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1961 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollowbody

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Serial #: 39483

Body size at lower bout: 15 1/2". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6" Body depth: 2 1/4" Neck depth: .83/1.01, 1st /12th frets.

Materials: Solid maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard with 'thumbprint' pearloid inlays; arched maple laminate body; two ply body and f-hole binding; original bone nut with zero fret.

Hardware: Original hardware includes twin Pat. # Filter'tron humbucking pickups, Gretsch logo Bigsby B-6 aluminum tailpiece, adjustable ebony bridge; volume knobs for each pickup, master volume knob, three way pickup selector switch, three way tone switch, and 'G Arrow' control knobs. Vintage correct gold Lucite pickguard with Atkins logo, hand antiqued Kluson open back tuners.

Notes: In late 1954, Gretsch introduced the guitar that would become its most iconic creation: the Chet Atkins Hollow Body. Designed in collaboration with Nashville's most famous instrumentalist, the 6120 drew upon Chet's long recording and performing experience to create an exceptionally versatile, highly playable electric instrument.

The fully hollow body, slimmer in depth than conventional archtops, lends a more comfortable feel. A handily placed master volume control facilitates dynamic control during play. Later renamed the Nashville Model, the 6120 became one of the first production guitars to be factory equipped with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece as standard equipment.

And style? From its horseshoe peghead inlay to the fence rail on the pickguard, the Chet Atkins Gretsch cowboy'd up big time, right down to the tooled leather piping on the case. This fine example from 1961 is for many players the most desirable version of the model. It's last year for the single cutaway body, and also the slimmest of all versions of this popular model. At just 2 1/4" in depth, they are uniquely comfortable under the arm, and built for this one model year only.

Equipped with Pat. # Filter'tron humbucking pickups, the guitar features the swivel-arm Gretsch logo Bigsby tailpiece, arrow control knobs, thumbprint fingerboard inlays, horseshoe peghead, master volume control, and 3 way tone switch. A vintage correct gold Lucite 'fence rail' pickguard and hand antiqued Kluson open back tuners complete the classic look of this iconic model. The hollow body is 'trestle' braced under the bridge in trademark style, and the pots, cap and wiring harness are all original, as is the plush lined white Tolex hardshell case, with Gretsch logo ribbon.

This fine example has been maintained in great shape, without cracks or pickwear in its all-original Western Orange finish. The neck has a particularly comfy gentle D profile, with smooth thumbwear from a long performing career, and a full width 1 11/16" solid ebony fingerboard. Apart from some light buckle worming on the back, and a few incidental lacquer nicks, the instrument appears to have been played very carefully over the six decades since it left the Brooklyn factory.

All binding is original, and tight to the body as well. The original Filter'tron pickups have classic bite and twang, for every style from western swing to hard core rockabilly and blues. With a wonderfully versatile voice, the instrument has smooth, low action over a fresh high precision setup, on fine original fretwork.

From Eddie Cochran and Duane Eddy to George Harrison and Brian Setzer, generations of guitar heroes continue to fall for the guitar that put the 'Western' back into 'Country and Western'. An exceptional player from Gretsch's classic era: one only, call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation strobe tuned; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. Electronics tested, pickups balanced. This instrument is strung with light gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

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