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Topic: Gibson Century 6 lap steel |
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 11:12 am |
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| Nice guitar Doug, I like it. I don't know about the serial number but here's a little info on it. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. There's also an email link to someone that might have the info your lookin for. Click Here |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 26 May 2010 12:02 pm Re: Gibson Century 6 lap steel
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| I just acquired this Gibson Century 6 lap steel, and I'm wondering what year it was made. I do know that these black ones were made between 1948 and 1954, but I can't find a serial number on the guitar. I think the earliest ones had two knobs. This one has three knobs (two tone controls and a volume control). It's a nice sounding lap steel with a lot of sustain. Does anyone know if these have a serial number? |
Doug:
I just bought one of those 2 weeks ago! Check the pickup- if the poles are non-adjustable then it is a 1948 or 1949 model. While it looks like a P90 pickup it is actually of the same construction as the Gibson Console Grande with magnetic pole pieces which makes sense because the Century came in 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 string configurations.
There was hardly any output on mine- the pickup ohmed out at around 7 Meg (instead of the expected 7-10k) so I was able to get a really good price on it. I found corrosion on two of the pole pieces so I have a hunch that damaged some of the coil wires. Inserting a probe very carefully I got intermittent readings of 10k so I decided to see if I could repair it myself.
Long story short I was not able to make a stable solder joint at 10k, but I could at 6k. Plugging the pickup directly into my amp got an extremely bright and harsh sound- I had to turn the treble on my amp completely down and even then it was too bright- but when I reconnected the controls it sounded fantastic. I could have lived with 40% of the coil not hooked up but I decided to have a friend make me a copy with taps at 7k and 10k.
For a few days I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it or return it, but when I saw it featured prominently in the listing at Elderly Music for the new Gibson Lap Steel book I shouted out at the top of my lungs "That's my guitar!" No question in my mind any more that it was definitely a keeper.
I will be drawing up and posting the volume/tone circuit which is very unique. The top control is a normal volume control and the middle control is a normal tone control, but the bottom control is like a midrange control which works with the tone control. Turned up all the way you get a very full sound with plenty of mids, but when you turn it down it gets brighter but thinner. Seeing how these controls were able to tame the extreme brightness of the pickup by itself I have a hunch it would work great in a strat with an overly bright pickup. Or in any steel with room for a third control.
BTW the wide string spacing is great for slants and I love how the lucite fretboard goes all of the way out to the edge of the guitar.
Steve Ahola
P.S. You might want to search the forums here for more threads (gibson AND century).
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 5:01 pm
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I have a Century 6 and Century 10. Apparently they made 90 Century 10's in 1952 and that's all I know. I was told, at one time, that the knobs were worth more than the guitar.
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 26 May 2010 6:10 pm
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Thanks for the great replies! This one has non-adjustable pole pieces on the PU, so it’s probably an early one. The electronics work well. I’ve heard a lot of stories about noisy pickups and weak pickups on old Gibson steels. I’m getting a reading of 7.64K ohms off the output jack, and there’s no hum, just a lotta clean sound. I’m still experimenting with the two tone controls. The middle knob produces a wicked boo-wah effect. Instant change from all bass to treble.
Yes, the string spacing is very wide, and that takes some getting used to. It’s way wider than a Stringmaster. It makes for easier bar slants, but I may have to use a longer or a wider bar for this guitar.
Chas, I agree with you about the knobs. Early 50s Gibson knobs can fetch a few hundred dollars on eBay… not that I would ever consider selling these knobs! 
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
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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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 27 May 2010 10:37 am
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The knob height effects the value of the knobs. Collectors are after those early 50's tall knobs, at some point Gibson made them about 1/8" shorter. More like the reissue sizes.
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www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 27 May 2010 10:43 am
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I found a serial number printed on the back of mine behind the nut, alittle closer to the tuning machines. It is printed in black ink, hard to see.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 27 May 2010 12:04 pm
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Everyone with any interest is Gibson steel guitars should own Andre Duchossoir's latest book. It's a truly exhaustive work and leaves very few questions unanswered. There are even detailed sections on knobs and tuners used in various eras, serial numbers, production numbers and factory order numbers.
It's beautifully printed with hundreds of detailed photos. The cost is a small fraction any Gibson steel guitar. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 27 May 2010 5:34 pm
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I checked the back of the headstock and everywhere else very closely. Can't see a serial number, even with my glasses on [/quote]
Lap steels of that era didn't have serial numbers until about 1953.
Pot codes should be helpful. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 27 May 2010 6:15 pm
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| Quote: |
| Lap steels of that era didn't have serial numbers until about 1953. |
...earlier Gibson lap steels (EH-185, EH-150, etc) had serial numbers stamped into the back of the headstock. For some reason this one has no number.
There are no numbers on the pots, but I can't see the edge of the pots. Some companies stamped the source-date code on the edge of the pot. Well, I'm not gonna worry about it. I know it was made between 1948 and '54, and it works, so that's good enough for me.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
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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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 28 May 2010 5:48 am
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Doug,
The prewar instruments all had stamped serial numbers or factory order numbers.
From immediately after the war there were no serial numbers on lap steels until 1953. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 28 May 2010 8:02 am
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Doug, when can expect to hear one of your inspirational tunes on this new acquisition?  |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Raphael McGregor
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Posted 6 Feb 2020 7:52 pm Gibson Century Questions and pics
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Hi all--I was recently contacted by someone who wanted me to check out their Gibson Century. I did a bunch of research, including looking at some of the great posts on here about it, and a wiring diagram made by Steve Aloha. Then I opened her up! Some funny stuff in there...the wiring definitely doesn't match the diagram Steve made, for one, and it doesn't ring continuity in the way that it should. It does work, but it produces almost no volume. Lots of scratchiness from the pots, of course.
There's also splices in wires that appear to be covered with masking tape where it should be heat shrink tape.
But best of all--the plate that holds the jack onto the guitar seems to have been replaced with some sort of piece of plastic that has words printed on the back of it. I can make out "Reservation Information" and some other words. Also, the second I plugged in a cable it cracked in half! So clearly not original high quality Gibson stuff.
So...I'm thinking that the volume problem comes from the wrongly wired pots? Thoughts? Happy to be schooled here...
If anyone's interested, check out this link for some photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8MQ727E1bcCDoTVw8 |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Feb 2020 9:22 am
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A couple of years ago I had my local guitar shop completely gut the electronics in my Century 6... new pots, cap, wiring. It's the 3-knob version (Gibson made a 2-knob version early on). So now the knob closest to my hand is tone, and the middle knob is volume, and the outer knob does nothing at all (it's not in the circuit). I wanted the tone knob close to my hand so I could play the "boo-wah" effect more easily. And a single tone knob is adequate and what I'm used to. The second tone knob never worked anyway. I decided to replace everything inside because I was tired of many years of scratchy pots that were unreliable and old wiring that would cut out completely during a song.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
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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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2020 3:27 pm
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Both the Gibson Century and Ultratone body shape and appointments were designed by a design firm with the initials B and R. I can't recall the full names. I understand most of Gibson's lap steels were designed by this firm, hence the model names BR150, etc.
Speaking of the body shape, is it my imagination or are the Century and Ultratone rather phallic shaped.... (Maybe Gibson should have call them CBXXX for cock and balls. )
Seriously, those models are just so art-deco. I'd love to own one. I think there value will only go up. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2020 4:27 pm
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| I think the Century was considered a cheaper alternative to the Ultratone. |
According to Gibson pricelists and figures published in the Duchossoir book, the Ultratone debuted in 1946 at $150.00. When the Century joined the lineup in 1948, it retailed for $100.00. Faultless cases were $25.00 extra.
Identical electronically, the white-painted Ultratone featured fancy (but fragile) hinged Plexiglas covers for both headstock and bridge/pickup, unique tuner buttons, and an angled fretboard extension. The black-painted Century had a simpler Plexiglas cover for the bridge/pickup only, and a different Plexiglas fretboard. |
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