Warsaw, Poland
About this listing
1973 Gretsch Super Chet Model 7690 – Autumn Red: A Rare and Ornate BirdCondition: Excellent Comes with Original Hard Shell CaseMaster volume knob disconnected due to easy readjustment when playing. Control of the Master volume moved to 2nd knob. Easy to convert back to the original factory setup.About the model: The Peak of Chet Atkins’ Aesthetic VisionIntroduced in late 1972 and debuting in full production in 1973, the Gretsch Super Chet 7690 was born from a singular, ambitious mandate by Chet Atkins himself: to design the most visually striking and luxurious electric archtop guitar in the world. Positioned at the absolute top of the Gretsch hollowbody lineup during the Baldwin era, the Super Chet was built to compete directly with high-end jazz boxes like the Gibson Super 400 CES and Byrdland.Finished in a breathtaking, translucent Autumn Red (often transitioning between a deep cherry and an amber-toned red stain), this 1973 model is a pristine example of first-year production. Combining a massive 17-inch body with unprecedented abalone ornamentation and a highly unique control scheme, it represents a respected, high-art anomaly in Gretsch history that is deeply coveted by both discerning players and jazz-age collectors.Key Architectural & Luxury HighlightsOrnate Abalone Inlay Suites: The defining visual element of the Super Chet is its extensive use of genuine abalone.Rather than standard plastic thumbnails or block markers, the bound ebony fingerboard is dressed in incredibly intricate, hand-inlaid abalone floral motifs. This magnificent theme extends to a matching floral/logo inlay on the bound blackface headstock, and is repeated inside the gold-plated trapeze tailpiece’s elegant ebony insert.Side-Body Wood Marquetry: In a display of true luthier craftsmanship rarely seen on production electrics, the multi-ply binding around the body contains an extra, distinct strip of wood-carved marquetry running dead-center along the entire edge of the 2.5-inch-deep sides.The Pickguard-Mounted Control Pod: To maximize the acoustic resonance of the arched laminate maple top and keep the body structurally unburdened by standard routing, Gretsch moved the electronics entirely to the pickguard. The heavy, multi-bound black pickguard features five miniature, gold-capped rotary knobs—giving the player individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, plus a master volume, all within a tight, ergonomic cluster.First-Year 1973 Production Markers: As a 1973 model, it features the hyphenated serial number system impressed directly into the wood on the back of the peghead (typically indicating the month and year of manufacture) and lacks a truss rod cover on the peghead, true to the era's clean transition.Sonic Identity: Articulate Filter'Tron BalanceWhile the look of the guitar screams elite jazz aristocracy, its acoustic properties and electronics anchor it firmly in the legendary "Great Gretsch Sound."Dual "Blacktop" Filter'Tron Humbuckers: These original gold-plated Filter'Trons are lower-impedance humbuckers (typically measuring around 4.2k to 4.5k ohms). Unlike muddy or overly dark mid-70s humbuckers, these pickups deliver shimmering highs, tight bass response, and immaculate note separation.True Hollowbody Resonance: The 17-inch wide, fully hollow body is shaped with thin, press-arched laminated maple top and back panels coupled with bound, open F-holes. This construction produces a deeply woody, naturally compressed acoustic snap. The result is a highly touch-sensitive instrument that responds beautifully to delicate fingerstyle picking or complex, harmonically dense jazz chording without washing out.Technical SpecificationsModel: Gretsch Super Chet (Model 7690)Year of Manufacture: 1973 (First full year of production)Origin: Booneville, Arkansas / Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (Baldwin Era)Finish: Translucent Autumn Red / Cherry Stain (Nitrocellulose lacquer)Body Width: 17 inches (Large jazz-archtop profile)Body Depth: 2.5 inches (Thinline archtop comfort)Body Material: Laminated Maple top, back, and 7-ply laminated sidesNeck Material: Bound two-piece Rock Maple with a slim, fast "C" profileScale Length: Vintage Gretsch 24.5 inches (promotes easy chording and lower string tension)Nut Width: Highly comfortable 1-11/16" to 1.74" (excellent for fingerstyle accuracy)Fingerboard Material: Premium, dark Solid Ebony with zero fret systemInlays: Abalone Floral/Leaf fingerboard, headstock, and tailpiece insertsHardware: Gold-plated luxury hardware throughoutBridge: Original adjustable gold Adjustamatic bridge on a pinned ebony baseTailpiece: Trapeze-style tailpiece with bound ebony insert and abalone inlayTuners: Original gold enclosed tuners with metal buttonsElectronics: 5 pickguard-mounted mini-pots (Neck Vol, Neck Tone, Bridge Vol, Bridge Tone, Master Vol), 3-way toggle switch on the upper bass boutAverage Weight: Highly balanced for a 17" archtop, typically resting around 8.4 to 8.8 lbs (approx. 3.8 kg to 4.0 kg)Collector & Historical ValueThe Super Chet holds a special place in instrument history; it was one of the last high-end models Chet Atkins designed with Gretsch before moving his endorsement over to Gibson in 1979. Notably, the model's prestige was cemented in modern rock lore when Chet Atkins personally presented a Super Chet 7690 to Mark Knopfler in 1984, which was subsequently used on tour and featured prominently in Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms promotional era.Finding an example from 1973 with perfectly intact multi-ply binding (free of the notorious "binding rot" that plagues mid-century models) and original electronics is increasingly rare. Accompanied by its original deluxe hard-shell case with a plush interior, this "ornate bird" stands as an investment-grade masterpiece and a crown jewel for any serious hollowbody collection.
Pricezł21,033.54
+ zł66.42 Shipping
