1977 Gurian S2M Vintage Acoustic Guitar, One-Owner w/ Case, Paperwork

Up for sale, a 1977 Gurian S2M vintage acoustic guitar in excellent, crack-free condition. This one-owner instrument is an exquisite example, complete with the original hardshell case, Gurian catalog and price list, and a hand-signed letter from Michael Gurian addressed to the original owner.

Crafted in Gurian's Hinsdale, New Hampshire workshop, this S2M is a "size two" instrument, representing the smallest series of instruments offered by Gurian and measuring 14 5/8" across the lower bout. Initially a classical builder who began making steel string instruments in the mid-1960s, Gurian's background as an expert with Old World techniques manifests itself in his instruments, whose unusually rounded bodies combine classical appointments and modern interior construction. Only around 5000 Gurian instruments were produced in total across the entire lifespan of the brand from 1965-81, and Gurians are highly prized, benefitting from an early association with a venerable list of artists including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon.

Tonewoods include a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck capped with a slab ebony fingerboard. Extremely warm and extremely clear, this Gurian yields a broad, authoritative sound that fills a room with a single strum, balancing the smooth growl and richness of mahogany with the glassy articulation of the ebony fingerboard. The trebles are round and sparkling, and wound strings have great note separation and definition. We've had this Gurian professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and fresh 12-54 strings.

The mahogany neck has a substantial and chunky C-shaped profile carve with generous shoulder, measuring .900" at the 1st fret and .970" at the 9th. The ebony fingerboard has 14 frets clear of the body with small side dots for easy fretboard navigation and stock frets that have good meat and well-rounded crowns. Just shy of medium jumbo in size, the frets show only light wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-6, playing cleanly up the 25.6" scale with a straight neck. The nut measures 1 11/16" in width, and the headstock features a rosewood veneer with the Gurian "G" at its crest. The original chrome Schaller tuning machines have a smooth, reliable response.

On the body, the rosewood bridge sits flush with the spruce top on all edges, with no untoward deflection of the top behind the bridge. The carved bone saddle has good height for future adjustment, and the action is comfortable in all registers. The top and back are framed by rosewood binding, with additional rope binding on top and a herringbone rosette. This one-owner instrument is crack-free and has never required any servicing beyond basic cleaning and restringing. Cosmetic wear includes a couple dings in the spruce just north of the fretboard extension on top, some light pick wear across the strum path, and some additional light finish scratches and minor marks on the body as a whole, largely on the lower bout on top. The gloss finish on the neck profile is flawless.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included along with the original Gurian catalog, price list, and dated letter hand-signed by Michael Gurian and addressed to the original owner.