Classic Gear
As official endorsees with several signature models bearing their names, Chet Atkins is to Gretsch what Les Paul is to Gibson. While leading the way in terms of technique and recording technology, both were pioneering figures in the burgeoning electric guitar boom of the 50s and inspired a new generation of guitarists during the dawn of rock ’n’ roll.
Although Chet pledged allegiance to Gibson in the 80s and 90s after parting ways with the Baldwin-company-owned Gretsch brand in 1979 – bringing not only his name, but also the names of his classic Gretsch guitar models, the Country Gentleman and the Tennessean – he is more widely remembered for four Gretsch models released in the 50s. They were the 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body; the 6121 Chet Atkins Solid Body; the 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman; and the 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean.
While Chet would have significant input into the design of his favoured signature model, the 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, the 6120 was already
With his background in country music, Chet was seen as the perfect frontman for Gretsch’s new model
prototyped when his tenure with Gretsch began in 1954. Derived from the DeArmond Dynasonic-loaded Electromatic 16-inch cutaway electric archtop released in 1951 (superseded by the single-cutaway Streamliner in 1955), the initial 6120 prototype design was influenced by Gretsch’s collaboration with jazz guitarist Jimmie Webster. It was labelled the ‘Streamliner Special’ and, in a similar style to Gretsch’s Round Up solidbody and Rancher flat-top guitars, featured various Western-themed motifs.
With his background in country music, Chet was seen as the perfect frontman for Gretsch’s new model. However, despite his recommendations of adding a Bigsby
vibrato, metal nut and simplified metal bridge to enhance sustain, he wasn’t enamoured with the final result. According to Ed Ball, author of Gretsch 6120: The History Of A Legendary Guitar, “Chet told me in 1995, ‘Although I was photographed with it, I only used the 6120 once in a while… I didn’t use it as much as I used the [6122] Country Gentleman.’ He was just excited to get his own signature model to compete with his friend, Les [Paul].”
During the heyday of the 50s American car craze, Gretsch kickstarted a trend among the major league manufacturers of using automotive paint finishes in the mass production of electric guitars. Displayed in Gretsch’s full colour 1955 Guitars For Moderns catalogue, the new Chet Atkins 6120 Hollow Body burst from the page in ‘amber red’ amid a rainbow of guitars in green, burgundy, red, orange, yellow, black and white. With “America’s big favorite CHET ATKINS” behind this vibrant array of electrics, Gretsch was shouting from the rooftops of its Brooklyn workshop about its new instruments.
In keeping with Gretsch’s progressive ethos, the 6120’s specs were revised and updated continually over the years. Dissatisfied with the sound of his singlecoil DeArmond Dynasonics, Chet had been working with electronics engineer and inventor Ray Butts since 1954 on developing a new pickup design, and the result was Gretsch’s in-house wound Filter’Tron humbucker. In 1958, the 6120 was fitted with dual Filter’Trons as standard, and in 1961, while taking heed of Gibson’s semi-acoustic thinline electrics, the 6120 received its second major design alteration in the form of a double-cutaway.
In 1964, the Hollow Body was rebranded the Nashville and it remained in production until 1980 following a tumultuous period with Baldwin throughout the late 60s and 70s. Having joined forces in 2002, Fender/ FMIC now offers its Gretsch-branded Nashvilles in many guises, including several Duane Eddy and Brian Setzer signature models. Along with Eddie Cochran and Pete Townshend, maybe they found something in the 6120 that Chet didn’t! [RB]