Guitar
guitarz.blogspot.com:
This Windsor Whirle was made in Birmingham, UK, according to the eBay seller in the 1920s. Myself, I'm not so sure about that, and would widen the timeframe to anytime in the 20th Century up until the 1940s. But perhaps the seller knows something that I do not.
The guitar (or whatever it is) is not in the best of condition having developed a split in the back right down the centre. However, I feel it is worth showing here because it's such an unusual-looking instrument.
Although the seller refers to it as a "tenor guitar", I wonder if it was actually intended as a baritone ukulele. Note the gut or nylon strings rather than a tenor's usual steel strings (you can see also that the bridge was never intended for steel strings) plus the relative compactness of the whole design. The scale length is said to be 52cm - that's nearly 20 1/2" - which is nearer to baritone ukulele scale than tenor guitar (usually about 23").
A Google search for "Windsor Whirle" will tell you that they produced a range of banjos in that name. Note also the banjo-like headstock on the instrument pictured here.
(For some reason I get a sense of deja vu about this whole blog post. I could swear I've posted something similar before but cannot find it in the archives).
G L Wilson
© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!
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Guitar
British-made Windsor Whirle tenor guitar - or is it a baritone ukulele?
guitarz.blogspot.com:
The guitar (or whatever it is) is not in the best of condition having developed a split in the back right down the centre. However, I feel it is worth showing here because it's such an unusual-looking instrument.
Although the seller refers to it as a "tenor guitar", I wonder if it was actually intended as a baritone ukulele. Note the gut or nylon strings rather than a tenor's usual steel strings (you can see also that the bridge was never intended for steel strings) plus the relative compactness of the whole design. The scale length is said to be 52cm - that's nearly 20 1/2" - which is nearer to baritone ukulele scale than tenor guitar (usually about 23").
A Google search for "Windsor Whirle" will tell you that they produced a range of banjos in that name. Note also the banjo-like headstock on the instrument pictured here.
(For some reason I get a sense of deja vu about this whole blog post. I could swear I've posted something similar before but cannot find it in the archives).
G L Wilson
© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!
- 1925 Stromberg-voisinet Tenor Guitar, From The Company That Became Kay
guitarz.blogspot.com: This is a beautiful 90 year old tenor guitar. She's had some work done to keep her looking young. With a spruce top, birch back and sides, and mother-of-toiletseat fretboard it's hard not to love this odd shaped tenor....
- Fender Japan Mini Telecaster Mtl-32, Discontinued 1990s Model By Fujigen
guitarz.blogspot.com: I don't know whether or not it's a gross generalisation to say that the Japanese have an obsession with miniaturisation, but since the advent of Fender Japan there have been several "mini" versions of popular Fender guitars,...
- Vintage & Rare Guitar Of The Week: Stevens Custom Guitars Bass Ukulele
guitarz.blogspot.com: Our Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week this week isn't technically a guitar at all, it's a bass ukulele. I'm aware of the Kala U-Bass (I have one in my arsenal and enjoy recording with it), but if the above video...
- Walking Cane Tenor Guitar/mandola - For Those Who Like Music On The Move, Now Here's An Instrument You Can Take Hiking
guitarz.blogspot.com: Now this is clever. I'll let the seller/maker describe it: A truly unique instrument, functions as a cane and a Tenor Guitar or 4 string Mandola at the same time. Tuned C-G-D-A, 19 inch scale, so it is a little long for a mandola,...
- Soares'y Left-handed Acoustic/electric Piccolo Bass
guitarz.blogspot.com: Here's a very specific instrument for a player with a very specific list of requirements. It's a Soares'y left-handed acoustic/electric piccolo bass, one of a number of unusual instruments, primarily tenor guitars, built...