Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman (2024)

FAQs

Who did Chet Atkins say was the best guitar player? ›

Atkins also collaborated with Australian guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel. On being asked to name the ten most influential guitarists of the twentieth century, he named Django Reinhardt to the first position, and also placed himself on the list.

Other than Chet Atkins himself and the more than obvious G6122–1959 and G6122-1962 that bear his namesake, three very notable Country Gentleman G6122–1962 players that come to mind are George Harrison, Lou Reed, and John Squire.

The family couldn't afford a guitar; he fashioned his first from a ukulele strung with screen-door wire. On his father's farm, where Atkins went to live in 1936, he listened to guitarist Merle Travis on the radio and taught himself to play.

Many were used for album covers, and these are included where appropriate. One would guess, after reading the book, that Atkins has about 50 guitars.

Brian May has been selecting his favourite guitarists of today, but there is one in particular who he especially admires. You may have already guessed it – Nuno Bettencourt. Since his mighty solo on Extreme's track Rise, he's seemingly reached new heights of admiration from other guitar legends and industry figures.

I bought the Gretsch Duo from a sailor who had bought it in America and brought it back. It was my first real American guitar—and I'll tell you, it was secondhand, but I polished that thing. I was so proud to own that.”

George Harrison was the lead guitar player for the Beatles and one of the most seminal musicians of the 20th century. He was known for his melodic playing style and use of various guitars, including Gretsch models. Harrison played several Gretsch guitars, including the Country Gentleman and the Tennessean.

When the Beatles started to get famous in the early 60s, George bought a 1962 Chet Atkins "Country Gentleman" Gretsch guitar. George can be seen using this one more often than anything else on stage but he didn't use it as much in the studio recordings.

As he continued to improve his guitar and fiddle playing, Atkins learned to read music from his father. Determined to become a famous musician, Atkins began his career at age eighteen, when he landed a job with the Knoxville, Tennessee, radio station WNOX as a staff musician.

RCA Victor's Steve Sholes signed Atkins as a singer and guitarist in 1947.

What was Chet Atkins' favorite guitar? ›

Although he was photographed with it, Chet rarely played the 6120, instead preferring his 6122 Country Gentleman – a guitar that he had significantly more involvement in the design of from the beginning.

Chet Atkins performed on several Elvis hits. The first time Elvis worked with Chet Atkins was January 1956 at RCA's Nashville studio.

The Gibson Chet Atkins SST was a solid body acoustic-electric designed by the musician Chet Atkins and manufactured and marketed by Gibson.

Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones famously introduced Jimi Hendrix as “the most exciting guitar player I've ever heard,” setting the stage for a historic performance.

In many cases, Atkins' work on the acoustic guitar represents that sound at its best, although the acoustic side of his playing is often overshadowed by his association with Gretsch guitars in the 1950s and '60s, which brought him great renown as an electric guitar innovator.

Paul Crook (born February 12, 1966) is an American guitarist known for his work recording and performing with Meat Loaf. He has also recorded and toured with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach and Marya Roxx.