TG - 00101 1929 - 30 Gibson TG-1 Tenor Guitar     VG +   The quintessential Gibson tenor from the late 20's - early 30's with the Mastertone Banjo inlay in the headstock and the beautiful 'argentine' sunburst on the crack free top that has a shadow of a previously installed pickguard. And that classic beautifully grained vintage mahogany on the sides and back. The back has three well repaired hairlines (hard to see) and there is also one on the treble side. Original end pin and original Grover pancake tuning pegs. The bridge is original and it looks like perhaps the original owner might have put the ancient screws in it just for 'safekeeping' they are so old. And we also have the original hard shell case which is in pretty good shape but the back hinges are broken and there is a little break in the back at the top.
Price:   $1795.00

TG - 00100 2003 Tenor Stratocaster     EXC +++   There's one little nick in the finish near the neck pocket but other than that it's almost mint. I had this one made by Joel Eckhaus in 2003 using a stock strat body and Joel built and fitted the neck. Only the inner four poles are used and this gives it a wonderful balance with no 'over prominent bass tones' on the low string from which many electric tenor guitars suffer. It plays fantastically and sounds just like a strat ... well, a tenor strat. White pickguard and electronics on a black body and we found a Fender logo to put on the headstock (shhh!) and standard type tuning pegs. You'll be the only one on the block with a 'tenor strat' and I've had many people come up at gigs be convinced it was a 'real Fender'. Standard 23" scale length. Gig bag.
Price:   $2250.00

TG - 00097 1928 National Style 2 Tri Cone Tenor Guitar     EXC -   Very nice example of a fairly rare instrument. The top is beautifully engraved with the Wild Irish Rose pattern as are the back and the sides. Lovely laminated peghead overlay with slightly worn National decal. Planet 5 Star tuning pegs. Plays really well with replacement cover plate from National and neck reset by Mark Shoenberg. No case.
Price:   $2495.00

TG - 00098 1947 Epiphone Zephyr Archtop Electric Tenor Guitar     EXC   Big old 17 1/2" archtop from Epiphone of New York. Beautiful blonde spruce top, and maple back and sides. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with lovely slotted rectangle pearl inlays. Original tuning pegs, end pin, (of which there is a smaller extra one added), way cool firestripe pickguard, tailpiece, adjustable bridge, tone and volume knobs, etc. The headstock overlay has a small chip at the corner. Great player in fine original condition with a good (but not original and missing handle) hard shell case.
Price:   $1695.00

TG - 00086 1928 Gibson Nick Lucas Tenor Guitar     EXC -   I've only seen a handful of these and this one plays really well and sounds wonderful. Lower Bout = 14 7/8"   Upper Bout = 10 3/16"   Nut Width = 1 5/32"   Body Depth is 4 5/16" to 4 3/4".   Classic tight sunburst original finish spruce top has one repaired little hairline about 1 3/4" long coming up from the bottom and what appears to be an original custom ordered pickguard. The mahogany back has a hard to see 6 1/2" repaired hairline coming down from the top. Those are finish cracks you see around the end pin and they don't appear to go through the wood. The sides are crack free. The lovely slender heel is accentuated by the added body depth. Original Grover tuning pegs and pearl horizontal "The Gibson" inlaid in the headstock. The label is splendidly intact. The green lined hard shell case may actually be original as it fits it quite nicely but the handle has come unattached at one end.
Price:   $8500.00

TG - 00082 1950 Gibson Custom L-7 T Blonde with Bow Tie Inlays     EXC +   - Check it out on its page in The Museum. It's an early 1950 as evidenced by the dot being connected to the "G" on the headstock inlay which also has the open "o" and open "g" and the lower connection to the "n". Plus the headstock gets thinner at it's end which stopped in mid 1950. Plus the serial number is A (probably but almost completely obliterated) 5286 which puts it in early 1950.   17" Lower bout, bow tie inlays just like a banjo (had to be custom ordered like the Tsumura ES-175 - DT Special) and nice maple back and sides with a big bold sound. Newer hard shell case.
Price:   $7500.00

TG - 00067 1942 Gibson ETG-150 Electric Archtop Tenor Guitar     EXC   This is a rare example of the early transitional pickup as Gibson improved on the large and cumbersome Charlie Christian blade pickup moving toward the P-90. This one has four adjustable screw/poles. We've got the classic Gibson sunburst top and maple back and sides, all crack free. Finish is original as are all parts including the Kluson Deluxe tuning pegs. Fat and funky pearl Gibson script inlaid in the headstock. Nice and clean with light normal wear even around the jack area. And ... great old original hard shell case that is a bit beat but worth a bundle these days as it is also appropriate for a 16" L-5 or a D-28 of similar vintage. This guitar plays and sounds fantastic and the neck is straight and the frets are good.
Price:   $3850.00

TG - 00065 1929 - 30 Gibson PG-1 Long Neck Plectrum Guitar     EXC   Except for some ancient adhesive tape of some sort that I am reluctant to try and remove on the otherwise lovely mahogany crack free back. THIS GUITAR HAS 17 FRETS TO THE BODY giving wonderful and luxurious access to the upper frets (all 22 of them). I've had nice 30's Gibson plectrum guitars before but this is the first I've seen with the long neck and it is also a fantastic sounding instrument and plays just fine. Looks like the center seam on the top has been repaired with maybe another hairline or finish crack almost impossible to see next to it but they're both nice and smooth and the finish is original. Style 3 banjo inlays in the headstock and original Grover 'pancake' tuning pegs. Also, it has retained the rare original (albeit beat up pretty badly) soft shell case with the necessary long neck. The neck is straight with slight relief and frets have only light wear. I've got it tuned C G B D like a plectrum banjo ... sounds great.
Nut Width = 1 3/16"     Scale Length = 26 1/2"     Lower Bout = 12 3/4"     Number stamped on neck block is   9625.
Price:   $3450.00

TG - 00070 1932 Gibson TG- 50 Roundhole Archtop Tenor Guitar     VG+   This guitar actually departs from the TG-50 specs in that the body is larger. It is 19 1/2 " long whereas the other round hole TG-50's I've seen (like the other one) have shorter 17 1/2" bodies with the same 14 3/4 inch lower bout. Perhaps it is a custom ordered L-3 T? Anyway with it's nice sunburst spruce top and mahogany back and sides, and elevated fingerboard it gives a nice big full sound. Good straight neck, good frets and nice action and the heel looks like the neck has never been reset. There's one hairline right over a brace next to the bass side of the fingerboard and a long finish hairline that doesn't go all the way through. Crack free other than that and this thing really sounds sweet. Original Grover pancake tuners and pearl inlaid "Gibson" in the truss rodded headstock. No case.
Price:   $1695.00

TG - 00100 1937 Martin R-18 T Archtop Tenor Guitar     VG ++   A terrific original example that plays great and has a strong warm sound. No cracks and one teeny hard to see scrunch on the bottom and some case wear or something similar on the upper bass shoulder. Just love that classic '37 Martin sunburst on the top and the beautiful tight grain mahogany on the back. Original tuning pegs, pickguard, and "Martin" engraved tailpiece, and gold Martin script on the headstock. And ... the original hard shell case in pretty fair condition.
Price:   $1195.00

TG - 00056 1927 Martin 5-21 T Tenor Guitar     EXC -   Talk about bang for the buck in sound versus size ... this puppy has got it. Small but potent. The slightly shorter 22 1/2 inch scale length is very comfortable and it plays fine with it's original bar frets in the ebony fingerboard. Crack free spruce top and brazilian rosewood back with a couple of repaired cracks that don't show in the photo. There is a little minor crunched spot on the very bottom that is a shame indeed but quite stable and not a structural threat. Rosewood peghead veneer and original Grover tuning pegs. No case.
Price:   $3250.00

TG - 00089 1929 National Triolian Resonator Tenor Guitar     EXC-   These old Nationals have a great dynamic range. They can sound sweet or they can really 'put it out'. This one is in really nice shape with the classic brown to yellow sunburst top with it's typical pick wear right below the strings. There's just a little wear on the edges and the back is beautifully clean. It's just had a neck reset which you would never know from looking at the heel and it plays like butter. Great for Celtic, Irish, Louisiana, or Alaskan. Also a fine blues machine. Serial number 915 places it at 1929. Original Planet pegs are working fine. The label on the headstock is in nice shape. No case.
Price:   $1895.00

TG - 00094 ca. 1937 Recording King Venetian Tenor Guitar     EXC   But for solid repairs to the heel and headstock. I'll tell you though, this is for sure one of the strongest sounding tenor guitars in the house. And I am a big fan of the Gold Leaf "Indian Head" design on the sunburst top. The back and sides are mahogany and the whole body is crack free. Everything appears to be original including end pin, pickguard, bridge, tailpiece, tuning pegs and the large wing nut with which you adjust the neck angle as well as the label which instructs you in its use. M.O.T. peghead overlay with "Recording King" etched into it. This guitar has been my 'living room player' for years now and neither the headstock repair nor the heel repair has budged or caused any problem at all. No case. You will be heard with this guitar.
Price:   $1395.00    ON HOLD

TG - 00048 1928 ca. Vega Flat Top Tenor Guitar     VG++   Great sounding and playing guitar that sounds like an X-braced but is ladder braced with a 12 3/4" lower bout. Nut Width = 1 9/64" Crack free spruce top and mahogany back and sides. One cleated small crack near the side in the back and a couple of repaired hairlines in the bass side. All solid and hard to notice. A small area on the side has a little discoloration in the finish. This is really a sweetheart of a guitar with its engraved Vega star inlaid in the headstock and "Planet" geared tuning pegs. No case.
Price:   $1595.00

TG - 00047 1935 ca. Washburn (Tonk Bros.) Tenor Guitar     EXC -   Style 5227   Serial # 366   Lower Bout = 13 5/8 "     This is one honkin' little tenor. Big full punchy sound from the X-Braced dark sunburst spruce top. Sunburst mahogany back and sides and great playing mahogany neck with fancy pearl inlays in the ebony fingerboard and a 1 1/4" nut width. Elegant pearl inlaid "WASHBURN" script in the headstock and beautiful original Page Patent tuning pegs. No case.
Price:   $2195.00

TG - 00054 1930's Ludwig Archtop Round Hole Tenor Guitar   VG+   There are no makers markings on this guitar but evidence provided by comparing fingerboards strongly suggests Ludwig. It is designed similar to a Martin archtop with the steep neck angle and high bridge. It puts out a lot of sound with its 15" wide lower bout and a body that is 4" deep. Nice dark sunburst triple bound spruce top and quadruple bound maple back and sides. One well repaired crack in the top and that's all. Fancy binding on neck also and fancy pearl inlays in the fingerboard. Rosewood headstock overlay and very nice two band gold tuning pegs. Gig bag.
Price:   $1595.00

TG - 00044 1928 Weissenborn Tenor Guitar     EXC   A rare and beautiful little tenor guitar with a big sound. Fun to play. Beautiful book matched Koa wood top as well as back and sides. Banjo style headstock with original Waverly pancake tuning pegs. Weissenborn stamped label is clearly readable through the soundhole.
Total length: 32"     Scale length: 22 3/4" (19 frets)     Nut Width: 1 5/32"     Body length: 15 3/4"     Upper bout: 8 3/8"     Waist: 7"     Lower bout: 12"     Body depth: 3 1/4" to 3 5/8"     X-Braced !!     No case.
Price:   $2195.00

EB - 00012 Stromberg Electric Plectrum Banjo     EXC-   Well here's basically a banjo shaped electric tenor guitar with 22 frets to the body! Even with its 4" deep - 14 7/8" wide body with the spruce top, mahogany sides and fancy rosewood back (the back of a Paramount resonator no doubt), it still is not very loud played acoustically. But pleasant ... yes. And the pickup works fine and sounds good plugged in. The Gibson style neck has the Granada hearts and flowers inlay pattern in the ebony fingerboard and a 1 7/32 " nut width. Scale length is 26".   The headstock is spectacularly adorned with rhinestones. It has nice old tuning pegs which work smoothly and hold fine. And .... the case .... yep, a home made coffin case for sure. Sturdy. I have heard from Vinnie Mondelo (Mr. Banjo and a Stromberg expert (and relative even) that this is a Stromberg body with added pickup and replacement neck.
Price:   $1195.00

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