Gower Guitars

Here is what I know about Gower Guitars.

I am the original owner of a Gower 6-string,
built in 1972. The Gowers lived near Nashville,
where they owned some sort of small recording studio.
Perhaps as a money-making hobby, Mr. and Mrs. Gower
built guitars (perhaps a half-dozen per year?) which
they sold through Grayson's Music, an instrument dealer
in New York. It's certainly possible that the Gowers
sold their instruments through other dealers too.

I don't know how Grayson's made initial contact with
the Gowers. I do recall that there would be a small amount
of written correspondance concerning what style of guitar
would be built (for example, a Martin D-45 imitation), and
when it might be ready to be shipped.

My guitar also says "Gower Guitar established 1955" on the
head, but came without serial number or other identifying
information inside the guitar body. It has rosewood sides
and back, a mahogany neck, spruce top, ebony fingerboard.
The tuning machines should have been of better quality, and
I am having them replaced at the moment. The pick guard is
layered, with a black surface attached to a slightly large
white piece. The inlay in the fingerboard is simple: mother-
of-pearl dots in the usual places, but the purfling (the
striped binding where the back and sound board join to the
sides is pretty cool: it's 14 layers thick on the sound board-
to-sides edge. There is white binding along the edges of the
fingerboard. The quality of the (visible) craftsmanship is
excellent. I've never taken aninspection mirror to the guitar
when changing strings, so I can't comment about the bracing.

Mine's a nice instrument, with an unusually narrow neck
and good tone. In 1972 it cost me $300, which was the
"street price" for a Martin D-18. It's a much nicer guitar
than a D-18, and I've always been happy with it. It is being
repaired at the moment (nothing major), and I am eager to
have it back.

A luthier in Champaign, IL who knew of their guitars
told me that Mr. Gower had died a few years ago.

If anyone knows anything more/different about Gower Guitars,
please let me know-- my email address is [email protected].

George Gollin
12/19/2002

: : Any information regarding Gower Guitars from
: : Nashville Musical Instrument CO. INC establish in 1955.
: I have a gower acoustic that I purchased at auction,Six string dreadnaught size,the instrument
: was in fair condition with some of the neck binding and nut dried and unglued after a thorough
: cleaning some cosmetics restrung with John Pearse strings I was amazed at the wonderful voice
: e this guitar has,the neck is very narrow and smooth playing with large block inlays.I contacted
: a freind of mine in Nashville for some history on this instrument and company that produced it
: but have not recieved any info so far.

I have a Gower Guitar with serial number 3130 and model number G-55-2. I am interested in know when it was made. I've seen some that say 1962 and 1965?