Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars

Wonderful guide for identification but not so much for current vslues

If you're looking for a book to read about vintage instruments Gruhn's Guide is probably not what you're looking for.This is a reference book full of data and specifics intended to help collectors and dealers identify, date and verify the authenticity of vintage American instruments. Not every manufacturer is represented in this book but it's amazing how much information Mr. Gruhn has compiled in one place. As reference material I give it five stars. I've seen a number of reviews stating they would rather the book be laid out by date of manufacture but I wonder if some of those folks are putting the cart before the horse. What I mean is if you "know" that the guitar in your hands is a 1991 Gibson Les Paul Classic, why do you need to look it up in a book? If on the other hand you're trying to verify what the guitar in your hands actually is, then structuring the book as Gruhn does, by Maker and model is a way better approach.Imagine you are like me and you've been playing guitar for forty years and at some point you decide that after all the time invested and love for the instrument you are worthy of a true vintage instrument. An investment grade masterpiece "tool-of-the-trade' that might just give you the inspiration to elevate your playing to the next plateau. You've got your heart set on a 1962 Stratocaster like the one your hero played when you were a kid sitting in the cheap seats of that sold out show. The thing is, you're not a kid anymore and while your heart is longing for the dream guitar you couldn't have way back when, your grown up brain is rationally saying:"That's a serious investment. How am I ever going to convince the wife that I know what I'm doing!???...."So you comb the internet looking for slab rosewood fret boards and sunburst finishes until you find just the right one but the sticker price is $17K.... Gulp!... Being level headed you realize that you need to do some checking to authenticate that this holy grail is not actually a counterfeit so where do you start? Do you start by assuming that the guitar in question is in fact a 1962 Stratocaster and work your way backwards? Or do you start with no assumptions and compare what the guitar in hand actually is to what a 1962 Strat is supposed to be? For my $17K and my wife's peace of mind, I'll go with the latter approach and any deviation for what "should be" to "what is" will peg my BS detector. That's what Gruhn's Guide is for.As I stated in the beginning of this review, this book isn't meant to be a story book. It's a reference guide. That matters to you if you're considering the purchase of the book because it is laid out in a way that assumes the reader has some basic knowledge. Much like a dictionary requires the user to understand spelling, Gruhn's Guide requires a basic knowledge of manufacturers, model names and features. If terms like "p-90", "Split-Coil" and "1-Ply 5 Hole Guard" are Greek to you, this book might not be of much use. Then again, if you're considering the purchase of this book, you're probably well along the rabbit trail of "guitar geek" and those requirements are not an issue.Overall, Gruhn's guide is the finest reference available to vintage guitar enthusiasts. If you are looking for deep dive information about Fender Telecasters or Gibson Les Pauls, there are plenty of books available you can read and enjoy. Gruhn's guide is meant to be "used" not "read".Enjoy!

While I believe this book is the "holy bible" of vintage guitar info, I truly wish it would help decipher the mysteries of Gibson's disordered serialization process of the early 70's. I was hoping this book would better decode more precise manufacture dates than the internet using facets like neck tenon lengths, pickup cavity routing shapes, neck woods, bridges used, Kalamazoo vs. Nashville differences, etc.For example, the very first two instruments I tried to date with this book were two 1970's Gibson LP black beauties. The first is a beat-up frettless wonder, s/n 9xxxxx, mahogany neck with embossed pickups ( I know, I know, that makes it a 72.... Actually, no! It's an early 73. The books & net don't mention that "gold" emboessed covers lasted until early 73 when they finally ran out of them. Chrome and nickle embossed pup covers were only in 72, but gold was on higher end instruments that sold slower). While I'm positive the fretless wonder is an early 1973, the other all-original black beauty is slightly more of an enigma. It shows an older 8xxxxx USA s/n, pancake body with a maple neck, Schaller harmonica bridge with what looks like a rocker tenon (we're still in debate about the tenon).Was the rocker tenon ONLY made in Nashville starting in 74? Exactly when was the SG's Schaller harmonica bridge used on the LP Customs? When exactly did LP Customs go from 1 pc. mahogany necks to 3 pc. maple? I wish this "bible" answered these questions as I don't trust the DATA highway as far as I can throw it.Other than the Dimarzio SD in the lead position with its mini series/paralell switch and the removal of the rhy pup gold cover, it's stock. It has the exact same tenon style as the fretless wonder when looking into the rhy pup cavity. I had hoped the Gruhn book would help date this guitar closer than the guestimate of 1975. It didn't.Even so, the book is very well laid out to verify most mass-produced American guitars, although it's slightly outdated. It's definitely worth the $20. and if you're a serious guitar flipper or just want to increase your knowledge of vintage guitar facets, this is a handy guide.

This book has a lot of information, but it is missing a lot of major guitar manufacturers. First thing I noticed that it had no listings for Peavey Guitars! That is just one example of a major player that is missing. Another thing this book lacks is pricing and pictures. I hope in future copies the author will realize what is missing in his book. In his defense he did have a guitar that I purchased that there is limited information on “Trujo” which was produced by Gibson in the late twenties and early thirties and his information was totally accurate! Which is not the case in the Limited information I found on the internet. I did notice that the information in this book was mostly for early manufactures of guitars. Keep up the good work!

Enjoyed the 3'rd edition of this informative book ( hardback edition) a guitar' bible if you will. I had spoke with George on the phone some years back. He takes guitar ( collecting) to another level.

disappointing

I’m a guitar tech and a luthier. Customers ask me to date their instruments and this book is the perfect resource fo me and my clients.

Not many photography does deal with all main manutacturers a poor book and there is no price guider regards Paul.

The definitive guide accept no substitutes.

Gift for partner. Really pleased with it.

all i ever needed, more info than i can take in, if your into vintage guitars then you must have this book

Not all that clearly set out.