Anyone heard of a "GEBS" lap steel guitar.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 6 Aug 2008 3:52 pm

Around 1939 I started taking Steel Lesson from an outfit called the "National Institure of Music & Arts". These were class lessons once a week at $1.00d per lesson on an acoustical guitar. After one year they moved you to an electric steel guitar with the name of GEBS and the lessons became $2.00.
The guitar had the "Mother of Pearl" finish similiar to Oahu's and Dickersons. Also included was a small amp with of 6" speaker. This music school was pretty big nationwide. One summer afternoon they had us do a concert in the Hollywood Bowl. There must have been five hundred of us split between Steel Guitars and Violins all reading music and playing together.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 6 Aug 2008 4:36 pm

I've seen the GEBS logo on a lot old Cases for lap steels. I thought they made Cases only, but evidently they made lap steels too. I am guessing that this was a Chicago based company because the cases often came with Oahus, Nationals, etc. I seem to remember seeing an old Gibson guitar with a GEBS case once. Not sure it was original to that guitar though.

Bill Leach · Post by **Bill Leach** » 6 Aug 2008 5:22 pm

There's one on ebay - Item number: 110276861155

Robert Murphy · Post by **Robert Murphy** » 6 Aug 2008 5:23 pm

I just purchased an acoustic lap steel circa 1940's with the original GEBS case Chicago "Challenge" trade mark.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 6 Aug 2008 5:36 pm

I have one case here that has GEIB on it, and I've seen quite a few with that little metal plate with GEIB on it.
I see my New Yorker case is a Lifton. Hadn't noticed the sticker on the inside until now, because I got curious.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 10 Aug 2008 6:29 pm

REMOVED

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Aug 2008 11:55 pm

Yes, I was confusing GEBS and GEIB. The memory's the first thing to go.