Don Grosh and his Colorado-based team consistently craft exceptional guitars, and this stunning Retro Classic VT is a perfect example.

We’re fortunate to handle some truly exceptional instruments here at the shop—tough gig, right? With most of our guitars built to spec (this guitar included), you’d think we’d be used to greatness. But every so often, a guitar like this comes along and completely resets the bar.

Let’s talk details. We’re looking at a lightweight (7lbs 3oz), short-scale guitar, featuring a mahogany body paired with a maple neck and an Indian rosewood fingerboard. Add in a mismatched set of pickups - a cream-covered Grosh G90 neck pickup and a 327 humbucker - 10" radius, and simple volume/tone/3-way controls (the tone control is a push-pull coil tap for the humbucker), and you’ve got one hell of a cool, and versatile, Tele/Gibson-inspired masterpiece.

Now, let’s get to the heart of it. This guitar feels alive in your hands—responsive, resonant, slinky, and solid. The satin-finished Medium/Large Roundback neck carve and Don’s flawless fretwork make playing effortless, while the amplified tones and sustain are nothing short of jaw-dropping. Bolt-neck guitars aren’t supposed to sustain like this, right? Really impressive.

And the pickups? Don’s in-house wound pickups are pure magic. His G90s are in the P90 family but with a beautifully balanced voice that deliver all the warmth and richness you’d expect without the overpowering midrange. The top-end is just sweet enough to make every note sing. The 327 humbucker is voiced to sound incredibly alive, organic and musical, but with a bit more output than your average PAF-style humbucker.