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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | I was at our weekly bluegrass jam and noticed a couple of tenor guitars in the mix this time. Both were vintage Martins, a 5-17 and an O-18T. Interesting and with a very cool sound. I was just wandering if Ovation ever made a Tenor guitar or toyed with the idea of it? Thanks for your wisdom.
Bob |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I think the closest they ever got was the 97 Collector's, which was a Parlor Body |
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Location: NJ | Yeah, but that's still a six-string . . . |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ... I didn't think the Baritone Ukes would qualify... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | No they wouldn't qualify
No tenors were ever made.
Thank God (Al, sorry for the religious reference) |
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Location: Scotland | There were way too many companies showing tenor guitars at NAMM this year, including, if memory serves, Martin, Breedlove, Johnson and a couple of others. Ukes and Lap Steels have had their comeback lately, maybe it's time for the Tenor guitar. I hope not. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Is a tenor guitar smaller than the Trekker??? |
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Location: Scotland | The tenor guitar was developed in the mid to late 20's when the banjo was falling out of fashion and banjo players were switching to guitar. It's basically a small guitar, usually "0" or "00" size or smaller with a tenor banjo scale length and tuning (CGDA) with which banjo players would feel familiar. As a result it's neither a guitar nor a banjo, and doesn't do a particuarly good job at either. There's usually a good reason why instruments go the way of the Dodo. |
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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | Hey everybody,
Thanks for the replys. I have never played a Tenor and did a bit of research on it. I was mainly draw to it by its tone. Quite different than that of any of my guitars most likely due to the shorter scale of the neck. Those old mahogany Martin tenors I heard had great tone when being chorded and worked well for some mountain music style songs. I am always looking for new tones in my music so will probably keep looking for an old tenor of some type to add to the mix. Thanks again for the replys.
Bob |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
The tenor guitar was developed in the mid to late 20's when the banjo was falling out of fashion and banjo players were switching to guitar. It's basically a small guitar, usually "0" or "00" size or smaller with a tenor banjo scale length and tuning (CGDA) with which banjo players would feel familiar. As a result it's neither a guitar nor a banjo, and doesn't do a particuarly good job at either. There's usually a good reason why instruments go the way of the Dodo. So... It's basically a Ukulele for Rednecks? :confused: :eek: :mad: |
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Location: Scotland | No, it's basically a tenor banjo on a guitar body. It has something like a 22" scale and 4 steel strings. There's a related instrument called a plectrum guitar which was basically the same idea (a transition instrument for banjo players) with a 27" scale and tuned either CGBD or DGBE. For Rednecks. |
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Location: NJ | ". . Ukulele for Rednecks . ."
THAT'S a BandName!! |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I have a few old National tenors and plectrums. They are novel, interesting and not really useful except for looking pretty on the wall. Noe one of the tricone tenors was converted to a 6 string, that is interesting with the 22" scale and 16 frets clear of the body. |
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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | Hey everybody,
Just to cap this thread I received an old SuperTone Tenor archtop guitar this weekend from a shop on the Washington coast.Not a terribly useful guitar but will add some tones to my guitar collection and that is all that matters to me. It will add to the fun factor of playing music. Thanks for the input.
Bob |
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Location: Upper Left USA | WB,
Ovation didn't but I did...
Tacoma makes a Papoose - an A-to-A guitar - in 6 and 12 string. I always wanted a 12 string, so I made one.
Send me a PM if you would. I'd like to attend one of these Hoe-downs! |
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Has Ovation ever made a Tenor guitar?