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Factory order #: 8491-9

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 23" Nut width: 1 1/8" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/1.00

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

Hardware: Original nickel trapeze tailpiece and adjustable rosewood bridge with bone saddle. Vintage correct 5-ply beveled pickguard, later Gibson Kluson Deluxe tuners.

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, by the early 30's its percussive voice had been almost entirely eclipsed by the guitar in rhythm sections large and small. 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 93 examples produced in its model year, this guitar is in fine shape, with no apparent cracks or repairs. Its Cremona sunburst finish is all original, and the instrument shows no thumb, buckle, or fingerboard wear. A patch of older pickwear is visible near the fingerboard, as well as a few scattered lacquer nicks on the soundboard. Fretwork is in excellent condition, with smooth low action over a gentle C profile neck, and a fresh high precision setup.

A special plus is the solid bone saddle on the original rosewood bridge, to enhance the natural brilliance of the instrument. 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 arched black plush lined hardshell case.

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