Gibson ETG-150 with Bigsby Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Tenor Guitar (1962), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 78956, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator chipboard case.
This is a played-in but very cool example of the ETG-150, Gibson's "bread and butter" electric tenor guitar from the 1940's-1960's with a really unusual addition; an original Bigsby vibrato tailpiece especially set up for 4 strings. The ETG-150 was of the very few cataloged electric tenor guitars remaining in production during the 1960s, an easy-playing and chunky sounding four-string archtop suitable for a range of styles. While not a particularly rare guitar, this is the first one we have seen with a vibrato which appears factory fitted; there are only 4 string pins on the Bigsby and the endpin is located to accommodate it.
This ETG-150 was built in 1962, by which time electric tenors were hardly the newest thing and all of 40 were shipped out of Kalamazoo. It is equipped with a single 4-pole P-90 pickup under a black plastic cover; the tone and volume controls have the metal capped knobs typical of the early 1960s. The neck is very slim and fast and this is a pretty rip-roaring sounding tenor through a cranked amp, and cleans up nicely when backed off. There are simply not many wang-capable archtop electric tenors out there, so this is a super find for the player so inclined!
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/8 in. (29 mm.).
This ETG-150 shows general wear and tear overall but is still a nicely playable example. The guitar looks to have been gigged quite a bit; the finish has wear and some heavy checking on the top which also has a number of chips and dings mostly around the edges. The back and sides show checking, dings and dents; the back has some fairly heavy moisture wear in the center and the armwear spot on the upper side has worn to the wood and been touched up. The back of the neck appears to have a very old lacquer overspray which still shows some wear to the wood in the first position from play. The headstock has a number of dings and chips as well.
The hardware is all original including the great sounding P-90 pickup and wiring, knobs, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, pickguard and of course the Bigsby; all parts show general wear and the second string tuner is pretty heavily bent, though it still tunes fine. There was never been a strap button added. The original frets have been crowned down somewhat; the neck is very straight and this is an excellent player with plenty of punch even not plugged in. While not the cleanest this twangulated 4-string has a serious vibe; we don't know who ordered and played it originally but the guitar definitely has an attitude! It still lives in the original alligator chipboard case, which is scruffy but surprisingly solid. Overall Very Good + Condition.
