1991 Orville by Gibson Chet Atkins CE Classical Acoustic Electric Guitar, Japan Terada

Up for sale, a 1991 Orville by Gibson Chet Atkins CE chambered acoustic electric classical guitar in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced exclusively for the Japanese domestic market and rare outside its country of origin, this Orville is an official Gibson-licensed guitar and a result of a partnership between Gibson USA and their Japanese distributor Yamano Gakki. Named after Gibson's founder, Orville Gibson, this long ago discontinued Orville by Gibson model was crafted at the Terada factory.

For players that seek the feel and tonality of a traditional nylon string classical guitar, but with a feedback resistant body and articulate electric pickup system, the Chet Atkins CE is one of the only, and arguably the best, options available. Tonewoods include a chambered mahogany body with a solid spruce top and a mahogany neck capped by a thick slab rosewood fretboard. This Orville weighs 8lbs 2oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar bar with normal tension nylon strings and comfortable classical action.

The three-piece mahogany neck has a substantial C-shaped profile carve with generous shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .880” deep at the 1st fret and .975” at the 9th, with 12 frets clear of the body. On the rosewood fretboard, the medium jumbo fretwire is pristine, and this guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The bone nut measures 1 3/4“ in width. There are two short, professionally-repaired splits on the bass-side of the headstock face, above the D tuner (these do not extend through the headstock). The Kluson-style tuning machines function smoothly and hold accurate pitch, with notably clean gold plating and white buttons.

All the electronics work as intended, with the pickup wired to the stock harness and active two-band EQ. The controls are mounted to the bass-side upper bout, with individual sliders for Treble, Bass and Volume. The "soundhole" features gold silkscreened "Orville by Gibson” text, framed by an ornate rosette, and the saddle has ample room for future adjustment.

Cosmetic wear on the gloss Natural finish is limited to a handful of minor dings on the body as a whole, largely relegated to the lower bout perimeter and on the lower bout on top, and there is some limited buckle rash on the back. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss.

A Gator-brand gigbag is included.