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Topic: Looking for info on my EH-185 |
David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2021 9:01 am |
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I picked this up from Carter's Vintage Guitars 2 or 3 years ago - maybe longer. They told me it was a 1940 model.
Can anyone validate that it is a 1940? S/N is F611-21. The tuners on this steel are the best of any steel I've owned - vintage or new.
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https://www.MasterGuitarists.com/ |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 5 Jul 2021 9:08 am
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| Spann's book puts that FON 1940-5, but the Charlie Christian pickup was replaced around the end of 1940, so it looks watertight. |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2021 10:34 am
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Thank you Noah!
I'm trying to decide on keeping this one or not, and if I sell it I wanted to be sure to the have right build year.
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https://www.MasterGuitarists.com/ |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2021 4:34 pm
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F serial numbers in that configuration would indicate 1940. That pickup also would be right for 1940.
Serial numbers of Gibson steels can be confusing because xxxx-xx was used from 35 thru 38, then DGExxx meaning 1938, EGExxx meaning 1939 and then the configuration changed so that Fxxxx-xx meant 1940, and to make matters worse Exxxx-xx was used in 1941!
Usually the first group of 3 or 4 numbers was the batch and the single or 2 numbers after the dash was the run (about 40 units per run).
During the war years guitars were built from parts often stamped in 41.
Examples:
500-25 = 1937
DGE-2534 = 1938
EGE-5980 = 1939
F611-21 = 1940
E9526-23 = 1941
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Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2021 6:20 pm
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David,
I'm pretty sure I saw your very guitar last time I was in Carter's about 3 yrs. ago. I had never held an EH-185 before and was surprised at how heavy it was with that Hyblum plate. Makes for some good sustain. I was looking for a 7-string though so I didn't buy it.
Found a '41 7-string EH-150 about a year later for a good price on Ebay, believe it or not.
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2021 4:41 am
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| John Dahms wrote: |
F serial numbers in that configuration would indicate 1940. That pickup also would be right for 1940.
Serial numbers of Gibson steels can be confusing because xxxx-xx was used from 35 thru 38, then DGExxx meaning 1938, EGExxx meaning 1939 and then the configuration changed so that Fxxxx-xx meant 1940, and to make matters worse Exxxx-xx was used in 1941!
Usually the first group of 3 or 4 numbers was the batch and the single or 2 numbers after the dash was the run (about 40 units per run).
During the war years guitars were built from parts often stamped in 41.
Examples:
500-25 = 1937
DGE-2534 = 1938
EGE-5980 = 1939
F611-21 = 1940
E9526-23 = 1941 |
Wow John - thanks for the lesson!!
_________________
https://www.MasterGuitarists.com/ |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2021 4:42 am
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| Bill Sinclair wrote: |
David,
I'm pretty sure I saw your very guitar last time I was in Carter's about 3 yrs. ago. I had never held an EH-185 before and was surprised at how heavy it was with that Hyblum plate. Makes for some good sustain. I was looking for a 7-string though so I didn't buy it.
Found a '41 7-string EH-150 about a year later for a good price on Ebay, believe it or not.
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Small world Bill! The bad news is, if I use this EH-185 as a weapon in a crime, your fingerprints are probably still on it.
_________________
https://www.MasterGuitarists.com/ |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2021 6:21 am
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| David DeLoach wrote: |
Small world Bill! The bad news is, if I use this EH-185 as a weapon in a crime, your fingerprints are probably still on it. |
 I'm not too worried, I'm sure you would only bludgeon in self defense. |
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