Introduced in the late 1950s, the Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman was Gretsch’s top-tier stage hollowbody. While it was developed with and for Chet Atkins, the Country Gentleman is also closely linked with players such as George Harrison, whose early use of a Country Gentleman put the model in front of a much wider audience and instantly cementing its status as an iconic American guitar.

By the mid to late 1960s the model had settled into the familiar double-cut format with open f-holes and Bigsby vibrato. Pickup configurations vary in this transitional period, some models have the classic Supertron/Filtertron combination, other have two Filtertrons. This one has the classic configuration of a Super’Tron in the neck position and a Filter’Tron in the bridge. It also has a single string mute covering all six strings, which is correct for 1967.

This example is all original, with pots dating to 1966. The mute works as it should, and the Bigsby feels good and holds tune well. The original frets are very low but the guitar plays well.

There is standard wear for the age, including some binding rot, which is common on 1960s Gretsches. There is also a mark on the bass side of the neck at the 1st fret. The tuners are original and have not been messed with, despite the slightly uneven looking placement. Weight is 3800g.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Gretsch 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
• Year: 1967
• Body construction: Hollowbody, double cutaway
• Top: Laminated maple
• Back and sides: Laminated maple
• Finish: Walnut stain with gloss clear coat
• Soundholes: Bound f-holes
• Neck: Set maple neck
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Inlays: Neo-classic thumbnail inlays
• Scale length: 24.6 inch
• Nut: Zero fret design
• Frets: Original, very low
• Pickups: Super’Tron (neck) Filter’Tron (bridge)
• Controls: Individual pickup volumes Master volume 3-way pickup selector 3-position tone switch Standby switch
• Bridge: Floating bridge assembly
• Tailpiece: Gretsch Bigsby-style vibrato
• Mute: Single 6-string mute, working
• Tuners: Original Grover tuners
• Back: Factory padded back panel installed
• Binding: Aged with some binding rot
• Weight: 3800g