Page 51 - FLIPMAG.NET
P. 51
THE MONEY SHOT
THE MONEY SHOT
1936 GIBSON
EH-150
LAP STEEL
he EH-150 lap steel was introduced in
January 1936, superseding Gibson’s
aluminium-bodied E-150 but retaining its
T Charlie Christian pickup with bound blade
and unbound outer edge. The owner of this example
is Rob Toma, a client and lifestyle management
specialist in the entertainment industry.
“I acquired this two years ago from a private
dealer,” says Rob. “It was simply by chance, as
I thought it looked cool. I loved the vintage aesthetic,
and that it was almost entirely original aside from the
knobs, which were probably added in the 1940s. Due
to the heavy duties imposed on US instruments at the
time, it was most likely brought over by a player who
came to Europe and remained here.”
Though the instrument has clearly been well
used, it’s a fascinating period piece with attractive
maple figuring. By 1937, the EH-150 featured a
four-piece diamond peghead inlay and both control
knobs were relocated to the treble side, so Rob’s
model certainly left 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo
before Franklin D Roosevelt’s second presidential
inauguration. More than 80 years on, we bet it
has a few stories to tell.
GUITAR MAGAZINE 51
