Interesting Gibson second-line tenor

[mrmando]

We've seen plenty of Gibson-made instruments with the CapitAl brand, made for JW Jenkins department stores.

But here's an archtop tenor with a CapitOl brand. Very fancy headstock. Looks as nice or nicer than a Gibson-branded TG50.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1915-Gibson-...item2ed0f2bfaa

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

The listing says it's a 1915. Could that be the case? I thought most of the second-line instruments were later (30s?) It's also possible that the serial number is one of those that got recycled over the years.

[mrmando]

No, it's impossible. The tenor guitar hadn't been invented in 1915, and Gibson wasn't making any archtop F-hole guitars in the teens. According to Paul Fox, the second-line period goes from 1928 to 1961. I'm sure we have some folks who can zero in on an approximate date for this.

The seller is looking at a FON and thinking it's a serial number.

[Dobe]

[QUOTE=mrmando;1279936]No, it's impossible. The tenor guitar hadn't been invented in 1915, and Gibson wasn't making any archtop F-hole guitars in the teens.....

Yep. And those Klusons would make me think 50's 60's. Maybe replacements ? Certainly not teens. Looks like an old box though. Upper bout looks almost as wide as the lower !! Seems like a reasonable price. Would make a dandy of a 6-string, or Cello conversion.

[mrmando]

I don't see any stray screw holes or impressions around the tuners, so at first glance I'd say they are original. What year were closed-gear Klusons introduced? It's gotta be sometime in the 1950s, yes?

[brunello97]

"Interesting"? There's an understatement.

Coolness just got a new definition.

Mick

[F-2 Dave]

Very cool. Any ideas on the Capital vs. Capitol?

[Bernie Daniel]

No, it's impossible. The tenor guitar hadn't been invented in 1915, and Gibson wasn't making any archtop F-hole guitars in the teens.....

Yep. And those Klusons would make me think 50's 60's. Maybe replacements ? Certainly not teens. Looks like an old box though. Upper bout looks almost as wide as the lower !! Seems like a reasonable price. Would make a dandy of a 6-string, or Cello conversion.

Very cool find!

The box I think is the regular Gibson L-5 box that was used on the L-5, L-50, L-48 and TG-50 and of course the K-5. But this is the mahogany back and sides version not maple like the higher end models. I don't think I've ever seen an L-48 or TG-50 with maple though.

I'm pretty sure that the photo making the upper bout look too wide is a illusion. On thing that does look a little strange to me is the nut. Gibson put a 1 1/8" nut on all their tenor guitars and that one looks to be on the short side?