Intelligent Design

Celebrated instrument dealer and historian George Gruhn also knows his way around the drawing board

When most players think of George Gruhn, they picture his monumental guitar store in Nashville and the writings he's penned for various guitar publications. What they may not know is that George Gruhn has had a hand in designing numerous instruments as well. Michael Simmons visits Gruhn at his store in Nashville and gets the inside scoop on Gruhn's impact as a guitar designer. From hiring and helping future lutherie stars (Kim Walker, Stephen Gilchrist) to designing guitars for Guild, Tacoma and Barrington, the music world owes a lot to Gruhn.

The full article text and exclusive photographs are available in the print edition of The Fretboard Journal.