Chet Atkins
Solo
Mr. Guitar - the architect of the Nashville Sound and master of fingerstyle technique. Influenced generations from George Harrison to Tommy Emmanuel, pioneering country guitar sophistication. Blended jazz harmonies with country twang, championing pristine hi-fi tone through Gretsch hollow bodies and obsessive pursuit of clean, articulate amplification without feedback.
SIGNATURE TONE
Pristine, hi-fi, and polite. A crystal-clear clean tone with a touch of slapback echo and compression, executed with perfect thumb-and-finger independence.
SIGNAL CHAINS BY ERA
Explore how the rig evolved over time
Gretsch 6120 Era (1954-1960)
The definition of country cool. Helping design the Gretsch 6120 and playing it through a Standel amp.
Country Gentleman Era (1959-1980)
Refined elegance. The sealed-body Country Gentleman eliminated feedback and offered a mellower tone.
Gibson / CGP Era (1980-2001)
The nylon years. Moving to Gibson to design the solid-body acoustic-electric CE/CEC models.