In 1958, the Fred Gretsch Company decided
to expand the successful Chet Atkins signature guitar line introduced in 1954, which
already included the Chet Atkins Hollowbody
6120 and the Chet Atkins Solidbody 6121.
The new models were the high-end Country
Gentleman and the low-end Tennessean.
The Chet Atkins Tennessean was a stripped
down version of the 6120. It shared the same
body dimensions, but had only one bridge
pickup and no binding on the fingerboard or
headstock. The Tennessean also had a unique
red stain finish instead of the orange of the
6120. The pickguard with Chet’s signature
in a signpost was black instead of the gold
color seen on the 6120.
The features on this example are common
to other Tennesseans produced in late ’ 59
and early ’ 60, including the zero fret, “Patent
Applied For” Filter Tron pickup, “V” cutout
Gretsch Bigsby vibrato and a body depth
of about 2 1/2”. Except for a gradually thin-
ning body, these appointments remained
until 1962, when Gretsch’s entire line was
revamped.
More information on Gretsch guitars can be
found in these books: The Guitars of the Fred
Gretsch Company by Jay Scott; The Gretsch
Book by Tony Bacon and Paul Day; and
50
Years of Gretsch Electrics by Tony Bacon.
Dave's Guitar Shop
Daves Rogers’ Collection is tended to by
Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
All photos credit Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on display at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-7704
davesguitar.com
