Michael Gurian is an extraordinarily gifted guitar maker, best known for his New Hampshire-based workshops of the '60s, '70s, and early '80s. Today he manufactures and supplies guitar fittings, marquetry, and tools; imports wood; and acts as a consultant to the guitar and woodworking industry. "During the early and mid-'60s, Gurian learned from luthiers Gene Clark, David Rubio, and Manuel Velazquez. He mastered the craft of classic guitar making and became a talented lutenist, lute maker, and builder of the Armenian oud. His operation was one of the first significant forerunner to many current American ateliers, including those of Mossman, Santa Cruz, and Collings. "Gurian built his reputation among studio guitarists who liked fast, narrow necks and the punch of a long scale length Some of the celebrities who play Gurians are Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon, who still treasures a custom wide-neck Size 3 Gurian made for him in the early '70s. Dogged by bad luck, a disastrous fire, and a major recession, Gurian Guitars, Ltd., closed up shop in West Swanzey, New Hampshire, during the '80s. Aprox. 5000 Gurians were ever made according to the List below. And everyone I know who owns one is very possessive of it. As a result, Gurian guitars are very scarce on the market today. Any Gurian in good condition would be an excellent purchase for its typicall dynamics and tone."  If you read further you will find a Register of Gurian guitars and serial numbers. Gurian Guitar Serial Numbers Gurian started all numbers at #1100 Thanks to Bob Thomas,  who made this list over many years. Bob is a well known Gurian collector, a part of his notes are related to his Own collection, where and when he purchased it.            Type Serial Year Specifics 1965: Greenwich village New York City S1 None 1968 One of 24 made, Italian? Spruce/BRW (Brazilian Rosewood) CL None Ca. 1968 IRW, Classical, no model #/Serial 1969/1970: Bedford street, New York City SL3 A1151 Ca. 1969 BRW, Bearclaw spruce top, ebay November 2007 SL3 A1152 “ Mahogany, Spruce, ebay November 2007 JR A1152 “ BRW (claimed) CLR A1176 “ IRW (Indian rosewood) CLM A1185 “ Mahogany SL3 A1195 1970 BRW/Spruce S3R A1297 “ “B” series S3R A1300 “ BRW(claimed) with cracks. S3B A1320 “ Canada Kelvin Delves     1965 Greenwich Village, New York City                        S1      None   - 1968 -  One of 24 built - Italian? Spruce/BRW.                  CL      None   -          -  Indian rosewood classical, claim of no serial number and no model Bedford Street, New York City                                          SL3    A1151             - ebay November 2007 - Brazilian Body/Bearclaw Spruce top         SL3    A1152             - ebay November 2007 - Mahogany Body/Spruce top JR      A1166             - claimed to be Brazilian                  CLR   A1176             - Indian Rosewood                                            CLM  A1185             - Mahogany                         SL3    A1195 - 1970 - Brazilian/Spruce                                               S3R   A1297 -            "B" Series           S3R   A1300              - project guitar w/ cracks, claimed to be Brazilian                                               S3B  A1320               - Canada-Kevin Delves S3R - A1372              - Bought from Michael Gurian 1969                            S3R - A1436              -                                    S3R - A1441 - 1970   -                                                      S3M- A1469                                                  S3B - A1471              - Left-Handed      Grand Street, New York City            JR    - B1165             - Bought New York 1970 Ebay Oct 2007                                    J3BH- B1173                                                   S3M -B1174              -Ebay July 2008 Refinished                                            J3B  - B1189                    Bought approximately 1972       S3B - B1203 - 1970  -Last Known #    2479 S3B3H- B1217                   Ebay Canada Oct 2007                                    HJR - B1301                    J3R - B1321 - 1970/71                                                                S3R - B1331 - 1970-71Repaired headstock                      S3B - B1358                                                                   S3R - B1383                    S3B3H - B1394         - Originally sold new USA 1973                                                    JR-     B1431                                                                  1971 Hinsdale, New Hampshire                                    JB3H - C1173    USA                                                      JB3H - C1176                                                                  JR     - C1182           - eBay August 16, 2006                                    S3B3H - C1207 -1973                                                     S3B3H - C1217                                                                  S3R  - C1258                                                                  JB    - C1261                                                                  JM                  C1354                                                                  JM                  C1356                                                                  S3R                                C1372                   ebay Sept 07                                     S3R                                C1373                                                                  JR                   C1413                                                                  JM                 C1456                                                                  JK                   C1531    1972      Koa jumbo; claimed to be one of a kind               (but it’s not)                      JR                   C1562    1973                                                     S2M              C1612                                                                  JM                  C1628                    Bought new 1974                                                           S3M              C1635                   Refinished with French polish                                  S3M              C1636                                                                  S2M              C1657                                                                   JR3H              C1708                                                                  JR                   C1714                    Bought new in Germany, 1974                                                 S3M              C1753                    Bought new 1975                                                           S3R                                C1758                                                                  S2R                C1786                                                                  JR                   C1827                                                                  JM                  C1841    1975                                                     S3RH             C1946                   Ebay Oct 2007 - Spliced top piece                                            S3M              C1951    1975                                                     JM                  C2000                    Bought USA 1976                                                           JR                   C2059                    Bought new May 1976                                                 JM                  C2086                   Ebay Jan 2008 - Repaired side cracks, top seam separation                         S3M              C2102                                                                  S3R                                C2140    1977                                      S3M              C2171                                                                  S2R                                C2209                   Sold Ebay Oct 2007                                         JR3H              C2216                                                                   S2B3H           C2256                   Ebay (from Canada) April 08                                      S2M              C2293                                                                  S3M              C2349                    Originally Sold in Sweden 1976?                                                              S3B3H           C2352                    Originally sold in Sweden - Used in 1986              S2M              C2368                    bought new in 1975                                                      S3R                                C2416                   sold on eBay June 29, 2007                                        JM                  C2524                    Bought New USA 1976/77           Ebay Feb 2008                                  JM                  C2531                                                                  S3R3H           C2533                                                                  S2M              C2536                                                                  JR                   C2564                                                                  S3R                                C2576    1977                                                     JR3H              C2595                    Bought new in Australia 1976                                                   JM                  C2603                                                                  CM3H           C2617                                                                  S3R                                C2662    1976-1977           Has a passive pickup                                     CMHP           C2671                                                                  S2M              C2723    1977                                                     S3R                                C2784    1977                                                     CRH               C2786    1977                                                     CRH               C2838                   sold on eBay 7/9/06                                      JR                   C2927                                                                  S2M              C2969    1977                                                     S2R                                C2974    1976-1977?                                                        CMHP           C2993                                                                  JR                   C3029    1977-78                                                               JM                  C3042                                                                  S2M              C3060                                                                  S3M              C3114                   sold on eBay April 9, 2007                                           JM                  C3153                                                                  JM                  C3154                   Sold on ebay Feb 2008  TrueTone pickup                                           JM                  C3156                                                                  S3M              C3187                                                                  S3M              C3191                                                                  S3R                C3204                    Known Built in Mid 1978                                              JM                  C3227                                                                  JR3H              C3240                    Known Built in Mid 1978                                              S3M              C3250    1978                                                     CMHP           C3298    Maple cutaway                sold on eBay 5/13/07                                    CMHP           C3355    Maple cutaway                sold on eBay 5/11/06                                    S2R3H           C3361    1978-79                                                               JM                  C3270                   ebay November 2007  Passive pickup                                   S2R                                C3371                   sold on eBay March 2, 2007                                       JM                  C3402                    Originally sold new in Sweden                                                 CMHP           C3429                                                                  CMH             C3432    USA                                                      JR                   C3467                   sold on eBay March 5, 2007                                       S3M              C3481                   replaced ebony fingerboard, fretwire, bridge and pickguard                                    S2M              C3510    1979                                                     JR                   C3566    1979                                                     JM                  C3571                                                                  S3M              C3603                                                                  S3M              C3610                                                                  CRH               C3612                                                                  S3R                                C3621                   Ebay Sept 2007                                JM                  C3679                                                                  S3M              C3736                   Auctioned  Ebay Jun 2007                                           JM                  C3776                   Auctioned on Ebay Jan 2007                                      JM                  C3797    Originally sold new in Sweden 1979                                                       CRH               C38XX                   Ebay Aug 2008, FRAP Pickup fitted                                         CRH               C3814                                                                  CRH               C3816    USA                                                      JR3H              C3839    Originally sold new in UK 1979   Guitar Junction UK May 2007     JR3H              C3869                                                                  JR                   C3896                   sold on eBay March 15, 2007                                     S3M              C3918                   sold on eBay April 4, 2007                                           JR                   C4149    (Probably) completed after fire               febr. 3 1979 (231 guitars burned)             JR                   C4152    Completed by a former Gurian luthier after fire                                              1980 West Swanzey, New Hampshire                                     JM                 D1135                                                                  JR3H              D1144                                                                  S2R3H           D1177   1980-81?                                                            JM                  D1209   Originally sold new 1980                                                             S2M              D1247   1980?                                                   S3M              D1283   1980?                                                   S3M              D1284   Germany 1980  Ebay Nov 2007                                 S3M              D1291                   Shimmed splits in top                                   S2R                D1315                                                                  S2R                                D1316   1980                                      S2M              D1345   1980      sold on eBay November 25, 2006                                            S2M              D1350    1980                                                    S3M              D1373                   full "Gurian" on headstock                                         CRH               D1431                   sold on eBay February 17, 2007                                               JR                   D1450                   sold on eBay April 18/07                                              JR                   D1452                                                                  JK                   D1507                   Supposedly the only koa Jumbo ever (wrong)                                 JM                  D1609                   Originally sold new New UK 1980                                                           S2K                D1615   1980                                                     S2K                D1617   1980-81                                                               S3K                                D1621   1980                                                     S3R3H           D1636   1980      sold on eBay March 13, 2007                                     JM                  D1653   1980-81                                                               S3M              D1681                                                                  S3M              D1688                                                                  S3R                                D1706                                                                  JK                   D1735                                                                  CLR                D1744                                                                  CLR                D1804?                                                                JR                   D1820   1-7/8 inch nut   sold on eBay June 5, 2007                                           JR                   D1821                   Ebay Mar 07                                      CLR                D1844?                                                                JR                   D1851   1980-81?                                                            S3R                                D1861   Bought new SF June 1981 $750                                                S3R                                D1862                                                                  S3R                                D1866   Originally sold from factory in 1980                                        JM                 D1883                                                                  J?                    D1929   1981                                                     JR                   D1934                   Ebay Oct 2008                                   S3M              D1940                   Ebay Jan 2008 - 3 Screws in bridge - crack treble side of neck                                    S3M              D1982                   wide neck, 1-7/8"                                           CLR                D2013                                                                  S3M              D2069                   Sold on eBay 5/12/07                                    S3M              D2105                                                                  S3M              D2108                   Ebay July 2007                                  S3M              D2118                                                                  JM                  D2150                   Playable, but all beat up                                              JM                 D2172   1981                                                     CLM              D2230                   Really beat up                  JM                  D2244   1981?    Full "Gurian" on headstock                                        S3M              D2255                   Full "Gurian" on headstock                                        S3M              D2259                                                                  JM                  D2278                   Full "Gurian" on headstock                                        S2K                D2300   Bought New 1984                                                          S3M              D2319   1981                                                     CLR                D2370                                                                  CLR                D2388   1981?                                                   CRH               D2391   New 1983                                                          CLR                D2407                   Ebay Sept 2007                                JK                   D2424                                                                  CM                 D2449                   Full "Gurian" on headstock Ebay Dec 2007                                          JR                   D2461   1981      Full "Gurian" on headstock                                        S3R                                D2471                                                                  S3R                                D2479   Possibly the last Gurian ever built – 1981 Full "Gurian" on headstock

                                    
Production ends, winter 1981

Total numbers Gurian Production
S1                                      24
Others                            unknown     
Totals                             24 known
"A" Series                       1100
"A" Series                       1100
Last Known #                  1471  
A Total                             371
"B" Series                       1100
Last Known #                  1394
 B Total:                           294
"C" Series                        1100
Last Known #                   4152
Lost in Fire                        231
C Total                             3052
 "D" Series                       1100
Last Known #                   2479
 D Total                            1379
       
TOTAL production known   4865