1935 Gibson Laptop Elec. Slide Guitar

[toyL]

I recently inherited this one-piece aluminum laptop, Gibson's first electric guitar (Model E-150), and a 1930s OAHU laptop as well. Supposedly, here were only 98 produced. Serial numbers started at 110 in 1935 and production went to early 1936. This one is SN 159. Some were scrapped for salvage during WWII. This was Gibson’s first bar magnet pickup, later nicknamed the Charlie Christian. The D-string tuner has been replaced, and the G-string tuner has a broken peg-shaft, but it works fine, sounds great.

July 13, 1937: Gibson Plugs In the Electric Guitar | WIRED

 

[CoolCat]

cool piece of gear.. i love the slide sounds, is it a lap guitar or have guitar straps?

 

[TalismanRich]

Not as rare as yours, but I inherited a 1946 Gibson BR3 lapsteel from my dad. The guitar was on a shelf in the basement.



Its in really good shape, but the strings haven't been changed in over 50 years that I know of.

Dad didn't play, he bought 2 lapsteels (the Gibson and a National) along with a 1953 National Supreme amp about the time I was learning guitar. I found the amp in the attic, still in good condition, save the capacitors and a few resistors. The National guitar was probably sold. The amp works just fine now, with a 10" field coil speaker and 2 6V6s.

 

[toyL]

It's a laptop...way too heavy.

 

[toyL]

VERY nice BR3 guitar.