Tone of Gibson EH-150?

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I really like the looks of those pre-war Gibson EH-150 guitars, but I've never really heard one. Can anyone describe the tone, as compared to a Rickenbacker or a Fender?

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Mike Neer · From: NJ

I had a nice '36 EH-150, and while it was a very handsome guitar and very comfortable to play (a lot of space between the strings and body), I didn't love the tone. Mine was in perfect working order, but the tone just wasn't that nice when played with a cleaner sound. It had boosted upper mids, and quite a bit of bite, but it wasn't as complex sounding to my ears as a Rick.
I might add it would make a terrific rock guitar, but the more gain in your signal, the more you're going to hear the hum of the Charlie Christian pickup. To my ears the CC pickup sounds better when mounted on a guitar closer to the neck.

[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 07 June 2004 at 01:44 PM.]

Ian McLatchie · From: Sechelt, British Columbia

I have a '38 7-string EH-150 and really love the tone, although there's no question I prefer both the Rickenbachers and Fenders overall. I agree with Mike's description of "boosted upper mids, and quite a bit of bite." I think that sound has as much to do with the semi-acoustic maple body as the Christian pickup. Like a maple body acoustic guitar, the EH has a very strong attack and relatively little sustain. Particularly in the upper-mid range, the tone is very, very clean, almost bell-like. Mike's certainly right about the hum, though . The Christian pickups are VERY noisy.

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

kind of Tele-like comes to mind, the pickup is microphonic a bit and this is a hollow-body, wth a light cast bridge dead-ending strings to a thin maple top, it sounds like wood a bit.

A blade pickup has less dynamics than a pole-piece design, its less percussive. The Charlie C pickup is a wide-aperture blade, it picks up a wide chunk of the string.

so kinda Tele thru compressor with a taste of chorus Mine are used for rock and blues and in E or D low notes have that old Duane Eddie Rebel-Rouser thing going. There is good separation of notes in chords, IMO

yeah they hum a bit. gotta position amp right etc when recording.

thats my 2 cents, Howard, Jason, CrowBear where are ya guys?

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i very much like the tone of both my EH150 and EH100 - i can't really hear a diff between them
the 150 pu has a blade on strings 456 and 3 pole pieces on 123
the 100 pu has 2 blades 123/456
i find they can sound sweet, mellow, and bluesy
perhaps kinda Fenderish -
you do have to be careful about the hum
you're just gonna have to try one Capt' and see if it does it for ya'
any Fo'Bros in Calif got an EH150 that our Capt' could try out ?

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 07 June 2004 at 04:17 PM.]

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