Gruhn guitars (store)

[JAK]

I'd appreciate any feedback from folks who have had dealings with Gruhn Guitars. Like, a good place to deal with? Knowledgeable? "Straight Shooters?" Thanks.

[mandolooter]

Its a well respected establishment and the owner is a member here I believe. More info can be found doing a search of the Cafe archives. Lots of folks here have dealt with them I would think, but as of yet i haven't...tho I frequently look over the inventory there when MAS hits me hard.

[Lee Callicutt]

I bought a guitar from them sometime in the 90's, and talked to them on the phone about another instrument at least one other time. Knowledgeable? Extremely. Straightshooters? Yes!

[Philphool]

I've bought 2 guitars from Gruhn's in the past 2 years. I found them very helpful and patient with me. I spent numerous hours playing various guitars in the store.

They are very knowledgeable about their instruments (as expected). Prices are generally fair but you're not likely to get a particularly good deal from them (except for no sales tax if shipped out of Tennessee). Their shipping is timely and they pack guitars wonderfully!

Phil

[sunburst]

Another plug for Gruhn's.
I used to know several of the repair "guys" upstairs. They know what they are doing! A vintage instrument bought from Gruhn will have been correctly repiared if done by them, or otherwise the condition will be honestly disclosed.

[Bradley]

I have had nothing but great experinces with Gruhn Guitars.

when visiting their store I think that "respecting their inventory" goes a long way. I have seen people in there let their 12 year old Kid grab a D-45 off the wall...that just doesnt jive with me

They will do everything to make you feel at home..guaranteed

[JAK]

Thanks, appreciate it! I was just browzing and thought I'd get input from those that know.

[fatt-dad]

I bought my Carlson '84 Flatiron A5-1 from them sight-unseen. Great deal, great service, great mandolin. I've bought and sold quite a few since buying that mandolin, but kept it!

f-d

[jmkatcher]

I bought my '54 Gibson Florentine from them. Straight deal, everything as described for a fair price.

[EdSherry]

Another vote of confidence for Gruhn and his staff/shop.

[gschmidt]

DIY Network has been running their Gruhn Guitar series on "Handmade Music" (this past week was the second week). Excellent program about guitar and mandolin restoration and tells you a lot about Mr. Gruhn's passion. Very entertaining program.... check your local listings.

[tennbidder]

Another vote of support for Gruhn's.

No problems ever for me

[Lee]

I visited the store, played "The Wall" for a few hours, entirely unmolested. Talked to one of the floor guys a few times who was helpful and friendly. Purchased my brand new Old Wave oval-A over the phone with a credit card. perfect trnasaction. I give two thumbs up.

[Alex Fields]

Definitely know what they're doing and trustworthy. Prices are never particularly low. The only real gripe I have with them is that everyone who works there seems to be stuck up and just...not very friendly. Some of you may say differently but I know other people who have the same impression. And I never did anything to give them cause to be unfriendly--I would wonder if it were just me except that my fiddle teacher of eight years, who is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced musicians I've ever met and is in no way a disagreeable person, says the same thing.

EDIT: Lee, did they let you get instruments down yourself? Every time I've been there they've insisted on getting down and putting up every mandolin I've played. And I'm college aged and a pretty advanced player and always treat the instruments very carefully and play softly so I just assumed they're like that to everyone they don't know. They also wouldn't let me play the Gilchrist Classical when I asked very politely and had gone in there specifically for that reason because Sim Daley is making me a mandolin modeled after those and I wanted to play it before going to talk to Sim. I guess that much is more understandable because I wasn't truly interested in buying but still.

[delsbrother]

KEY WORDS:



college aged

wasn't truly interested in buying

IME if they can't sniff a sale it's hard to get help anywhere these days (of course there are exceptions.. Mando Bros comes to mind). Want to feel better about your experience? Try shopping Ed Roman's in Las Vegas. It's one thing to be denied the chance at playing a Gilchrist. But to get the "stink eye" from a salesman over a Dimebag Darrell Signature Dean guitar is something else. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Lee Callicutt]

#Lee, did they let you get instruments down yourself? #
My experiences with them were only over the phone. One was a purchase, and the other was just to ask some questions about a particular guitar with a particular pickup I thought I was interested in. George answered my questions and suggested another model I hadn't considered that he thought would actually sound more like what I had in mind. I was there in Nashville once recently, but my schedule only allowed me to hit the street and get there after hours to stare through the windows. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

I've seen some pretty scary stuff in music stores, as far as instrument handling by customers goes, so I'm not sure that I wouldn't feel safer with an employee handing it down to me.

[Fred_Murtz]

I bought a Gibson Les Paul from Gruhns in 1984. #When I tried to sell it back to them a couple years later, they pointed out that the headstock had been broken off and repaired - a fact that I had not noticed, and a fact that they had not told me when I bought it. #The sales guy seemed a bit awkward when I told him I had bought the guitar from Gruhn's and not been told about the repair. Maybe they had not noticed it either? #They did end up buying it back from me - but not for what I thought it would have fetched without the repair. That was the first and last instrument I purchased from them.

[Alex Fields]

I understand why they have the policy where only employees can get down instruments, but it seems like once they realized you know what you're doing they'd back off. Not like they've had special classes in picking up instruments--they actually usually seem to grab the instruments by the body and get smudge marks on them where I always lift by the neck (with a hand under in case it slips).

[chopz]

I'd appreciate any feedback from folks who have had dealings with Gruhn Guitars. #Like, a good place to deal with? #Knowledgeable? #"Straight Shooters?" #Thanks.
George is very knowledgeable.

How could he not be. He was taught by Chet Atkins (Chet's nephew has all his guitar, btw), Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe.

But his knowledge does not come cheap. If you go to purchase at his store, you had better bring your American Express Card or a Visa with a very high credit limit. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Russ Jordan]

I bought my Collings/Nugget TOB from Gruhn. Everything was professional--they took my deposit and said they would call when it came in, which they did, on a Saturday! One other really good thing about Gruhn's--they sure know how to pack an intrument for shipping. They have a method of forming foam around the case, inside the box.

[phiddlepicker]

I have had multiple dealings with Gruhn and have never had a bad experience. They are top notch.