c.1925 Stromberg-Voisinet Venetian Tenor Guitar

Talk about way cool. Not only does this guy have the super-sweet Venetian cutaway-style body, it's also got fancy checker celluloid binding everywhere, the longer 23" scale, all-original fittings (save a tuner button), and is virtually crack-free throughout. Did I mention it plays like butter, too, and jumps out with nice volume in a jam setting?

Top is quality solid spruce, sides are laminated birdseye maple, back is solid flatsawn maple. Neck is maple with a "something" headstock veneer. Fretboard and bridge appear to be dyed maple or other misc. hardwood. MOP fret dots and oodles of checker binding. Bone nut, "fret" saddle on bridge. Replacement bridge pins, though... new ebony ones.

Love that "checker."

Nice old bridge. Slightly lifting at the back, but the "meat" (the widest part) where you actually see the glue footprint on these when you take them off (the decorative touch at the bottom is usually unglued) is plenty secure.

Branded with the "Princess" label. Really made by Stromberg-Voisinet, which in 1931 became what we know now as Kay. However, this fellow should not be confused with their later cheapy guitars... this is "the real deal."

Friction pegs.

Back and sides and neck all have a cool tobacco sunburst.

Here you can see that nice birdseye.

The lower bout and bottom part of the sides are all one piece.

The neck is comfortable, it sits in your lap nicely, plays and projects wonderfully -- what more? And it sounds great in either GDAE or CGDA... so alternate-tuning lovers have plenty of good "vocal range" to play with.