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Topic: 1940's Gibson Electroharp What do I have? |
Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 11:33 am |
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I have acquired a 1940's Gibson pedal steel Electroharp. I would love to know the history of this particular instrument and am hoping someone out there recognizes it. Unfortunately it is one that does not have a serial number, but it does have a very unique string changer that utilizes a eccentric roller in stead of the round bar found in all other Electroharps I have found information on. The eccentric roller is held down with a collar and two allen bolts on each end. If this was not factory installed, it was done a long time ago, and judging from the pedal wear used a lot. The Logo name plate is also a little different than the others in the way that the script is engraved. Any help with this beautiful piece of history would be greatly appreciated.
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 12:01 pm
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This web page: CLICK HERE has much information.
There's also some at Al Marcus's web page: CLICK HERE
Yours looks like it's in really excellent condition. It seems like I remember Al saying that there were only about 15 of these instruments built. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 3:57 pm
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This is Gibson's original Electra-Harp, designed around 1938-39. While a small number (15 or less) were made before WWII, there was supposedly a larger production run made after the war, so the total number made would probably be closer to 50 guitars. This is the guitar that Jay Harlin said infringed on his design, so Gibson stopped manufacturing them, and did a redesign of the changer of their pedal steel. (It should be kept in mind that Gibson was "the elephant in the room" in the guitar world at that time, so Jay's claim had to be pretty substantial and verifiable for a company as big as Gibson not to do legal battle.)
Most likely, the eccentric roller was added later by a machinist (there are no other socket head screws on the guitar) so some adjustment could be made on the action. I'd also guess that if the nameplate is different, it's just a replacement taken from some other piece of Gibson gear. (It's quite common to amp nameplates on guitars, and vice versa.) The guitar is in amazing condition, and could bring $1000-$1300 from a serious collector, but probably far less from someone who wanted it as merely a player. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 5:50 pm
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Seriously, my wife hates it when I ask her to look at steel guitars. I always hope she'll see what I see: beauty. She never does. Her comment is usually something like, "I just don't see it that way, it looks like a rectangle, and some metal stuff and strings."
But finally, with your guitar, she admitted it was beautiful. Thank you for posting! I've been trying since 2001 to show her the beauty of the steel guitar. Sweet!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2013 7:07 pm Gibson Electra-Harp
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| That is a very beautiful instrument. Also historic and rare. Wouldn't it be something to see Nashville Gibson attempt something on that order with their CNC machines? Can you post some more pics? |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 12:33 am
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Get hold of Deke Dickerson, bandleader, guitar impresario and historian. He recently acquired one himself. Between yours, his and another that a friend of his got around the same time, there aren't too many more to be had. You can search the memberlist for his contact info.
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Jim Williams
From:
Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 8:15 am
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I can see why Mr. Harlin complained! Looks an awful lot like the mechanism on the Harlin Bros. guitar. Even before developing any real interest in learning how to play one, I always thought Pedal Steels were a beautiful blend of craftsmanship and mechanics.
_________________
GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal. |
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Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 1:25 pm
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Here is another picture with the wood covers placed on each end of the instrument. The logo name plate is also visible in this shot and I am very sure that this Electroharp came originally with that plate.
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Sep 2013 4:53 pm
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Kevin, this is the standard nameplate that was used. How is yours different?
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Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2013 3:48 pm
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Donny,here is a picture of my nameplate.Admittedly the differences are subtle,but this plate is not like the 10 or so plates I have found so far,which all happen to be identical? Note the football e in Electraharp,and The single line letter c next to it.Compare the c to the double line backs on others.Notice also the Capital G on Gibson,The top and bottom back loops touch on mine,but on others there is a wide gap.
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Roger Guyett
From:
San Francisco, Ca.
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Posted 22 Sep 2013 10:48 am
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| Kevin Moore wrote: |
Donny,here is a picture of my nameplate.Admittedly the differences are subtle,but this plate is not like the 10 or so plates I have found so far,which all happen to be identical? Note the football e in Electraharp,and The single line letter c next to it.Compare the c to the double line backs on others.Notice also the Capital G on Gibson,The top and bottom back loops touch on mine,but on others there is a wide gap.
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Hi Kevin -
I would imagine this was done by hand ... wasn't it? I would think so. In the brass/woodwind instrument world of this era (and considerably later), small differences in engraving are not that uncommon. Different person doing it or someone learning how to do it etc....
Roger |
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Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 1:52 pm
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| If the other nameplates had differences to the degree that this one has I would accept the human touch aspect.But the uniform inscription on the others set this one apart,unless someone can show me a sample like mine. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 2:17 pm
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| Kevin Moore wrote: |
| ...the uniform inscription on the others set this one apart... |
Exactly. The uneven spacing on yours would indicate something likely made by someone other than Gibson, to duplicate the "look" of a factory nameplate. Remember, at the time it was made, this was the most expensive instrument that Gibson produced, so I'm pretty certain that they would not have let it go out the door with the Gibson name so poorly spaced on their nameplate. In the world of collectibles, if something looks wrong, it usually is wrong. |
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Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 5:06 pm
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| Right! someone spent twice the value to produce a non in-demand instrument, and then add a few things to make it different,and then store it for 20 years or more.To duplicate the 40's Electraharp someone would have to spend thousands of dollars.My theory is that it was a prototype that Gibson used to test and develop.The changer mechanism had the eccentric roller in place to fine tune placement for the permanent rod installation.My hope is that someone close to the production of this instrument recognizes it.A previous owner also has to be out there somewhere, that could shed light on this instruments history. |
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Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 11:16 pm
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Kevin,
I believe he was referring to only the Name Plate being made by someone other than Gibson, not the entire guitar. Maybe it was missing and somebody couldnt find a replacement , so they made it. Or You may be correct it could be a one off or a prototype.
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 7:48 am
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Kevin, it appears you have already made up your mind as to what you have, and want nothing other than for someone to support your beliefs. As I have no time for further arguments, I'm done with this thread.
Have a nice day. |
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Kevin Moore
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 2:03 pm
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| Thanks Jeff, for clarifying the post. |
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Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2013 8:19 pm
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| fter having a post war electra - harp in the 80's I saw one in George Gruhs store in Nashville like the one pictured here, I played it and was impressed by how well it played. He was asking $1800. I thought that was a low price. Hell. the cabinet was stunning enough. |
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Robert Mayo
From:
Georgia, USA
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