Anyone ever own/play a Gibson TG-0 (Tenor Guitar)?

[bayoubengal1954]

The Topic Title says it all.

[QuestionMark]

I own a 1965 Gibson TGO in my collection. Its a 4 string acoustic tenor guitar. It has a mahogany body, the same body that is on a LGO. The top is definitely solid wood. The sides and back, I have no clue, but it’s whatever the 1965 LGO was. The neck is similar to a banjo’s neck in width, not a guitar’s width. Mine came with a standard 60’s brown alligator case. I bought mine used about 25 some years ago. It’s a steel stringed instrument, not a nylon stringed instrument. Has the same pickguard as on the same year’s LGO.

 

It’s an interesting instrument. But, definitely a specialty instrument. I should note that it does not have the same sound as say the Martin tenor guitar that Nick Reynolds played in the Kingston Trio (and can be heard fast strumming on their song MTA.). It has its own Gibson tenor guitar sound.

 

I believe there was also a TGO made by Gibson circa 1930. That guitar differs than the later circa 1965 model TG0. But, I can’t adequately provide details on the 1930s version.

 

The 60s TGO was in the family of 60s LGOs, LG1s, LG2, LG3s...except it was the tenor model in the family.

 

Hope this helps.

 

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

[bayoubengal1954]

I own a 1965 Gibson TGO in my collection. Its a 4 string acoustic tenor guitar. It has a mahogany body, the same body that is on a LGO. The top is definitely solid wood. The sides and back, I have no clue, but it’s whatever the 1965 LGO was. The neck is similar to a banjo’s neck in width, not a guitar’s width. Mine came with a standard 60’s brown alligator case. I bought mine used about 25 some years ago. It’s a steel stringed instrument, not a nylon stringed instrument. Has the same pickguard as on the same year’s LGO.

 

It’s an interesting instrument. But, definitely a specialty instrument. I should note that it does not have the same sound as say the Martin tenor guitar that Nick Reynolds played in the Kingston Trio (and can be heard fast strumming on their song MTA.). It has its own Gibson tenor guitar sound.

 

I believe there was also a TGO made by Gibson circa 1930. That guitar differs than the later circa 1965 model TG0. But, I can’t adequately provide details on the 1930s version.

 

The 60s TGO was in the family of 60s LGOs, LG1s, LG2, LG3s...except it was the tenor model in the family.

 

Hope this helps.

 

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

 

Thanks, Jeff. That helps a lot!

[tpbiii]

Well no. But we do have a 1935 KT-14 Kalamazoo -- the tenor version of the KG-14. Here it tis.

 

We also we have a few more. 1940 and 1955 Martins and an old Harmony.

 

So, what do we do with them. Not much -- but I imagine I still might. And at some level, I could.

 

I do have lots of tenor (often converted to 5-string) banjos -- I play both three finger and clawhammer banjo. I also flat pick a guitar. If you think about that, depending on how they are tuned, I can already play them. Both my right hand and left hand are trained. I just need to pick them up and play them.

 

So what would I play. Well, we could easily form a trio to do KT songs -- as time travelers from the late 50s and early 60s, we know a lot of KT songs. We also have a friend who does too -- he plays long neck banjo and guitar (as do I) and can sing parts: we have all three. The problem is the only thing we can do off the top that would might sound ok -- although not like the KT -- would have my wife playing bass. So pretty much the other two slots have to be guitar and banjo in some order. I guess in principle my wife could play rhythm guitar -- she does that some in bluegrass -- but it is really a different skill set. So this would require some WORK -- at our age, not looking for WORK.

 

The tenor instruments became very popular in the 20s and 30s because of Dixieland Jazz. We never did that. When I play tenor banjo for fun around the house, it tends to be stuff like San Francisco Bay Blues, Sweet Georgia Brown, Alabama Jubilee, and Bill Baily -- banjo strummed chords with vocals. We do those songs in bluegrass too, but i don't see me getting away with a strummed tenor banjo in a bluegrass session.

 

One application that does interest me is backup for Texas fiddle tunes -- a typical rhythm section for a fiddle player in that genre is two or three guitars, a tenor guitar and (sometimes) a bass. I really don't know how to do it -- but it looks like fun. But even there, they love old Gibsons (30-40) guitars in that genre -- I would probably start there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN1FX8DY3Sw

 

 

Let us know what you do.

 

Best,

-Tom

[SirNed]

I have one. Maybe. I believe the TG-0 had a plain headstock with the Gibson logo, while the TG-1 had decorative headstock inlays and fretboard binding. The one that I have does not have the binding. My best guess on the year is 1931. It was given to my grandpa because it was broken, and he repaired it to playable condition. Perhaps that's why there's no binding on the fretboard.

As Jeff said, the neck is skinny and banjo-like. From what I've heard, the TG came about because banjos were going out-of-fashion at the time, so they made a guitar that appealed to a banjo player.

I agree that it's a specialty guitar, and would be a good choice if you're looking for an alternative to another 6-string. They're traditionally tuned to GDAE or CGDA.

[aliasphobias]

I had a '63 TG 25 N for a time (tenor version of a B 25 N). It had the adjustable bridge but ladder bracing. As Tom said, technically I could play it, but I didn't. These days I try to keep only ones that get played. I heard (possibly read) that Gibson would make a tenor version of any guitar they offered but don't know if there is any truth to that.

[bayoubengal1954]

Thanks to everyone for the insights! I would play it on a few rag time type songs in this one duo I’m in. I agree it would definitely be a Specialty type of instrument. I’ll let you know if I make a move on one!

[Versatile]

A few random thoughts on a very interesting topic....

 

Tenor guitars are quite a specialist thing....one acoustic group/circuit may never have seen one : another may have several in it's players' number....

 

A Gibson of this vintage may require renovation or some attention to maintain....

 

Violinists, mandolinists, tenor banjo-ists, ukulele-ists et al can all have fun with a tenor guitar in their 'quiver'.....:blink:

 

Personal collection includes 2 cheap but solid Romanian tenors....they hardly ever get played for some reason...

 

Currently prefer either a tenor banjo for jigs/reels......or a plectrum banjo for vocal accompaniment....

 

Enjoy the chase....!!

 

V