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The
Gurian guitar
Models
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The various models, as described in the original Gurian
brochure: |
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Size 2
S2M, size 2 guitar with mahogany back and sides. This
is the smallest model and the least expensive of the Gurian line.
It is a superb professional instrument of light mellow sound.
It uses the finest machine heads available at any price.
S2R, size 2 guitar with East Indian rosewood back and
sides. A mellow sound with the sweetness of S2M 6ut slightly
more precise. Darker in colour and more figured than S2M. Features
take some superb chrome machine heads.
S2R3H, identical to S2R, but with 3-piece back, full
herringbone decoration of the bindings, and superb machine heads,
heavily plated in real gold. This magnificently beautiful guitar
is the ultimate in small guitars. |
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Size 3
S3M
Size 3 guitar with mahogany back and sides. A middle-sized
instrument with great power, brilliance and sustain. An excellent
instrument for solo or accompaniment (finest chrome machine heads).
S3R
Size 3 guitar with East Indian rosewood back and sides. Darker
and more figured wood with a sound slightly solider and more
precise than S3M (same fine chrome machine heads). The Size 3
guitar has become a standard for recording work.
S3R3H
Like S3R, but more beautifully decorated and inlaid, with
3-piece back, herringbone binding, goldplated machine heads. |
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Jumbo
JM
jumbo size guitar with mahogany back and sides. The largest
Gurian, with the heaviest bass response and thickest, fullest
sound. Favoured by accompanists or soloists who need to fill
a large room with a bossy sound. Like all Gurian guitars, it's
an instrument worthy of the professional musician.
JR
jumbo size guitar with East Indian rosewood back and sides.
Darker and more figured, with a slightly heavier, more precise
sound than JM. (Finest chrome machine heads.)
JR3H
like JR, but decorated and beautifully inlaid with 3-piece
back, herringbone binding, and goldplated machine heads. |
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The Cutaway
This latest instrument in the Gurian family is both acoustic
and electric. In balance and tone, it is unsurpassed by any other
instrument. For the electric musician, the Cutaway is a new experience.
It is the fantastic but slightly altered sound of the Size 3
UNdistorted plus the power of amplification. To
achieve a truly flat-top sound, amplified, has been an unrealized
dream since Charley Christian first attached a crude pickup to
his arch-top. The Cutaway, with its specially designed and amplified
transducer, achieves this dream. No words can adequately describe
the purity of tone and balance found from the low E to the highest
fret on the first string (which due to the cutaway, is fully
accessible). With the Cutaway, a new page is begun in the history
of the development of the guitar. The sound of the Size 3 Gurian,
either acoustic or amplified, with superb electronics, combined
with the increased range and speed of a cutaway guitar. |
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Classic and Flamenco Guitars
Gurian classic guitars are noted for balanced, round tone
and good sustain in the upper registers. They use ebony fingerboards,
ivory nuts, real wood soundhole rosette and binding, and fine
cedar tops chosen from the thousands cut at the Gurian mill.
CLM
Classical guitar with mahogany back and sides. Simple binding
and superb machine heads in gunmetal block.
CLR
Classic guitar with Indian rosewood back and sides, decorated
binding, and engraved, gold plated machine heads.
CLB
Classic guitar of Brazilian rosewood. Only sometimes available
and equipped with the finest gold plated heads available.
FLC
Flamenco guitar with Canadian cypress back and sides, friction
pegs (machine heads available upon request). This is a true flamenco
guitar, very light in weight, responsive and brilliant in tone. |
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Brazilian
Rosewood models
(only sometimes available) in Size 2,3, or Jumbo with 3-piece
back, herringbone decoration and gold machine heads. The "ne
plus ultra" guitar; no finer woods or materials exist. Their
model numbers are S2B3H, S3B3H, and JB3H. |
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Indentification
of your Gurian guitar. |
  
All Gurian Guitars have serial numbers stamped
on the headblock in large characters which are visible through
the soundhole. The numbers are all preceded by A, B, C, or D.
This denotes that the instrument is either an A-series Gurian,
a B-series, C-series or D-series.
A-SERIES
Factory Location: New York City
Dates: start to 1971
Models available: Size 1, Size 3, Jumbo
Distinctive Features: Jumbo was exceptionally deep bodied--5
inches at the tailblock. Many A-series Brazilian Rosewood models
were made. The necks were integral with the sides (Spanish construction).
The truss rod was a single imbedded rod. Top purfling was full
(double) herringbone.
B-SERIES
Factory Location: Grand Street, New York City
Dates: 1972 and 1973
Models available: Size 3 and Jumbo
Distinctive Features: Separate neck held to body with wooden
taper pins. The G
decal appears on headstock. Top purfling was "white line"
half-herringbone.
Mahogany and East Indian soundboxes, with only some Brazilian
Rosewood/German Spruce models were made.
C-SERIES
Factory Location: Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Dates: 1973 to 1979
Models Available: Size 2, Size 3 and Jumbo. Three cutaway guitars
were made. Curly Maple available. Mahogany and Indian Rosewood
common, but very few Brazilian Rosewood guitars made. Distinctive Features: Double ("over and under")
truss rod wrapped in aluminum tape introduced.
D-SERIES
Factory Location: West Swanzey, New Hampshire ("post
fire" Gurians--Hinsdale
factory burned 1979)
Dates: 1980 and 1981
Models Available: Size 2, Size 3, Jumbo and Cutaway. Two of fanciest
model
(Brazilian Rosewood J3R3H --Jumbo three-piece back rosewood/herringbone--
with Engelmann spruce tops) were made, one was stolen. One prototype
Gurian 12-string made.
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