A visit to George’s

[Doctor Jeff]

George Gruhn’s that is. When in Nashville…

It’s in a kind of non-descript area with annoying traffic. Oh well. At least the parking was free.





The main showroom



There are some very nice guitars here, ranging from $500 to several thousand. The usual full menu of Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Taylor, Martin, etc. Very helpful staff who weren’t pushy in the least.

But I knew there were more guitars there. I asked if there was a 2nd floor showroom. “Oh, that’s the exclusive showroom. Let me see if George is free to show you around.” My heart skipped a few beats.

Here’s the good stuff…Gibson’s, Stroms, D’Angelico’s, etc. George was upstairs showing a guy some mandolins and playing some pretty mean licks himself. After the guy left, he came over to me.



Here is a ‘59 335 being sold by Dan Auerbach. Priced to move at only $115K.



George asked me what kind of music I played. I said, mainly jazz, a lot of fingerstyle. So he said let me bring you a few. The first 2 are boutique offerings—the first from a master woodworker with beautiful inlays. All hand-carved.





This is a new Gruhn Guitars offering—manufactured in his factory. He said it was flat top but had parallel bracing like an archtop. It has, I think, a piezo pickup. It was quite comfortable to play and sounded kind of like a Taylor in intonation. It is not on sale yet—the guitar he gave me to try was literally number 8. Supposed to be priced ~$2400.



Anyway, I did buy something there…a T-shirt. All-in-all one of the nicer guitar shop experiences I’ve had in awhile.

Oh, where’s George’s picture? He was so nice and gracious, that I didn’t have the gumption to ask for a selfie or take a pic without asking him. A real mensch, and the shop is a reminder of all that is good in the world.

[Doctor Jeff]

George’s office was fairly large and a testament that geniuses have messy offices. There were about 8 pythons in there in large glass aquariums. And there was a shop cat—had to weigh 25#. Very friendly. He insisted I pet him.

[ThatRhythmMan]

That Glen deGruy archtop you show in one of the pics has been there for years. Nonetheless, it’s a quite nice guitar with a really nice tone.

The flattop is essentially a reintroduction of the Tacoma guitars. George had a big part in those and he really believes in the design. It’s nice to see he’s gotten it realized.


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[stringmann]

I have dealt with George and Gruhns since the late 70's; If you think parking was a pill at the new store, you wouldn't have cared much for the broadway store. iirc, George did at least an undergrad, if not grad work in the science of snakes/reptiles (herpatology) I had a banjo long ago branded GTR, which was George Gruhn, Tut Taylor, and Randy Wood. I traded it in there with a couple of other things and George sent it back (mid 80's maybe)...he didn't want it in the store. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and that he was charming; he is certainly an authority.

[palindrome]

George’s office was fairly large and a testament that geniuses have messy offices. There were about 8 pythons in there

in large glass aquariums.

[Oscar67]

Thanks for the report! If I’m ever around there I’ll be sure not to bring my credit card.

[Doctor Jeff]

I have dealt with George and Gruhns since the late 70's; If you think parking was a pill at the new store, you wouldn't have cared much for the broadway store. iirc, George did at least an undergrad, if not grad work in the science of snakes/reptiles (herpatology) I had a banjo long ago branded GTR, which was George Gruhn, Tut Taylor, and Randy Wood. I traded it in there with a couple of other things and George sent it back (mid 80's maybe)...he didn't want it in the store. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and that he was charming; he is certainly an authority.

Parking was fine. Traffic around the area sucked, but I imagine that's typical for intown Nashville.

Thanks for the report! If I’m ever around there I’ll be sure not to bring my credit card.

Make sure it has a $115K credit limit if you want to get a good vintage 335.

[deacon Mark]

George is a bit odd but a "good" odd I might add. He has always treated me very nice when I am in the store and he is there. I have not been to the place in many years since the old place on Broadway. George is a businessman for sure but he knows guitars and does care about them in ways that are not typical of some dealers. To me he wins in all respects for staying away from Reverb. While at times his prices are high they are nothing like the wild stuff I see from some dealers. He might price something at the top end of the scale but not ridicules as some dealers will do. I always check George's list before anyone else and make comparisons. He actually at times sells things very fairly in price.

I bought my first D'angelico from him in 1980 and another in 1988. My son got a great deal on an American Deluxe Strat manay years ago and is probably way ahead. I don't like Strats but this is a nice guitar.

The snakes I don't go for they give me the jitters and I am not cat person. But I would put up with them for a visit for sure. Frankly, if I got something from George I would rather go pick it up to purchase but sales tax in Tennesse is pretty nasty so getting is sent might be better. Glad you enjoyed your trip. George is getting up in age but his mind is working fine. Much better than many folks I know................that are his age.

[Woodstove]

Timely post for me cause I'll be in Nashville for the first time in early Nov. for 2 weeks. I'm making an album of my songs with Fred Mollin producing and to say I'm excited would not even come close! I know I'll have some down time and George's store will be on my list of places to visit.....Peter

[Doctor Jeff]

Timely post for me cause I'll be in Nashville for the first time in early Nov. for 2 weeks. I'm making an album of my songs with Fred Mollin producing and to say I'm excited would not even come close! I know I'll have some down time and George's store will be on my list of places to visit.....Peter

Be sure to ask if George can show you the guitars on the second floor!

[Steve Z]

Here’s a video with a tour of Gruhn’s guitar making shop as it is getting setup…

[DawgBone]

Didn't realize he had moved off Broadway. I can imagine that town is nothing like it was in the mid 2000's.

[RobbieAG]

I visited his store a couple times when I happened to be in Nashville back in the late 90s. I got to play an original D'Angelico which was priced at 50k at the time (along with other great guitars). I can't imagine what it would sell for now. Like you, I didn't buy any guitars but got the t-shirt

[Bluedawg]

Didn't realize he had moved off Broadway. I can imagine that town is nothing like it was in the mid 2000's.

Me neither. I was looking at these pictures and thinking they look nothing like my memory of my visit there.

It's been well over a decade since I've been there so I must have been in the old store.


I usually get to Memphis a couple of times a year and have been considering a day trip to Nashville to see the Gibson Garage ... George's new store sounds like another good reason to make that trip happen next time I'm in Tennessee.

It does sound like Nashville has had a lot of changes since the early 2000s ... mainly more people and more traffic.

[Archie]

The flattop is essentially a reintroduction of the Tacoma guitars. George had a big part in those and he really believes in the design. It’s nice to see he’s gotten it realized.


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I noted that too