Gibson ES-150
Encyclopedia
The Gibson Guitar Corporation
's ES-150 guitar
is generally recognized as the world's first commercially successful Spanish-style electric guitar
. The ES stands for Electric Spanish, and it was designated 150 because it cost $150, along with an EH-150 amplifier
and a cable.
After its introduction in 1936, it immediately became popular in jazz
orchestras of the period. Unlike the usual acoustic guitars utilized in jazz, it was loud enough to take a more prominent position in ensembles.
Jazz guitarist Eddie Durham
is usually credited with making the first electric guitar solo
in 1938 with the ES-150. The most important player of the ES-150, however, was Charlie Christian
. Because of his popularization of the guitar, the instrument's distinctive single-coil pickup is known by his name. His flowing solos and warm sound revolutionized the jazz guitar and, to this day, influence countless players.
Because the instrument was never intended to be played acoustically, there is a notable difference between the ES-150 and other archtop guitars. The inside of the solid spruce top is not carved to follow the contour of the outside, which renders it unsuitable for transforming the strings' energy into sound. This feature minimizes the problematic feedback that plagues amplified guitars that are designed more like acoustic guitars.
After WWII, the ES-150 was re-introduced as a 17" hollowbody with the top, back, and sides constructed of laminated maple . The post-war ES-150 was fitted with a P-90 pickup, replacing the original blade or "Charlie Christian" pickup
in the neck position. This model was discontinued in the mid-1950s.
In the late 1960s, Gibson introduced the ES-150DC, which was a significantly different instrument, despite its similar model number. The ES-150DC was a hollowbody electric guitar with a double-cutaway body similar in appearance to the semi-hollow 335 guitars (except for a greater body thickness). It featured two humbuckers, a rosewood fingerboard with small block inlays, and a master volume knob on the lower cutaway. This model, however, was not particularly popular, and it was discontinued by Gibson in the mid-70s.
The ES-150 in its original design, along with the ES-175
and the L5
, made up the heart of Gibson's jazz guitar lineup.
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
's ES-150 guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
is generally recognized as the world's first commercially successful Spanish-style electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. The ES stands for Electric Spanish, and it was designated 150 because it cost $150, along with an EH-150 amplifier
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
and a cable.
After its introduction in 1936, it immediately became popular in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
orchestras of the period. Unlike the usual acoustic guitars utilized in jazz, it was loud enough to take a more prominent position in ensembles.
Jazz guitarist Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer and musical arranger of the swing music medium born in San Marcos, Texas, probably best known for his work with musicians like Cab Calloway, Willie Bryant, Andy Kirk, Glenn Miller, Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie, among others...
is usually credited with making the first electric guitar solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
in 1938 with the ES-150. The most important player of the ES-150, however, was Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian
Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra...
. Because of his popularization of the guitar, the instrument's distinctive single-coil pickup is known by his name. His flowing solos and warm sound revolutionized the jazz guitar and, to this day, influence countless players.
Because the instrument was never intended to be played acoustically, there is a notable difference between the ES-150 and other archtop guitars. The inside of the solid spruce top is not carved to follow the contour of the outside, which renders it unsuitable for transforming the strings' energy into sound. This feature minimizes the problematic feedback that plagues amplified guitars that are designed more like acoustic guitars.
After WWII, the ES-150 was re-introduced as a 17" hollowbody with the top, back, and sides constructed of laminated maple . The post-war ES-150 was fitted with a P-90 pickup, replacing the original blade or "Charlie Christian" pickup
Charlie Christian pickup
The "Charlie Christian" pickup was an early electric guitar pickup. It was first used on the Gibson ES-150, which entered the market in 1936. The ES-150 was the first electric "Spanish-style" guitar; previous electric guitars had been designed to be played lap, or "Hawaiian" style...
in the neck position. This model was discontinued in the mid-1950s.
In the late 1960s, Gibson introduced the ES-150DC, which was a significantly different instrument, despite its similar model number. The ES-150DC was a hollowbody electric guitar with a double-cutaway body similar in appearance to the semi-hollow 335 guitars (except for a greater body thickness). It featured two humbuckers, a rosewood fingerboard with small block inlays, and a master volume knob on the lower cutaway. This model, however, was not particularly popular, and it was discontinued by Gibson in the mid-70s.
The ES-150 in its original design, along with the ES-175
Gibson ES-175
The Gibson ES-175 is an electric guitar manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, currently still in production. It is a 24 3/4" scale full hollow body guitar with a trapeze tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge...
and the L5
Gibson L5
The Gibson L-5 guitar was first produced in 1922 by Gibson Guitar Corporation, then of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA under the direction of master luthier Lloyd Loar, and has been in production ever since. It was considered the premier rhythm guitar in the big band era...
, made up the heart of Gibson's jazz guitar lineup.