UNRESERVED. 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. 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.

With its sunburst finish, this Style U harp guitar is a more ornate model with beautifully-carved scrolls. Ivoroid bound, oval sound-hole inlaid with variegated woods of conventional design meet a single-bound, convex ebony fretboard with 19 original thin frets, pearl dot position markers, and black dot side-markers. Black faced (front and back) headstock with "The Gibson" inlaid diagonally in mother-of-pearl compliment three-per-side open-back strip tuners with white plastic oval buttons. The original elevated tortoiseshell pickguard is secured to the treble-side of the body by two German silver clamps and two pins into the treble-side of the neck. Also made of German silver is the double 'trapeze' tailpiece with specific ebony elevated string attachments containing ebony pegs inlaid with pearl.

VG; two missing bridge pins from body (in neck pocket of case), some surface scratches on top & back, tailpiece oxidation, few dings on the top