Wilkanowski with D'Angelico neck and hardware Model Arch Top Acoustic Tenor Guitar, c. early 1940's, made in Brooklyn, NY, natural finish, Lombardy poplar back and sides, spruce top, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, hard shell case.
This particular guitar is unique in our experience. While we have seen a number of guitars by other makers fitted out with D'Angelico necks, this is the most eccentric "collaboration" we are aware of! Whether this Wilkanowski guitar was originally a tenor, converted to that format from a six-string or even finished off from an uncompleted body by John D'Angelico is unknown, but an engaging mystery.
The body is in the standard Wilkanowski pattern, with cello-like points where the upper bout slopes down towards the waist. The soundholes are the type used on later Wilkanowski instruments: a swooping "cat's-eye" design almost identical to the contemporary Gretsch Synchromatic style, but curving inward rather than outward.
The neck is a standard D'Angelico Style "A" tenor pattern, with a 23" scale and four individual Grover "Sta-Tite" tuners. The celluloid bound ebony fingerboard and headstock have pearl block inlay but there is no logo. The nickel-plated tailpiece is the standard 1940's D'Angelico style, drilled for only 4 strings and with no engraved logo; the bridge is D'Angelico's work as well.
This is one of the biggest and most powerful-sounding tenor guitars we have ever encountered, and a perfect playing instrument.
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 17 1/8 in. (43.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Excellent Condition.
