Gurian Guitars

The Gurian Guitar company was founded in around 1965 by luthier Michael Gurian who built first classical then steel string instruments with a number of unique design features including a more rounded body shape than those of other manufacturers, a long scale length, narrow "electric"-style neck (in later years a few instruments were built with a wider fingerboard), and an unusual fan-derived bracing system for the top of the guitar.

The company suffered a disastrous fire in its Hinsdale factory in 1979 which resulted in the loss of most of the instrument stock and associated tools, but rebuilt in a new location in West Swanzey, New Hampshire until 1981-2 when it was forced to close due to prevailing economic conditions.

[5][6] Gurian was also one of the first makers to offer a cutaway on an otherwise full size acoustic instrument, to provide enhanced access to the higher frets, a precursor of a very popular trend in later decades.

Gurians were favored at one time by several well-known acoustic players including songwriters Paul Simon[7] and Jackson Browne,[8] also fingerstyle guitar players like Pierre Bensusan, John Renbourn and Ralf Illenberger[9] used Gurian instruments at various times.

Production totals from the "Gurian Guitars Identification & Registry"[5] indicate that only around 5,000 reached the market (5,283 less approximately 231 lost in the fire), and those that were sold have something of a niche following in the present used guitar market,[10][11] albeit without the high prices of some of today's top "boutique" brands.