View Full Version : GTR mandolin
sprucetop1
Sep-15-2004, 8:44am
I have inherited an F5 fern inlay style GTR mandolin, ser. no. 9514. As far as I can ascertain, this GTR was purchased from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville circa 1976, by the late original owner. It sounds great.........anyone out there got one and what do you think of these instruments?
thanks.........John
Strado Len
Sep-15-2004, 8:56am
I do not own one. These instruments were made in Japan for Gruhn. Gruhn was the "G" in GTR.
cutbait2
Sep-15-2004, 2:02pm
i thought it stood for George (gruhn), Tut (taylor), Randy (wood)
Bob DeVellis
Sep-16-2004, 7:14am
cutbait2 has it. It stood for George (Gruhn), Tut (Taylor), and Randy (Wood) and also sounded like an abbreviation for "guitar." I believe it was also the original name of Gruhn's operation, which would explain why a guitar abbreviation would have been a good thing, when we're talking about a mandolin.
sprucetop1
Sep-16-2004, 7:24am
Thanks to all for the replies above. Just had some info. from Mr. Gruhn himself. These mandolins were made for him by a foreman in the Moridaira guitar factory in Japan from 74-78
sprucetop1
Oct-19-2004, 4:01pm
Re-posting this topic......am I the only GTR player left in the world ?? Someone else must have one, or have played one. Anyone know of a pro. that uses/has used one? Just curious....mine seems to be a great sounding mandolin. Just like to hear of other opinions if possible.
John
Well, I have a 1982 Morris F-5 (M-600) made by the Moridaira Co. It's nice. Post a pic of yours, we'd love to see it.
sprucetop1
Oct-20-2004, 4:37pm
Neal: I don't have a digital camera, but I'll try to borrow one and post pix of the GTR soonest.
John
Spruce
Oct-20-2004, 4:46pm
I think Bob Alekno (http://www.hyperarts.com/twg/story.html) played a GTR F5...
It was a good one, as I remember....
There were a gob of these floating around the Bay Area back in the 70's, and most of them were fine mandolins if my memory serves me well (it doesn't always)....
scssmith
Nov-03-2009, 8:14am
I know this is an old post, but just spotted it. I have a GTR mando and I love it. Mine was played by Larry Lynch of the Front Porch String Band, then Glenn Tolbert bought it and played it until his son Allen took it over. It has seen many a stage with Larry, Glenn and Allen. I think it is a great mando.
Charley wild
Nov-03-2009, 10:25am
I didn't know that they made mandolins under that brand name but I had one of their banjos back in the 70's. I also had a 30's Gibson tenor with a five string neck. The GTR sounded much better and everyone who played them both agreed. I wish I still had the banjo!:(
AlanN
Nov-03-2009, 10:38am
I know this is an old post, but just spotted it. I have a GTR mando and I love it. Mine was played by Larry Lynch of the Front Porch String Band, then Glenn Tolbert bought it and played it until his son Allen took it over. It has seen many a stage with Larry, Glenn and Allen. I think it is a great mando.
Does Allen still have it? Need to ask him about that. He is a heckuva picker.
8ch(pl)
Nov-04-2009, 5:28am
It stands for "Grand Trunk Railroad".
Tom Sanderson
Nov-04-2009, 6:13am
I had one. It was my first F5 style mando. I bought it from Elderly when they were still in East Lansing, I think it was around 1978. I thought it sounded great until I played my first Nugget in 1990 when I met Mike Kemnitzer (Nugget). I did some work on a car for him in trade for him working on my GTR. He cut off the finger board (florida) and rebound it, re fretted it with fat frets, and added a bridge pick up. I sold it in 1991 to someone at Wheatland festival after I bought my first Nugget.