1937 Gibson Made Recording King Roy Smeck Model AB104 Lap Steel Electric Guitar with Full Sized EH-150 Charlie Christian Magnets

Recording King Roy Smeck Model AB104 Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar, made by Gibson (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, maple body, rosewood fingerboard, original tweed hard shell case.

During his storied career Roy Smeck the "Wizard of the Strings" would endorse almost anything with strings on it! In the 1930's he mostly endorsed Gibson, or in this case a product they built for the Montgomery Ward's catalog and stores. For the Ward's line Smeck's name was specifically used to promote a series of electric guitars. This teardrop shaped steel guitar is labeled the Model AB-104 on the headstock and dates to late-1937, making it one of the first of the Wards/Smeck line. 

Unlike most AB-104s, this example is from very early on in the production run and still features the full sized extra large Charlie Christian pick up magnets. Most examples look the same but contain the less desirable second generation U magnet pickup. The coil itself has rounded ends and is not bound, with a single blade polepiece in the center. The screwed-on back of the body (allowing access to the electronics) is a holdover from the original 1935 EH-150 design.

Gibson's 1930's EH-150 with the "Charlie Christian" style blade pickup is generally considered the best lap steel guitar in the company's history, one of the most successful instruments of its type. While not technically a full-line Gibson this Roy Smeck model still plays and sounds just like one; these semi-hollow maple steels from Kalamazoo have a rich, powerful tone with plenty of definition. 

The tone and volume knobs are on either side of the pickup; the output jack is located on the bass side of the body. The bound top is finished in sunburst while the back and sides are a plain dark brown. The fingerboard is unbound with flush fret markers and plain dot inlay. The center-peaked headstock mounts individual Kluson tuning machines are a style specific to the 1938-40 period with plastic buttons and a nice Art Deco look.
 
Overall length: 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm.)
Lower Bout: 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm.) 
Body Depth: 2 in. (5.1 cm.)
Scale length: 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.)
Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.)

This steel shows some light wear overall but no repairs or alterations. The lovely sunburst finish has a few light dings and dents and may have been over sprayed. The stenciled over pearl Recording King logo is unusually well preserved, it has not flaked off as often happens. A few of the original back screws seems to have been replaced. The original pots are on the stiff side but function as they should. All other hardware is original and intact.

Excellent (E) Condition

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