1927 Weymann Tenor Harp

Update 2019: I originally worked on this instrument back in 2013 for its owner. He just sent it back (Nov 2019) for resale, so I've updated the blog post entirely with new pictures, a video clip, and full description.

The inside of this crazy tenor-box is inscribed with a previous owner's name and a June 1927 date. I'm assuming that's when it was purchased. Tenor harps are very rare instruments and until I saw this one for the first time, I'd only seen Paramount/Orpheum/Lange and Epiphone models on the net. Tenor harps are basically tenor guitars but with a banjo-like shape rather than a guitar-like shape. Due to their construction style, however, their voice is generally a little snappier and projects more like a good bowlback or flatback mandolin -- it's more cutting than your average flattop tenor guitar and suits traditional tenor banjo playing styles a little better.

This is built along the lines of the Lange-made tenor harp instruments and is featherweight. Outwardly it looks like a banjo with a wooden head but its interior build is more like a flatback mandolin with a thinly-cut ladder-braced top. At the rear of the sidewalls, a lightly-made resonator is installed with small slits that allow air from the main soundbox to enter it. This has the same effect as a banjo's resonator -- it helps boost the overall presence and forward cut of the instrument.

This had seen a bunch of work before I originally worked on it, but after my last repairs back in 2013 I'm happy to say it arrived back here needing nothing but a restring and cleaning. It's remained stable in service the whole time.

The build quality is quite high and the back, sides, and resonator are all solid mahogany and all the edges on the body are bound in rosewood. There's nice purfling on the top edge and the whole thing feels very well-made -- just as you'd expect for a Weymann. These were mostly pro-level instruments.

Repairs included: old repairs were a fret level/dress, replacement tailpiece, a new bridge, some brace reglues to the back, cleaning, and a setup. This time around I added side dots, new strings (gauged 36w, 24w, 13, 9), and some extra cleats for older crack repairs on the back.

Setup notes: the neck is straight and it plays perfectly with 1/16" action at the 12th fret. I have it strung for standard CGDA tuning.

Scale length: 22 7/8"

Nut width: 1 1/8"

String spacing at nut: 15/16"

String spacing at bridge: 1 5/16"

Top diameter: 11 1/2"

Resonator diameter: 14 1/8"

Side depth at deepest: 3 1/4"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back/sides wood: solid mahogany

Neck wood: mahogany

Fretboard: rosewood

Bridge: recent ebony/maple Grover "Leader"

Neck feel: medium C-shape, flat board

Condition notes: there are a number of smaller hairline crack repairs on the back and one tiny 1/2" one right near the fretboard extension on the top. All are good to go. The top shows plenty of playwear and a bit of alligatoring to the finish near the soundhole. There used to be a bunch of decals on this instrument's face and headstock but all have worn-off save an "R" on the headstock and a disembodied little girl-face on the soundboard. There's plenty of mild scratches throughout the instrument but overall it looks handsome. The strap buttons are non-original and the tailpiece is non-original. 3 of the 4 pegs at the headstock are original but one is a later replacement. All are 4:1 geared and work well.

It comes with: a good-quality Gold Tone case that fits it perfectly.