Like the Atkins Axe, the Super Axe was released in 1977 and was supposed to offer a completely modern instrument for the rock guitarist.
The Super Axe also shared its basic body shape with the Atkins Axe, but it benefitted from much more involvement from Chet Atkins, and a bevy of built-in effects.
A football-shaped pickguard held controls for an onboard compressor, phaser and sustain electronics, all powered by a nine-volt battery. Unfortunately, the electronics have failed with age on many of the Supers Axes, and schematics are extremely difficult to find.
The solid mahogany body is wide but thin, and it tapers toward the edges, making it both lighter and more comfortable to play than it might appear.
Beyond that, the general construction and hardware of the Super Axe show how Gretsch was aiming for ... Read more ⇒
