1964 Gibson TG-25N Flattop Tenor Guitar

April 02, 2016

1964 Gibson TG-25N Flattop Tenor Guitar

While this tenor guitar's model name suggests it's the 4-string version of a B-25 (as in, the '60s version of the LG-2/LG-3), it's ladder-braced and so it's really more of a cross between an LG-1 and something like a '30s KTG-14. It has the bite in the mids of the KTG-style guitar but a warmer bottom-end and slightly-scooped high-end like you'd expect on an LG-1.

This came in almost ready-to-go but I did have to do a light fret level/dress, add a few cleats to an old crack repair on the back, and make a new rosewood saddle to replace the old ceramic saddle which had its break-point for the strings 1/8" too forward (and thus made it play way out of tune up the neck). It's currently strung for DGBE with "12s" in Delmore Brothers fashion, but would also do octave-mandolin GDAE with good intonation using the same saddle.

I have to admit I really like this guitar -- it has just enough pickwear to the sides of the fretboard extension to give it "street cred," but it's also clean enough and lovely-sounding-enough to make it a very practical choice of tenor guitar -- especially for someone who might be into mostly-chordal play.

The top is solid spruce and the back, sides, and neck are a red-stained mahogany.

The nut is 1 3/16" and the original synthetic material. Note the weird "fret 1" markers! The truss works just fine and the neck is good and straight. Action is dialed-in at 1/16" overall at the 12th fret and it plays smooth and easy.

The original pickguard is actually thinner than a lot of Gib guards from this time and that's a huge plus.

The pins look half-original. Note the far-back break angle on my new rosewood saddle. Note only does this mean it plays in tune but the rosewood sounds a million times better than the ceramic.

The original Klusons are working just dandy.

The only cracks on the guitar are right here -- this longer, old-repair hairline... and the tiny one right over the kerfing next to it at the sharpest part of the waist. Both are in good order.