In mid-1936 Gibson announced the production of the first Electric Spanish guitar, the ES-150. Shipped in quantities in 1937, it was heralded as "Another miracle by Gibson- a true, undistorted tone amplified by electricity." The ES-150 was an amplified L-50 non-cutaway hollow-body model equipped with a single bar pickup.The ES-150 was so designated because it cost $150 as a complete set with the matching EH-150 amplifier and 15-foot cord.
Click here for the sound (90k) of the ES-150

Guitar Features: ES 150

	16 1/4 hollow body
	Charlie Christian pickup (single blade)
	two knobs (volume, tone)
	trapeze tailpiece
	single bound pickguard
	carved spruce top
	northern maple back and rim
	golden sunburst top
	chocolate brown finish side and back
	slender f-holes
	ebony adjustable bridge
	white ivoroid binding
	nickel tuners with ivory heads
	Gibson adjustable truss rod neck
	19 frets with dot inlays

The ES-150 was immediately embraced by guitarist Eddie Durham, who was widely acknowledged as the first to record electric guitar solos in 1938 with the Kansas City Six. Durham converted banjoist Floyd Smith, who played an ES-150 on the seminal track "Floyd's Guitar Blues" in March 1939. Durham also converted Charlie Christian, who in his brief career became the most visible and significant player of the ES-150. In fact, the bar pickup of the instrument was soon to be renamed the "Charlie Christian pickup" due to its popularization by the famed guitarist. Christian used the ES-150 to produce the flowing, horn-like lines and warm woody tone that to this day epitomize jazz guitar.