Gruhn Guitars
Gruhn Guitars is a musical instrument shop and place of interest located in Nashville, Tennessee. Vintage instruments comprise a large portion of its inventory, but it also features new instruments from factories and independent luthiers. It is a mecca for rock stars and well-heeled collectors. The business opened on January 2, 1970. It won a lot of new business and national attention after Visa featured it in 1992 in a TV commercial. George Gruhn is the world’s leading expert on vintage American guitars and related instruments, according to Walter Carter, historian and archivist for the Gibson Guitar Company. The shop was originally called GTR, which stood for George Gruhn, Tut Taylor and Randy Wood; a story has circulated that country music star Hank Williams, Jr. encouraged Gruhn to go into business. The store was formerly located right by the stage door of the Ryman Auditorium, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. On December 31, 2006, Garrison Keillor, for his New Year's Show at Ryman Auditorium for PBS' Great Performances visited Gruhn Guitars with Vince Gill before the start of the show. Gill told a story about buying some of his guitars at Gruhn's. In 2013, the shop relocated to a larger space on 8th Avenue South. Gruhn's customers have included the likes of Duane Allman, Mark Knopfler, Conan O'Brien, Robert Plant, Sturgill Simpson, Joe Bonamassa and Eric Clapton.
