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Thread: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

  1. #1
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    I play mandocello, mandolin, and guitar. Used to have a nice Eastman mandola, and would like to replace it with a tenor guitar for accompanying my wife, who sings and plays a six-string. Suggestions?

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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?


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  4. #3
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Thanks. The Blueridge seems to be fairly popular, and though I haven't played one of their guitars in a long time. I remember their six-string boxes being of pretty decent quality. I live in the middle of nowhere (Oregon coast), and will no-doubt buy one blind. I am hoping there are more choices than just the Blueridge, but I will learn to live with it if there isn't

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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Kala Tenors are a really good value. Sound pretty decent. I like mine but did have to work on the setup a bit.

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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    You can go cheaper with an Ibanez, but they are not nearly as good sounding. Laminate top vs solid top. They are 1/3 the cost though.
    https://www.amazon.com/Ibanez-Perfor.../dp/B00S9PEEA0
    It will need a setup.

    This BR-60T is a step up from the BR-40T, and still has the cellophane on the pick-guard. BR-40T has mahogany back and sides, BR-60T has Santos Rosewood (Pau Ferro) and nicer appointments.
    https://www.musicgoround.com/product...uitars-Natural

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    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    I don’t follow the US market but there should be quite a bit of choice, but as Al points out the BR60t is a beautiful guitar!
    How about this one, nice vintage shape... https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-tenor-natural

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  11. #7

    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Quote Originally Posted by fox View Post
    I don’t follow the US market but there should be quite a bit of choice, but as Al points out the BR60t is a beautiful guitar!
    How about this one, nice vintage shape... https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-tenor-natural
    The Ibanez Fox referenced is probably your best bang for the buck. I love my Blueridge BR-60T, but the Ibanez has a solid sitka spruce top, has good sound, and is half the price of the BR-60T.
    Blueridge BR-60T Tenor Guitar
    Eastwood Warren Ellis 2P Tenor Guitar

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    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    I once played a decent Ozark... Surprised me rather. That said it was best as a strumming guitar...

    Agree re blueridge

    In the UK we have Ashbury. The model that seemed best was the lindisfarne cutaway one.

    Roughly same budget as blueridge
    My name is Rob, and I am Lord of All Badgers

    Tenor Guitars: Acoustic: Mcilroy ASP10T, ‘59 Martin 0-18t. Electric: ‘57 Gibson ETG-150, ‘80s Manson Kestrel
    Mandolins: Davidson f5, A5 "Badgerlin".
    Bouzouki: Paul Shippey Axe
    My band's website

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    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Ps. Better bang for buck to be had second hand and the instrument may sound better having been played in.
    My name is Rob, and I am Lord of All Badgers

    Tenor Guitars: Acoustic: Mcilroy ASP10T, ‘59 Martin 0-18t. Electric: ‘57 Gibson ETG-150, ‘80s Manson Kestrel
    Mandolins: Davidson f5, A5 "Badgerlin".
    Bouzouki: Paul Shippey Axe
    My band's website

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  17. #10
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Does it need to be acoustic? Fender tele tenor is rrp £430 here (unsure when available) or Eastwood range
    My name is Rob, and I am Lord of All Badgers

    Tenor Guitars: Acoustic: Mcilroy ASP10T, ‘59 Martin 0-18t. Electric: ‘57 Gibson ETG-150, ‘80s Manson Kestrel
    Mandolins: Davidson f5, A5 "Badgerlin".
    Bouzouki: Paul Shippey Axe
    My band's website

  18. #11

    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    I just purchased an Ibanez AVT tenor guitar. The AVT has a solid spruce top and the top and braces are Thermo Aged.
    It is a very lively instrument and sounds like it has been played in. Not stiff sounding at all like a new guitar.
    Specs are
    body shape Parlor 2 body
    top Solid Sitka Spruce top
    back & sides Okoume back & Okoume sides
    neck AVT Nyatoh neck
    fretboard Ovangkol fretboard
    bridge Ovangkol bridge
    inlay White dot
    soundhole rosette Black & White multi
    tuning machine Chrome Open Gear tuners w/Ivory knobs
    nut material Bone
    number of frets 20
    saddle material Compensated Bone
    bridge pins Ibanez Advantage™
    strings D'Addario® J66
    NECK DIMENSIONS
    Scale : 579mm
    a : Width 32mm at NUT
    b : Width 38mm at 14F
    c : Thickness 22mm at 1F
    d : Thickness 23mm at 7F
    Radius : 400mmR

    So far I am extremely happy with this guitar.

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  20. #12
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Blueridge BR-40T is down to $421 on Amazon
    https://www.amazon.com/Blueridge-BR-...dp/B003YOT0BO/
    Click image for larger version. 

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  21. #13
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Now $408. If you call using the link, you might get an additional $ off
    Click image for larger version. 

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  22. #14
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Still dropping. Now $403

  23. #15
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    I haven't heard of them, and will check them out. "Setting up" an instrument is not a problem. Thanks.

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    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best middle or lower-priced tenor guitar?

    Yeah, it needs to be acoustic (though I do use internal mics in guitar and mandocello). I "unplugged" a few decades ago, sold my early-60's tele and by Fender Vibrolux, etc

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