D'Angelico Tenor Guitars

**Nat** · Dec-27-2009, 7:49pm

Do any of you happen to have photograph(s) of a D'Angelico tenor guitar? I know from D'Angelico's ledgers that a handful are in existence.

I'm aware of the D'Angelico plectrum that was at Gruhn's, was auctioned by Christie's in 2002, and is now in the National Music Museum:

http://www.gruhn.com/features/DAplec/TG0250.html

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/l...e-697b6298f07d

http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/PluckedStrin...icoGuitar.html

And I see another plectrum here:

http://vintageguitarpro.com/1947D%27...Plectrum.shtml

But a plectrum, alas, is not a tenor.

**Charles E.** · Dec-28-2009, 6:02pm

Here is one from a post a while back.

http://www.banjoworld.de/Tenor10.htm

**earnest** · Jan-05-2010, 8:35am

I have a D'A tenor neck from the 30's, probably removed from a tenor guitar that was probably converted to 6 string. I can send you a photo if you like. Most of the D'A tenors had 16"+ bodies and were overbuilt and not particularly good sounding as tenors. Epiphone made the best tenor guitars IMHO. joel

**mrmando** · Jan-14-2010, 2:04am

Here is an intriguing photo that I found earlier tonight.

I e-mailed the shop that had this on its Web site. There was no information about the instrument and no other pictures. I don't know what it is, but it could be a tenor guitar.

And here is someone selling a D'Angelico tenor tiple, just in case you need such a thing.

**Nat** · Jan-14-2010, 6:29pm

Thanks for your help, everyone.

Charles, I'd also stumbled across the picture you posted, but assumed it was a tenor guitar in the "D'Angelico style", rather than an actual D'Angelico. This is partly because it says "Bruno" on the headstock, and partly because it just doesn't look right to me. Maybe someone more informed than I can confirm or refute my opinion.

Joel, how does one happen to come across a D'Angelico tenor neck? Moreover, what does one do with it thereafter? It's depressing to think about someone swapping out that neck for a 6-string, even if the original guitar didn't function all that well as a tenor. D'Angelicos don't seem to be of sufficient rarity to justify such a drastic operation. I would enjoy a photo of the neck (particularly the headstock), if you happen to have a chance. Maybe someday you'll stumble across (or build) the perfect complementary body. I'm a habitual visitor to your website, and have long lingered over the pictures of your gorgeous tenor archtops.

Mrmando, thanks for the tiple link. I hadn't seen those particular pictures, though I believe that same instrument has periodically appeared on ebay at an intimidating price. That certainly does look like a tenor or plectrum neck in the photo from your mystery shop...

Somewhere I think I have pictures of the Stromberg tenor archtop that was on ebay a few years ago (though I believe it was one of his earlier, less desirable models). I'll see if I can hunt those down.

**delsbrother** · Jan-14-2010, 7:05pm

Originally Posted by Nat

It's depressing to think about someone swapping out that neck for a 6-string, even if the original guitar didn't function all that well as a tenor. D'Angelicos don't seem to be of sufficient rarity to justify such a drastic operation

Same reason Selmer tenors (and EFS, and Roy Smeck Hawaiian guitars, etc.) get modified into 6 stringers - money. There's a much more lucrative market for a D'A 6 string vs. a tenor, though technically the tenor would be more rare (and presumably, more valuable). It's just easier to sell a six string.

**EdSherry** · Jan-14-2010, 8:54pm

Delsbrother -- "More rare", yes. "More valuable", no. It's a matter of supply and demand. The demand for six-strings dwarfs demand for tenors. There are plenty of mandolins that are "more rare" than Loar-signed F-5s, but they sure aren't "more valuable."

**delsbrother** · Jan-15-2010, 2:45am

Originally Posted by EdSherry

Delsbrother -- "More rare", yes. "More valuable", no. It's a matter of supply and demand. The demand for six-strings dwarfs demand for tenors.

Well, uh, yeah, that's what I was trying to say.

There are plenty of mandolins that are "more rare" than Loar-signed F-5s, but they sure aren't "more valuable."

That would be my collection - "rare and undesirable".

**JeffD** · Jan-15-2010, 10:11am

Originally Posted by delsbrother

That would be my collection - "rare and undesirable".

**mrmando** · Jan-19-2010, 12:31am

Found this over at the Tenor Guitar Registry:

**vegasda** · Mar-01-2016, 11:26pm

I have a 1962 Excel Plectrum. Although not (technically) a tenor guitar it's still of the four-string variety. Most four-string DA's were Style A's or B's. This one was once owned by Jimmy Kay who toured with The Three Suns.