Joe Bonamassa Plays A 1919 Gibson Style U Harp Guitar

The harp-guitar was produced by the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company from its inception. While its 1903 catalog featured three harp-guitar models, Styles R, R-1, and U, the first two were soon eliminated in favor of the Style U, as seen in the advertisement below from their 1912 catalog. With its ten sub-bass strings tuned chromatically from A-sharp to G-sharp, the harp-guitar was an ideal instrument to fill out the sound of the mandolin orchestra. The bass strings were to be plucked by the thumb, while the chords could be played, as on a conventional guitar, on the top six strings over the fretboard.

Other old-fashioned examples held up to mockery included the “dear old grandma” who insisted on using candles and the “quaint old Massachusetts town” that still used oxen for public works. Concluding with a fanciful, not-so-subtle metaphor, Gibson stated that “Because the elevator to success (the Harp-guitar) has been generally stuck (construction not permanent), you have been toiling up the stairs (the six-string Guitar), but the ‘Gibson’ Harp-guitar is the elevator never stuck. Come in. It’s only 16-2/3 cents a day (a mere pittance, a few cigars or a little candy daily sacrificed) and the matchless ‘Gibson’ Harp-guitar with black leather case is yours to use and enjoy now.”