Gibson Electric-Acoustic Guitar

Description:

This electric-acoustic guitar, serial #EH4685, was made by Gibson, Inc. in Kalamazoo, Michigan around 1937. Introduced in 1936, this was the first Spanish-style electric guitar to achieve commercial significance, thanks in part to Charlie Christian, an inventive jazz soloist who gained prominence with the Benny Goodman Sextet. Christian took what had been considered a novelty and brought it to the forefront as a lead instrument. Gibson's first electric Spanish guitar, the ES-150's design featured a one-piece steel bar surrounded by the pickup coil and two magnets below the strings, rather than the earlier horseshoe configuration with magnets directly surrounding the strings. This new pickup was nicknamed the "Christian" in honor of the great guitarist with whom it is associated.

Date Made: 1937

Maker: Gibson Co.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Michigan, Kalamazoo

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments, Music & Musical Instruments, Guitars

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1997.0085.01Catalog Number: 1997.0085.01Accession Number: 1997.0085

Object Name: guitar

Measurements: overall: 40 1/2 in x 16 in x 4 1/4 in; 102.87 cm x 40.64 cm x 10.795 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-33f6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_608100

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