Newbie to this board...but with a TG under construction

Thought this might be of interest for TG folks. Vinnie Mondello (TX) is working on finishing a project begun over 30 years ago by NY luthier Carlo Greco for Tiny Grimes back in late 1988. Tiny died in early '89 and the body sat unfinished until I bought it in 2015 from Carlo's estate after his passing. I've got a couple of other instruments Carlo built from that same period (including a LP-style solid body tenor) & all are great so I'm looking forward to this one being equal - if not better!

http://www.4stringbanjos.com/bartas-...o-tenor-guitar

Nice one Bob - real nice to see an archtop oval hole! Not many of those around. Keep the pics coming

I remember Carlo from NY days. My old teacher Roy Smeck used Carlo as his repairman of choice. Great that you got that tenor and equally great that it will come to life and the connection to Tiny Grimes is cool too. What is the scale length?

Hi Jim - I was a pupil of Roy's too (late 70's -early 80's), but I had been introduced to Carlo earlier by my first banjo teacher, Jim Harkins. I've got one of Roy's old Martin style O soprano ukes (one of two he had pickups in).

The Mondello/Greco tenor has a 22" scale length which will extend just past the cutaway & very slightly lap over the oval sound hole. I'm interested to see what kind of acoustic sound comes out but also am having a K & K TG pickup installed inside.

I didn't want to sound too spaced-out with my last comment about "seeing what kind of acoustic sound...", so I will atone for it (musical pun intended) with a few pics of the Carlo LP-type solid body circa 1983-84:
Attachment 189677Attachment 189678 Attachment 189679Attachment 189680

oh that's sweet. i would've like a more showy finish to go with the headstock, but I bet that plays well and sounds great

For sure, Rob! Carlo did a group of "natural" top solid body instruments at that time. A (rock) band mate of mine at the time bought one of three 6-string solid bodies Carlo built which were a made of single piece - headstock to endpin - with built in circuitry for distortion & more. I think I got the natural top because it was quicker for Carlo to finish and because I loved the look of Dave's axe so much.

It's clear as a bell all the way to that extra high "A" at the top fret...and gets the attention of Fender Strat players when you can outdistance them by more than a 5th.

BTW - I'm grooving on The Model Folk - Yesss!!

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Originally Posted by SunnylandBob

BTW - I'm grooving on The Model Folk - Yesss!!

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Aw thanks Bob.

re guitars - like most of us, I'm making a virtual list in my head of what I'd have on a build... but I do love a semi with a bigsby and a could of nice p'ups, especially at the neck for those sweet neck sounds :) I just lack a lot of the specific knowledge and more importantly, the cash now...!