Shout out to Gruhn and Carter's in Nashville!

[Steve VandeWater]

I was in Nashville, TN yesterday to pick up my daughter from school, and to kill some time I visited both Gruhn Guitars and Carter Vintage Guitars to check out some mandolins. I cannot say enough about how great these places are.
The selection of high quality mandolins is simply incredible. I've followed this forum for several years and have read about all the great builders, as well as several highly regarded small builders. Yesterday I got the opportunity to play a LOT of them.
What blew me away, aside from the incredible selections, was the fact that you could just pick them up off the rack and play them without anyone hovering over you. I actually played a $25,000 Nugget (which I could NEVER afford) and no one gave me a second glance. Likewise Gilchrists, Heidens, several vintage Gibsons, Red Diamonds, etc. No Schmergels though, must have been in the back room
The staffs at both locations were very helpful and friendly, even though they knew I wasn't going to spend much. I wish there were more stores like this.
I look forward with much anticipation to the day I return and can actually BUY one of those incredible instruments. Until then, I plan to be a frequent visitor. Thank you Gruhn and Carters for a memorable day!

[Folkmusician.com]

Those guys are among the last great music stores.

[F-2 Dave]

Hoping to get to Nashville around Thanksgiving. Gruhn's and Carter's are high on my list of places to visit.

[yankees1]

Sound wise what mandolin impressed you the most ?

[Doug Edwards]

I was in Gruhn's today

Very nice

[trevor]

I am curious about the relationship between the two. I've only been aware of Carters in the last few years but they may have been around longer. Didn't Christie used to work at Gruhns?

[Billy Packard]

Trevor,

I visited Nashville in 2010 and at that time both Walter and Christy worked for George Gruhn. I visited Steve Gilchrist there and got to see the inner workings of the shop. (This was just before the flood that forced Gruhn to move.) Subsequently the Carters opened their own shop and Steve Gilchrist joined them. I don't know the back story but I bet there is one!

Billy
billypackardmandolin.com

[Atlanta Mando Mike]

Yes!!! What mandolins did you like the best??

[johnmarkva]

I'll second or third that these two are incredible places to play a variety of mandolins. Just a heads up that if you get a chance there are two other shops to check out in the Nashville area. Not very far from Gruhn's is Cottens. Down in Franklin there is Artisan Guitars (Collings distributor with mostly new from them and with 1/2 dozen used of various makes). Both have smaller inventory, but are still worth a visit if you just can't get enough - and who can?