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Factory order #: 369( ) 21

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 23" Nut width: 1 1/8"

Materials: Solid carved spruce top; arched maple back and sides, solid one-piece mahogany neck, solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays; bound body and neck.

Hardware: All-original hardware includes 5-ply beveled pickguard, adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, Kluson Deluxe nickel-plated tuners; nickel trapeze tailpiece.

Notes: The tenor version of Gibson's popular L-50 archtop, the TG-50 was introduced by Gibson in 1934, and remained in production until 1957. While the banjo practically defined the Jazz Age of the 20's, its percussive voice had been almost entirely eclipsed by the guitar in big band rhythm sections by the early 30's. Tuned in fifths like the tenor banjo, the tenor guitar helped banjo players make the transition to the smoother sonorities of the Swing Era. Championed by jazz luminaries like Tiny Grimes, Eddie Condon and Mike McKendrick of the Louis Armstrong band, the tenor guitar also remained popular with country and novelty acts like the Delmore Brothers and the Hoosier Hot Shots. Given a huge boost in the 1960's by Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio, the instrument remains popular with jazz revivalists, in Texas and Celtic fiddle backup, and has been adopted by contemporary performers like Neco Case and Ani DeFranco.

One of just 96 examples produced in its model year, this guitar is in superb condition, shiny as a dime, with no cracks or repairs. Its gleaming all original Cremona sunburst finish shows no thumb or buckle wear, and only a few scattered lacquer nicks on the soundboard. Hardware and frets are all original and in excellent condition, with smooth low action over a gentle C profile neck. Tone is bright and clear, with excellent snap and projection. A distinctive voice, equally at home in a variety of musical settings. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Deluxe black plush lined hardshell case.

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