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Topic: Any interest, information or love for a Gibson Electra Harp |
Gary Meixner
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2015 5:02 pm |
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Is anyone a player of these early Gibson pedal guitars? Last night I had a look at what I believe is an early 1940's, 8 string Electra Harp. These are not of much interest to me but this particular instrument is in absolutely pristine condition. It looks as good as the day it left the factory. I only saw the console and not the pedal arrangement, and I am not sure about a case, but this instruments looks to have never been played. I will try to post some photos and find out more. It has beautiful curly maple with a sunburst finish. The plastic covers over the tuning machines and changer mechanism don't even have fingerprints on them. The owner is looking to sell the guitar, I told him that to my knowledge these are not sought after by current players but one in this condition may be of interest to a collector. More to follow.
Gary Meixner |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2015 5:44 pm
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Many times the replies to questions about early pedal guitars are negative. The progenitors of pedal steel are written off as inferior and clunky. I whole heartedly disagree.
The Harlan and early Gibson, as well as others, are not Nashville E9 guitars. That style of playing is very exclusive and requires several specific changes in the setup.
If I had a single 8 with a few pedals, I'd use a fairly major tuning and add pedals that created the slants needed in a non-pedal world: flat 3rd, 7th, major 7th, 4th, I to IV change on three notes. The actual pedal selection is as varied as the individual who sets it up. It's something you have to think through.
An early steel could give an authentic "old" tone and be relevant to someone who played any style...as long as they thought through their basic tuning and needs.
I can't buy it, but someone should!
Just my rambling $.02!
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2015 6:42 pm
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I find the early Pedal Steels very interesting. I quite agree with Rick's assessment. I live in a small house, but if I had more room, I would love to have couple more of the old ones. Currently I own and play a Fender 400.
Gary, from your description and the photos and info in AR Duchossoir's Gibson Electric Steel Guitars book, it sounds like you've found a 1948-1954 model. Some photos here of what you've seen would be great.
Heck, if the price is right, maybe I'll buy it, put it where the bed is and sleep outside in car. I don't believe that it's possible to own too many stringed instruments.
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 18 Apr 2015 6:57 pm
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| Quote: |
| The Harlan and early Gibson, as well as others, are not Nashville E9 guitars. |
True. The foot pedals on early PSGs were seen as "tuning changers" or "chord changers", and not for playing licks like on modern PSGs. That's why today's PSG players consider these early ones to be clunky and obsolete. Even George Gruhn describes early pedal steels as mechanically "inadequate" and not particularly desirable today.
From what I've heard on Alvino Rey's recordings, he used the pedals to get big, extended chords. You can hear the pedals pulling into the chords on his records. But I don't hear many single note pedal licks on his records. In other words, no fast footwork on the pedals to play licks.
Like Rick said, these guitars have a nice vintage tone, and if a player wants to play a style other than Nashville hot licks he could get some classic sounds from a vintage PSG. And the Gibson Electraharp looks stunning! The wood grain and finish are to die for IMO. But anyone who buys one should be mechanically inclined and have a full tool box! 
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25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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