1969 Grammer / Ampeg G-30 - Mahogany Dreadnaught - Natural/Sunburst - w/Gig Bag
1969 Grammer / Ampeg G-30 – Transitional Model
This 1969 Grammer / Ampeg G-30 comes to us straight out of our own Grammer & Gower archives. We’re reluctantly letting a few pieces go to make room for even earlier or more historically significant examples, and this one drew the short straw despite being one of the real workhorses in the collection.
At first glance it’s clear this guitar has lived a full life. There is plenty of honest wear, the kind that only comes from decades of music being made. As most seasoned players know, those miles often translate into tone, and this one absolutely proves the point. It is loud, punchy, and surprisingly reminiscent of a great mahogany dreadnought—very much in the territory of a strong vintage D-18 style voice.
The serial number places this guitar early in the Ampeg era of Grammer production, and that timing matters. During this transitional window, leftover elements from the original RG&G factory were still appearing on guitars before the Ampeg production specs fully settled in. This example shows several of those carryover details, including the fingerboard inlay stripes and the distinctive “railroad track” soundhole rosette—both features that disappeared from the standard production G-30 shortly afterward.
Other correct components include factory Schaller tuners, a Brazilian rosewood bridge, and the oversized bone saddle that shows up on many early Ampeg-era instruments. The mahogany back and sides are finished in a dark sunburst while the spruce top remains natural, another one of those wonderfully odd Grammer combinations that pop up during this era.
From a research standpoint, this guitar checks several interesting boxes. Among the several hundred Ampeg-era Grammers recorded in our logs, this is currently the only G-30 with a sunburst finish. All other documented examples are natural. Even more interesting, mahogany G-30 models themselves are uncommon in this period—making up only about three percent of the Ampeg-era instruments recorded so far. For comparison, mahogany G-30s account for nearly ten percent of the post-Ampeg production we’ve logged. Taken together, this points to a fairly unusual configuration on an already relatively scarce model, and one that sits squarely in that transitional moment in Grammer history.
You may have read over the years that Grammer necks are too skinny. The reality is that Grammer offered three nut widths, and most players in the late 1960s simply chose the slimmer options. This guitar carries the medium nut width, measuring just a hair over 1-5/8". It’s slightly narrower than typical Gibson or Martin acoustics of the era, but not dramatically so, and it feels very comfortable in the hands.
Despite the heavy playwear, the guitar remains impressively original. The tuners, truss rod cover, nut, frets, bridge, saddle, bridge pins, strap buttons, and screws are all original to the instrument. The pickguard is missing, which we actually see as a fun opportunity for the next owner to choose their own direction when replacing it.
At some point long ago the guitar experienced a headstock break that was repaired and partially touched up. The neck was also sanded smooth in that area. Repairs like this tend to scare some buyers, but interestingly, two of the best-sounding Grammers in our archive also have repaired headstocks. Structurally, this one has held up very well.
Internally the guitar is remarkably intact. The bridge is firmly attached, all bracing is secure, and there are no cracks or evidence of major structural repair work. After inspecting hundreds of these instruments over the years, we can confidently say this one is in surprisingly good structural condition considering the wear and the earlier headstock repair. The numbers match as well, with the neck block and label corresponding correctly.
The truss rod is very tight. It will loosen easily but may be close to its limit in the tightening direction. We did not force it since the neck relief is currently right where it should be. Action at the 12th fret on the low E string measures a comfortable .092", with more than 1/8" of saddle height still remaining. A neck reset is not needed and does not appear to have ever been performed.
We originally planned to keep this guitar and continue the restoration process—possibly addressing the truss rod down the road, improving the finish touch-up around the headstock repair, buffing the beautiful sunburst on the back and sides, and fabricating a correct pickguard. Unfortunately, we’ve finally hit capacity in the Grammer archive, and a few guitars need to head out into the world so that others can come in. The answer is always “more Grammers,” but sometimes the shelves have other ideas.
A gig bag is included.
This guitar is available for a test drive in our Jamestown, Kentucky showroom. We ship worldwide, and if you have any questions just let us know.
Weight: 4lbs 11oz