1967 RG&G The Grammer Guitar - Green Burst - w/ Case
1967 Grammer — Green Burst (RG&G Era)
This 1967 Grammer is in surprisingly original condition and represents a very hard-to-find example from the early RG&G production era. If you’ve chased Grammer guitars for years like we have, you already know examples like this are becoming increasingly difficult to locate—especially in unusual finishes.
The interior label is missing, which is unfortunately very common on Grammer guitars from this period. However, the combination of bridge style, fingerboard inlays, pickguard shape, and tuner configuration places this guitar squarely within the ~1350–1850 serial number range, which falls right in the middle of RG&G’s total production and points to early 1967.
The finish is particularly interesting. This guitar began life as a Green Burst, but over time the finish has shifted dramatically into a deep honey-bronze orange tone with hints of green still visible around the edges. Grammer, like Gibson and other makers of the era, used aniline dyes to stain their instruments. These dyes are notorious for fading, with blue being the fastest to disappear. Because green is created by combining blue and yellow dyes, the blue component fades first, leaving behind the warmer tones you see today.
The result is a color that simply cannot be replicated artificially—it can only happen through decades of natural aging and UV exposure. We’ve handled a large number of Grammer guitars over the years and have not seen another that has faded to quite this particular shade.
As many of you know, we maintain the Grammer & Gower Guitar Archive, where we actively research, document, and preserve the history of the brand. We are occasionally willing to release a few pieces from the archive to make room for guitars with even greater historical significance. This was the first Green RG&G example added to our collection, and while we know we will regret letting it go, it’s time for it to find the next caretaker.
The guitar remains remarkably original. It retains its original Grover tuners, truss rod cover, nut, frets, pickguard, bridge, bridge pins, and strap buttons. The headstock veneer is intact, though the top corners have been slightly rounded over. We see this fairly often on guitars from this era and suspect it was done to allow the headstock to fit inside whichever dreadnought cases Grammer happened to be sourcing at the time, as they frequently changed suppliers.
The original nut was partially fractured at some point long ago and was carefully glued back together. It has remained stable and continues to function perfectly.
The neck is straight, and the truss rod operates correctly in both directions. This guitar features Grammer’s Standard Neck profile, nominally listed at 1-5/8", though this one measures slightly wider. It is clearly the medium profile and not the smaller narrow version.
The original frets show only minimal wear and do not affect playability or intonation. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard displays beautiful natural grain character.
Importantly, the neck angle is correct, and the guitar shows no signs of ever having undergone a neck reset—and it does not need one. We take this point seriously. Over the years we’ve purchased far too many Grammers advertised as “playing great” that arrived needing a major reset or carrying evidence of a poorly executed one. Fortunately, this is not one of those guitars.
Currently the action is set to .08" on the low E and .07" on the high E at the 12th fret, where it plays comfortably and cleanly. The saddle still has plenty of height remaining—approximately 3/4" at the D and G strings—so there is ample room for future adjustment if desired.
The Brazilian rosewood bridge is fully intact, with no cracks and no lifting. The bridge plate is also in excellent condition, and the top shows no belly bulge. The pickguard is stable and not lifting.
There is some honest playwear around the soundhole, which we actually quite like—it’s the kind of wear that tells you the guitar has spent its life being played.
The spruce top is crack-free, though there are small dings, scuffs, and general signs of use consistent with a 60+ year-old instrument that has been enjoyed but not abused.
Like nearly every RG&G guitar, the ornamental back strip had split open at some point, which is extremely common for these. The seam has been properly sealed, and lightweight wood cleats were added internally to keep everything stable.
All internal bracing appears original and firmly secured. We performed a thorough inspection using both a borescope and blacklight and found no signs of structural issues, previous repairs, or finish touch-ups. Overall, it remains exceptionally clean and original for an instrument of this age.
And of course, it sounds fantastic.
Early maple-bodied Grammer guitars have a voice all their own, and this one is a great example. It is loud and responsive when driven, yet it has a warm, sweet character when played lightly. The bass has a satisfying depth without becoming overpowering, and the upper frequencies remain clear and articulate without sounding overly bright.
There are still plenty of songs left in this one.
A period-correct chipboard case (originality unknown) is included.
This guitar is available for a test drive in our Jamestown, Kentucky showroom. If you’d like to visit and compare it against our large collection of other Grammer guitars, just give us a heads-up and we’ll be happy to accommodate.
We ship worldwide and are always happy to talk with fellow Grammer enthusiasts and collectors.