Acoustic Guitar Terminology

Subject: Tennessee flat-top box
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 19:18:19 -0500

Is that a guitar? I asked Jeeves and I was directed to your site.

Greetings,

I was asked this very same question a couple years back from somebody out of Canada:

The Tennessee Flat-Top box is an acoustic guitar...usually Dreadnought in size and style...and usually used within country or bluegrass settings...it is not any particular brand guitar...the phrase is used generically...now, there have been songs with "Tennessee Flat-Top Box" used as part of the lyrics...such as Roseanne Cash's tribute to her Dad's song...

Let me know how else I might assist...I hope you won the bet...Mickey

Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 19:44:22 -0500
Subject: Re: Tennessee Flattop References

What makes something a tennessee flat top box?

Regards,
Louisa

Greetings Louisa,

Glad to assist:

There are many references to the "Tennessee Flattop Box" as follows: in country music, in manufacturing, as a southern colloquialism, a regional dialect expression referencing any dreadnought-style acoustic guitar...etc.

In country music, Johnny Cash sang a song with the same reference (Rosanne Cash has a superb re-make of this)...we have a current manufacturer, named Crafters of Tennessee, who manufactures a guitar titled the same...and, many refer to flatpicking guitar, a bluegrass approach to playing acoustic guitar, as "Tennesse Flat Top Pickin'"...hence, there are many references to this nomenclature. I find them all fascinating myself.

I believe the context that you heard it in denotes the reference you're looking for...which is more than likely one of the above that I've listed.

Hope this helps...Mickey

Hey Mickey,

Thanks, that helps a ton. My silly Canadian roommate and I have been puzzling about that for ages. You've been much more helpful than the Nashville boy I'm dating!