Tenor Guitar ID

[shunkpenn]

Hello All

Trying to ID my new acquisition which appears to be a 1920's or 30's tenor guitar. The guitar has a label that is was distributed by Beltone of New York City. Beltone distributed guitars, banjos and mandolins for a number of manufacturers which included Martin. The guitar is in very nice condition and sounds great. I have had no luck finding another one online. Hoping somebody can help. Thanks.

[nmiller]

It's a creation of Kay or their predecessor company, Stromberg-Voisinet. That bridge was common to their guitars of the 1930s, and that headstock shape was used on some of their mandolins.

[shunkpenn]

I can't find anything similar that Kay made and it looks very well made. I thought it looked more like a Gibson.

[Capt. E]

Again, likely Stromberg-Voisinet. I own a tenor guitar with the same headstock, though the body is of the "Venetian" style most commonly connected with Kay Kraft. It is interesting how many of these are showing up recently.

[shunkpenn]

Thanks so much for the help! Sure is a well built guitar and a little gem. The guitar is in excellent condition with no repairs other than a new fretboard. By the receipt in the case, the fretboard was replaced in 2003 and I don't think anybody played it since....

[Jim Garber]

it's a creation of kay or their predecessor company, stromberg-voisinet. That bridge was common to their guitars of the 1930s, and that headstock shape was used on some of their mandolins.

+1 imho!

[Capt. E]

Here are three photos of my S-V (Kay) tenor. Someone had fun with the headstock stencil. Nice pearl inlay on neck and pretty binding. Very nice sounding instrument.

[Capt. E]

Here is the neck and the backside.

[shunkpenn]

Very nice! What does the bracing look like inside! I may be mistaken, but mine reminds me of European influence from Spain. I never played a tenor so I'm looking forward to figuring that out.

[Jim Garber]

I can't find anything similar that Kay made and it looks very well made. I thought it looked more like a Gibson.

A very similar one with SS Stewart label made by Kay/S-Vmis at Jake's site.

[Capt. E]

Your tenor looks very nice and Kay made some very nice instruments before WWII. I have not peered into the interior of mine much, but I see a ladder brace just below the sound hole. The wood quality is good with solid single boards front and back. Again, it has a very resonate tone that I enjoy with octave mandolin strings on it, tuned GDAE and sometimes GDAD. It is a great change from mandolin, completely different guitar like tone. The original tuners are gone and I have some Grover planetary banjo tuners now (originals were probably friction). The tailpiece is a banjo one, which is cool because I can put either loop or ball end strings on it. The bridge is unlikely to be original and floats like one for a mandolin. I may do a refret someday, but the original ones are just fine now, identical to the ones on my 1919 A-2. The body is solid, the neck is straight. I go back and forth about removing the "Martin" decal, but it makes it unique and I kind of like it.