Gibson BR-1 Ultratone Owned and Used by Elliott Sharp Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1951)
Gibson BR-1 Ultratone Owned and Used by Elliott Sharp Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body, Lucite fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a very unusual, likely custom ordered variation on one of Gibson's most whimsical 1940s creations, the abstractly shaped and uber-stylish BR-1 Ultratone. This extremely modernistic Steel Guitar features an oblong asymmetrical body with back painted Lucite accent plates and was usually finished in a striking solid color. This 7-string model takes a step back from the modernistic precipice by having a body finished in Gibson's Traditional sunburst, which was not a catalog option. It also features the name "BETH" engraved on the plastic fingerboard, which appears factory original or at least period.
The Ultratone's sleek visual character was the work of the design firm Barnes & Reinicke, hired by Gibson at the end of WWII to add some new flavor to the company's recipe -- and boy, did they! The earliest version of the model featured a white finish on the maple body, with silver and coral pink (!) accents on the plastic hardware. Later examples were in a two-tone ivory finish, but this one-off sunburst unicorn mixes features from the earlier and later versions, with the earlier style body and pickup but later pattern plastic coverplates on the headstock and bridge.
An early pre-P-90 single coil pickup with a wider coil and individual Alnico magnet polepieces provides the tonal muscle to back up the Ultratone's sleek looks. Around 1951 time the model moved to a standard P-90, but this one retains the first more desirable (or at least more unique) version. It is controlled by an unusual dual-tone-knob circuit for an added range of sound. The effect of the second tone knob is very subtle in practice, but it seems to do something! On top of it all, this is a 7-string, which was a catalog option but in practice rarely ordered. Only 141 7-string Ultratones were ever made, and this sunburst example is likely a one-off variation. In any form the BR-1 remains one of Gibson's most unique and visually striking instruments. This one has survived in perfectly playable, fully original condition.
"Beth" has resided for some decades in the collection of amazingly prolific New York guitarist/composer Elliott Sharp. He tells us: "(This) Gibson 7-string Ultratone lap steel was purchased at Norms Rare Guitars in LA in 1990 when I was out there doing Bootstrappers gigs and recording with Mike Watt and George Hurley (including opening for Joe Satriani at the Palomino!) (It was) played on track X-Delta on the eponymous Bootstrappers album released 1990, and used on various Terraplane albums as well as Steppe, a suite of pieces for lap steel ensemble."
Overall length is 32 1/2 in. (82.6 cm.), 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.).
This unique Ultratone has survived over 70 years since "Beth" ordered it, and still looks and sounds great. The all-original finish has typical checking and some minor dings, dents and scuffs overall, most heavily to the back. The unique early-post war pickup and large-can pots remain original, as do the early style Kluson Deluxe tuners. Tall barrel knobs, plastic jack plate and the original plastic covers at the head and tail. The one mounted over the headstock has a tight crack on the upper end and the lower flange is broken off on the treble side, but these are not overly conspicuous. This one-of-a-kind instrument remains fully original and a super cool piece of post-war streamline design. It sounds exactly like it should and exudes Populuxe style. The original brown oblong HSC has also survived in decent shape, even the nifty Bakelite handle. Excellent - Condition.
This is a very unusual, likely custom ordered variation on one of Gibson's most whimsical 1940s creations, the abstractly shaped and uber-stylish BR-1 Ultratone. This extremely modernistic Steel Guitar features an oblong asymmetrical body with back painted Lucite accent plates and was usually finished in a striking solid color. This 7-string model takes a step back from the modernistic precipice by having a body finished in Gibson's Traditional sunburst, which was not a catalog option. It also features the name "BETH" engraved on the plastic fingerboard, which appears factory original or at least period.
The Ultratone's sleek visual character was the work of the design firm Barnes & Reinicke, hired by Gibson at the end of WWII to add some new flavor to the company's recipe -- and boy, did they! The earliest version of the model featured a white finish on the maple body, with silver and coral pink (!) accents on the plastic hardware. Later examples were in a two-tone ivory finish, but this one-off sunburst unicorn mixes features from the earlier and later versions, with the earlier style body and pickup but later pattern plastic coverplates on the headstock and bridge.
An early pre-P-90 single coil pickup with a wider coil and individual Alnico magnet polepieces provides the tonal muscle to back up the Ultratone's sleek looks. Around 1951 time the model moved to a standard P-90, but this one retains the first more desirable (or at least more unique) version. It is controlled by an unusual dual-tone-knob circuit for an added range of sound. The effect of the second tone knob is very subtle in practice, but it seems to do something! On top of it all, this is a 7-string, which was a catalog option but in practice rarely ordered. Only 141 7-string Ultratones were ever made, and this sunburst example is likely a one-off variation. In any form the BR-1 remains one of Gibson's most unique and visually striking instruments. This one has survived in perfectly playable, fully original condition.
"Beth" has resided for some decades in the collection of amazingly prolific New York guitarist/composer Elliott Sharp. He tells us: "(This) Gibson 7-string Ultratone lap steel was purchased at Norms Rare Guitars in LA in 1990 when I was out there doing Bootstrappers gigs and recording with Mike Watt and George Hurley (including opening for Joe Satriani at the Palomino!) (It was) played on track X-Delta on the eponymous Bootstrappers album released 1990, and used on various Terraplane albums as well as Steppe, a suite of pieces for lap steel ensemble."
Overall length is 32 1/2 in. (82.6 cm.), 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.).
This unique Ultratone has survived over 70 years since "Beth" ordered it, and still looks and sounds great. The all-original finish has typical checking and some minor dings, dents and scuffs overall, most heavily to the back. The unique early-post war pickup and large-can pots remain original, as do the early style Kluson Deluxe tuners. Tall barrel knobs, plastic jack plate and the original plastic covers at the head and tail. The one mounted over the headstock has a tight crack on the upper end and the lower flange is broken off on the treble side, but these are not overly conspicuous. This one-of-a-kind instrument remains fully original and a super cool piece of post-war streamline design. It sounds exactly like it should and exudes Populuxe style. The original brown oblong HSC has also survived in decent shape, even the nifty Bakelite handle. Excellent - Condition.