Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

  1. #1
    Registered User Irénée's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    132

    Default New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Hello All !

    ... Is-it possible than new and recent Tenor guitars (even from Asia) could be better than these respectable Old Ladies (incuding Epiphone and so on) ?

    Waiting for your help, knowledge and experienced advices...
    ... Please to list below

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    606

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    I like Circle Strings tenors.

  3. The following members say thank you to dorenac for this post:


  4. #3
    Registered User Irénée's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Last edited by Irénée; Jun-11-2020 at 2:09pm.

  5. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    720

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Irénée View Post
    Hello All !

    ... Is-it possible than new and recent Tenor guitars (even from Asia) could be better than these respectable Old Ladies (incuding Epiphone and so on) ?

    Waiting for your help, knowledge and experienced advices...
    ... Please to list below
    Better in what way?

  6. #5
    Registered User Irénée's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    - Volume
    - Tone
    - Projection
    - Louder ?

  7. #6
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    I have owned vintage Martin and Gibson tenors over the years. Early Gibson tenors can sound very sweet and I loved the ones I owned. Later (1950's 1960's) not so much. At that time period they just stuck a tenor neck on a six string body and, frankly, they sucked.

    Martins on the other hand got it right. They paid attention to bridge geometry and bracing and it is hard to beat a vintage Martin O-18 T. The first time I played my late 50's O-18 T the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

    I am sure there are builders today that can build a fantastic tenor guitar but you will have to pay for it, probably upwards of 2K

    Nothing out of the pac rim will come close to a vintage Martin.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Charles E. For This Useful Post:

    foxIrénée 

  9. #7
    Registered User Irénée's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Thank you very much Charles E. for your experienced comment and advice

    Recently I have discovered this model https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...or-guitar-quot
    According your practical experience what do you think about please ?

    Regards,

  10. #8
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,859

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Irénée View Post
    Is-it possible than new and recent Tenor guitars could be better than these respectable Old Ladies (incuding Epiphone and so on) ?
    One name that hasn’t yet been mentioned in all of your inquiries is Herb Taylor, who especially impresses with his modern builds and archtops:

    http://www.herbtaylor.com/instruments/tenorguitar/

    Personally, I’m a fan of David Newton:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	F2A4FDDD-8246-4856-8BF7-9D69B6B9D3CC.jpeg 
Views:	160 
Size:	259.0 KB 
ID:	186522

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	9397A071-B474-4907-BD6D-0CF487B9EDEE.jpeg 
Views:	169 
Size:	279.5 KB 
ID:	186526

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	38D64DF4-2F24-4C42-81F3-248D4B55D359.jpeg 
Views:	194 
Size:	301.5 KB 
ID:	186524

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	A882E317-604E-43CA-92DF-4FF3A429D668.jpeg 
Views:	163 
Size:	277.8 KB 
ID:	186525

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	68898D4E-CEAB-42C8-A51E-6003FCEA2136.jpeg 
Views:	149 
Size:	220.0 KB 
ID:	186523
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to pheffernan For This Useful Post:


  12. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Surrey, BC (Vancouver)
    Posts
    430

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Nothing out of the pac rim will come close to a vintage Martin.
    Ouch! from the pac rim.

  13. The following members say thank you to AndyV for this post:


  14. #10
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    South West UK
    Posts
    1,327

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    i can tell you that my '59 Martin o-18t is huge sound wise. I have a high end modern tenor (Mcilroy) which is lovely, but the martin has age and played-in-ness.

    the O-18t has so much mojo - hard to define.

    there's absolutely nothing wrong with a new non-high end tenor in MOST cases, but the comparison is incredibly subjective. It's not all about "better".. it's all about your journey, your experience. They are emotional bonds these, not just budget or technical ones.
    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

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Lord of the Badgers For This Useful Post:


  16. #11
    Registered User Irénée's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lord of the Badgers View Post
    the O-18t has so much mojo - hard to define.
    Thank You,
    But... What does mean "mojo" please... I read it so many times... and not always understood... sorry

  17. #12
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    A magic spell or hex. One that one uses to potentially gain control over another person. So in the instrument world, it would relate to an instrument that had such an amazing voice and presence, that it would have an overwhelming positive effect on the person playing it.

    Looks count too.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  18. The following members say thank you to Charles E. for this post:


  19. #13
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Sorry to hijack the thread but I can't resist...


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEYwk0bypY

    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  20. #14
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,078

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    In many cases, "mojo" has all too often come to mean that an instrument has been mistreated.

    It is a peculiarity of the Anglo-American musical culture that the application of a colloquial term to an abused instrument somehow makes that abuse more acceptable or even desirable.

    I beg Lord of the Badgers to not think too ill of me for the above statement. He may be speaking in more traditional terms about the magic of his well-played but hopefully well cared for old instrument.

  21. #15
    Registered User fox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Guernsey... small island just off the coast of France
    Posts
    1,764

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    In many cases, "mojo" has all too often come to mean that an instrument has been mistreated.

    .
    Abused but somehow better than new.
    Tatty but cool.
    Beaten but rebellious.
    Old but desirable.

  22. #16

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    There is a huge difference between honest play-wear and abuse.
    When I handle a road-worn instrument, it feel completely different from a new one.
    This to me is "mojo".
    That also goes for this relatively new trend of the "relic". It is still a new instrument.
    In my humble opinion; play-wear needs to be earned not copied.

  23. The following members say thank you to Stagehand for this post:


  24. #17

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    It could be that older instruments that have been played an awful lot may have been because they were the best sounding instruments.

  25. #18

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    I’ve played a few Circle tenors. Considered one until I played a Collings. I have some vintage tenors, a Collings, and a Girouard. The Collings is in CGDA tuning. The Girouard in GDAE. I prefer these to the vintage ones. Better playability, and plenty of volume. My vintage Harmony is solid wood with a carved top, but it has old banjo tuners which look cool but are soooo frustrating.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  26. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Essex UK
    Posts
    1,066

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Quote Originally Posted by fox View Post
    Abused but somehow better than new.
    Tatty but cool.
    Beaten but rebellious.
    Old but desirable.
    Well, that's what I keep telling myself, but maybe I'm just decrepit.
    - Jeremy

    Wot no catchphrase?

  27. The following members say thank you to derbex for this post:

    fox 

  28. #20
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Co. Mayo, Ireland
    Posts
    3,569

    Default Re: New and recent Tenor, best than vintage Martin's and Gibson ?

    Irish luthier Frank Tate also makes tenor guitars - I'd love to have him build a tenor for me one of these days!
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •