Gibson Artist Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 So i was in my local music store when the manager put a Martin bass on the wall. I thought it was an acoustic bass and complimented him and he smiled and said no, this is a Tenor guitar. I asked what a Tenor was and he essentially said a guitar with 4 strings, i had to laugh and said isnt that a bass? Anyways, a customer walked over, started playin it and man it sounded cool! Looking online i see some Gibsons, Martins and Epiphone Tenors but i noticed you dont see many of these gits today. My question is if i got one, how do you string it? I found one guy playin it and it sounded like a banjo, yet another playin and it sounded like a guitar. Have to say, i am utterly fascinated by these 4 string oddities. GAS!!!! Here is a guy playin a Gibson one with a modern sound, man it sounds beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdMan81 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Great sound! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 These tenors are nice and a lot of fun. We have a 1933 TGO and use the "Chicago" tuning on it. How popular this tuning is compared to the regular or more common tuning, I don't know. They are a fun guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Come along to our local folk and bluegrass evenings...we are knee deep in tenor guitars.. I've got two 'Ozark' tenors....very cheap, cheerful and well built Tuning tends to be mainly in 3 types... C,G,D,A.....a la Tenor Banjo and Viola G,D,A,E.....like Mandolin and Violin....dropped one octave D,G,B,E....upper 4 strings of the Guitar and similar but lower than Ukulele They were created in America in the 1920's to assist Dixie Jazz banjo players transfer to a more 'guitar' type of sound They seem to have been rediscovered big-time in the last 5 years or so.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Talking of different sounds has anyone tried a Veilette. It's a six string guitar but with a very short scale so plays like a guitar but sounds like a madolin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourStringz Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I love mine, a Gibson TG-25, the tenor version of the B-25. It's either a 1965 or 1968, though I suspect '65 from the specs and what I have learned here on the forum. I got mine because I had seen them used a bunch as rhythm backup in the oldtime and Texas swing fiddle contests and festivals (where banner J-45's thrive!). Provides variety in the accompaniment - higher voice than a standard guitar, but not as high as a mandolin. I use standard tuning - C G D A - and found myself wanting to flatpick the thing. Worked up a few rags a few years back; haven't done much with it lately, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRIPX9XQwO8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 One big thing I like about the Tenor is the ability to play any fiddle jigs, reels etc straight off... Therefore an interesting alternative to the mandolin V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Gibson artist, I've enjoyed this video over and over, I just can't understand some one sounding so nice, hiding behind a "Lone Ranger" disguise such as this great player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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