What is this abomination instrument

[your idol]

so i was watching the Kingston Trio today on PBS (dont ask ) and i notice the one guy playing something with 4 tuning keys...so im like BASS..but then i notice hes strumming and theres vey little actual bass there. its small but too big to be a uke. skinny neck like a jazz bass and short scale.

its driving me nuts (insert pirate sound here) WHAT IS THIS ABOMINATION?!?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onbxA...eature=related

[bongomania]

It's a 4-string tenor guitar. They were popular with folk and jazz singers in the 50's and 60's.

[JohnnyNacho]

Tenor guitar?

Whoops! beaten to it.

[Lo-E]

That's a tenor guitar.

[Tony G]

It's a tenor guitar.

[Demon_Hunter]

I think the real question that needs to be answered is:why the heck were you even listening/watching that in the first place?

[your idol]

tenor guitar huh?!?! i thought all guitars were tenor

well i certainly get why you dont see alot of them..they make terrible music

as for the why.. so im stuck at my inlaws for the weekend..by day 1 all 12 people in the house have a nasty chest cold. they also have basic cable so i was surfing all 12 channels this morning (weekday morning basic cable is the pits) and BAM there was the Kingston Trio doing their smash hit Tijuana Jail. completely delirious as it may have been to choose that to stop on i was more disturbed that i knew all the songs

but there again im probably the only 28 year old who also knows the entire Marty Robbins catalog..the trials of having and "old" parent

[fretlessguy]

The guy's name was Nick Reynolds. Besides tenor guitar, he also played congas and other hand drums as well. He was known for his excellent harmony singing. He passed away October 1st, 2008.
He was also an innovator of the instrument. He convinced Martin to make him a double coursed tenor guitar (two strings for each open note like a mandolin) which helped him to fill out the sound.
The tenor guitar is tuned CGDA like a mandola or viola. It was used as a high strumming instrument along with the regular guitar, making a "12 string" sound. It could also be used as a lead instrument as well. And yes, it could make some good music if it were in the right hands. www.tenorguitar.com
I liked Marty Robbins songs, especially the song "Devil Woman", which really reminds me of a demented lady I was once engaged to (I am sure she
thought I was demented as well).

[your idol]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

The guy's name was Nick Reynolds. Besides tenor guitar, he also played congas and other hand drums as well. He was known for his excellent harmony singing. He passed away October 1st, 2008.
He was also an innovator of the instrument. He convinced Martin to make him a double coursed tenor guitar (two strings for each open note like a mandolin) which helped him to fill out the sound.
The tenor guitar is tuned CGDA like a mandola or viola. It was used as a high strumming instrument along with the regular guitar, making a "12 string" sound. It could also be used as a lead instrument as well. And yes, it could make some good music if it were in the right hands. www.tenorguitar.com
I liked Marty Robbins songs, especially the song "Devil Woman", which really reminds me of a demented lady I was once engaged to (I am sure she
thought I was demented as well).

VERY COOL INFO!
i could tell it was a Martin but when i initially went searching for info on it i turned up nothing. very neat that thats what lead to that very full 12 string sound which also would indicate that your strumming had to be flawless or your sound could just go to hell..says alot about the musicianship there.

[Lazylion]

My folks were big Kingston Trio fans back in the 50s, I grew up listening to them! Great stuff!