FG you're doing that '59 justice with your playing. I could definitely hear some "Chet" voicings in there. Nicely done.
The 6122-1959 Country Gent Registry: Honoring Chet and Paul
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Apr 18, 2009 12:37 a.m. gresco:
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Apr 18, 2009 1:52 a.m. giffenf:
Thanks, Gresco. I just put it down after what seemed like only a few minutes, but now looks to have been an hour or two, and my preliminary assessment is there isn't much this guitar can't do. I don't know whether it's the extra room of the wider neck that helps me play the notes cleaner, or the pickups that articulate each note so well, or both, but it's so easy to accent melody notes while playing chord and passing tones underneath them, it's uncanny. It is certainly workin' for me.
FG
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Apr 18, 2009 11:02 a.m. Matt F:
FG, Sounds and looks fantastic. I have to agree with you there isn't much that you can't play on this guitar and it works. Also, your "chet work" is really nice. It's fun to own a guitar like this and really cop the tone it seems to have been intended for. However, that brings me back to the there isn't much that you can't play on this guitar.
The neck width and string spacing is very comfortable. My hands feel at home. I agree with FG. It is definitely workin' for me as well . I have had some more time to play with babe (I think that's what I am going to call her) and I plugged into a Dumble Overdrive Special clone. (Purists, please forgive me for what you are about to read.) Fusion tones were fantastic. Has a nice bite when added to the chirp naturally associated with that style of amp. I think it will cut nicely through a mix. Very impressed. Would be visually odd with a country gent on the shoulder playing LA style music. But it worked and I'm doin' it
So, with the fingers or with the pick this is one fine instrument. I'm just giddy with it..lol.
As a side note I saw this clip on youtube a few weeks ago. I'm sure many of you have seen it. However, it was clips like this that really fueled my 6122-1959 gas. It's a performance of Chet from Oslo in 1964.
Chet Atkins 1964 Youtube Video
I was fortunate to meet Mr. Atkins a couple of years prior to his passing. He was and always will be the Country Gentleman.
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Apr 18, 2009 8:57 p.m. gresco:
I'm guessing I'm the only one who doesn't know this, and I should know it. In the guitar history tab in these pages it gives the evolution of the "Gent". It shows the '59 neck p/up as a Filtertron. It also says that the Supertron bneck p/up was used briefly in 60/61. All the current pics of '59's I'm seeing look like Supertrons in the neck position (or something other than Filtertrons.) My 6122-62 Reissue ('02 Country Classic) uses Filtertrons, and sounds great, in spite of the fact that it's pre FMIC. But I'm envious of the neck p/up y'all have in your '59's. I'm sure it was part of the "magic" of the '59's
What say you?
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Apr 18, 2009 9:57 p.m. tommy59:
The current '59 model is intended to replicate Chet's own personal, optimized (read: modded) guitar (#31444, actually a '61), not a stock 1959 model, which would have had standard Filters in both positions, a mud switch and no tone control.
See this thread.
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Apr 18, 2009 11:06 p.m. gresco:
Thanks, tommy. That helps. I knew I had read that thread somewhere, and fairly recently too. Just couldn't remember the details...(which are still a little muddy. Bad pun.) grin:
I wonder if TV Jones sells Supertrons to retrofit Filters?:
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Apr 18, 2009 11:08 p.m. Proteus:
He does.
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Apr 18, 2009 11:19 p.m. gresco:
Yeah, I just checked. Decisions, decisions.
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Apr 18, 2009 11:20 p.m. Proteus:
Tough stuff, ainit.
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Apr 19, 2009 6:37 a.m. F107plus5:
This post has been deleted
heh, heh, heh,...never mind!
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Apr 19, 2009 1:33 p.m. gresco:
Hey Tim, does yours have a Supertron neck p/up? If so, what is your opinion on it? I'm just wondering how much difference it would make on my '02 6122-62, which sounds real good already.
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Nov 25, 2009 11:37 a.m. kahoona68:
Well I just joined the 6122-1959 club this week.....I purchased mine from a new member here (1960es). Everything went perfect with the transaction. I had the guitar picked up from his house on Friday in North Carolina, and it was delivered at my office in Vancouver Monday!!! Absolutely beautiful guitar. I cleaned it and re-strung it last night,played for a little (not enough). Obligatory pictures to follow!!! Christmas came early for me this year! p.s. thanks Tim for your info and help on this!
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Nov 25, 2009 1:49 p.m. troy6120:
Welcome, kahoona. We want to hear all about it.
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Nov 25, 2009 7:48 p.m. senojnad:
Congratulations, kahoona68!! As a result of your acquisition, you are (I believe) automatically enrolled in the 6122-'59 Cult here, founded by TomfromPA. I'm not sure what value that has other than a sense of affirmation. However, after you have played your '59 for a while, you really won't need too much affirmation -- you'll be totally convinced that you did the right thing!
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Nov 25, 2009 10:14 p.m. TomfromPA:
Yep kahoona, your in the cult alright
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Our group's a sub committee of the 'Big Block' club originally founded by Mark Synchro. Most of those guys were Country Club jockeys but 6122 drivers were admitted too. The cult formed when several GDPers bought '59s and posted glowing reviews. The group has many fathers but Paul Yarnell and Fred Gretsch sit at the head of the table. Proteus earned special recognition as the principal enabler of our addiction.
In any event congratulations on a great guitar. As you've found out there's something truly magical about Terada's 59 Chet Gent.
The wonderful You Tube clip Matt F posted is from the following DVD 'Chet Atkins Rare Performances 1955-1975'. I got my copy through Amazon. It inspires.
Welcome aboard!
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Nov 27, 2009 9:33 p.m. kahoona68:
Thanks for the well wishes guys. Here is my new baby with my AC-15......good match I think. <a href="
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Nov 28, 2009 3:53 a.m. troy6120:
Very sweet. I'd like to give that rig a whirl.
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Dec 2, 2009 12:13 p.m. kahoona68:
Troy6120 said: Very sweet. I'd like to give that rig a whirl.
Any time you are in Vancouver, you are more than welcome to give it a try!!
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Dec 2, 2009 5:32 p.m. troy6120:
I can't go anywhere where the temperature dips below 30 degrees. Great looking setup you have there,though. And thanks for the invite!
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Dec 2, 2009 7:00 p.m. senojnad:
kahoona68 -- Your rig looks very appealing. Take no offense, but I still like mine stuff better.....
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Dec 2, 2009 7:17 p.m. kahoona68:
Looks good!
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Dec 16, 2009 11:18 p.m. voxworld:
Well I'm in, just finishing up a deal on an '06 that's been hanging on the shop wall unsold for the whole time. I've had it home for the last few days while making a final decision, which was pretty much made at the shop. No pictures yet but I did record some noodling with my Zoom H2 of the 6122 1959 through my VVT Lindy Fralin combo. Not sure how to post sound samples, is it rocket scienceÉ I just can't put this guitar down. Looking forward to hanging out with some Great Gretsch Fanatics!
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Dec 21, 2009 3:08 p.m. vintagemusicgear:
The '59 has "waffle" bracing running the length of the guitar. Makes the guitar a little heavier, but also cuts unwanted vibration. This allows you to play it at high volumes without the whole guitar howling like a wolf. Plus since the TV pickups are potted, you can even run the Gretsch into a high gain amp for really hard rock tones. It's a great sound.
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Dec 21, 2009 3:10 p.m. vintagemusicgear:
Here's mine, I was told it was one of 2 or 3 built for NAMM. It has the nicest flame I ever saw for a '59-6122. Is there any way to verify if it was a NAMM guitar?
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Dec 21, 2009 3:10 p.m. vintagemusicgear:
Hey! How come my pic didn't upload?
