Gurian S2R Flat Top Acoustic Guitar , c. 1976
LOADING IMAGES
Gurian S2R Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1976, made in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, serial # C2972, natural lacquer finish, Indian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck, black hard shell case.
This distinctive looking rosewood flat top is a product of the Gurian Guitar company, founded in around 1965 by luthier Michael Gurian. He initially offered only classical guitars, but then expended into steel string instruments with a number of unique design features. Gurian's body shape is rounder at the bouts than most other period steel strings, giving the guitars an immediately distinctive look. The 25 1/2" scale length neck is quite narrow at the nut (1 9/16") for a traditional flat top although Gibson was also trying that idea at the same time. Most unusual was a fan-derived bracing system for the top, a major departure from the Martin style X bracing de rigeur by the 1960s among professional quality guitars.
The earliest Gurians were built in small workshops in New York City, followed by a move to Hinsdale, New Hampshire in 1973. The majority of extant Gurians were built there, including this one. After a disastrous 1979 fire the factory was rebuilt in West Swanzey, New Hampshire but failed to prosper. By 1981-2 Gurian ceased instrument making and returned to supplying wood and components to other makers, where he began.
The guitars he left behind are not as well known as they once were, but are prized by some flat top connoisseurs. This S2R is a just under 15" wide rosewood flat top with typical Gurian features. The woods are stellar; the back and sides are beautifully straight grained Indian rosewood while the top is tight grained spruce with a herringbone soundhole ring and half-herringbone trim. The slim mahogany neck has a very comfortable round backed profile with the typical narrow 1 9/16" nut. The ebony fingerboard had side dots but no position marks on the board itself. The narrow round-topped headstock is faced with rosewood and fitted with Schaller tuning machines.
Gurian guitars gained a reputation for their high quality woods and workmanship, offering a distinctive sound with excellent clarity, especially for fingerstyle playing. The instruments found favor at the time with some well-known acoustic players including Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Pierre Bensusan, John Renbourn and Ralf Illenberger. In recent interviews Simon notes he still uses his regularly today.
Gurian guitars are comparatively rare; only around 5,000 appear to have been sold of all models and they do not come to market that much today. This is a lovely, beautifully made guitar, a bit eccentric perhaps but an excellent player with a full but well defined sound. Compared to the more common brands of the 1970s this is a superb instrument and a serious bargain in a high grade player's steel string.
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This is a very clean guitar overall, all original and superbly preserved for being something like 50 years old. The original finish shows some light checking, minor dings and scuffing with small playing marks but no major wear. Structurally it is excellent with no visible damage or repairs. The original frets show hardly any wear and this guitar is an excellent player, a nice testament to the workmanship and attention to detail Michael Gurian brought to the steel-string market at a time the major manufacturers were letting quality slip. This is a lovely instrument and well worth attention from modern players looking for a finely aged vintage instrument with its own character at a comparatively very reasonable price. Overall Excellent Condition.
This distinctive looking rosewood flat top is a product of the Gurian Guitar company, founded in around 1965 by luthier Michael Gurian. He initially offered only classical guitars, but then expended into steel string instruments with a number of unique design features. Gurian's body shape is rounder at the bouts than most other period steel strings, giving the guitars an immediately distinctive look. The 25 1/2" scale length neck is quite narrow at the nut (1 9/16") for a traditional flat top although Gibson was also trying that idea at the same time. Most unusual was a fan-derived bracing system for the top, a major departure from the Martin style X bracing de rigeur by the 1960s among professional quality guitars.
The earliest Gurians were built in small workshops in New York City, followed by a move to Hinsdale, New Hampshire in 1973. The majority of extant Gurians were built there, including this one. After a disastrous 1979 fire the factory was rebuilt in West Swanzey, New Hampshire but failed to prosper. By 1981-2 Gurian ceased instrument making and returned to supplying wood and components to other makers, where he began.
The guitars he left behind are not as well known as they once were, but are prized by some flat top connoisseurs. This S2R is a just under 15" wide rosewood flat top with typical Gurian features. The woods are stellar; the back and sides are beautifully straight grained Indian rosewood while the top is tight grained spruce with a herringbone soundhole ring and half-herringbone trim. The slim mahogany neck has a very comfortable round backed profile with the typical narrow 1 9/16" nut. The ebony fingerboard had side dots but no position marks on the board itself. The narrow round-topped headstock is faced with rosewood and fitted with Schaller tuning machines.
Gurian guitars gained a reputation for their high quality woods and workmanship, offering a distinctive sound with excellent clarity, especially for fingerstyle playing. The instruments found favor at the time with some well-known acoustic players including Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Pierre Bensusan, John Renbourn and Ralf Illenberger. In recent interviews Simon notes he still uses his regularly today.
Gurian guitars are comparatively rare; only around 5,000 appear to have been sold of all models and they do not come to market that much today. This is a lovely, beautifully made guitar, a bit eccentric perhaps but an excellent player with a full but well defined sound. Compared to the more common brands of the 1970s this is a superb instrument and a serious bargain in a high grade player's steel string.
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This is a very clean guitar overall, all original and superbly preserved for being something like 50 years old. The original finish shows some light checking, minor dings and scuffing with small playing marks but no major wear. Structurally it is excellent with no visible damage or repairs. The original frets show hardly any wear and this guitar is an excellent player, a nice testament to the workmanship and attention to detail Michael Gurian brought to the steel-string market at a time the major manufacturers were letting quality slip. This is a lovely instrument and well worth attention from modern players looking for a finely aged vintage instrument with its own character at a comparatively very reasonable price. Overall Excellent Condition.