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Topic: Gibson EH-150 Question |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2000 5:49 am |
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I just got a 1938 EH-150 and have a question.
On the back of the instrument there are two
screws mounted half way down the lower bout.
Do these screws secure the back of the instrument or are they height adjusting screws for the pickup?[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 14 April 2000 at 11:17 AM.] |
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mikey
From:
New Jersey
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Posted 14 Apr 2000 12:34 pm
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Nice guitar Gerald,
Turn 'em and find out!!!....I don't know, but I don't think they adjust the P.U....just secure it....If it was to hold the back, I think they'd run all the way around the back,
Let us know when you find out,
Mike
PS....What's the front look like?....Could you email me a scan?. I'd like to see it...Mahalo[This message was edited by mikey on 14 April 2000 at 01:37 PM.] |
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Ian McLatchie
From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
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Posted 14 Apr 2000 12:58 pm
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| Gerald: They do move the pickup up and down - not much, but enough. Looks like this one's in nice shape. I have a 1938 7-string, and something pretty special would have to come along to make me part with it. Some of the Christian pickups definitely sound better than others, but if you've got a good one, you'll never find a better sounding instrument, as far as I'm concerned. Congratulations, and happy playing. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 15 Apr 2000 7:03 pm
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If yours is like mine, it will have screws all around the outer rim of the bottom of the guitar. Remove them, take off the back and all will be revealed to you. I was amazed at the size of that Charlie Christian pickup magnet...huge. It's a great guitar for 6 string tunings, especially the F#9 tuning.
Of interest....There's a chap in Glendale, CA., Henri "Hanalei" DeWilligen who has played this model for some 55 years and he does a lot of jazzy stuff on it. He gained quite a bit of fame in Holland just after the war and if you look around old records, you just might find some of his stuff. ("Maui Islanders") Point is, he has never considered any other guitar except this trusty old Gibson. I've had mine for some 20 years and love the beast. |
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Ian McLatchie
From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
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Posted 15 Apr 2000 7:48 pm
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| George: The earlier 150s have the screw-on back as you describe, but on the later models the back is glued on. Cosmetically this is an improvement, but being able to unscrew the back makes them a heck of a lot easier to work on. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 16 Apr 2000 9:13 pm
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| I didn't know that. But upon taking a closer look at that picture confirms there are no screws on that particular guitar. So now I am curious...what year do you think my guitar was built ? The serial number is 622-33...does this help ? Mahalo. |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Posted 16 Apr 2000 9:54 pm
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George;
from what I've gathered (I used to have a 7-string EH-150) the Gibson Factory Order Numbers with the range 600-xx to 799-xx fall somewhere around 1936-38 year-wise.
------------------
Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net
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Maurie Junod
From:
Oak Forest, Illinois, USA
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 17 Apr 2000 1:50 pm
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Thanks Greg. I sorta suspected this guitar I own was one from Gibson's earlier production. But I was under the mistaken impression all the EH-150 models had those screws on the back. Thanks for setting me straight....appreciated.
Oh, just noticed Maurie's message...Thanks. I would imagine yours is loaded with screws like mine. (ha!)[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 17 April 2000 at 02:55 PM.] |
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Ian McLatchie
From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
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Posted 17 Apr 2000 3:06 pm
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| George: According to Gruhn, the EH-150 came out in January, 1936, and by 1937 had the glue-on back. So, I guess that makes yours a '36 or early '37. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 17 Apr 2000 4:03 pm
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Sam Calvert at Gibson/Nashville told me that my EH-150 is a '37 and it has also has the screws all around the back. The Charlie Christian single coil was long gone when I bought it, replaced (best guess) by an early Tele pickup. Even with replaced tuners, pickup and vol./tone knobs I love this axe. The string spacing, body proportions and overall "vibe" of the Gibsons are unbeatable.
On another topic, I have a copy of the 1940 Gibson catalog. Lost to the mists of time are most of the steel players pictured within like the Royal Palm Islanders of Grier, South Carolina, Evan White, the McKewen Brothers, Bill Bjurmark, Paul Eastman, Lorry Lee, Ellison Harvey and the Hal Roberts orchestra - which featured no less than eight EH-150's and 36 musicians! I'm sure they all had spot-on intonation  |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 18 Apr 2000 11:35 am
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| As of 4/18/00, Bay State Vintage Guitars 617-267-6077 has an EH-150 in excellent condition for $750. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 18 Apr 2000 7:48 pm
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Wow, my guitar is older than I thought. It has all the original equipment on it...even the pots. One thing about both the vol and tone pots, man, are they ever stiff to turn.
Anyone else's guitar like that ? I could replace them, but it really doesn't bother me that much for all that I play this old EH-150. I use it primarily when teaching steel. |
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