1924 gibson master model tenor lute - ever seen 1?

**scgc.om** · Dec-22-2006, 9:33am

Check this out:

http://www.12fret.com/used/index.html

[scroll down page to first entry]

I'm no expert but I've never heard of one of these? What do you think? And what of its value? Lastly, listing says "tuned in 4ths" - shouldn't it be "tuned in _5ths_ "

**Tom C** · Dec-22-2006, 9:54am

Here's another one from Mandolin Archives
Mandolin Archives Gibson Tenor Lute

The bridge on the at 12fret.com looks scary.

**mythicfish** · Dec-22-2006, 10:17am

The body is the same size as a mandola ... possibly ill-suited to the scale length.

Curt

**John Rosett** · Dec-22-2006, 12:17pm

Great for slide though!

**f5loar** · Dec-22-2006, 1:24pm

I've got 77283 with original pickguard. Less then a dozen of these made in the 1924 era and no doubt Loar had his hand in them since they carry the MasterModel label but they are not signed. There were a few 8 string models made. Tunes and plays like a tenor banjo.
Pretty neat sounding. I believe they appear in the catalog but must not have been a big seller even with banjos coming into the fold pushing mandolins out.

**Loren Bailey** · Dec-22-2006, 1:31pm

There was one in the classifieds not to long ago. Don't know what these go for but I remember thinking it was very reasonably priced.

Loren

**8ch(pl)** · Dec-22-2006, 1:51pm

I remember a Bacon tenor lute in an ad some years ago, elegant looking flat top instrument.

**C. Carr** · Dec-22-2006, 10:23pm

A Loar era tenor lute was listed in the classifieds several months ago without a price, if I recall correctly. The owner was Luke Thompson of Baker, Louisiana (just upriver from Baton Rouge). I don't know if he sold it, or not. Luke still does repairs and builds Loar patterned F-5's. Real nice one-off mandolins.

Regards,

Charlie Carr
New Orleans

**danb** · Dec-23-2006, 3:20am

Originally Posted by (f5loar @ Dec. 22 2006, 19:24)

I've got 77283 with original pickguard.

Tom- I added your serial number. Is the stamp number legible on yours? Will have to get some pictures of it added!

Interestingly we've found there is more than one batch of these things. I played an 8-string TL at a shop in Wisconsin once by chance (when I was in to bouzoukis no less!) and thought it was quite cool. Lots of folks since then don't think awfully much of them, but I wonder.. Stringing a tenor as an octave is a bit of trial and error with string gauges, but usually produces nice results

**scgc.om** · Dec-28-2006, 12:28pm

Looks like someone felt the price and value were good - this instrument shows as "sold". I'm still wondering about the skimpy bridge . . . .

**f5loar** · Dec-28-2006, 1:38pm

I'm pretty sure that is not the original bridge. If you look at page 92 of the Carter/Gruhn book "Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments" you can see a nice color photo of mine with the right bridge and pickguard.