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Thread: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

  1. #1
    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Ever since that ETG-150 was posted in the classifieds (https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/153329#153329) I have hollow body (and semi-hollow body) electric tenors on the mind. Then there was this thread recently which showed me that there are others around here interested in this type of tenor, and some of you have a hollow-body electric.

    Once I've got the funds, a hollow body electric tenor is definitely going to be my next purchase. So I'd love to hear about your experiences with them or searching for them There doesn't seem to be a ton of info on tenors like these, and maybe not that many kinds available..?

    So, what options are there for someone interested in a hollow body tenor? That ETG certainly looks beautiful and promising, but I'd love to know what all is out there.

    Those of you who have experience with one, an ETG-150 or something else, what do you have to say about them? Any videos or sound files to share?
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I used to own a mid 50's Gibson TG-50 that I put a De'Armond floating pickup on. Ran it thru a Fender tube amp with a second "master volume" knob, it was killer! You could get a smooth jazz tone to a crunchy overdrive tone from it. Should have never sold it.

    Here is Tyler Jackson with a beautiful Gibson that has the same pickup I had....


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYb3...EmAWbk&index=2
    Charley

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  3. #3
    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Interesting, I hadn't considering just modifying an acoustic. My Martin has an internal pickup. It sounds great as an amplified acoustic, but I've been assuming that it won't do well when I go for an electric, crunchy sound, which is kinda what I want - blues, a bit of break up, etc. Maybe a floating pickup would do the trick?

    That video is lovely.
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    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I have turned a few basic tenors around like this Harmony.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I like the look of the Earnest Victoria: http://www.vintagetenorguitars.com/earnest.htm
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Thats a solid body, the OP was asking about arch top hollow bodied tenors.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Thats a solid body, the OP was asking about arch top hollow bodied tenors.
    Scroll down.
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    The guitar on the left is an Arrow Arch Top Tenor (5-string) that I really like. I play it more often acoustically, though it does have a floating Kent Armstrong pickup...Though these days if I'm gigging (when I was gigging!) I play the solid body electric (like the one in the middle) more than the arch top...the sustain suits my style better.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Arrows.jpg 
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ID:	187124

  10. #9
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by MoreThanQuinn View Post
    Ever since that ETG-150 was posted in the classifieds (https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/153329#153329) I have hollow body (and semi-hollow body) electric tenors on the mind. Then there was this thread recently which showed me that there are others around here interested in this type of tenor, and some of you have a hollow-body electric.

    Once I've got the funds, a hollow body electric tenor is definitely going to be my next purchase. So I'd love to hear about your experiences with them or searching for them There doesn't seem to be a ton of info on tenors like these, and maybe not that many kinds available..?

    So, what options are there for someone interested in a hollow body tenor? That ETG certainly looks beautiful and promising, but I'd love to know what all is out there.

    Those of you who have experience with one, an ETG-150 or something else, what do you have to say about them? Any videos or sound files to share?
    Hey buddy, sent you a reply PM.
    For me that 70s one isn’t the golden age. I was set on a 50s one - nicely mid-period - If there’d been a 30’s/40’s (?) Charlie Christian equipped ETG for the money I’d have paid I’d be sitting on a NICE investment. That’s the early ones.
    Maybe ask them for more photos in better light - the finish looks oddly red
    I prefer the look of the 50s ones. It’s all about the looks & pickups on these beauties....
    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".
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    My band's website

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    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by djweiss View Post
    The guitar on the left is an Arrow Arch Top Tenor (5-string) that I really like. I play it more often acoustically, though it does have a floating Kent Armstrong pickup...Though these days if I'm gigging (when I was gigging!) I play the solid body electric (like the one in the middle) more than the arch top...the sustain suits my style better.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Arrows.jpg 
Views:	180 
Size:	303.3 KB 
ID:	187124
    I have always envied your Arrows!
    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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  13. #11
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Scroll down.
    Ah yes, that "Veronica" is a lovely tenor. I wonder if he makes a "Betty" also?
    Charley

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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by Charles E. View Post
    Ah yes, that "Veronica" is a lovely tenor. I wonder if he makes a "Betty" also?
    They'd both be Tops with Arch.

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  16. #13
    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Thanks for all the responses thus far, everyone.

    @phef
    Wow, that's certainly a beautiful one. Dare I email to ask about the price?

    @Lord
    Thanks, got your message and just replied. You raise a point I was curious about, I'll open this thread up to the question also. I don't know much about Gibson's production history, but the ETG-150s span a wide number of years. Any time period to avoid or look for specifically?
    And yeah, I think those ETGs just look so sweet. Such a classic looking guitar. I've got the itch.

    @dj, I love the look of that one on the left. Great shape. But in that image I also dig the color of the middle tenor. What a collection you're working with!
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  18. #14
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I'm just going on looks Quinn

    I like the 50s ones best

    then it's cash & condition
    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".
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    My band's website

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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by MoreThanQuinn View Post
    @phef
    Wow, that's certainly a beautiful one. Dare I email to ask about the price?
    I was hoping you would and report back to us. I haven’t had the courage to do it!

    https://www.earnestinstruments.com/prices/

    But if you do, I might show you the archtop that I was eyeing before I (over)spent my summer budget . . .
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    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Well how can I pass that up when your tips in that past have been informational gold?

    The Earnest archtop with the pick up = just over $6,000.

    EDIT: Sorry, I missed a few of the costs of the additions. Make that closer to 7 or 8,000.

    i.e. Too much for me! It's all yours, phef!
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    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Quote Originally Posted by MoreThanQuinn View Post
    Well how can I pass that up when your tips in that past have been informational gold?

    The Earnest archtop with the pick up = just over $6,000.

    EDIT: Sorry, I missed a few of the costs of the additions. Make that closer to 7 or 8,000.

    i.e. Too much for me! It's all yours, phef!
    That’s the price from Joel new. I was wondering about the cost from Steve used!

    Of course, I’ve already spent my summer budget.

    Before I did, however, I eyed this (unelectrified) archtop tenor:

    https://reverb.com/item/23106001-gib...n-1952-natural

    And I noticed that it’s cheaper on their direct website:

    http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/stock.html
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  22. #18
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I’d get that natural TG50 in a heartbeat! Not many of them about. Maybe get Earnest Instruments to make you up a new scratch plate so as to mount the pickup on it as per his spec.
    You Americans get all the nice 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".
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  23. #19

    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I love my Earnest ES-125 3/4 Conversion!



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    Baron
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  25. #20
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Ooh that’s pretty Baron
    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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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Baron, that sounds great....both the guitar and the playing!

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  29. #22
    Lord of All Badgers Lord of the Badgers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    I sent the YouTube link to my luthier who’s working on my ETG150 at the moment. He said he’s got a mate who’s got a blonde ES125. Now that, I would like to see as a tenor.... *drool*
    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

  30. #23
    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Sorry I was away from my computer the last day and a half so I fell a bit behind.

    @phef, I think you have the magic touch when it comes to finding instruments online. That natural blonde is stunning! (Couldn't help but laugh at the sentence as I wrote it. But seriously, awesome find!)

    @Charles, do you mind sharing a bit about the process of installing the floating pickup? How much did it all cost? Is it relatively easy to do or have a luthier do for you?
    Now, I'm really thinking that getting an acoustic arch top and adding a floating pick up might be the way to go. Sounds like it could keep cost down and my options open. Another bonus would be that the instrument would be built for acoustic play, so playing it without the amp will be sweet too.

    @Baron, that's a buttery smooth sound you're getting out of that conversion, I love it! And sweet playing too, as always. Thanks for sharing.

    @Lord, just replied to your PM!

    EDIT: Does anyone know of a video of an archtop tenor (either electric or acoustic with an added pickup) playing with a crunchier, fuzzier sound? Would love to hear one of these Gibsons a little heavier with some breakup going on.
    Last edited by MoreThanQuinn; Jul-09-2020 at 1:14pm.
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  31. #24
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    MTQuinn, the pickup has a bracket that clamps to the strings behind the bridge. The pickup slides up and down on a metal rod, when you find a spot you like the tone of, you can use a small amount of putty to secure it to the top.

    For an example of an electric-archtop tenor with a bit more crunch, check out The Two Man Gentlemen Band....


    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  32. #25
    Registered User MoreThanQuinn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hollow Body Electric Tenors

    Wow, Charles, thanks for the info. So, it sounds like no need to take it to a luthier or shop to get it set up with the pickup then. That's great!

    And holy camoly, that video you linked is fantastic. Definitely the type of sound I was looking for, and I'm stoked to be hearing a new (to me) incredible tenor player. I'm about to go down a rabbit hole of their music. Sweet! Thanks again!
    1940 Gibson L-4T
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