My name is Chet Walters. My father was Ted Walters if you searched the web you would find that there was a connection between Ted Walters and Chet Atkins. In the late 90's my dad and Chet became close friends. My dad would often travel with him and drive him from the hotel to the event. My dad spent many nights in Chet Atkins' basement guestroom near all the guitars and recording studio. My dad also started cataloging Chet Atkins' guitar with a tag number and written description. At one point my dad was bringing home a Chet Atkins' guitar 2 or 3 times a year. I was lucky enough to play the Gretsch 6120 with the horseshoe badge on it . I also played Chet's Haskell Hell guitar. Unfortunately my dad passed away 10 years ago, but my siblings and I presently own the Gibson Country Gentleman Guitar that is featured in Chet's latest promotional feature and on the cover of the book "Me and My Guitars". Because of my dad I became a great fan of guitar players like Chet, Jerry, Tommy, and others. At this point in my life my siblings and I are considering selling the Gibson Country Gentleman Guitar yet we have no idea how to market it . Any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated.
Man that makes perfect sense about 1 pickup leaving room for the thumb to play and not hit a unused pickup.God bless you sir for telling me these interesting stories...just the kind of real life Chet Atkins views ideas. Even more info ...painted f holes and heavier center bracing to reduce feedback...Influenced George Harrison...
Thanks for the feature -- informed and informative: particularly appreciated the notes on Chet Atkins' Workshop single-pickup red Gretsch and on the Kirk Sand of California prototype of the nylon-string instrument Chet so loved. Thank you again AcousticMusic man.
I owned this guitar for many years. I got it when it first came out in '91. It was a hefty price-tag but no overly ... and definitely worthy. It was a GORGEOUS instrument w/ exquisite appointments like clever "butterbean" style tuners (w/ little pull out levers to turn when winding strings), red fret-tabs, and a finish to die for. BUT ... it only played like a very fancy Les Paul. True, It had a bit more clear and musical pick-ups but the overall feel and sound was the same as the Paul. And boy was it HEAVY! It was hands-down the heaviest guitar I've ever played in my 45 yrs. playing. That was probably due to the center block being made out of an MDF type material and not wood. It was in no way elegant to hold. And the worst appointment was the the wrap-around bridge with tiny posts that held strings ... NIGHTMARE to re-string. I never understood Gretsch's use of these monstrosities. No other arch-top or hard tail w/ bigsby EVER needed this ... so why? It didn't have that classical "snap and twang" and throaty sound of a vintage but I think Chet didn't want it. I also own the less expensive re-issue Tennessean, designed in same way (except it has beautiful Gibson stop-bridge) and enjoy it. It's like having a really cool retro-vibe arch-top guitar that plays like a Les Paul. The guitarist in HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH is only guitarist i've seen play it. But most of all, I really dig my Japanese made 1959 re-issue of Country Gentleman ... smart n' twangy!
When you say Chet your bringing up a Large part of Grandpas life. He died when I was 8. Grandpa that is. He tried to emulate Chet Atkins.. Together again. It's my prayer That I see them.
I had an original 1967 Chet Atkins country Gentleman for a couple of months. When we sold it, the person who came to buy it said he was a gold leafer and had plans to go over all the aged bigsby and make it look new... well, I told him I wouldn’t sell him the guitar if he planned on doing that! He said he wouldn’t and so I agreed to sell it to him. But I just know that he went on and ruined that bigsby by gold leafing it. Poor Gretsch, I still miss it!
I prefer the Gibson "Chet Atkins" Tennessean (1990-2005), which is basically the Country Gent, sans the Bigsby, and fewer Bells/Whistles. Have owned 6 or 7 of them over the years, and settled on two models; a 1990 Sunrise Orange (which has faded to a beautiful Auburn) and a 1996 Ebony. These are extremely versatile guitars, and built to last. Thank you, Mr Atkins!
Gibson did not develop the CE/CEC solid body classical electrics. The concept and original execution was by a man in Kentucky named Hascal Haille. He and Chet worked the concept up to finished, playable guitars, then it was handed over to Gibson for production.
Clarification of previous post: the guitar I'm referring to is Gibson's Chet Atkin's Country Gentleman introduced in '91 and designed w/ Chet's input. The Tennessean was also introduced around same time and it too was the collaboration of Chet and Gibson. My current model is the faithful re-issue of 1959 Country Gentleman by Gretsch.
From Paul Yandell's Q&A on the Chetboard: Did Chet Have A Favorite Steel String Electric Guitar? He played his ‘59 for 30 years so what does that say? I don't think Chet liked any guitar 100%. He found then all wanting, but if anyone doesn't think his Gretsch guitars sounded better than the Gibsons just listen to his records and hear for yourself. I remember one time, after he went with Gibson, saying to him something about recording with the old Country Gentleman and he didn't want to. I think he felt it was dishonest to use it after going with Gibson. One day, years after he went with Gibson, and I was playing a Gibson Country Gentleman too, I was over at his office and I said, " You know Chet, that Gibson Country Gentleman doesn't have as good of tone as your old Gretsch Country Gentleman." He replied "Well, don't tell anybody." I think he knew but it was too late to do anything about it. Even later on, When Chet was recording the "Almost Alone" CD, I went out one day to play on the tune Maybelle. We got to talking and he was upset with Gibson about something that day and he made the remark" If they aren't careful I'll start playing my D'Angelico again." I don't think he would ever have done it and besides, I couldn't see him flying with that guitar but I was surprised to hear him say that. After he died I often thought ‘Wouldn't it have been great if he had’ We never talked about it much but he knew that he had lost a lot of tone by switching guitar companies. That old ‘59 had the tone! I have a tape of him playing in Knoxville before I started with him and he was getting the same tone live as he got on his records. Chet could make that ‘59 sing.
So the '59 he played for 30 years was the single pickup 59 with the hillbilly pickguard like shown in the video and on the album cover for workshop? IN the video he says its the same guitar but they have different tremolos.
@@marty7wizard7 No. the video's information is way off. There is a lot wrong with what he is saying and showing in pictures. Chet played a Gretsch 6122 1959 prototype guitar for those 30 years. A 2 pickup model. The 1 pickup red guitar was featured on the album cover strickly for promotional purposes. Chet did this a lot. He would be pictured with his newest guitar models but stuck to playing his old favorite.
What about that natural colored electified nylon guitar that Chet played later on ? I think it was a Gibson. t had a small t-shaped sound hole. Does anyone know which model that was?
You might be asking about a very short run of thin bodied nylon strings designed by Mike Voltz (based upon a Kirk Sand design). What appeared to be a "T" shaped sound hole is actually an inlay on the top (at the base of the fretboard) of a large fleur-de-lis. Here is a link to an image of one: www.premierguitar.com/articles/Chet_Atkins_Exhibit_Country_Gentleman?page=3 Is that what you were looking for?
@@wyetharchitects6662 Is there anything better than people who know what they're talking about? Thanks, Wyeth Artchitects guy -- I always knew the Kirk Sand connection, but not that that fleur-de-lis T shaped hole instrument was "designed by Mike Voltz (based on Kirk Sand's design). As you know, Kirk's instruments are simply the best nylon-string acoustic electrics ever made -- according to Chet, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau and . . . every great finger-style virtuoso ever since!
I have a gretsch guitar just like the one on your left 3 inches deep it is a 1958 country gentleman reissue model they don't make any more bought mine in 2013 .
I have one, too, 6122-58. Just saw on the Gretsch website that isn't in the catalog anymore. It is a nice sounding guitar tho, I gotta say, even with stock pickups.
No, it was based on the ES-350T (T for Thinline). 335s have a more pronounced cutaway. But yeah, the idea was kinda the same as far as being a semi hollow body with the center block.
@@terjesolhaug2071 ~ Hmmm... not exactly. The Gibson C/A Tennessean has an EBONY fretboard; the ES-335 has a Rosewood fretboard. The Ebony gives the note(s) more bite.
Chets best tone was when he played Gretsch, the Super chet one of the best guitars ever. The Gibson country gent was very heavy more than some pauls, and terrible pickups.
I agree. I know Chet said he liked the Gibsons but tonewise i will always associate him with filtertrons...not humbuckers. ...though chet sounded great with anything.
I liked the tone he got in the mid 60s thru the 70s....Gretsch Country Gent., I think it's a fuller tone guitar than even the Super Chet. I can say that cuz I have both.
@@musket-hc1fc ~ Yes, they do; especially in warm/humid weather. They weren't included on the early 1990 models, and Gibson should have left them that way. I have owned several Gibson Tennesseans, and once that banjo armrest starts sliding, I simply remove it for good.
The electric guitar Chet used at the end of his career sounded terrible - thin and reedy. The wonderful sound of the big hollowbody Gibson and Gretsch guitars was a huge part of his early success.
My name is Chet Walters. My father was Ted Walters if you searched the web you would find that there was a connection between Ted Walters and Chet Atkins. In the late 90's my dad and Chet became close friends. My dad would often travel with him and drive him from the hotel to the event. My dad spent many nights in Chet Atkins' basement guestroom near all the guitars and recording studio. My dad also started cataloging Chet Atkins' guitar with a tag number and written description. At one point my dad was bringing home a Chet Atkins' guitar 2 or 3 times a year. I was lucky enough to play the Gretsch 6120 with the horseshoe badge on it . I also played Chet's Haskell Hell guitar. Unfortunately my dad passed away 10 years ago, but my siblings and I presently own the Gibson Country Gentleman Guitar that is featured in Chet's latest promotional feature and on the cover of the book "Me and My Guitars". Because of my dad I became a great fan of guitar players like Chet, Jerry, Tommy, and others. At this point in my life my siblings and I are considering selling the Gibson Country Gentleman Guitar yet we have no idea how to market it . Any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated.
Text me I’m interested in your guitar. I knew your dad. 6155857197 JR
Man that makes perfect sense about 1 pickup leaving room for the thumb to play and not hit a unused pickup.God bless you sir for telling me these interesting stories...just the kind of real life Chet Atkins views ideas.
Even more info ...painted f holes and heavier center bracing to reduce feedback...Influenced George Harrison...
Thanks for the awesome video!
godspeed Chet. I will never forget.
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for posting it.
Beautiful pieces of art! RIP Chet!!!
Thanks for the feature -- informed and informative: particularly appreciated the notes on Chet Atkins' Workshop single-pickup red Gretsch and on the Kirk Sand of California prototype of the nylon-string instrument Chet so loved. Thank you again AcousticMusic man.
Chet used the neck pickup much more than the bridge. That is why he installed a supertron in the neck position, Look it up.
Yes, he hardly ever used the lead or rear pickup
I owned this guitar for many years. I got it when it first came out in '91. It was a hefty price-tag but no overly ... and definitely worthy. It was a GORGEOUS instrument w/ exquisite appointments like clever "butterbean" style tuners (w/ little pull out levers to turn when winding strings), red fret-tabs, and a finish to die for. BUT ... it only played like a very fancy Les Paul. True, It had a bit more clear and musical pick-ups but the overall feel and sound was the same as the Paul. And boy was it HEAVY! It was hands-down the heaviest guitar I've ever played in my 45 yrs. playing. That was probably due to the center block being made out of an MDF type material and not wood. It was in no way elegant to hold. And the worst appointment was the the wrap-around bridge with tiny posts that held strings ... NIGHTMARE to re-string. I never understood Gretsch's use of these monstrosities. No other arch-top or hard tail w/ bigsby EVER needed this ... so why?
It didn't have that classical "snap and twang" and throaty sound of a vintage but I think Chet didn't want it. I also own the less expensive re-issue Tennessean, designed in same way (except it has beautiful Gibson stop-bridge) and enjoy it. It's like having a really cool retro-vibe arch-top guitar that plays like a Les Paul. The guitarist in HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH is only guitarist i've seen play it.
But most of all, I really dig my Japanese made 1959 re-issue of Country Gentleman ... smart n' twangy!
When you say Chet your bringing up a
Large part of Grandpas life. He died when
I was 8. Grandpa that is. He tried to emulate
Chet Atkins.. Together again. It's my prayer
That I see them.
The Gretsch Country Gent is a 6122, NOT a 6120. And he also predominantly used the neck pickup, not the bridge pickup.
Yes and sometimes he used both pups.
The guy in the video's information is wayyyyy off more times than not
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing these guitars and their history.
I’m trying to figure out why anybody would dislike this just saying
I had an original 1967 Chet Atkins country Gentleman for a couple of months. When we sold it, the person who came to buy it said he was a gold leafer and had plans to go over all the aged bigsby and make it look new... well, I told him I wouldn’t sell him the guitar if he planned on doing that! He said he wouldn’t and so I agreed to sell it to him. But I just know that he went on and ruined that bigsby by gold leafing it. Poor Gretsch, I still miss it!
The pickup in the bridge was by L.R. Baggs....
That was a very interesting video thank you.
Mr. Guitar & Mr. Nashville! The Legend!
What, no Gibson Tennessean? ;) I love that guitar. Thanks all the same for a great video.
Right there with ya, brother! Have two Gibson C/A Tennesseans, and am trying to figure a way to take them with me when I go.
Wonderful video, thank you so much!
I prefer the Gibson "Chet Atkins" Tennessean (1990-2005), which is basically the Country Gent, sans the Bigsby, and fewer Bells/Whistles. Have owned 6 or 7 of them over the years, and settled on two models; a 1990 Sunrise Orange (which has faded to a beautiful Auburn) and a 1996 Ebony. These are extremely versatile guitars, and built to last. Thank you, Mr Atkins!
Gibson did not develop the CE/CEC solid body classical electrics. The concept and original execution was by a man in Kentucky named Hascal Haille. He and Chet worked the concept up to finished, playable guitars, then it was handed over to Gibson for production.
That last updated Gibson Country Gentleman you show, was a favourite with Scotty Moore I believe.
Oh Man !!! Talk About Dreams Huh !!! The Most Awesome Guitars of a Most Awesome Guitarist !!! Thanx a Mil for This :) :)
R.I.P. Chet.. You Were Always One Of My Fathers (And My) Favorites and You are Dearly Missed
Well That was pretty Fun! Thanks Mr T !
So interesting, thanks for sharing your deep knowledge on the subject.
Too bad most of the Gretsch info is erroneous...
the black guitar that you show george harrison playing isnt a 6120 but in fact a Tennessean
And still looks good,the gretch!
Chet atkins predates pop-punk one-humbucker guitars by decades. Incredible.
My Dad pattern his style of playing after Chet Atkins.
Clarification of previous post: the guitar I'm referring to is Gibson's Chet Atkin's Country Gentleman introduced in '91 and designed w/ Chet's input. The Tennessean was also introduced around same time and it too was the collaboration of Chet and Gibson. My current model is the faithful re-issue of 1959 Country Gentleman by Gretsch.
Close, but no see-gar. The Gibson C/A Country Gentleman was introduced in 1986. The Tennessean's first year was 1990. Both ran thru 2005.
Chet Atkins is the G.O.A.T
It was a good honest video remember don’t pick on Billy strings
The picture of George Harrison is with a Tennessean.
Stop the presses...lol
The guitar at 0.50 has a Gretch tremolo unit,while the guitar at 1.50 has a Bigsby unit. He says both are the same?
I think bigsby made the gretsch one?.
Do you have a Baldwin 801CP available with the prismatone pickup?
From Paul Yandell's Q&A on the Chetboard: Did Chet Have A Favorite Steel String Electric Guitar?
He played his ‘59 for 30 years so what does that say? I don't think Chet liked any guitar 100%. He found then all wanting, but if anyone doesn't think his Gretsch guitars sounded better than the Gibsons just listen to his records and hear for yourself.
I remember one time, after he went with Gibson, saying to him something about recording with the old Country Gentleman and he didn't want to. I think he felt it was dishonest to use it after going with Gibson.
One day, years after he went with Gibson, and I was playing a Gibson Country Gentleman too, I was over at his office and I said,
" You know Chet, that Gibson Country Gentleman doesn't have as good of tone as your old Gretsch Country Gentleman." He replied "Well, don't tell anybody."
I think he knew but it was too late to do anything about it. Even later on, When Chet was recording the "Almost Alone" CD, I went out one day to play on the tune Maybelle. We got to talking and he was upset with Gibson about something that day and he made the remark" If they aren't careful I'll start playing my D'Angelico again." I don't think he would ever have done it and besides, I couldn't see him flying with that guitar but I was surprised to hear him say that.
After he died I often thought ‘Wouldn't it have been great if he had’
We never talked about it much but he knew that he had lost a lot of tone by switching guitar companies. That old ‘59 had the tone! I have a tape of him playing in Knoxville before I started with him and he was getting the same tone live as he got on his records. Chet could make that ‘59 sing.
So the '59 he played for 30 years was the single pickup 59 with the hillbilly pickguard like shown in the video and on the album cover for workshop? IN the video he says its the same guitar but they have different tremolos.
@@marty7wizard7 No. the video's information is way off. There is a lot wrong with what he is saying and showing in pictures. Chet played a Gretsch 6122 1959 prototype guitar for those 30 years. A 2 pickup model. The 1 pickup red guitar was featured on the album cover strickly for promotional purposes. Chet did this a lot. He would be pictured with his newest guitar models but stuck to playing his old favorite.
George Harrison played a double cutaway 6122 Country Gentleman.
His first one was a second hand black G6128 Duo Jet he bought for £75.
I saw a Gibson country gentleman in a pawn shop for 7000.00 theirs no telling what thing was really worth...✌️🎸🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
No more than $2000 to a smart shopper.
What about that natural colored electified nylon guitar that Chet played later on ? I think it was a Gibson. t had a small t-shaped sound hole. Does anyone know which model that was?
You might be asking about a very short run of thin bodied nylon strings designed by Mike Voltz (based upon a Kirk Sand design). What appeared to be a "T" shaped sound hole is actually an inlay on the top (at the base of the fretboard) of a large fleur-de-lis. Here is a link to an image of one: www.premierguitar.com/articles/Chet_Atkins_Exhibit_Country_Gentleman?page=3
Is that what you were looking for?
@@wyetharchitects6662 Is there anything better than people who know what they're talking about? Thanks, Wyeth Artchitects guy -- I always knew the Kirk Sand connection, but not that that fleur-de-lis T shaped hole instrument was "designed by Mike Voltz (based on Kirk Sand's design). As you know, Kirk's instruments are simply the best nylon-string acoustic electrics ever made -- according to Chet, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau and . . . every great finger-style virtuoso ever since!
I have a gretsch guitar just like the one on your left 3 inches deep it is a 1958 country gentleman reissue model they don't make any more bought mine in 2013 .
I have one, too, 6122-58. Just saw on the Gretsch website that isn't in the catalog anymore. It is a nice sounding guitar tho, I gotta say, even with stock pickups.
And a 6122/59?
I saw the black one at the historical museum in Washington DC. I think American history museum. Been too long
So the Gibson "Country Gentleman" was essentially a single cutaway ES 335 with a slightly larger body?
No, it was based on the ES-350T (T for Thinline). 335s have a more pronounced cutaway. But yeah, the idea was kinda the same as far as being a semi hollow body with the center block.
The Gibson tennessean is a Gibson es 335 With single cutaway
@@terjesolhaug2071 ~ Hmmm... not exactly. The Gibson C/A Tennessean has an EBONY fretboard; the ES-335 has a Rosewood fretboard. The Ebony gives the note(s) more bite.
@@acousticshadow4032 Ok. Thanks!
Chets best tone was when he played Gretsch, the Super chet one of the best guitars ever. The Gibson country gent was very heavy more than some pauls, and terrible pickups.
I agree. I know Chet said he liked the Gibsons but tonewise i will always associate him with filtertrons...not humbuckers. ...though chet sounded great with anything.
What happened to the Gretsch Super Chet?
Hopefully ended up in a fireplace AWFUL GUITARS!. Brother had a brand new one horrible sound wouldn't stay tuned didn't play good!. Horrible!.
I wonder if bought one I could play like chet
yes, you could play LIKE Chet, but not as good....
sorry, could not resist.
No, you'd probably play like Tex Tucker. 🤠
The hight of the country gentleman... except the gretschs sounded better!
And that arm rest on the rim of the Gibson came off!
I liked the tone he got in the mid 60s thru the 70s....Gretsch Country Gent., I think it's a fuller tone guitar than even the Super Chet. I can say that cuz I have both.
@@steveyraynelson Which Country Gent? The double cut? I am thinking of getting one but am torn between the 62 and 59 reissues...help me out bro
@@musket-hc1fc ~ Yes, they do; especially in warm/humid weather. They weren't included on the early 1990 models, and Gibson should have left them that way. I have owned several Gibson Tennesseans, and once that banjo armrest starts sliding, I simply remove it for good.
The electric guitar Chet used at the end of his career sounded terrible - thin and reedy. The wonderful sound of the big hollowbody Gibson and Gretsch guitars was a huge part of his early success.