Gibson EH-100 Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1938)

Gibson  EH-100 Lap Steel Electric Guitar  (1938)
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$1,250.00 + shipping
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Item # 12255
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson EH-100 Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1938), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # DGE-2913, sunburst top, dark stained back and sides finish, mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard, original hard shell case.

The early model Gibson EH-150 with the "Charlie Christian" style pickup is generally considered the best sounding lap steel guitar in the Gibson company's history; this is its less fancy but equally fine "little sister" the EH-100. This model has the same sound and feel in a simpler package, one of the classiest electric instruments aimed at student players in the later 1930s. This beautiful 1938 model is nicely original and sounds great; the only alteration is a couple of period stickers on the back depicting a duck and a sailfish.

The maple body is finished in brown with a subtle sunburst on the top, which is single bound in white celluloid. The headstock has a white silkscreen Gibson logo and fits early pattern Kluson openback tuners with white celluloid buttons. The pickup has a white celluloid coil with twin blades for the bass and treble strings; underneath is the huge second generation "U" magnet. The bridge and nut are metal, and volume and tone controls are fitted together on the treble side of the body with 6-sided brown radio knobs. The output jack is located on the bass side rim, where the audience wouldn't see it.

All of these semi-hollow body maple steels have a very rich, powerful tone with plenty of definition; despite its original budget price this is an excellent playing and sounding steel, a classy-looking instrument in the best Gibson tradition!
 
Overall length is 31 7/8 in. (81 cm.), 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.).

Overall this is a nice example of the lower-priced 1938 Gibson lap steel, all original with some light average wear. There are scuffs, scrapes and dings to the lacquer most notable on the back, but no really heavy wear and overall the finish remains in good shape. The only alteration is the added wildlife stickers on the back, which add some mojo!

This steel sounds great with the early "Charlie Christian" style pickup, which is bright sounding and quite powerful. The tone control has a very limited sweep but works well within its limits. This ready-to go 85 year old steel comes complete in its original HSC, painted white eons ago but fully functional. Very Good + Condition.