Gibson EH-100 Tube Amplifier (1937)
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Gibson EH-100 Model Tube Amplifier (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 11442, tweed fabric covering finish.
Starting in 1935 the Gibson company offered professional electric players (of whom there were not yet many!) the EH-150 electric Hawaiian or Spanish amp & guitar set priced at $150. This was soon joined by a student model, the EH-100 to encourage students to pick up on the amplified future. At the same time National-Dobro featured an entry-level Supro electric line and mail-order catalogs like Montgomery Ward began offering beginner-grade electric sets for under $100. Gibson upped the ante by adding a tone control to the EH-100 guitar, making the EH-100 set comparable to the earlier EH-150 sets (neither of the initial amplifiers had volume or tone controls). To keep things fresh Gibson not only changed the EH-100 amplifier's look annually, but the engineering department was continually upgrading the amp's circuitry.
Gibson, too, soon started making electric sets for sale under different brand names including Kalamazoo, Mastertone and Recording King, which was exclusive to Montgomery Ward, most of which were variations on the EH-100. This flagship Gibson-branded EH-100 amplifier is the most upscale variation featuring the company's classic "aeroplane cloth" covering in a unique livery with stripes running horizontally accenting the light colored fabric.
Unlike its less expensive siblings this Gibson-branded EH-100 features more deluxe touches like a snap on back cover, front logo and even the graphic dial indicator around the volume control. This EH-100 circuit features a single volume control, a dedicated power switch, three inputs for two instruments and a mic and a pair of 6V6 power tubes yielding around 10-12 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. It has a sweet tone at lower volume but dials up to some heavier raunch quickly enough.
Height is 13 in. (33 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this nearly 90 year old amp shows a decent amount of wear; the fairly fragile airline-style covering is showing a heavy amount of dings and scuffs, especially on the back and sides, as well as some typical discoloration and missing/fraying tweed around the corners and edges. Despite the heavy wear, the Gibson logo is still visible! The black metal grille cover is nicely intact with no dents, save for some discoloration. The handle is a repro attached to the original handle brackets.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. It still retains the original field coil speaker which tests and sounds fabulous. The choke and power transformer are both original; the output transformer is a Schumacher dating to 1956, bearing the code 606-621. The volume pot appears original. The amp has otherwise seen our standard maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic caps, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks, a grounded 3-prong power cord and power tubes biased to spec.
While fairly worn externally, this is a truly excellent sounding and relatively rare prewar amplifier to find today. Overall Very Good Condition.
Starting in 1935 the Gibson company offered professional electric players (of whom there were not yet many!) the EH-150 electric Hawaiian or Spanish amp & guitar set priced at $150. This was soon joined by a student model, the EH-100 to encourage students to pick up on the amplified future. At the same time National-Dobro featured an entry-level Supro electric line and mail-order catalogs like Montgomery Ward began offering beginner-grade electric sets for under $100. Gibson upped the ante by adding a tone control to the EH-100 guitar, making the EH-100 set comparable to the earlier EH-150 sets (neither of the initial amplifiers had volume or tone controls). To keep things fresh Gibson not only changed the EH-100 amplifier's look annually, but the engineering department was continually upgrading the amp's circuitry.
Gibson, too, soon started making electric sets for sale under different brand names including Kalamazoo, Mastertone and Recording King, which was exclusive to Montgomery Ward, most of which were variations on the EH-100. This flagship Gibson-branded EH-100 amplifier is the most upscale variation featuring the company's classic "aeroplane cloth" covering in a unique livery with stripes running horizontally accenting the light colored fabric.
Unlike its less expensive siblings this Gibson-branded EH-100 features more deluxe touches like a snap on back cover, front logo and even the graphic dial indicator around the volume control. This EH-100 circuit features a single volume control, a dedicated power switch, three inputs for two instruments and a mic and a pair of 6V6 power tubes yielding around 10-12 watts into a single 10" field coil speaker. It has a sweet tone at lower volume but dials up to some heavier raunch quickly enough.
Height is 13 in. (33 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically, this nearly 90 year old amp shows a decent amount of wear; the fairly fragile airline-style covering is showing a heavy amount of dings and scuffs, especially on the back and sides, as well as some typical discoloration and missing/fraying tweed around the corners and edges. Despite the heavy wear, the Gibson logo is still visible! The black metal grille cover is nicely intact with no dents, save for some discoloration. The handle is a repro attached to the original handle brackets.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. It still retains the original field coil speaker which tests and sounds fabulous. The choke and power transformer are both original; the output transformer is a Schumacher dating to 1956, bearing the code 606-621. The volume pot appears original. The amp has otherwise seen our standard maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic caps, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks, a grounded 3-prong power cord and power tubes biased to spec.
While fairly worn externally, this is a truly excellent sounding and relatively rare prewar amplifier to find today. Overall Very Good Condition.