1995 Don Grosh Retro Classic, Distressed

Grosh Retro Classic Distressed, SN: #99

This is an early example of the Don Grosh Retro Classic double cutaway guitar, serial number 99, with a neck pocket stamp of May 26, 1995. The basic configuration is very familiar from another famous California builder; three single coils, a five way switch, master volume, tone and tone knobs all mounted on a pickguard with a tremolo block, a bolt on neck and six-on-a-side Kluson style tuners.

The neck is a beautiful lightly figured piece of maple with a maple “cap” fingerboard. It has an aged satin nitro finish on a vintage style neck carve that starts as a soft “V” shape that transitions to a “C,” with a neck depth at the first fret of 13/16,” and ⅞” at the twelfth. There are 22 frets, medium size, with black dots at the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty first frets. The lower frets show light divoting but they are still very playable. The nut is 1 ⅝” and the scale length is 25 ½”. The body features a Transparent White Aged nitrocellulose finish with lots of wood grain showing through from the swamp ash below. It weighs in at 7 lbs. 

The trem block is a Vintage Custom Gotoh 1088 Tremolo. There are three original single coil Lindy Fralin pickups mounted on a pale green three ply pickguard along with the electronics mentioned above. There are a few light marks on the body and neck, this is a well played and well cared for guitar.

This is an excellent Stratocaster style instrument, with numerous upgrades all planned with a vintage feel and plenty of vintage tone in mind. This is a particularly comfortable guitar to hold and play with thoughtful contouring of the body, additional carving beyond the traditional contours, a lightweight body (6.6 pounds) and an excellent neck carve. After almost thirty years, it has aged-in enough to have a distinctive vintage tone of its own.

Includes HSC.