Brand: Greven Guitars
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars
Here is a rarity! A John Greven Prairie State Model ‘Doug Jones Special’ jumbo steel string from the early 2000’s. This beautiful piece is built with a Spruce top, Flame Maple for the back, sides and neck, and Brazilian Rosewood for the bridge and bound fingerboard. The binding, heel cap, head plate and pickguard are faux tortoise. Tuners are Waverly open gear models with creme plastic buttons.
Greven built a number of ‘Prairie State’ models. This is a jumbo design, in proportions related to the classic 000 body. Originally made by the Larson Brothers of Chicago during the 1930’s into the 1940’s, these were later displaced by the Martin-style Dreadnought with the rise of Country and Bluegrass. Doug Jones, AKA “Little Brother” was an active blues proponent into the 2010’s.
This guitar is in overall good condition with moderate wear. There have been a few small touch-ups and the finish is somewhat oxidized, but otherwise the finish is in good shape. It plays well, and has a fully developed voice with lots of presence.
Sold with a gig bag, but suitable hard shell cases are available.
Greven Guitars have been built by John Greven since 1969, though from the late 1960’s into the mid 1970’s Greven worked in George Gruhn’s Nashville shop repairing and restoring vintage guitars.
For much of his career Greven has built up to 60 instruments a year, but in 2021 he closed his shop near Portland, Oregon and semi-retired to Lacey, Washington. He has apparently restarted building, with instrument #2200 appearing during 2023.
Greven’s instruments often draw from pre-WW2 models and use rare, high end materials.
- Model: Prairie State Doug Jones Special
- Year: 2002
- Finish Vintage Sunburst
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: 1255, built around 2002 near Portland, Oregon
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 27/02/2024
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including Gig Bag case
- Instrument Weight: 4.05lbs 1.84kg
- Scale Length: 25.257in 642mm
- Nut Width: 1.821in 46.26mm
