the following are some of my personal collection (click on photo to enlarge)
usually GS30 serial number was stamped on neck plate as this guitar had fixed neck serial number stamped on head as per all models from 1978
As per all late model Grimshaws the inhouse built tail piece and bridge substituted for off the shelf items, including now standard DiMarzio humbuckers
Final Grimshaw? certainly the last GS30 serial number 1760 made circa 1985, mahogany back with Gretsch style silver sparkle front
Unusual diamond inlay harks back to the 1930,s models. Schaller tuners standard fit.
The only GS30 to have fixed neck made circa 1985
This shows the tapered binding to accomodate the wider body 55mm
GSC serial number 1706 made in 1978. List price £129. A rare model with distinctive shape and maple fret board
Twin single pole pickups made by Giles, who were Giles? although stamped with this name I think they were made by Grimshaw.
Square edged body Brazilian mahogany similar to a Burns Brian May
Two tone two volume and selector switch with phase switch the mounting plate is recessed flush with body a nice touch.
Unusual head shape quite different from any other Grimshaw model. Truss rod cover is recessed flush with head face.
Schaller tuners but smaller than Schaller type used on other Grimshaw models
Meteor circa 1960 the first solid body electric guitar made by Grimshaw extremely rare.
Original switches laid out in similar style to SS deluxe, pickups were also from SS deluxe, flick switch is a later addition.
Grimshaw made tremolo was patented in UK and USA.
Stylish lines for a 1960 guitar
Machine heads as per SS deluxe late 1950,s
Rear view showing rather nice body shape
GS33 serial number 1762 this could be the last Grimshaw made. It was purchased in 1980,s from the auction when Grimshaw closed and was 80% complete. Aquired by this web site in 2011 and is now complete and plays and looks like a new guitar..
Serial number stamped in back of head is usual on all guitars from late 1970,s
Good example of the later transfer type signature used from 1978 on
Early 1970,s GS 33 in superb original order, serial number 601..
GS 33 shares body with GS 7 and uses hardware from GS30.
Grimshaw wire type badge with GS33
GS 7 budget priced early 1970,s guitar, serial number 614.
Grimshaw made tail piece. Small slide switch is split phase. All electrics are attached to scratch plate, unlike GS 33 which has electrics inserted through back of body.
Rear view showing fixed neck
GS 33 dating from circa 1979 serial number 1721 list price £118.50. A very late model Grimshaw and in my oppinion one of the best solid body guitars made by Grimshaw
Di Marzio pickups with coil tap facility. Bridge and tail piece no longer Grimshaw made items along with control knobs were off the shelf items
Back of body shows the attractive shape of the GS 33/7
Fixed neck unlike GS 30 which had bolt in
The transfer type Grimshaw London signature replaced the wire type from 1975
Schaller machine heads became standard fitment on all models after 1973
G5 round holeTop of the range in 1930,s
Rear view showing resonator body and hidden fastenings
G5 head had higher level of trim and badging
Grimshaw Revelation patented resonator back can be seen here. This is a very distinctive sounding guitar
Revelation G4 archtop “f” hole model dating from 1933
1930,s revelation with resonator clearly shown, it is open for discussion if this method of construction gave a louder sound than normal.
Troubadour TA12E 12 string electro acoustic. Pickup is Grimshaw patented item built into fret board. Grimshaw applied for a patent on this style of pickup in 1953
12 string Troubadour dates from 1965, a large guitar with a large sound
Troubadour head showing 1960,s style Grimshaw wire badge which replaced the hand applied signature of the 1950,s
Troubadour TA6E made 1959 to special order by Chappell pianos.
Troubadour built in pickup with controls mounted on lower cutaway. And slotted head.
Rear view showing inlaid binding
Plectric de-luxe 1953 showing the patented integral pickup with controls and jack socket built into scupltured scratch plate
1950 Plectric was the first purpose made electric guitar from Grimshaw
Plectric de-luxe Inlaid mother of pearl motive on head
G3 Electroacoustic patented pickup in neck and switches + jack socket mounted on scratch plate. The G3 was Grimshaw,s entry priced guitar post war and was available without pickup fitted.
G3 electro acoustic 1948 with re-cycled plastic tuner heads very post war austerity.
G3 Electro acoustic in very nice condition all electrics still working perfectly.
Hartford 12 non cutaway body with pickup
Nice birds eye veneer to side and back
Assymetric style head denotes Hartford model
Hartford 12 with cut away body dates from circa 1955
Assymetric shape head standard for Hartford models in the 1950,s
Rear view showing a well made guitar, the Hartford brand were considered budget priced instruments.
MS7 1969 with rare equal cutaways. A really excellent well made guitar, a joy to play. The MS7 was a replacement model for the earlier SS de-luxe
MS7 head showing Van Ghent machine heads, Schaller machine heads were standard after 1970.
MS 7 double cut away 1969 head, this later style of head was not as attractive as the earlier SS de-luxe.
MS12 in a condition that can only be described as straight from the shop. Standard MS7 body but with hardware and pickups to suit 12 strings
The MS7 and MS12 were not the best looking guitars but they play and sound very nice
The chrome G was used in the late 1960,s to cover the fixing screw
Large extended MS 7 head to accomodate 12 tuners
Van Ghent machine heads which were used for a while in the late 1960,s
Rear shot showing large body and the well preserved finish
Special MS 7 similar to the guitar above. Not quite sure what this guitar was intended to be but the wires from under fret board show some complex electronics
The frets are separated down entire length of fret board between each string
All switches relating to electronics have been removed and patches placed over holes
Another patch on lower bout, it is not known what type of switches were fitted.
Cover for access on rear of body shows this was not a DIY job
This guitar was made by Grimshaw as an experiment ? clearly the guitar was manufactured to house all the changes. Can anyone throw any light on this interesting guitar?
Another Grimshaw experiment, this time based on a Meteor body with some very complex switching. The pickup mounts are from a MS7 which dates the guitar to late 1960,s
What all these switches did is a mystery to me can anyone out there tell me ?
Rear side showing the professional routing to accomodate the electrics.
What were all the routered cavities for?
Another rear view showing various switches
Remnants of Grimshaw tremolo and three rotary switches. It is very unlikely this guitar will ever be brought to playable condition but at least it survives to show a unique period in guitar making.
SS Custom 1979 serial number 1754 made for Roland Austin from Leicester a long time player of Grimshaw guitars this was a replica of an earlier SS deluxe(see lower photo) cost price in 1979 £331. Plays beautifully.
SS Custom 1984 with humbucker pickups and very useful master volume control, one of the best Grimshaw I have ever played. And is almost certainly the last SS guitar made.
A rare head style specified by Roland Austin with Schaller tunners standard after 1972. This guitar is certainly the last to carry Emile Grimshaw jnr signature.
1957 SS 1, This guitar was a cheaper version of the SS de-luxe with a slightly lower trim level the humbucker pickups are a later non standard fitment.
SS 1 model was £10 less than a SS de-luxe deleted from price list in 1959
SS 1 models had this assymetric style head, Klusson machines are a later addition.
SS Supreme made around 1960 with humbucker pickups (fitted later along with bridge by Grimshaw) modifications done for original owner Roland Austin, who owned the guitar for many years until his death.
Roland Austin had this torch design motif on head which harks back to earlier banjo,s. This is an early SS which has no truss rod fitted.
The Grimshaw flick lever for quick and positive pickup selection a great innovation. This guitar has non standard flamed maple top.
SS de-luxe 1958 with patented Grimshaw tremolo system. A beautiful time warp example of this iconic guitar. List price 1958 £52.10s. case extra. Tremolo unit £10 fitted.
1958 SS deluxe cherry sunburst. This is just pure 1950,s rock and roll.
SS de-luxe head showing hand signed Grimshaw signature. Grimshaws signature featured on all guitars from 1945 to 1964 all though the style changed over the years, so it is possible to date a Grimshaw by its signature.
1958 SS deluxe natural blonde finish
SS deluxe body
Classic head style, Klusson machine heads non original
SS de-luxe bass 1958, a rare and early example of a bass guitar. List price 1958 £54.5s case extra
A good shot of the Grimshaw built individually wound pickups. The bridge pickup is attached to the bridge by a metal plate, why they did it this way is a mystery, can anyone tell me why?
Classic shaped head, SS de-luxe bass 1958
SS 5 bass circa 1966 replaced SS deluxe bass. Not as attractive as the earlier guitar but did play better
Plastic pickup covers not the best and were replaced by more substantial chrome ones in late 1960,s
SS 5 head was also not as pretty as SS deluxe but this shape was adopted for all semi acoustic guitars from 1963.
GS 30 black with block markers.
Non original bridge, all black finish with gold hardware
GS 30 mid 1960,s serial number 085
A pair of tobacco sunburst GS30 dating from mid 1960,s serial numbers 253 and 400.
GS30 The two guitars look identical but one is slightly smaller and lighter(on right) and was possibly a special order for a child or lady player, otherwise it has all the attributes of any other GS30.
Park badge denotes this guitar was supplied by the Park amplifier co.
GS 30 Gold top serial number 408
GS 30 mahogany back contrasting gold top
GS 30 Many colours were available, this one has gold top and mahogany back.
Period set up. My black GS30 with early 70,s Acoustic Control Corp 100 watt combo
GS30,s were Grimshaw,s best selling guitar with over 500 made in ten years, whilst not quite a Les Paul they were very capable guitars. I have owned this one since 1968 and used it regularly until 1975. It still bears the scars of a hard life.
GS30 head with model badge attached. The wire die cast badge replaced the hand painted signature on the 1950,s guitars. Only a few semi acoustics and archtops got the signature after 1964.
Electrawaiian lap steel. Art deco styling on this hawaiian electric guitar made in 1946. The pickup is a modern replacement, it still sounds great today.
Electrawaiian 1946. This guitar was supplied by Matchetts of Belfast who were long serving agents for Northern Ireland. This instrument was used by The Portaferry Hawaiian Band until 1969.
A matching pair? 1958 SS deluxe four and six string guitars
Two very attractive examples of pure 1950,s rock and roll
Heads stock,s from previous photos, photo by Lars Mullen for Guitar & Bass magazine
Hopefully these two will remain together permanently.
First and last of the short scale range. On the right 1957 SS1 with 1984 SS Custom on the left. photo by Lars Mullen for Guitar & Bass magazine.
Six and twelve string Troubadour. photo by Lars Mullen for Guitar & Bass magazine.
Some of my collection, photo by Lars Mullen for Guitar & Bass magazine
