2011 John Greven 000-14 "White Lady" 50th Anniv White Spruce, Brazilian Natural with Aging Toner, Excellent, Hard, $14,999.00

When I started this enterprise a decade ago, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to offer a guitar of the caliber of this instrument. Offered here is a guitar that represents a gifted luthier's celebration of the joy of his own work building guitars for over a half century. Offered here is John Greven's White Lady 000-14, number 2200, built in 2012.
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White Lady number 2200 is a 000 size, 14 fret instrument with a short (24.875") string scale. John tells me the top comes from a very special old growth White Spruce tree from high in the Idaho Rockies. The top is supported with John's own modified 30's Era Martin bracing. The back and sides are made from a spectacular old growth Brazilian Rosewood set, the likes of which would be nearly impossible to source today, price notwithstanding. While John conservatively estimates that a Brazilian set like this would cost $3,500 wholesale in today's market, I've had other luthiers quote a cost far in excess of that sum, if you could even find it. The body purfling, rosette and backstrip are finely decorated with multi-color Pau Abalone. It has a V-shaped Mahogany neck with depth measurements of .88" at the first fret increasing to .94" at the twelfth fret with a unique hand-carved neck heel that is a work of fine art in an of itself. The Black Ebony fretboard has a 10" radius, ivoroid binding, carefully polished fret work, a 1.75" bone nut and intricate hand-engraved white MOP inlays. The headstock features a Brazilian Rosewood overlay, a Pau Abalone "White Lady" logo inlay along with Gold Gotoh 510 tuners. The bridge pins are bone with MOP dots. To add further to the incredible 'bling' on this guitar, John gave it a lacquered tortis pickguard inlaid with a Pau Abalone design. A simple K&K pickup was added for live performance playing. The guitar weighs just 4.4 pounds.
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When it first arrived, I was afraid to play this guitar. I avoided it for a while feeling quite unworthy of the instrument. Once I did get up the courage to play it, I was amazed. It plays with the ease of a Taylor guitar, albeit one with a larger neck profile. I found myself working up the neck with ease. While John recommends medium strings for the best tone, the guitar is currently setup with Elixir 80/20 lights with 12th fret string heights of 5.5/64" on the low E side and 4/64" on the high E side and a bit less 1/20" of neck relief. This guitar is a joy to play.
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Folks talk about wanting an acoustic guitar than can sound like a piano. Well, this guitar sounds like a Steinway! The tone is rich, complex and huge. It sounds like a dreadnought in terms of it's output. John calls it "warm, articulate, sustaining and powerful, like an old Martin." I hear no reason to disagree, but please check out the brief sound sample I have provided. Compare the tone of this guitar to some of the other high end acoustics I have in stock and I think you will agree; you get what you pay for!
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Built in 2012, White Lady #2020 remains in excellent plus condition with just the lightest signs of play here and there, primarily in the picking area. The wear is very light and can be found only under intense lighting and at the right angle. The guitar just came back from a check up at John's shop in Oregon after which he pronounced her in excellent cosmetic and playing condition. A fabulous instrument deserves an equally fabulous case, so White Lady comes in a brand new Calton case, along with all the relevant paperwork and correspondence.
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This is a once-in-a-lifetime guitar for it's builder and certainly for my small enterprise. The late great John Denver owned a 1984 White Lady which Gruhn Guitars has offered for $70K. White Lady #2200 is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime instrument for the discriminating player who purchases her. I am in awe of what John Greven has done. Make White Lady yours.....