Gibson Experimental Guitar, c. 1934

This circa 1934 Gibson brass-framed, lap steel prototype was Gibson’s first foray into the electric guitar market. It served as the inspiration for the Gibson electrics that followed, beginning with the “Electric Hawaiian” EH-150 lap steel guitar, which appeared in 1935. 

Although the Gibson factory was located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this prototype was made in collaboration with Lyon & Healy, a musical instrument manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois. Lyon & Healy engineer John Kutalek, with input and assistance from professional steel guitar player Alvino Rey, began the initial developments on the electromagnetic pickups and design. However, research and testing on the instrument took longer than desired, which was unacceptable to Gibson manager Guy Hart, as Dobro and Rickenbacker already had their own electric guitars on the market. He moved the experiments to Gibson’s own Kalamazoo factory and put them under the charge of guitar designer Walter Fuller, who finished the project.