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Gretsch 1969 Chet Atkins Nashville Model 6120 #69332 - Used  From Other

A highly playable, inimitable piece of music history! This one sounds so good you'll forget what year it is ;) 

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Our product photos are the actual, specific serial number for sale!

This specific item was photographed by us here in Durham, North Carolina. We are a very small team dedicated to providing you the most accurate photos possible, through our obsessive focus - individually photographing nearly everything that comes through the door. Questions about what you see? Want more information, photos, or just a friendly conversation with someone that cares and who has actually had their hands on this exact item? Contact us now!
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Buy Pre-owned from Sound Pure with Absolute Confidence

Sound Pure's dedication to pre-owned products is unprecedented in the industry. We are a small team of dedicated experts that buys, trades, and consigns. We are trusted by customers all over the world. Our curated collection, is thoroughly tested and inspected by some of the best in the business. Our inventory is constantly changing, ever-evolving, with some items sold before reaching the website. Looking for something specific? Have questions about this product's condition or history? Want more photos, or to simply chat with an expert who's had his hands on this actual piece? Contact us now.
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"Gone, Baby, Gone"

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What We Think

Weight: 7.7 lbs.

Condition - Used, Good - Considerable play wear consistent with an instrument of this age.

*This guitar has been re-fretted and had a neck heel repair job. Its mute pad has degraded over time.*  

A truly classic instrument transported to our showroom from the golden years of rock and country. It plays and sounds lovely and the pickup configuration has a huge range of tonal color to offer. I was able to dial in tones that were appropriate for jazz, country, and really any style a killer clean tone might be needed for. It is very responsive and a pleasure to play in both flat picking and finger picking styles. The neck is great for quickly grabbing some unconventional chord shapes as well. This guitar needs a home with a player looking for that classic Chet Atkins Nashville tone in a vintage and well-playing package.

 

Manufacturer's Description from Other

The Gretsch 6120 was an instant classic from the day it was introduced. To many players, it is the definitive Gretsch guitar.

At its 1955 introduction, the 6120 cost $385 and sported a wagon­load of western decorations: cow’s heads and cactus etchings in the block markers, a big G brand on the top and more. It was the first in the “Chet Atkins” line of signature Gretsch guitars.

In ‘58, the half-­moon or “neo­classic” markers common to most Gretsches were introduced. The DeArmond pickups were discontinued in favor of Gretsch’s own “FilterTron” humbuckers. Chet Atkins is reported to have said the magnets on the DeArmond’s were too strong, “sucked the tone right out of the guitar”, and Duane Eddy was the only person he knew who got a good tone out of them.

The fake f-­hole, thinline, double cutaway Electrotone body guitar of ‘62 was a completely different beast than previous 6120s. The price was up to $495, which bought you the all-new body, complete with a padded back, which conveniently hid the big access hole in the back. The signpost disappeared after ‘62, but a standby switch and muffler appeared, so if a guitarist got bored without anything to look at, he could always twiddle his knobs.

Some confusion exists over the difference between a Nashville and Chet Atkins 6120. In a nutshell, there isn’t much. The Nashville name was arbitrarily stuck on the 6120, beginning in 1966. There’s no difference between the guitars. It’s just a name, but it came in handy when Atkins pulled his endorsement.

Like most Gretsches, 6120s began changing dramatically after the Baldwin Piano and Organ company took over Gretsch in ‘67. By ‘70 the 6120 was wearing the squared-off pickguard common to the Baldwin era. In 1972, the model designation was changed to 7660.

In the modern era the 6120 was one of the first guitars to be revived, and the 6120 line quickly expanded to include a wide range of new models and variations. The Brian Setzer signature collection, in particular, was a very popular revamp of the classic 6120 formula, and it significantly raised Gretsch’s profile during the rebuilding years of the 90s.

In 2008, Gretsch regained the rights to use the Chet Atkins name, so the Nashville name was dropped and most 6120s were once again known as the Chet Atkins Hollowbody.

Other (Miscellanous Used/Vintage/Consign)

About Manufacturer

Here at Sound Pure we hand-select used and vintage pieces of gear for our inventory. Our used selection always reflects the high standards of quality and craftsmanship that we expect from all of our manufacturers.   We are a small team of dedicated experts, located in Durham, NC.  We buy, trade, and consign instruments that we truly believe in.  Because of this, we have developed a reputation of quality and trust with our customers, located all over the world.   Our best customers are the ones that truly understand our personal touch and commitment to everything we sell, and range from hobbyists and enthusiasts to some of the biggest names in the business.  Our passion bridges the products we love with the real relationships we develop with our customer - whether they are a lifelong musician, or they are just getting started on their musical journey but care about value, quality, and being treated right.  

We vigorously test everything we take in to ensure authenticity, functionality, and reliability.  We are supported by one of the most well-respected luthiers in the Southeast, guaranteeing products that come in are thoroughly vetted, and that products that go out our in premium, performance- ready shape.   We are so confident in our ability to provide the highest quality music equipment in the industry, we even invented our “Try Before You Buy” program where we can ship out a product before collecting actual payment. 

Sound Pure's inventory is constantly changing, ever-evolving, with some items sold before reaching the website.    Looking for something specific? Have questions about this product's condition or history?  Want more photos, or to simply chat with an expert who's had his hands on this actual piece of gear?  It is truly our pleasure to talk with our customers, please do contact us now.  

Specifications

1969

Serial Number: 69332

Body Shape:Chet Atkins Nashville

Body Back:Laminated Maple

Body Sides:Laminated Maple

Body Top:Arched Laminated Maple

Body Finish:Gloss Urethane

F Holes Sound Holes:Simulated F-Holes

Body Depth:2" (50.8 mm)

Body Width Lower Bout: 16" (432 mm)

Body Binding:Multiple

Number of Frets:22

Position Inlays:Neo-Classic™ "Thumbnail"

Fingerboard Radius:12" (305 mm)

Head Stock Binding:Bound

Fretboard:Ebony

Neck Material:Maple

Nut Width:1.6875" (42.8 mm)

Scale Length:24.6" (625 mm)

Neck Binding:Bound Fingerboard

Electronics

Pickup Configuration:HH

Bridge Pickup:High Sensitive Filter'Tron™

Neck Pickup:High Sensitive Filter'Tron™

Pickup Switching:3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup

Special Electronics:Standby Switch

Controls:Volume 1.(Neck Pickup), Volume 2.(Bridge Pickup), Master Volume.