Vivi-Tone Electric Lute-Body Tenor Guitar , c. 1933
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Item # 4575
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Vivi-Tone Electric Lute-Body Model Tenor Guitar, c. 1933, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body and neck, ebony fingerboard.
We see many instruments here that fall into the rare category, even very rare, but this is one of the most unusual we have encountered in a long time. This Vivi-Tone tenor guitar is essentially a 4-string version of the lute-shaped mandolas and mandocellos Lloyd Loar designed for his company, which themselves were produced in extremely small numbers. This is a full-body (not plank solid body) teardrop shaped instrument with binding top and back, painted on F-holes (25+ years before Gretsch!) and the singular Vivi-Tone pickup mounted in a drawer slid in from the bass side of the body. The other features are typically Vivi-Tone; the cast tailpiece (which can hold 8 strings), the heavy tortiose celluloid pickguard solidly mounted to the top and ivoroid facing to the front and back of the headstock, with a silkscreened company logo. The headstock also carries 4 Grover tabbed banjo tuners. This is the only extant example of this exact style Vivi-Tone we are aware of, and one of the most unique pieces from a company that specialized in the singular!
Overall length is 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm.) width, and 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 21 in. (533 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). All original except for the hardwired cord (which was badly deteriorated) replaced with proper period cloth-covered wire, with the original plug. Some heavy checking and moisture wear to the finish overall; some finish loss from flaking around the neck heel and bottom side. Not much actual play wear; this instrument appears to have been little used but stored for some time in a damp environment. Pickup is fully functional and despite its unusual construction the instrument actually plays quite well. Overall Very Good + Condition.
We see many instruments here that fall into the rare category, even very rare, but this is one of the most unusual we have encountered in a long time. This Vivi-Tone tenor guitar is essentially a 4-string version of the lute-shaped mandolas and mandocellos Lloyd Loar designed for his company, which themselves were produced in extremely small numbers. This is a full-body (not plank solid body) teardrop shaped instrument with binding top and back, painted on F-holes (25+ years before Gretsch!) and the singular Vivi-Tone pickup mounted in a drawer slid in from the bass side of the body. The other features are typically Vivi-Tone; the cast tailpiece (which can hold 8 strings), the heavy tortiose celluloid pickguard solidly mounted to the top and ivoroid facing to the front and back of the headstock, with a silkscreened company logo. The headstock also carries 4 Grover tabbed banjo tuners. This is the only extant example of this exact style Vivi-Tone we are aware of, and one of the most unique pieces from a company that specialized in the singular!
Overall length is 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm.) width, and 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 21 in. (533 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). All original except for the hardwired cord (which was badly deteriorated) replaced with proper period cloth-covered wire, with the original plug. Some heavy checking and moisture wear to the finish overall; some finish loss from flaking around the neck heel and bottom side. Not much actual play wear; this instrument appears to have been little used but stored for some time in a damp environment. Pickup is fully functional and despite its unusual construction the instrument actually plays quite well. Overall Very Good + Condition.