In 1954, the Fred Gretsch Company
introduced its own artist signature
guitar in response to the success of
Gibson’s Les Paul guitar. The virtuoso
country artist Chet Atkins was chosen,
and with his input the model 6120
Chet Atkins Hollowbody was born. The
guitar included features requested by
Atkins, such as a 24. 75" scale length,
metal nut and Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.
It also initially sported “kitschy” western designs intended to appeal to
country music fans. Atkins disliked the
extra cosmetic decorations and had
them gradually removed as he and the
guitar became more popular.
The 1957 6120 (serial 25017) pictured
here has all the traits typical to that
year: Horseshoe headstock inlay (
replacing steer’s head of ’ 54–’ 56), hump-top
block fingerboard markers (replacing the
rectangular blocks of ’ 56), and a “Bar”
bridge (replacing the aluminum Bigsby
compensated bridge of ’ 54–’ 56). De
Armond single-coil pickups were still
used in 1957, although they would be
replaced in1958 with the new Filtertron
humbuckers Atkins preferred. These
twangy De Armond pickups would help
to create the signature sound of rock ‘n’
roll icon Duane Eddy. Eddy purchased a
6120 very similar to this one in October
1957 and went on to have numerous
instrumental hits. More detailed information on Gretsch guitars can be found
in The Gretsch Book by Tony Bacon and
Paul Day and in The Guitars of the Fred
Gretsch Company by Jay Scott.
Dave's Guitar Shop
Daves Rogers’ Collection is tended to by
Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
Photos and words by Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on display at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
davesguitar.com
www.premierguitar.com
PREMIER GUITAR MARCH 2010 73
