Grosh Guitars Retro Classic

My Retro Classic (Serial # 609) came with an alder body and maple neck w/rosewood fretboard. Neck size is 1 5/8 medium round back with a 10" radius. Fret size: 6105. Pickups are Lindy Fralins with 5 way tone switch. It also includes a "blend control". Finish is in a beautiful 3 color "59 Burst" lacquer. Tuners are locking Kluson.

Sound is incredible. I play Rock & Country. By far the best sounding "Strat" type guitar I've ever owned. I've played the instrument through a Line 6 Flextone and Mesa Boogie Mark 11 amplifiers. Sounds great with both of these amps.

Factory set up real low with no buzz. The three color "59 Burst" Lacquer finish is beautiful. No flaws whatsoever.

This guitar is definately reliable and durable. I will not be using a back up.

I've e-mailed Don Grosh a couple of times and he has always responded in a timely manner. I also spoke to him while the guitar was being built. He was very helpful and took the time to answer all my questions.

I've been playing guitar for 30 yrs. and in bands for 23 years. I also play a 1989 PRS Custom. While the PRS is nice, I prefer the sound of the Grosh.
For those of you who have been looking for the ultimate "Strat" type guitar, check out Don's website. Although these instruments are not inexpensive, they are worth the price. I can really say that this is one product that has lived up to all the hype! If it were lost or stolen, I would buy another one.

According to the card in the case, here are the specs for the guitar: Body wood: Alder, Neck Wood: Maple, Neck Size: 1 5/8", Neck shape: Round Back medium, Fingerboard Radius: 10", Fret Size: 6105, Bridge:Vintage Tremolo (screw type), Pickups: Lindy Fralins, Controls: Volume and Tone and 5-way selector switch, Electronics: Blend Control, Pickguard: mint, Finish: Lake Placid Blue (extremely gorgeous), Hardware: Chrome, Tuners: Locking Kluson (very cool)
Best Feature: TONE and lots of it!
(I only give it a "9" rating because I am not sure I like the screw-type tremolo arm and it is not equipped with strap locks)

Now we get into the tone discussion. I play mostly blues and classic rock stuff -- Clapton, Hendrix, Allman Brothers, Tinsley Ellis, Coco Montoya, John Mayall, etc. My basis rig is a Matchless SC30, but for the big shows, I run a few pedals and a stereo setup with a Naylor Superclub 38 using a deja-vibe as a splitter. I have several other guitars (G&Ls) that I use on different tunes but this guitar is hard to put down once you pick it up. It just sounds soooooo good! For those of you who yearn for that vintage strat sound, this is the guitar. Every position sounds great! The first position is reminiscient of the tones from the Eric Clapton record (bottle of red wine, slunky, bad boy, after midnight, etc) and Derek and the Dominoes Live (and Layla as well). Throw it into the #2 position to conjure up some of those great henrix tones, the #3 position coupled with a ZVEX Super Hard On pedal gets you into Mick Taylor territory -- tonewise that is. The #4 position gets you back to some of those classic strat tones, and, when used with the Super Hard-On pedal...well lets just say the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up. The #5 position is great too, and with just enough tweek on the tone knob and a bit more "crackle ok" from the Super Hard On, you can get a killer humbucker tone. Now if you work the volume knob to about 7 in any pickup setting you will find some really nice clean rhythm tones and the Robert Cray tones in there as well.

The set up from the store was exceptional. The action was low and neat with no buzzing. The factory .009's were replaced with .010's with no change detected in the playability. The finish is a very gorgeous Lake Placid Blue (darker than the Fender color of the same name). The tolex-case is a nice departure from the skb-type fiberglass cases. Just like my first Fender back in 1975.

Everything on this guitar is solid. The only thing I have done is replace the strap buttons with strap locks.

don't know, haven't had to deal with Don Grosh.But, I have had many dealings with Fat Sound Guitars and have always been extremely happy with the service there.

I have been playing for over 30 years. I have owned 2 Fender Stratocasters and 3 Fender Telecasters, in addition to several Gibsons, a Tom Anderson and my current stable of G&L guitars. This is THE guitar for which I have been searching. It has a "feel" that I can only imagine that a true vintage strat would have. Anyone that is a true strat fan will want one of these.

A handmade strat of exceptional quality. Blows Fender custom shop strats away. Quality similar to an Anderson, but more vintage looking/feeling/sounding. A two-piece alder body in stunning three color sunburst. Makes you understand why sunburst was the main finish of choice all those years ago. I haven't seen another this good...it is super thin nitro with awesome color and sweet grain showing through. Maple neck w/ slight tint and nice grain (not birdseye, but sweet) w/ a huge slab rosewood board that is the nicest one I have seen. 6105 frets, perfectly finished. Locking tuners that look vintage, Lindy fralin single coils w/ blend control. I don't find the blend control very useful.

First rate strat tones. The best! All the tones you expect are there, from Hendrix to Robert Cray. Blend control lets you get a decent middle-tele sound too. I play it through a fender vibrolux, and it sounds so good I don't even use ANY effects anymore. Positions 2 & 4 are hum cancelling, as expected. Even the bridge position is useful...not too bright.
I played with a friend's band the other night. Just me, my Grosh, and my fender amp...no effects. The other guitariist had a Fender Custom Shop '60 strat (texas specials....yuck!) and a Peavey 2x12 amp (you know the one with the built in phaser, etc.). He also had one of those all-in-one effects boards w/ built in wah, etc. While he is just as good of a player as me, probably better even, I blew everyone away with the unaffected Grosh in the in-between positions. It just goes to show, you can't spruce up with effects what ain't there.

Amazing attention to detail. Like I said, on par with an Anderson. I haven't tried a Suhr. The Grosh makes Fender Custom Shop seem like junk. After extensive searching for the "perfect" strat, I recommend the following to others: If you can afford it, get a Grosh. If not, get a G&L (G&L's are awesome, especially for the price. While the Grosh has better attention to detail and feels "better," G&L's are the most bang for the buck out there).

I don't know...haven't had it long enough. It seems solid like a strat should.

Haven't had to deal w/ Grosh yet.

Have been playing about 11 years. Have previously or currently own: a cheap LP copy; a made in Japan Fender strat; a Gibson SG; a 1978 strat; a Rick 360; a Fender '57 reissue strat; a Gibson ES-335; a Gibson Historic '57 LP goldtop. The Grosh is the best yet. During my search for this one, I played about 10+ Fender Custom Shop strats that didn't compare. Also played about 5 Andersons, which were very nice but didn't quite have the true strat sound.

One of the coolest features on this guitar are the locking tuners that look like original Klusons. This helps speed restinging, makes tuning more stable, but at the same time retains the proper asthetics of a strat style guitar. My Retro came equipped with wonderful Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot single coils and a very useful blend control for adding the neck pickup to any other setting. I also really like the push in trem arm on the vintage style bridge as the screw in ones always have alot of slop and I get tired of putting teflon tape on them. I give this guitar a 10 for features not because it has tons of them, but because the ones it has are very useful and well thought out.

This is my dream strat. It is very thick, buttery and dynamic. I also own a couple of particularly good Relics, but the Retro comes closer to nailing the vintage strat tone that can be so elusive. I traded a Tom Anderson Classic towards this guitar and although the Anderson was superbly built, I found the Retro to feel less clinical. The Anderson was a bit sterile whereas the Grosh feels more organic for lack of a better way of describing it. I have been playing the Retro through a Matchless SC-30 and find the range of tones to be stunning. The Matchless is a very touch sensitive and dynamic amp regardless of what I've played through it, but never has it been more so than with the Grosh. I know it's not just the pickups because I have the same ones in my other strats. Tonally, everything just seems right on the Grosh.

Fit and finish is as good as I've seen. I really love the feel of the laquer finish and have never seen one more expertly applied. There seems to be something magical about a great laquer that a UV cured finish, regardless of how thin, just can't match. The fretwork is perfect with not a file mark, rough edge or other fault in site and the neck has a very worn in feeling due to the edges of the fretboard appearring to have been rounded over slightly. The neck to body fit is extremely tight. As for the action, I raised it slightly to suit my tastes, but it came low and buzz free from the factory.

I think most well made strat style guitars are about as durable as a guitar can be and this one is certainly no exception. Every part is of the highest quality and obviously built to last. Every performing guitarist needs a back up on stage if for no other reason than in case of a string break. As soon as I can afford it I will buy another Grosh to fill that slot

I bought the guitar from Fat Sound Guitars in Cary,NC and they where extremely knowledgable and helpful. I haven't dealt with Don Grosh personaly, but Stuart at Fat Sound assured me that if I ever wanted to talk to Don that he was very approachable and helpful as well as interested in hearing from the people that bought his guitars.

I have been playing for about 27 years and haven't found another guitar I like nearly as much. If it where stolen I would definitly replace it as soon as I could. I have owned this guitar for about 6 months and have found nothing to dislike about it. It' perfect! If you want a truly great sounding, playing, and looking strat style guitar I highly reccomend you check out Don Grosh.

My Retro is an alder body, 3 tone burst (gorgeous), which I bought used. It's got a maple neck and fingerboard, and a 7.25" vintage radius. Three Lindy Fralin single coil pickups, a modified Gotoh trem (Don regrinds the knife edge and inserts a nylon bushing in the trem hole to improve the action). It has a "blend" control which allows you to dial in however much of the out of the loop pickup you'd like. It's a gas to play, feels as good or better than the '64 I sold to buy it. I give it a "10" because it's the best designed Strat I've seen - the tuners look vintage but are efficient locking Gotohs, the trem looks vintage but actually works like a charm, the pickups look vintage but shimmer and cook like nobody's business, the blend control adds a lot of flexibility, and the fretwork and setup are first rate.

It sounds dynamite. The neck is great for SRV rhythm work, the mid is actually usable, and the in-betweens are the best around. The mid pickup is reverse wound/ reverse polarity, so it acts as hum-cancelling when used in conjunction with either the bridge or the neck. On single coil mode, the pickups do give off a certain amount of hum. My only complaint is that, in my opinion, the brige pickup, by itself, is not up to the incredibly hightone quality of the rest. It works well coming in on the blend, to give some clarity and cut through the mix factor, but by itself it doesn't scream the way I think it should.

No question - the wood, fit, finish, playability, is all just absolutely first rate. Incredible attention to detail, reflected in the guitar's appearance and action. "Fabulous" is an accurate description.

I've only owned it for 4 months now, but it is definitely one solid and well built guitar. Only time will tell, but I'd bet on it.

Don has personally answered all my email, and spoke with me on the phone at some length trying to figure out the best replacement for the bridge pickup. He has been incredibly patient, approachable, and genuinely concerned to get me the tone I want from this fine guitar. Amazing customer service.

I've only been playing a few years, but I can recognize a killer axe. I've also got a '72 Tele with SD replacement pickups that absolutely rocks, and the Grosh not only holds its own, but outshines the 'Tele in certain areas - playability being one of them. I play it through a Blue Angel, plugged into a Blues Driver to heat up the preamp. The trem is especially noteworthy, since its the first one I've ever used(including my '90 PRS CE)that actually works smoothly and stays in tune!! It's what all trems should aspire to. The guitar sounds smooth and rich, is a joy to play, and looks stunning. It shoots down any of the custom shop Fenders I've seen and played. I've never played an Anderson or Tyler, so I can't compare it to them. This one is definitely a keeper.

My Grosh has an alder body and maple neck and fingerboard. The neck and middle pickups are Fralins and the bridge humbucker is a very tone-y DiMarzio custom-wound for Don. The neck is a 1 5/8" medium roundback with Dunlop 6105 frets and Kluson-style locking machines. The neck is a wax/oil finish that isn't currently in production - although Don will build whatever you want. The truss rod in the neck is welded by Don and is very heavy duty and I'd bet it adds to the tone. For electronics, it has a 5-way, tone, volume, and a blend which allows for sounds few other guitars can touch. The bridge is a Don-modified Gotoh 1060 with steel saddles. The guitar came with a formfit case. As for workmanship, Don is simply incredible - I've seen none better. And unlike some other "custom builders", Don actually builds every guitar bearing his name.

This guitar does great vintage tones both clean and dirty. The custom DiMarzio is very clear-sounding when using a distorted amp although it may not appeal to folks who use gain as a crutch. The Fralins are unbelievably good - this guitar sounds a lot better than a lot of vintage Strats I've heard. The blend control allows you to mix either the neck or the bridge pickup in combinations where you wouldn't normally have it - like bridge with neck/middle. It's a neat control. I use my Grosh for everything from contemporary Christian to hard rock and whatever else I want. It is that good.

Don is a master builder. Before striking out on his own, he worked at Valley Arts and built guitars for folks like Steve Lukather and Larry Carlton plus a whole slew of studio cats. Don's attention to detail is amazing, the guitar is solid, and plays (and sounds) like butter. I've owned for quite a while and I've encountered no problems or sub-standard workmanship. Even Don's finish and fretwork are mindblowing!

As I said above, I've had this one for some time - about a year and a half. I take good care of it and it's never let me down. It's very dependable and built as solid as one could hope for.

Don's operation is very small and he'll take the time to talk with you. He's very friendly and very humble. I talked with Don about month after I got mine - I wanted to know what he thought about cleaners for the fingerboard. Don called me on a Saturday and we talked for a while. He's a great guy and a superior luthier. Plus, he stands behind his work 100%.

I've owned a decent amount of guitars and the Grosh is the best Strat-style guitar I've owned. It sounds great and plays great - what more could you want. Before I bought my Grosh, I tested one against original '57 and'58 Strats with maple f'boards. The oldies were neat but the Grosh was better - which you'd expect, because Don's been around enough to know great guitars (plus the Grosh is several thousand dollars less expensive). I have still continued to play other guitars since I got my Grosh, but none have ever measured up to my Retro Classic. With all due to respect to the other great builders out there, Grosh does the best Strat-style guitar.

The Retro Classic is a Strat-style guitar made in Los Angeles by Don Grosh. it has been revieved by Guitar Player and got an incredible review. My guitar is probably a '96 model. I has a very light weight alder body with a gun stock oiled maple neck. The frets a perfectly installed and dressed. They are Dunlop high-medium and the radius is 9.5". It has3 single coil Fralin pickups with a blend knob which allows you to blend the neck pu with the bridge pu and visa versa. The bridge is vintage style and the vibrato arm has been modified to decrease sloppiness. The finish is a dark green catalysed laquer with a vintage pickguard and looks terrific. The tuners LOOK vintage but they are locking, very cool. The neck is slightly fat but very fast. It comes with a black tolex case. Don will customize a guitar any way you want. He is on the Web.
Alright, the bottom line. If you knew me you would know that I have owned MANY guitars, in fact its a joke to my friends and family how much of a gear hound I am. This guitar is THE BEST guitar I have EVER owned. It sounds incredible , plays incredible, stays in tune, and is very dynamic through my Matchless amp and Fulltone pedals. I can be vintage sounding one minute then total shred the next. The Grosh KILLS Andersons, Fender Custom Shop, and whatever else is out there.
These guitars are not cheap, but quit messing around and check one out, you owe it to yourself! I live in Dallas and Speir Music (972-272-1700) stocks at least three of them. Talk to Tommy and tell him Gilbert sent you.

It sounds like the best Strat ever.

Set-up, fit and finish is perfect. There are NO flaws whatsoever, and I bought it used at the Dallas Guitar Show. It was pretty obvious that the guitar had never been played, I think the strings were the original ones.

This guitar is built like a tank. All my other guitars are now backups.

I have talked to Don and he is a very nice guy who is willing to spend time with you to make sure you get the exact guitar you are seeking.

I have been playing professionally for twenty-plus years. I have recently switched careers, but still play all the time. I play a Martin acoustic, a modified Jeff Beck model Strat, a 5-string Jazz Bass. I have a Matchless Cheiftain, four Fulltone pedals, plus some misc. pedals. I record at home on a digital studio and the guitar sounds great on the session. If it gets stolen I would buy another immediately!