Welcome to the wonderful world of the mysterious and unusual TENOR GUITAR. You have ventured upon the first independent website that is dedicated to providing answers to any questions you may have about this unique instrument.
The Guitars
Gibson Tenor Guitars
http://www.gibson.com
In 1894 in Kalamazoo Michigan, amateur luthier Orville Gibson started building the first ever carved top mandolins and archop guitars. The "Gibson Mandolin - Guitar Co., Ltd" was incorporated on October 11, 1902, and over its 100+ year history Gibson has developed numerous technical innovations that make guitars what they are today, and manufactured some of the most famous guitars ever produced, including the jumbo sized J-200 favored by country players, and solid electric classic, the Les Paul.
Gibson first introduced tenor guitars into its line in the late 1920s, and any guitar model was available in a tenor version by special order.
Flat Tops
TG-1
PG-1
TG-0
TG-25
TG-25N
TG-1 (1927-40) sunburst finish standard; bridge had extra pin; plectrum version, PG-1 available (1928-38), some PG-1's omit extra pin.
TG-0 (1927-33) all mahogany, banjo style pegs.
TG-0 reissued (1960-74), Kluson style tuners, same body as LG-0 model
TG-00 (1932-43) black finish, sunburst standard by 1933 (black still available); plectrum version, PG-1, available (1932-37).
TG-25 (1962-71) tenor version of B-25, spruce top, sunburst or natural finish (TG-25N).
Arch Tops and Electric Arch Tops
TG-7 (1934-40) tenor version of L-7, sunburst finish standard.
TG-50 (1934-58) tenor version of L-50, dark mahogany sunburst finish, round hole (some may have f-holes).
EST-150 (1937-42), tenor version of ES-150, renamed ETG-150 in 1940, Charlie Christian pickup, sunburst finish; production was stopped for WWII.
ETG-150 (1946-71) production resumed after WWII, electric version of TG-50, P-90 pickup (there's at least one with two P-90's), sunburst finish.
TG-50
ETB
ETB, electric tenor banjo (1939-43, about 36 made), flat maple top, circular body, Screwed-on back, Charlie Christian pickup, sunburst finish, banjo type bridge. Plectrum (EPB) and 5-string (ERB) versions also available.
Special Order Instruments
SG
J35
Tenor and Plectrum necks were available on any of Gibson's standard 6-string models by special order. The most interesting of these may be the rare electric models, both solidbody and thinline archtops.
The solidbodies are mostly SG's and Les Pauls, and at least one double rounded cutaway plectrum model, as well as a doubleneck tenor guitar/8-string mandolin.
KTG-31