Members Mike Crixell Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Hi Everyone, Master luthier John Greven has created a new masterpiece: the Greven travelin' guitar. This is a great new take on just making a small guitar, because it not only has the world-famous Greven vintage Martin tone in a beautiful Maple 0 body, but it breaks down for traveling . . . in its own "James Bond" briefcase! Too cool for school! Here's the link for all the guitar porn shots: The New Greven Travelin' Guitar Enjoy! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Legend-guitar Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Well Done Tell John Amazing! Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 That's freakin' COOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mattface Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 That is the coolest damn travel guitar I've ever SEEN! Help SEVERE GAS PAINS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members takeout Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seven7 Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 i think it's really cool. but not a really new idea. there are some other companies who have been making guitars with necks that are designed to easily be put on and taken off for travelling for quite some time now. one of which comes to mind is the chrysalis guitar. i tried finding it but it must not be sold anymore. that was one weird guitar. it actually had air pockets for the body or something. then there's the electric guitar company that i first saw using this idea: http://www.stewartguitars.com/ it's very cool that someone has made something like this that's more traditional in the acoustic world though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 24, 2004 Author Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 The only other fine acoustic guitar was made by another master luthier, John Monteleone, as Howard Emerson can attest. This design is indeed new, however, because never have these unique features been included on a fine handmade instrument. The neck-attaching solution, wherein the fingerboard is in two parts, is unique, in and of itself. Make no mistake: this type and quality of guitar, with all its features and solutions, has not been made before, other than the traveling guitar by Monteleone, whose design was different yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Legend-guitar Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Jean Larrivee has a ratchet design that he did but scrapped on a fine guitar where the guitar actually folded and snapped into position. The bolt on neck has been done before I believe Mike Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unk Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 I like it, a lot!! Seems like a great marriage or functionality and Greven beauty. I'd love to play one and see how it sounds. Thanks for the peek Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted February 24, 2004 Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Cool Mike! Do you know the nut width? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 24, 2004 Author Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Originally posted by Legend-guitar Jean Larrivee has a ratchet design that he did but scrapped on a fine guitar where the guitar actually folded and snapped into position. The bolt on neck has been done before I believe MikeRobbie John's new traveling guitar speaks volumes about his ingenuity and elegance of design, to say nothing of the flawless execution of his ideas. And, after all that, the end result is a Greven, a guitar that is the at the very least the equal of the very best. And so much more than that for anyone who's actually heard and played one. John's legacy of excellence is more than other builders can ever fantasize, and his solutions to this particular challenge bear that out, and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 24, 2004 Author Members Share Posted February 24, 2004 Originally posted by orsino Cool Mike! Do you know the nut width? Hey O-Man, The nut width is 1.75" with a 2.25" saddle string spacing. I got to see it after its initial sealer coats, but, then, it was nowhere near the coolness of the final product. Those who may be unfamiliar with John might not realize that he is a master of Maple. That's one of the reasons he chose it for this guitar. The other reason is that the wood is very resilient and strong, all good attributes for a travel guitar that will wander hither and yon. John has had a prodigious career, having singehandedly built 1400 guitars. He is an artist who is driven to exceed himself. And that's the coolest part: he doesn't give half a damn about what someone else might do with his/her guitars. The man has his own private Ginger Baker. Take care, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted February 25, 2004 Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 Thats the coolest Travel guitar I have ever seen. Why am I not at all surprised ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted February 25, 2004 Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 Thanks Mike! Man, that's REALLY tempting. Price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilHippy Posted February 25, 2004 Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 MUST HAVE GREVEN TRAVEL GUITAR..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 25, 2004 Author Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 Originally posted by orsino Thanks Mike! Man, that's REALLY tempting. Price? According to John, he's going to charge $3200 for a Maple, with Brazilian a $750 upcharge. The key word in this statement is "going" to charge, since he's not tooled up for making a bunch yet. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilHippy Posted February 25, 2004 Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 Whooo... i'd rather spend a bit more and get a D-45.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 25, 2004 Author Members Share Posted February 25, 2004 The irony is that $3200 is way less than other builders with a fraction of John's experience and expertise would charge. This is a one-man, two-hands guitar. While it might cost more than many people would or could pay, it and his other guitars are worth thousands more than he charges for them. It reminds me that Michelangelo was paid basically a laborer's wage for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Sure, it was a job and a living, but it was also fine art. Same with John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orsino Posted February 26, 2004 Members Share Posted February 26, 2004 Originally posted by Mike Crixell The irony is that $3200 is way less than other builders with a fraction of John's experience and expertise would charge. This is a one-man, two-hands guitar. While it might cost more than many people would or could pay, it and his other guitars are worth thousands more than he charges for them. It reminds me that Michelangelo was paid basically a laborer's wage for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Sure, it was a job and a living, but it was also fine art. Same with John. Mike,There is no doubt in my mind that John's guitars are well worth the price. But, it really depends on what your expectations are for a travel guitar. For me my GO Guitar is just right as I'm not particularly interested in killer tone. I want something I can put in the plane overhead and toss around on hotel room beds. In my case the money would be better spent towards a stay-at-home full-sized Greven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted February 26, 2004 Members Share Posted February 26, 2004 Not sure if someone mentioned this or not but someone came to John to build this I believe. So I think it's a credit that John not only responded but responded with what looks like an amazing guitar. Rumor had it the person wanted a real honest to god Greven but wanted it mobile. Sounds like John even provided this at a pretty amazing price. I wish I could afford one but I dont travel that much. If I did I would seriously consider one. These would probably even be a heck of a collectors item one day. I have always had the feeling John will be a Legend once he retires and all his boxes will sky rocket in value. This guitar may be a good investment. I must admit I will buy a Nick Lucas or Prarie State from him before I went with this model. I am still drooling over this one though. I bet it's one of the best sounding travel guitars ever made. Just my guess. Of course I might be a little biased because I've met John and quite a fan of his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SurrealMcCoy Posted February 26, 2004 Members Share Posted February 26, 2004 That's beautiful................... After playing that Larrivee Maple parlor at NAMM................I've been secretly lusting for a smaller bodied Maple............. The "git in the briefcase" IS TOO COOL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FingerBone Bill Posted February 26, 2004 Members Share Posted February 26, 2004 To hell with the guitar - I love the case. I'm sick to death of trying to find room to store empty guitar cases in my little home. Cases like that would be a god send! I'm taking a hacksaw to all my guitar necks and trading in my guitar cases for brief-cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robal Posted February 29, 2004 Members Share Posted February 29, 2004 And so every time you want to take it out of the case you have to string it up? Any every time you break it down to put in the case, you take off the strings (and probably not reuse them again). I realize that's not a big investment in strings for a $3000+ guitar, but -- for me -- kinda a pain to deal with. I'd rather have a travel guitar I can pull out of it's case already strung up and tuned and get to playing. Not assembly. Just me. Nice looking though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LittleBrother Posted February 29, 2004 Members Share Posted February 29, 2004 Originally posted by Robal And so every time you want to take it out of the case you have to string it up? Any every time you break it down to put in the case, you take off the strings (and probably not reuse them again). I realize that's not a big investment in strings for a $3000+ guitar, but -- for me -- kinda a pain to deal with. I'd rather have a travel guitar I can pull out of it's case already strung up and tuned and get to playing. Not assembly. Just me. Nice looking though. Hi Pal. Well, you're right but you are also missing one point. This is not a travel guitar in the sense it is a REAL guitar with as much musical power and tone as a real high end unit. Built by a world class luthier as well. You could fly on Delta with this in the overhead compartment and get off the plane 1000 miles away and execute a professional performance on stage or in the studio. You can't do that with a regular travel guitar. As John says it takes 3 minutes to assemble, string up and tune from the time you open the latches. It the difference between a small daisy BB gun and a professional hit man's rifle and scope broken down. So it's not going to fill the needs of customers like yourself that want a full time assembled travel guitar. But at the same time your Backpacker, Crafter Travel Guitar, Baby Taylor or Go Guitar wont sound the same. Oh well, I beat that dead horse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MartinD45-GS Posted February 29, 2004 Members Share Posted February 29, 2004 I'd rather have it fill my space as a parlor guitar... now if I were Leo Kottke, Doyle Dykes, Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Neil Young....etc.... yeah, it would be a travel guitar .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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