Gurian C Series

Bought my Gurian JR C3146 in 1988 in Amsterdam, tne Netherlands.
It was in the window of a second-hand shop, in a terrible state. Prior to selling it, the previous owner must have latexed his appartment. The guitar was covered entirely in white spots. Luckily, it was already very dirty before that, so it was relatively easy to clean. Very slowly though, making sure not to scratch the finish. Neither t10he shop owner nor me, had heard of Gurian and it was only because of the Schallers I guessed it couldn't be a cheap guitar.
The price however, was 200 guilders. This is tricky, because the currency in the Netherlands changed from guilders to Euros. But I guess it would have been around a $100 at the time.

Because I play bluegrass, this guitar isn't really suited to my taste. I think it is better for picking etc.
The sound in itself is very good, though. Well-balanced all the way up the neck.

It was second hand so I can't really comment. After cleaning, it looks like it's just out of the factory, so I think it must have been good then, already.

The guitar is, to say the least, robust. I think you can use it to paddle up the Amazone. And still play it at a concert, after wiping it down. These guitars will be around for a long time to come.

I've been playing since the sixties. I own a Martin D-18 from the same age as the Gurian and a couple of mandolins, F and A models. Also a charango, for those in the know.

I have a Gurian JM C 03072. I bought it new. It has been my best friend for years. What an amazing guitar. I had a fishman P/U installed a few years ago and it sounds great going through a PA, though I don't take it out of the house anymore.
Great ebony fretboard, great action.

This guitar is great for finger picking,flat picking, strumming or any other way you want to play it. Nothing sounds like a Gurian,nothing! I've been offered Martins and cash. I use D"Addario light phosphor bronze strings. Seems to work the best with this guitar. Beautiful rich sound.

Thin neck, ebony fretboard, fast zzzzzzzzzooooooom, yep, that fast!
Finish has held up very well over the years, better than me.

This guitar has been on stage,studios and parties for has long as I can remember. I've never had any problems with it

Anyone who knows anything about Gurian guitars knows what happened and why they are few and far between.

I've been playing for over 30 years.
I own a Strat and an Ibanez bass.
Would be very hard to replace, they are so rare.
I love this guitar, there is nothing I don't love about it.
When I bought this guitar I also tried Guild, Martin and Gibson.
I liked the Gurian much better.

This is a 70's Gurian JR review. It was made in New Hampshire by Michael Gurian's company before disaster. I feel lucky to have one and it is a Jumbo with beautiful SPruce top and some sweet looking indian rosewood for back and rims. It is maple bound and has minimal bells and whistles as others have noted. Ebony board and schaller tuners. Looks like a standard Jumbo guitar except for a longer scale. DOesn't look like anything with WOW factor for asthetics.

This is where you will be saying WOW. It it rich and warm with a round tone that is not big in bass, which I like and the mids really come through. It remains highly articulate and the tone is just velvety, not bright and jangly if you like that. It is one of the sweetest tones I have heard form a flattop. I play fingerstyle acoustic Jazz and blues and I haven't found a better sounding guitar in my opinion in any price range outside of 5 figures. It is my favorite acoustic and my main guitar.

THe quality of build is outstanding. Not all jazzed up with extras, but the finish is even, the intonation is excellent, the woods are of very high quality, the braces are clearly hand shaved, and the bindings, fretwork and are tops. This is after 30years. Neck has pins for easy removal but never needed it.

I will give it a 9 it is not a solid piece of electric guitar like a strat so it must be cared for but again after 30 yrs no complaints, it still plays great and plan on giving it to the kids if they ever get serious about music.

I love this guitar and will never part with it. It is a beauty to me and if I sold it or lost it somehow, I would be missing it for sure. I have many other guitars that break the laws of what a normal person might think a someone would pay for a guitar. I would be searching for another Guiran and ready to pay the price for it. Although it is vintage I would absolutely buy it for the tone and build rather than any historical value to me and I would pay thousands not happily but willingly. I also had a Brazilian rosewood model at one point but financial needs forced me to sell it. Fortunately I sold it to a good friend and although he won't ever sell ti back I play it now and again. Not terrribly different than this one and I am not sure I can say the tone of the Brazilian is superior at all, just different. In my opinion fro these Gurians it is just slightly more punchy again if you like that, I love the roundness of this JR and chose to keep it over the Brazilian backed model.

Ok, this is my recently acquired Gurian 1975 Rosewood JR series 3 model Jumbo. I have submitted for a JM model also, but this one I just got. Solid SPruce top, Indian rosewood back adn sides, beautiful straight grained. herringbone over wood bindings, just like my JM, ebony board. Etc. simple but elegant and not over the top at all.

Wow, I lovemy JM and this is a wonderful compliment to it. To compare the 2 It is richer and slightly warmer. The JM is very balanced and this is certainly as good or better in that department. The tone is similar in that it not brash and super loud, it is balanced and sensitive, Elegance just reams with Jazz chords and the melodies are just so pleasing not harsh or overpowering, just perfect to my ears. It is my fav. Rosewood guitar and the 2 are my best flattops, not in price but just my best flattops!

It is used but in excellent condition. Bindings are all tight, top is flat and in great shape and the rosewood looks and smells sweet.

Built to last and enjoy for a few lifetimes I think.

I bought it in a shop in LongIsland but I am not going to mention their names as I wouldn't want to promote them as great shop. I am on the otherhand so Happy with this purchase, but it was a shot in the dark as they really only had a few decent guitars and this wonderful star. I saw the shop in an ad in the local papers. Very happy I did as I always look for hidden Gems in NY when I get back home. No, this isn't a budget guitar it was not cheap 30 years ago either, but I had no hesitation as again I love my JM and after playing this one it was a no brainer. I love the built quality, woods, history, and most of all the tone and playability. It is a collector now and will become even more so. Gurian should build again he will fetch a pretty penny if he came out with some revisited models. Even with same builds, maybe some modern options for those who seem to love them these days. Some builders just have the "touch".I usually play Jazz archtops, but I have 7 flattops now with this new JR, that are near and dear to me. 3 modern builders and 4 vintage (gurian's, Larson Bros., and a Stahl). Before you go and spend 5000 and much more for modern buids that miss the mark, try to find and check out a GUrian. I am in no way putting down modern builders, there are some really amazing guitars out there, but it is no coincidence that the ones I have really wanted were over 6000 and some over 10000. I am not talking inlays either, just innovative flattop builds that really catch my listening and playing attention, and certainly there is a host of eye candy out there. I have brought home many a high priced flattop that just caught something novel in my listening, loved it for a week or 2 and after really playing it really find it is not what I really want in a guitar in general.

This is for a Gurian I have owned for about 20 years now. It is a jumbo Mahogany JR series three 1973 model. It has a solid Sitka SPruce top I believe with some nice ribbon-figured mahogany back and sides with half herringbone over wood bindings. Black pickguard. 1 and 11/16th at the nut and a nice c-shape not the v-shape, but I do not mind the v-shape models either. It is not heavily adorned but a beauty!

It sounds great. If you like mahogany guiatsr this is it to my ears. Full and yet it is not boomy or to heavy, it is balanced and remains warm and articulate which is not usually the case to my ears with these woods. It is not biting at all, and I mean that in a positive way. Just lush with ample but not overpowering volume. I have a rosewood model which i will comment on too, that more recently acquired. It is by far my favorite mahogany guitar. I agree with one comment mentioned that it not like a Martin even a vintage D-18 doesnot hold a candle to its warmth and complexity, but the martins are not known for that either, just different and as good or better IMHO.

M. Gurian was a master builder. It is built with great attention to detail and it is easily seen that the bracings were hand carved and beautifully. It is a treasure of mine.

Had it over 20 years and it is a true classic and it it still looks, plays, and most of all sounds Top Quality and Beautiful.

lifetime warantee but I bought it used and I am not sure is Gurian will still service guitars anymore, although heavily involved in the craft.

This is an abosulte favorite of mine and I have numerous other modern and vintage flattops. It compares favorably to my modern guitars (of course this my opinion and these other guitars I own are also great) Bourgeoise, Collings, Santa Cruz. I have a SChoenberg which is great and this is every bit as pleasing to the ears, just elegant and no funny hitches to my ears. If you can find one get one, In nice condition I would pay several thousand without a thought as these will be collectors. Mr Gurian inspired many modern builders with his attention to detail, just great designs and philosophy. He is cetainly one of the people who spawned the availability and high caliber of the luthiers today.

Built in 1976 by Michael Gurian in USA. 14 fret flat top steel srung acoustic jumbo guitar.Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, transparent polyurethane finish.Schaller machine heads,thin neck, superb action, mahogany fingerboard.original custom built flight case.

Suits my style perfectly, slappy, jazzy, folky plus also sharp finger picked traditional English style.

The set up was as near perfect as you could achieve without adjustment. Completely hand built and without any flaws in construction. My only criticism would be the heavy polyurethane laquer which seems soft and prone to chipping over the years. I have also removed the laquer from the neck which has greatly improved the speed of playing without the juddery braking effect that the laquer seemed to create.

This guitar has been gigged for almost 25 years non-stop and is better now than the day it was bought.
Never ever consider a back up instrument because nothing could come close to it for sound, reliability quality etc. i'ts in a league of it's own. Ask any Gurian owner,if you can find one. ( Paul Simon has one)

Guaranteed for life by Michael Gurian

Been playing 35 years. If it were stolen or lost I doubt I would be able to replace it with like. Michael Gurian stopped building guitars in 1988 and the chances of finding a second hand one would be very slim. I love the feel, the sound, the looks of my Gurian.
When I bought it I was looking to buy a Martin or a Gibson but immediately fell in love with the Gurian,The first to enter the U.K.