Marwin Deluxe Modified Arch Top Acoustic Tenor Guitar, made by Harmony , c. 1939

 Marwin Deluxe Modified Arch Top Acoustic Tenor Guitar, made by Harmony ,  c. 1939
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Item # 10901
Prices subject to change without notice.
Marwin Deluxe Modified Model Arch Top Acoustic Tenor Guitar, made by Harmony, c. 1939, made in Chicago, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back ans sides, spruce top, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard., black chipboard case.
 
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).

This "Marwin Deluxe" 4-string guitar has a real "shaggy dog" story to it. It started life as a conventional (if fairly low budget) smaller-body 6-string archtop, made by Harmony for a NY jobber sometime shortly before WWII. Along the way somebody REALLY wanted a tenor or Plectrum 4-string guitar. The neck was shaved down on both sides, somewhat amateurishly if quite neatly, taking a lot of fingerboard (and half of the outer dots) with it. The neck is now in tenor/plectrum configuration with a fairly deep and distinctly "U" shaped profile. The part of the fingerboard over the body is still full width, which looks eccentric, to say the least!

The headstock was re-carved as well, and now sports a rakish sloped point on the top and only 4 tuners, which are Gotohs of much more recent vintage than the instrument. A custom carved wood bridge was made, rather artful if eccentrically shaped. The tailpiece is a standard budget 6-string fitting, the black plastic pickguard appears a later addition. The neck has been solidly reset and there are some laminate cracks in the back. The finish has some general wear, but nothing too dramatic.

This customized 4-string is a really oddball find but would make a good knock-around/learner's Tenor or Plectrum guitar, the latter very hard to find. The just-over 25" scale buts it between the standard 23" for tenor and 27" for plectrum, making it adaptable for either tuning if the stringing is correctly set. It is currently set up in C-G-D-A tenor tuning, but C-G-B-D Plectrum or D-G-B-E baritone uke would work equally well. The instrument plays well and really could use a loving home where its 4-string life can be lived without judgement! Very Good + Condition.