New Gear: The Gruhn Versitar Rewrites the Rulebook on Acoustic Guitars

Music journalist and guitarist-composer Emile Menasché explores a Versitar, from a new line of guitars designed by vintage expert and store proprietor George Gruhn. Menasché’s full review can be found in the July/August 2024 issue at store.acousticguitar.com.

[@AcousticGuitarMag]

Read the full review here: acousticguitar.com/review-gruhn-versitar/

[@gbarge4]

I've had mine for only a week and couldn't be happier with it. It's a whole new adventure and if you really pay attention, George Gruhn's brilliance comes through. He doesn't shout at you. It's subtle. Harmonics and sustain will surprise you. Mine is Sitka top and black locust back and sides. It had 12s on it and they seem right for this guitar. I had it examined by someone I utterly trust and his conclusion was that it was set up just right on arrival. That was a real surprise but on reflection, it shouldn't have been. It's astounding at its price point.

[@uniqueguitars]

The innovativ part of the guitar is actually the bolt-on neck. Sound is always difficult to judge via youtube. We've already seen the offset soundhole on other guitars. In fact, in 2013 I applied for a design Patent in the EU for a guitar with an offset soundhole in a teardrop design and a neck/body joint at the 18th fret. I recently uploaded a video under the channel 18th-fret. Since I'm retired, I have the luxury of building guitars just for fun. And the next guitar will definitely have a bolt-on neck. Thanks for sharing this expirience with us.

[@RickMcCargar]

i've now listened to more than a dozen videos of this guitar..and have yet to hear one that I like. I'm surprised how awful it sounds...seriously. I do not get it.

[@peterbohrmann9415]

Does Accoustic Guitar Magazine No. 322 May/June 2020 have the tabs for this version of Cocaine Blues?

[@pinguinobc]

How do you see the controls if they are inside? Or do you adjust them only by feel?

[@casperkasparov302]

It might be the amp but it sounds more like a banjo than a guitar.

[@andy3sheds]

I appreciate its design is a different approach so it’s no great surprise it doesn’t sound like a Martin. What I’m hearing are a lot of Archtop qualities also a neutral approach to tone. Some guitars are one trick ponies tremendous for overtones or bass. I do tend to play finger style Ive never got on with plectra though I do keep trying to use them. I’ve got a couple of Archtops which I appreciate were intended to be thrashed with a plectrum to max volume but played finger style with a bit of effort can give whatever you’re want. My go to guitar is a 50 year Fylde Oberon an extremely neutral guitar but the sounds are there just need some coaxing. It has no tonal wow factor about it nothing in your face but the tones are there to found. It seems to me the Gruhn has similar characteristics but of course if resale value is important to you just buy a big brand name

[@danielktdoranie]

Sounds too bright, very tinny

[@pinguinobc]

I'm guessing that's what happens when the sound hole is not directly below the strings.

[@baohuynh9529]

@@pinguinobc Not the case. There are guitars with offset soundholes that are more bass-biased than this guitar -- see Wilborn or McPherson guitars for such examples.

[@marcomolini9338]

Looks and sounds cheap. No thank you!

[@paulapykala9432]

Gawdawful tone. Reminds me of Yamaha APX (not a good thing)

[@VictorVectorMusic]

Sounds very thin, weak and underwhelming to me.

[@ruggerobelloni4743]

And you are being very polite! I played a $15 Harmony Stella on a tourist ship in San Diego harbour that sounded 10 times better. It was 1980 and clients always praised that all birch fake flame cheapo. Humble but real.

[@ruggerobelloni4743]

I never heard an experimental guitar that sounded good. Mr Gruhn designed these things but plays a great Gibson Loar signed L5 and superb Martin ooo's and OM's. Maccaferri plastic guitars sound better than this and that says a lot.

[@peterfredrickmeyer]

I've had my Gruhn for about 5 months i love the guitar mine sounds nothing like this guitar mine rich full and distinct the recording of this guitar is very tinny and not a good representation at all

[@RickMcCargar]

I've now listened to more than a dozen videos of this model, and they all sound like this. I went to your channel to hear yours...no video...

[@michaelmusial6625]

Sounds like it is made of plastic.

[@ruggerobelloni4743]

Actually Maccaferri plastic guitars sound better.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Maybe sounds better in person if not he wouldn’t sell a single one 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮