Bill Gruggett Guitars

[dorkrockrecords]

[kgruggett]

Thanks Adam for sharing your collection with us! Here are some old original Mosrite articles with Dad (Bill) in them along with Semie, Gene Moles, Andy Mosely and the others of the original gang, along with a 1967 photo where Joe Hall originally of Hallmark Guitars and Bill are at the show presenting the Hallmark Swept Wing and the Gruggett Stradette -
Enjoy
Kathy (Gruggett)

[kgruggett]

Adam,
which of those guitars is your favorite? I love the headstock and original color on the turquoise, but all that gold on the red Telecaster is so pretty! Do they both sound about the same or does the brass rail sound better? Just curious--still learning.
Kathy

[apossibleworld]

Kathy, thank you so much for posting these articles, just fantastic!

I have a Gruggett Stradette too, but I've been told it was one assembled in the 70s. It is heavier, with a center block inside the body as opposed to the all-hollow earlier ones. Adam, didn't you used to own it? Feel free to post some pictures of that if you want, as I don't have it in front of me. Fantastic sounding guitar! I believe the pickups are a bit different from the 60s versions... these are much more like regular Mosrite pickups in their sound and output, as opposed to the Hallmark pickups of the 60s with white covers, which are more hi-fi sounding with lower output. Two great versions.

[apossibleworld]

Oh look, I do have a photo. The light caught all the finish cracks, but it's actually a very solid feeling guitar, more like a Gibson than the lighter feeling of many 60s guitars. I love it.

[kgruggett]

Thanks for sharing your photo of older Stradette, amazing how they keep sounding fantasic after all these years. My dad date stamped about half his guitars on the neck near the 22nd fret, see if there is a number stamed there if so that will give you idea of date. Check back often as I will be posting more articles and Gruggett guitar photos !
My son is opening a gym this weekend, so Ive been knees to elbow is painting and cleaning - uggh!
Kathy

[BRRanger]

Out of curiosity, I visited ebay and found several Gruggett guitars for sale. The cheapest was $7,500 and the most expensive was $25,000! A testimony to his craftsmanship! One of the most intriguing (sp?) was the "prototype" Gruggett...Guild...or Guess guitar. Anyone see this one and have any insight on what it might be? The seller is not sure of it's origin.
Thx,
Scott

[kgruggett]

Scott,
The owner of that ebay site and I have emailed each other many times since he had those posted on ebay. He plans to eventually add to his website from his store location a section on legandary luthiers and wants to include my Dad in that. He had me show photos of that guitar to my Dad to see if that $25,000 one was his or not, and Dad said no. I also gave him some insight as to when the ES335 style was built. He advertised it as 60s, but my dad said he only built those in the late 80's and early 90's on Chester St. in Bakersfield and some when he lived in Reno. The ES335 styles from the 60s were ones he built with the Epcore label.
If any one is interested the funeral is at Tulare Cemetary (the old cemetary not the newer one) on Friday the 19th at 1:30. We are hoping to have a celebration of life in Bakersfield sometime in the near future. Just taking one step at a time right now. Will post some great memory photos of Dad and guitars this weekend.
thanks
Kathy

[BRRanger]

Thank you Kathy, the owner of the "Guess" guitar left it kinda open but had explained that your dad had said it wasn't one of his. I'm in the Central Valley, Ca. ...I would love to attend the celebration of Bill's life if possible. Please keep us posted!
Scott

[kgruggett]

Here is another Gruggett photo.

A Guitar in process by Bill Gruggett


Kathy