1954 Gibson TG-50 Tenor Guitar – £1599

NEW ARRIVAL  Tenor guitars have always made me nervous – I guess I’ve associated them with banjos and mandolins, which I don’t play. But picking up a 50’s Gibson archtop (which I’m very familiar with) with a skinny neck and 4 strings (tuned to G D A E) is great fun. Based on the classic Gibson L-50, this is a 16” archtop with carved Spruce top and laminate Maple back and sides. The sunburst is stunning as is the figuring on the back and sides. The slim neck feels well balanced, and the action is set to play fast. The tuners, pickguard and tailpiece are all original. Then there’s the 60’s DeArmond ‘Monkey on a Stick’ pickup which just adds to the charm, with a great vintage tone. The guitar sounds snappy, woody and percussive, with plenty of volume. It works really well for swing jazz, gypsy-jazz, or chord-melody work. The guitar is in excellent condition, with no cracks or repairs, and comes in a non original hard case.