few years back and the reply was against. It was needing lots of work and I thought my local guy could bring it up but they advised against. Then I bought an old ripper locally.... BluesKing777. Well, I dont want to name the guitar, as I dont want to risk getting in between Gruhn and other customers. If someone here is specifically looking at a model they are wanting to buy there, and want to make sure this model is not it, then please PM me. Cheers everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullmental Alpinist Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I visited that shop over the weekend. Really nice. Well.... Whatdja bring home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Well.... Whatdja bring home? A happy wife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 A happy wife That's rarer than a ngd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 A happy wife So no guitar? BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I was there yesterday. Twice in a week is quite the challenge...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I know and knew a few guys like that- I mean knew me, and were honest with me. And I honestly say, that's also how we should all do business in our daily lives. I really, really want to say we should not be "floored" when it happens, but rather, we should expect that from one another. But it isn't that way, is it? But, back to this. The REAL problem with a guy like that, is when he recommends something to you. And he takes checks. Life is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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