Garrison Guitars

Subject: Garrison Guitars
From: Clifton53
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 06:47 PM

I've just seen an advert for these guitars and was wondering if anyone had seen or played one of them.

It features what looks like a fibreglass 'skeleton' onto which the wood is attached, the point being I guess that all the braces, bridge plate, kerfing and binding are connected resulting in the guitar vibrating as one unit.

The company claim is that this " innovative construction creates superb playability and clarity of tone".

Fairly new company I guess and the concept aroused my curiosity. Anyone seen or played one of these?

www.garrisonguitars.com

Clifton

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: sc
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 07:27 PM

Just had a discussion about the Griffiths Guitars Clifton. Chris and Mark from the company chimed in so you may be interested in the Old Thread...

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Clifton53
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 07:34 PM

Thanks sc, I missed it.

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: GUEST,Fortunato
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 08:34 AM

Clifton53 I wish I could find these guitars. I want to buy one or two acoustic guitars for sons this Christmas. I know the other choices but counting on finding a gem amongst the other "not-high-dollar" brands is iffy. If you learn anything let me know. I've emailed Garrison but they haven't answered my query for dealers. What's up with that?

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Clifton53
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 09:21 AM

Fortunato, they must have a problem getting dealers to take them, what with so many brands and price ranges already in stock. Maybe the dealers are leary of the profit margin at such low prices? I wish I knew as I want to try one out. Or do they think they won't sell being so different? How about production problems? That might explain why they haven't replied to your E-Mails.

The advertisement I saw was in " Guitar Player", so they certainly want to get the word out.

I queried a few mail-order outfits today. If I get a response I'll let you know.

I surely hope we find something out by Christmas.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 11:47 AM

Well, it does make you wonder...new company and all. I found only 2 dealers through some basic seaching on Google, one in Edmonton, Alberta, and the other in ("two lonely truckers from") Great Falls, Montana ("and a stranger from places unknown").

I tried the Guitar Mall and got no hits at all and they have a load of dealers. I might try to look at the inventory of some of them individually. Chance, what's the joint in Maryland down toward Annapolis that discounts a lot of stuff and carries some less expensive stuff? Manny's or something? They do a lot of mail order.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Clifton53
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 12:03 PM

They are made in Canada so perhaps someone up there has a line on 'em, though I noted that Rick said he hadn't yet seen one, but that was a while ago.

I queried Musician's Friend out in Oregon after getting no hits on their stock. I got an answer, saying my answer will come within 24 hours, so there is hope. I also queried Elderly but no answer yet.

Spaw, I think the place in Maryland is called 'Musicians Supply', or something to that effect, not real sure on that.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 03:33 PM

That ain't it either Cliff, but I'll be damned if I remember.....Maybe "Musician's Supply" is a part of it but there's some name too............

Anyway, I searched about 20 of the east coast dealers and nary a thing. Try a PM to BigChuck!! Sandy works in a music store and may have an idea!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 03:51 PM

I don't know about the guitars but the Buzz Feiten tuning sure got my attention - meeting with my luthier tomorrow for an initial look see at what it will take to get my old Mossman up to speed. Answered a question I've had since this instrument was new about tuning problems!

Thanks!! Steve

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Clifton53
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 07:07 PM

I struck out with my queries. Elderly says that they have seen the guitars at trade shows but thus far have opted not to carry them. Musician's Friend, which is owned by Guitar Center said they do not carry them now but perhaps down the road they will, and the person replying had never heard of them until now.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: GUEST,cc
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 12:34 PM

I bought a G30 (spruce top, birch back & sides) a few weeks ago.

I'll say that these are NOT the guitar for everybody - aesthetics and tolerance of new technology will come into play here. I don't want to "defend" the purchase, and made an effort to include negative observations, but the positive aspects seemed to have won out for me. Most definately I am very happy with the sound at this point, though I had a few frightful moments caused by some UNUSUALLY twangy new strings. Following is a kind of rundown of my first week with it, posted on another forum.

First time I saw them a few years ago I was really put off by the android-like skeletal system. Now I like the idea of the stability it might provide, and thought maybe I could see past the black cage. It really sounded good, even with old strings.

I will add that the cedar topped G20's sound a little better out of the box, but I am counting on the aging properties of the spruce.

These are really loud guitars with outstanding projection - I played the cedar/birch(G20) and the engelman/sapele (G40) models also. It's still the spruce/birch that speaks to me - and still with the old strings on. The tone is very articulate and even, intonation is on. I would venture to say that the birch gives something like a maple sound, but with a mahogany-like signature.

When I picked it up, the dealer had put new Adamas light strings on it. Strummed in the store, it sounded right. The woods are finished well. The spruce seems very high quality, with tight grain. The birch is nothing to write home about, looks-wise, with a few interesting knots. Bookmatching is good, quarter-sawing not perfect (you get that two-tone appearance in certain lights.)

I got it home and tuned it up and got scared. It sounded like a dobro, especially the D and G strings. Different attacks, same sensation. Hard to describe, but you know that dobro twang, or twoing? My head was spinning. I kept thinking about how birch is used on a number of resonator guitars, and perhaps with good reason. I was really afraid I had made a foolish choice. I decided overall that there was just a whole lot of that "new string" kind of sound which is always a bit much for me. Decided to give it a little more time, and just played the heck out of it for the evening.

One thing for sure, after day one, this is a LOUD guitar. One of my main hopes for it was volume and projection, and it definately has a load of both. Probably one of the loudest guitars I've played.

Day 2, I tuned it up and it did sound mellower, still a little twangy. Wondering if that black frame is coloring the tone. Still got the new string sound (I don't think I'll ever buy Adamas strings again). Sounded more like a guitar and less like a dobro. Still amazed at the volume, and the sustain and balance between notes are outstanding. I think there is something to the Buzz Feiten tuning system. Very articulate. Played some hard and moderate strumming, and some fingerpicking. Biggest observation that day was the sense of hugeness in the vibration of this guitar. I believe their idea about transmission of vibration through the bracing, end and neck blocks, and through the necks is really working. This is a very strong guitar, and I feel very secure about the neck to body joint, which is an important point in my mind. Big sound.

Day 3, I put it through it's paces. Sounding like a very clear voiced guitar with some chimey overtones. It's a keeper, considering the volume capability and penetrating projection, but sounds less "twangy" today. I'm very enthused, I think as the strings mellow and the spruce opens up, this is going to be sweet. Kind of maple/mahogany in sound, if that makes any sense.

Well, 5 days into this and I think I'll be very happy with this. I'll also say that it's not the guitar for everybody, and that's a matter of personal preference, tolerance of technology (it's a little weird to look inside and see that black bracing), and of course, sound is very subjective.
At this point, the bass has seemed to really stand up. Must have been just too much of that new string zing for the first couple of days.

Somewhere I read that the Garrisons sound to some as if already EQ'd. I'd say that is a fair analogy. It's a very balanced sound. While the mids are warm and very present, they don't get in the way of the clear trebles or the authoritative bass.

Now that the strings have calmed down a bit, the guitar sounds woody. Also, something in that polywhatever bracing cage gives it a bit of sparkle and a real load of sustain. I'm hearing a solid wood quality sound.

And it IS loud. This is a clear sounding, articulate guitar. Really sounds great flatpicked, and strumming you can get a really nice "whomp" (think Niel Young). Very good response for fingerpicking also.

I haven't mentioned much about the playability. I like to stay away from comparisons to other brands, and this is as subjective as sound descriptions. I'll make an exception here. So far, the most easy to play guitars I've handled have been Taylors, and, believe it or not, a "Denny Zager" Washburn. This neck plays a lot like those. The action was perfect, (or my version of perfect) in the store, and the neck feels very straight and even up and down the fretboard. The radius may be more than some others. Comfortable feel and plays as fast as I care to. The little bit of extra nut width (1.7 as compared to the so-common 1 11/16 or 1.67) combined with the radius makes this a good fingerpicker. The "Buzz Feiten" tuning system seems to be doing what it is supposed to, I get great chord voicing up and down the neck, and the intonation is right on.

The woods are good. Though not perfectly quarter-sawn, evidenced by the "two tone" look in certain lights, they are book-matched perfectly. The spruce top is tight grained and full of "silking" or medial rays which may be a sign of a quality guitar top. The birch back and sides, though bland on this particular guitar, are finely grained and very well formed and finished.

It comes with a good Canadian hardshell case, though I opted to keep the case from the guitar I traded in.

Things to think about:

Definately a "Plain Jane" with those unstained (and sort of blandly grained) birch sides with the overall satin finish, yet there is an interesting sheen to it.

The binding being an integral part of the bracing system is a great idea, and makes for some great protection.

STRONG guitar. This is a natural road warrior.

Inside type bridge plate pickups might be a bad idea for this. They'd be sticking to that bracing material. Might be interesting to hear but my gut feeling is it wouldn't be very "acoustic" sounding. (I'll be going with an under-saddle piezo)

What happens if the wood shrinks or swells and the bracing doesn't? Let's keep it humidified.

Interesting observation: I've seen a lot of comments on the "Intelli-Touch" tuner, saying how people have trouble getting all the notes to register when they clamp it to the headstock, and have to move it for certain notes. I've experienced this on every instrument I've put the IntelliTouch to, except for this Garrison. Not an issue on this guitar, and I think it's because that bracing system, tied in so securely to the neck, is really doing what it's supposed to do. This thing THRUMS with vibration like it's alive.

Played it for a long-time guitar buddy (between he and I we must have more than a half century of playing time). He has played a lot of really nice guitars, but he was taken by the sound and playability of this G-30. No small achievement, because he always speaks his mind. He's now looking for a Garrison 12-string!

Though it's the middle of the night and I've got time to babble on and on, I'll sum it up. This is a go-to guitar. Great solid wood sound, huge volume, and strength to put aside a lot of the worries that go with acoustics. I don't think you'll see neck/body joint issues on these, though they do have the typical 14th fret slope. With the plain looks and the ease of playing, this is a guitar to be real comfortable with. I don't think this would be one people will be trading off. If I wanted a high end guitar, I wouldn't put this one up for sale, it's just too "useful". "Utilitarion"? I suppose, but I must stress that this is a MUSICAL guitar and a pleasure to play. I think even "elitist" high-end owners would like and appreciate the Garrison G-30, or even want one as a back-up or road guitar.

All that for just about $470 including a good hard shell case.

Subject: RE: Garrison Guitars
From: Amos
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 06:09 PM

Here 's a page of their US Dealers.

The G40 12 string appeals to me.

A