I've been learning the mandolin (slowly) for years and occasionally get the idea that it would be nice to play an instrument with soft single strings. The banjo holds no appeal; having heard John Carty play the tenor guitar for the first time, I was spell-bound and wanted to rush out and get one for myself. It's a beautiful sound.
I'm just a bit worried that the reach would be too long. My hands are fairly big but the fingers are average length.
The other thing is, where can you buy a tenor? I enquired in Walton's, in Dublin last year but they'd never heard of a tenor guitar. A four-string guitar? They thought I was having them on! I've tried Tom Cussen in Galway but he didn't have any at the time and the prices seemed quite high.
Ebay has several, from old to new..The old ones are collectors items as such prices are high. new... well , ...you never know what you are getting but with luck, get it set up well, you should be ok
I think Seth Lakeman and Eliza Carthy play them, but I'm not sure what.
Would conversion on a baby Martin or Taylor work?
When I got intrigued by the idea of a tenor I removed and moved strings on a standard old Tanglewood so as to use the middle four string slots tuned tenorwise. That and a capo gave something to try out. Interesting, but other priorities took over.
Historically the tenor guitar was invented when there was a change in the preferred rhythm instrument in jazz bands, from banjo to guitar, and the tenor guitar was a useful instrument for those tenor banjo strummers who couldn't cope with the new guitars with 6 strings and a different tuning.
Consequently most of them about date from the '30s'. There really wasn't much interest in them for many years, till Eliza Carthy, et al.
They tend to be a bit shorter in scale than a regular guitar, and a bit more lightly built, as they were only mean to have the 4 strings. I've heard it suggested that, as they were of little interest, even to collectors, they should be much lower in price than an otherwise equivalent age and condition guitar, like, for instance, a Martin.
I do remember turning one down, ( not a Martin, but still a nice one ) in a market, for which they only wanted about £7.00 ( it was years ago ), as I knew my wife's opinion of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome !
Although this link is primarily for dealers in the states, you could check it out. International shipping shouldn't be too terrible either, especially if you can't find anything near you. At least worth investigating... http://www.tenorguitar.com/buy.html
I've got one but it's not loud enough for noisy sessions unamplified. It's very nice though (a Gibson LG-0) and sounds great when given a chance and not being drowned out. You need a bit of a stretch to play melody (like on a 19 fret tenor banjo). I managed to get hold of a rare DeArmond tenor guitar pickup same vintage as the guitar, and I'm well pleased with the combination (but not for unamplified sessions - I take a tenor banjo)
I believe John Carty capos up at least one fret. He gets a really nice sound although I agree that it works better recorded or amplified rather than in a session
Oh, it says on the Goldtone link to tune it C, G, D, A, but it's generally accepted that you can fit heavier strings if you want and tune G,D,A,E just like tenor banjo. String gauges something like 42,29,20,12
Back during the Folk Scare of the 50’s and 60’s, tenor guitars weren’t uncommon. A few folkoid acts like The Kingston Trio used them and I knew a couple of guys who had them. One of my friends had one several years ago. I could check with him, I suppose.
Thank you very much to everyone for all the information and suggestions, especially those who listed shops and web sites. The 'session' community is alive and well!
I dont think the reach would be much a problem for you.I have been playing Mandola with a fairly similar scale lenght to the tenor guitar. 54.2cm against 58.5cm.
I have my spare Mandola strung with only 4 strings I have been using it to improve my picking technique.So you would get the Idea of what to expect from a tenor guitar by playing it.I live not to far from the Dublin city centre if you want to get in touch you are welcome to try it out.
Phil
Interesting Phil, why would 4 strings help with picking techniques? just curious.. I string my mandolin with 4 strings.
I do think my guitar picking benefited from banjo practice for sure.
Well jig,a bit like the banjo pratice improving your guitar picking.
I find you have to work the pick more with the single string.Where,as the double strings have a fuller sound and you can get lazy .
A tenor guitar
A tenor guitar
I've been learning the mandolin (slowly) for years and occasionally get the idea that it would be nice to play an instrument with soft single strings. The banjo holds no appeal; having heard John Carty play the tenor guitar for the first time, I was spell-bound and wanted to rush out and get one for myself. It's a beautiful sound.
I'm just a bit worried that the reach would be too long. My hands are fairly big but the fingers are average length.
The other thing is, where can you buy a tenor? I enquired in Walton's, in Dublin last year but they'd never heard of a tenor guitar. A four-string guitar? They thought I was having them on! I've tried Tom Cussen in Galway but he didn't have any at the time and the prices seemed quite high.
Any thoughts?
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by amhrán
Re: A tenor guitar
Ebay has several, from old to new..The old ones are collectors items as such prices are high. new... well , ...you never know what you are getting but with luck, get it set up well, you should be ok
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by jig
Re: A tenor guitar
If UK is any good Pamela Springer in Kent often has a few
http://www.pamelasmusic.co.uk/Tenorbanjo&guitar.htm
I think Seth Lakeman and Eliza Carthy play them, but I'm not sure what.
Would conversion on a baby Martin or Taylor work?
When I got intrigued by the idea of a tenor I removed and moved strings on a standard old Tanglewood so as to use the middle four string slots tuned tenorwise. That and a capo gave something to try out. Interesting, but other priorities took over.
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: A tenor guitar
Historically the tenor guitar was invented when there was a change in the preferred rhythm instrument in jazz bands, from banjo to guitar, and the tenor guitar was a useful instrument for those tenor banjo strummers who couldn't cope with the new guitars with 6 strings and a different tuning.
Consequently most of them about date from the '30s'. There really wasn't much interest in them for many years, till Eliza Carthy, et al.
They tend to be a bit shorter in scale than a regular guitar, and a bit more lightly built, as they were only mean to have the 4 strings. I've heard it suggested that, as they were of little interest, even to collectors, they should be much lower in price than an otherwise equivalent age and condition guitar, like, for instance, a Martin.
I do remember turning one down, ( not a Martin, but still a nice one ) in a market, for which they only wanted about £7.00 ( it was years ago ), as I knew my wife's opinion of Instrument Acquisition Syndrome !
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: A tenor guitar
Premier Music in Clonmel often have one or two if your ever in the area.
Try the buyand sell website too.
Dont worry about the reach, they are a lovely instrument.
Good luck
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by session savage
Re: A tenor guitar
Although this link is primarily for dealers in the states, you could check it out. International shipping shouldn't be too terrible either, especially if you can't find anything near you. At least worth investigating...
http://www.tenorguitar.com/buy.html
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by twangtown
Re: A tenor guitar
John Carty plays some lovely tenor guitar on his "I will if I can" CD.
I know many people loathe Lark in the Morning around here, but they have a few tenor guitars available. I can't vouch for their quality, however....
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: A tenor guitar
I've got one but it's not loud enough for noisy sessions unamplified. It's very nice though (a Gibson LG-0) and sounds great when given a chance and not being drowned out. You need a bit of a stretch to play melody (like on a 19 fret tenor banjo). I managed to get hold of a rare DeArmond tenor guitar pickup same vintage as the guitar, and I'm well pleased with the combination (but not for unamplified sessions - I take a tenor banjo)
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by RichardB
Re: A tenor guitar
I believe John Carty capos up at least one fret. He gets a really nice sound although I agree that it works better recorded or amplified rather than in a session
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by improziv
Re: A tenor guitar
There's a Yahoo group you can join called the TenorGuitarRegistry and there's a recent posting on there praising the Goldtone tenor. You can see one here: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/TG18.htm
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by RichardB
Re: A tenor guitar
Oh, it says on the Goldtone link to tune it C, G, D, A, but it's generally accepted that you can fit heavier strings if you want and tune G,D,A,E just like tenor banjo. String gauges something like 42,29,20,12
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by RichardB
Re: A tenor guitar
Back during the Folk Scare of the 50’s and 60’s, tenor guitars weren’t uncommon. A few folkoid acts like The Kingston Trio used them and I knew a couple of guys who had them. One of my friends had one several years ago. I could check with him, I suppose.
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: A tenor guitar
Interesting. Learn something new every day!
But I'll stick to Martin.
# Posted on January 29th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: A tenor guitar
Thank you very much to everyone for all the information and suggestions, especially those who listed shops and web sites. The 'session' community is alive and well!
# Posted on January 30th 2008 by amhrán
Re: A tenor guitar
"My hands are fairly big but the fingers are average length."
Instruments are meant to be played by regular people, not giants :-p
# Posted on January 30th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: A tenor guitar
*
# Posted on January 30th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: A tenor guitar
I dont think the reach would be much a problem for you.I have been playing Mandola with a fairly similar scale lenght to the tenor guitar. 54.2cm against 58.5cm.
I have my spare Mandola strung with only 4 strings I have been using it to improve my picking technique.So you would get the Idea of what to expect from a tenor guitar by playing it.I live not to far from the Dublin city centre if you want to get in touch you are welcome to try it out.
Phil
# Posted on January 30th 2008 by Dphil
Re: A tenor guitar
Interesting Phil, why would 4 strings help with picking techniques? just curious.. I string my mandolin with 4 strings.
I do think my guitar picking benefited from banjo practice for sure.
# Posted on January 30th 2008 by jig
Re: A tenor guitar
Well jig,a bit like the banjo pratice improving your guitar picking.
I find you have to work the pick more with the single string.Where,as the double strings have a fuller sound and you can get lazy .
# Posted on January 31st 2008 by Dphil