Gibson EH-150 DN Special Doubleneck Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1937)

Gibson EH-150 DN Special Doubleneck Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body and necks, rosewood fingerboards, handmade hard shell case.

This is a very early rare and interesting Gibson doubleneck steel, the result of a custom order in 1937. Twin neck instruments like this allowed players to rapidly shift between tunings, even in mid-song, before the perfection of pitch changing devices. These expensive oddities were primarily the province of advanced professional players, and many were one-off creations. This one combines a 7-string and 8-string EH-150 into a single relatively portable package, looking rather like maple-bodied Siamese twins. While this configuration was the most popular for Gibson and was eventually cataloged as a regular model, this example is doubly unusual as each guitar has its own tone and volume controls; other similar twins are generally equipped only with a single set of controls. It also moints Gibson's optional bridge covers on both sides. The instrument appears identical to one pictured with Guy Principato in Gibson catalog AA (1940) and may well have belonged originally to this performer as it was discovered in his old Boston-area stomping grounds. For the adventurous vintage-style steel player or Gibson collector this is a wonderful find, complete with the original performance stand.
 
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 5/16 in. (567 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/2 in. (64 mm.). Well played but all original and unaltered; there is a decent amount of finish wear to the back and sides, mostly from rubbing against the stand and case over the years. There is some finger wear from picks on the face near the fingerboard of the 7-string, but not heavy. Checking, small dings and chips all around but overall still very nice looking. There is one crack back to the rim off one of the 7-string bridge screws. As is common with many of these early 150's, the screwed-on back has shrunk a bit off the hollow rim, leaving a small gap at the back edge. Very fine sound, one of the coolest early Gibson steels we have had. Overall Excellent Condition.

Item # 5429
 
This item has been sold.


 
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