ES150 "Charlie Christian" model

[Sam Blob]

Does Gibson plan to re-issue the ES150? This is their first electric guitar, made famous by guitarist Charlie Christian in the Benny Goodman orchestra.

Of course, it will probably never happen. It would require too much R&D to recreate the blade pickup, and it's a really plain instrument based on a budget acoustic (archtop, of course).

 

[Aaron Leone]

They Do have em out

Here is the CC Es-150

Knobs look wrong. Tell Saul, Aaron Leone sent yo ass

I just got my Korina V from him-great guy.

http://www.gbase.com/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=302552

Let me know what he wants for it. I'm curious.


Aaron Leone

www.FunkyDogMusic.com

 

[Sam Blob]

Sorry for replying so late...

...but I just checked my e-mail for the first time since asking about the guitar. Here is the reply:

"hi... this is a limited edition, don't know why they haven't listed it on there website... no weird bakelite knobs... the cost with gibson hardshell case is 3695 dollars... thanks.. ccitymusic.com "

Now if I had four grand to spend on a souvenir I would be all over this, but I can understand why not many people would be. Very few people nowadays have heard of Charlie Christian, and if I hadn't read those guitar books I wouldn't be one of them. Les Pauls are a pop icon; ES-150s, while being of great historical significance, are not.

I am definitely NOT claiming that it's overpriced! It's an archtop with a solid carved top (Gibson didn't start using pressed laminate until the ES-175 of the late '40s) and the pickup is unique to this model. $3695 with hardshell case is quite reasonable under the circumstances, it's just that my circumstances won't permit that purchase...

Why exactly would bakelite knobs be weird? "Original" would be a better term, as in what was originally on the ES-150...

 

[Dave Paetow]

I know Jim Hutchins built a few Super 400's recently with the CC Bar pickups that were NOS leftover from the Kalamazoo days.

 

[Sam Blob]

:wtf They've got NOS from the mid-FORTIES???

 

[fl_799]

One would guess Gibson would re-issue their first electric guitar but would there actually be a market for an ES-150 in 2001? Intesesting question to say the least.

Forgive me if I am wrong but didn't the Charlie Christian es-150 pickup find its way on many Gibson "2 pickup" guitars untill the P-90's came along? Just wondering....

 

[Snags]

Sam, I used to manage a music store that was part of a chain that had been around since the fifties. You'd be surprised at what gets put in a corner and forgotten about in the warehouse.

 

[Dave Paetow]

I was told they had a few leftover pickups from Kalamazoo. They did make a ES175CC that used that pickup in the seventies.

 

[Snags]

Heehee, they probably found 'em holding a calendar to the side of the fridge in the employees' lounge! :lol2

 

[Sam Blob]

Wonder what kind of calendar?

Betty Grable? Betty Page? Norma Jean Baker?

 

[Karaoke Karl]

I just discovered Charlie Christian this weekend reading a mag where top guitarists told of their biggest influences. Charlie Christian's "Genius of Electric Guitar" album was named by a few. So I thought I'd check it out. I was blown away by this guys inginuity, feeling and tone. For 1941 he was like jimi Hendrix was in the 60s. No one came close. Sh*t he was great for todays standards. No telling how he would have evolved as a guitarist and innovator. His career was short lived as he only spent two years with Benny Goodman in the limelight after being discovered. At the young age of 25 he contracted tuborculousis and kept working hard despite the doctors orders to rest until he heals. He died later that year. If you have a chance pick up that album and listen to Solo Flight and Grand Slam. It is truly beautiful the way as stated his playing has a great opening phrase which gets your attention; it leaves plenty of space for the listener to get involved; it surprises you, it developes beautifully, it has direction; it ends perfectly and it's all played with amazing clarity.

 

[Dave Paetow]

Hey Karl, how's it going?

Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian, and Django were the big three. Freddie Green was the rthymn master.

 

[Karaoke Karl]

doing good Dave
thx for asking
I've been swamped getting ready for some stuff here so I have not been on for a while.

Thx for the edification on the big three. That era guitarists I am completely ignorant on. I am sure there are some jewels from that time that I have yet to discover. I'll check out some of those suggestions. thx

kk