Satchmo Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Look at this : A custom orderd instrument , orderd by a man from Brussels / Belgium , According to Gibson's shipping records , it was send out in May 1938 This info came by a appraisal from George Gruhn , made December 28 , 2006 The instrument is a doubleneck , solid body with two Charlie Christian pickups One neck is a Spanish six string guitar neck , the other one is a lapsteel eight string At the end of the seventies it was sold on a flea market in Brussels , with a case , cable etc.. On the lapsteel side , the pickup has been moved from the bridge to the neck there is also a photo of the first owner , playing the instrument A couple of weeks ago i found it at a guitarshow in Brussels /Belgium Fantastic sweet sound !! Is this the first solid body electric guitar ever made ???? What can you tell me more about it ??? Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Wow, you never know what you're going to see here. Although it's not the first solidbody electric ever made (Gibson actually began producing them in 1935), that is a very interesting, early, historically important instrument. It's not clear from your post... do you possess a complete formal appraisal from Gruhn? If so, I would think it would provide all of the important info. If not, you ought to think about contacting George. It seems unfortunate (and a bit puzzling) that the pickup was moved on the 8-string side, especially the spot it was moved to... At any rate, you're very lucky to have such a rare item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchmo Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Look at this : A custom orderd instrument , orderd by a man from Brussels / Belgium , According to Gibson's shipping records , it was send out in May 1938 This info came by a appraisal from George Gruhn , made December 28 , 2006 The instrument is a doubleneck , solid body with two Charlie Christian pickups One neck is a Spanish six string guitar neck , the other one is a lapsteel eight string At the end of the seventies it was sold on a flea market in Brussels , with a case , cable etc.. On the lapsteel side , the pickup has been moved from the bridge to the neck there is also a photo of the first owner , playing the instrument A couple of weeks ago i found it at a guitarshow in Brussels /Belgium Fantastic sweet sound !! Is this the first solid body electric guitar ever made ???? What can you tell me more about it ??? Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchmo Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi JimR56 , Yes i have the complete appraisall from Gruhn over here , i can also send the photo's of the instrument to Gibson and Yes , it's a crime that the pickup is removed into the end of the fretboard , maybe it sound warmer , i don't know why and who did this But i'm verry happy to have it with me I still remember that i saw the instrument the first time about 30 years ago , a man bought it at the Brussels flea market he showed it to me in a café , asking to me how old it was and the value of it .... now 30 years later his son had it for sale at the guitar show , i think the instument was looking for me .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi Satchmo, Yes, I can understand why someone would want to move the pickup (to get a warmer sound). It sure seems a shame, though, from a purist's perspective. It will probably affect the value significantly. Then again, that's a rare item, so I'd think that would lessen the impact of the modification on the value. "Find another one", as they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prewargibsons Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Satchmo, If you refer to page 54 of The Gibson Electric Steel Guitars 1935 - 1967 book by A.R. Duchossoir an IDENTICAL guitar is shown. It would seem that as there are two examples and that both have the same pickup placement that the pickups were factory fitted in that position. The body used on your guitar looks to be adapted from a standard double neck and the factory must have placed the pickup in the neck postion and blanked the standard position. Possibly because the original pickup placement would have been hit by the player when strumming the top neck while playing in the upright position? I hope this helps. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchmo Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 Hi Prewargibsons , Thanks for helping , i don't have that book , but i 'll try to find it But there is no sign that the pickup on the guitar side of the instument is replaced this only is done on the lapsteel side of the instrument and not by Gibson , i think by the owner the pickup on the guitar side has als different pole pices , one pice of metal for the 3 lower strings and 3 small pieces of metal for the higher strings the other pick up for the lapsteel has 8 pieces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Satchmo, If you refer to page 54 of The Gibson Electric Steel Guitars 1935 - 1967 book by A.R. Duchossoir an IDENTICAL guitar is shown. It would seem that as there are two examples and that both have the same pickup placement that the pickups were factory fitted in that position. Look at the first image in the opening post (the vintage shot of the guitar being played). Notice the original (factory) position of the pickups. It's the same guitar, photographed before it was modified, isn't it? Or maybe I'm confused. I don't have that particular Duchossoir book, but from what you said, it would seem to me that Duchossoir acquired a photo of Satchmo's guitar, taken after it was modified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prewargibsons Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Jim, you are right..... now I am confused. Either the guitar in the book is the same guitar after the modifications or there are two with the same modification. The photo in the book is courtesy "Walter Carter" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchmo Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 I'll try to find that book , i know the instrument i have was from the beginning (1938) in Belgium , i saw it for the first time about 30 years ago it is possible that the man who found it in the late seventies on the Brussels flea market met Mr. Duchossoir or send him a photo of this instrument ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchmo Posted November 6, 2010 Author Share Posted November 6, 2010 Hi Jim & Prewargibsons , A friend of me had the book about Electric Steel Guitars and Yes, the Gibson on p. 54 is the instrument i have it never left Belgium , but the owner who sold it to me , have send photo's of the instrument to George Gruhn for the appraisal and one of the foto's is in the book , yes , Walter Carter have seen the photo , but never had the instrument What a storry ... But my question was : Is this the first solid body electric guitar ??? or just a lap steel ??? or can we call it a Guit - Steel ??? like Junior Brown his double neck Fenders .... but just made 50 years earlyer by Gibson ??? Who will tell it ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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