Grinnell "Special Spanish" Model by Gibson, 1940 | SOLD | As the Great Depression deepened, Gibson began to make off-branded instruments, the most common the Kalamazoo line. But the company also branded instruments for others, and this Grinnell is an example of that branding. According to Paul Fox in his book, The Other Brands of Gibson, the Grinnell Brothers was the largest music distributer in Michigan. In 1936 they had Gibson manufacture a Grinnell-branded guitar. Based upon surviving Grinnell instruments, there were at least three models produced, and this one an example of the "Spanish Special". It's essentially a Kalamazoo KG14 with "Grinnell" stenciled on the head stock, and a slightly more red sunburst finish.
We love finding guitars in pristine condition, and this one fits that bill. Original but for the bridge pins (period replacements) the guitar retains it "almost like new" sparkle. The FON stamp "F" dates it to 1940. Back and sides are mahogany, as is the neck (note the 'stacked' heel). The fingerboard appears to be beanwood. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood, and retains its original varnish. The top is spruce, and sports a dynamic firestripe pickguard, faux-tortoise binding, w/b/w sound hole binding, and a striking red/amber sunburst. The tuners are the original Kluson open strip tuners. Like its KG14 siblings, the top is ladder braced. The neck is carved in a very modern feeling 'C' shape.
The guitar shines both structurally and aesthetically. There is virtually no playing wear on the top, the back of the neck (several of the pics seem to show a scratch, but that's reflection), nor the fingerboard. There are two older crack repairs along the fingerboard extension, both cleated. Someone had added two bolts to the bridge (as seen in the Gibson line) drilled right on the curve of the bridge. We removed the bolts but the bridge did not need regluing. The original finish has some flaking and checking from age, typical of Gibsons in this period. We recently reset the neck, dressed the frets, and added six period appropriate bridge pins.
Action is set a ~ 6/64" and the guitar plays smoothly and produces a warm mahogany tone when fingerpicked, but can really project when played with a pick. Overall, a good looking, and quite rare, guitar in excellent condition.
Comes with what appears to be its original soft case.
Check out the sound clip.
We love finding guitars in pristine condition, and this one fits that bill. Original but for the bridge pins (period replacements) the guitar retains it "almost like new" sparkle. The FON stamp "F" dates it to 1940. Back and sides are mahogany, as is the neck (note the 'stacked' heel). The fingerboard appears to be beanwood. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood, and retains its original varnish. The top is spruce, and sports a dynamic firestripe pickguard, faux-tortoise binding, w/b/w sound hole binding, and a striking red/amber sunburst. The tuners are the original Kluson open strip tuners. Like its KG14 siblings, the top is ladder braced. The neck is carved in a very modern feeling 'C' shape.
The guitar shines both structurally and aesthetically. There is virtually no playing wear on the top, the back of the neck (several of the pics seem to show a scratch, but that's reflection), nor the fingerboard. There are two older crack repairs along the fingerboard extension, both cleated. Someone had added two bolts to the bridge (as seen in the Gibson line) drilled right on the curve of the bridge. We removed the bolts but the bridge did not need regluing. The original finish has some flaking and checking from age, typical of Gibsons in this period. We recently reset the neck, dressed the frets, and added six period appropriate bridge pins.
Action is set a ~ 6/64" and the guitar plays smoothly and produces a warm mahogany tone when fingerpicked, but can really project when played with a pick. Overall, a good looking, and quite rare, guitar in excellent condition.
Comes with what appears to be its original soft case.
Check out the sound clip.