AS/IS example of Gibson's early innovations, this is a 16 string Style U harp guitar featuring 10 sub-bass strings, a 25-3/4" scale neck, and 21"extreme width" of lower bout; sold AS/IS and needing lots of repairs, including back separation from sides, open seams on top, binding missing or loose, finish chipping, missing three bridge pins, fret wear, no case. Overall the instrument is solid and intact, with all correct hardware and components, internal and external supports. The body was made with walnut back and sides, with an "ebonized" bound spruce top; equipped with original rosewood pin bridge w/ early metal support system; finish wear and checking present throughout, with open seam below soundhole; gorgeous carved scroll with single pearl dot in middle. The mahogany guitar neck has an extended rosewood fingerboard, with some loose binding, with simple dot inlay pattern and original frets (some wear present); peghead has rounded shape w/ "the Gibson" inlaid in pearl script, original engraved plate tuners; sub-bass neck has 10 strings with original patented locking tuners, corresponding scrolls on either sides, with inlaid pearl dots and snowflake. A noble and worthy candidate for expert restoration...from a key period in the instrument's history with transitional specs and components. Paper label has long been missing with numbers "15144" in pencil present in shadow.