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CAAS '08: The Week Fingerpickers Took Over the World

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- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 10:45 p.m. Proteus:

Sounds of CAAS #2: Bobby, Lynn, & Guy

Bobby Gibson, Guy Van Duser, and Lynn Clapp played a completely impromptu little set at the Broadway Sound display mid-afternoon yesterday.

You'll remember Bobby from WinterNAMM; he's also a part of the 125th Anniversary Shows Joe and Fred are doing at music stores across the country.

Guy Van Duser, from Hull, MA, is another master of the style who also teaches and arranges. He's the guy who arranged the version of "Stars and Stripes Forever" for which Chet is so well known.

And Lynn Clapp, here chopping relentless spirited rhythm on a classic-era Epiphone archtop, is a near-contemporary of Chet's who grew up just a few miles from him. He's the founder of Broadway Sound.

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Bobby, Lynn, & Guy audio

Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 1
Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 2
Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 3
Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 4
Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 5
Gibson, Clapp, & Van Duser Clip 6
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 10:48 p.m. Boyko:

An old Sears acoustic that a real bad player as a kid, then a D'Angelico.
- Rated: 65 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 10:49 p.m. antik:

Chet's first guitar was a Sears Roebuck Silvertone he got in trade from his brother for a pistol. Next was a Gibson flat top.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 10:50 p.m. ScottieDawg:

Chet picked a D'Angelico. (And I swear I didn't copy this from the earlier posts - Honest!)
- Rated: 83 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 10:54 p.m. Mark Synchro:

One of them pointy Kramers?

Just kiddin', I'm standing pat with my D'Angelico answer.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 11:21 p.m. Proteus:

And now for a word from our sponsors.

Gretsch apparel has been moving at a respectable clip from the booth. Some of it is new for CAAS, and you might like a shot at it. Shoot me an email, and I'll make sure Tim Thiel gets your order at CAAS Show Special Pricing.

This pricing is in effect only till 4 pm Nashville time Saturday, just as if you were here. You'll email me your order (with sizes if required), pay via PayPal, and your swag will ship soon.

Prices
All T-shirts are 20.00. If it has a collar, it's 40.00.

The new Chet hats are 20.00 for your choice.

The Gretsch field bag is 25.00, the leather embossed Sho-bud biker's wallet is 30.00, and the über-cool 125th Anniversary keyring is 5.00.

Sizes of most shirts run from S to XXL.

Black Chet Tee

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125th Anniversary Tee

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Ladies Tank Top

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Sho-Bud Tee
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Bigsby Tee
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Chet hats, burlap and black.

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Tan CGP Polo Shirt

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Field Bag, Wallet, & Gold Keychain

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Alas, I don't have a pic of the black Mister Guitar workshirt. Crisply tailored, orange Gretsch logo over the breast pocket, and "Chet Atkins/Mr. Guitar" in white on the back. It's 40.00 as well.
- Rated: 43 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 11:26 p.m. Ric12string:

D'Angelico.
- Rated: 43 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 11:35 p.m. Ric12string:

To be technically correct, Chet's first guitar was a Silvertone. But, he played a D'Angelico before he played a Gretsch, as we have said. He also played a borrowed Martin archtop along the way after the Silvertone. He also purchased a small flattop Gibson, at which time he returned the Martin.
- Rated: 47 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 11:47 p.m. The Norm:

Not to mention the Gibson L-10 his brother got from Les Paul and passed on to him.

Later he got an L-5 that he mounted two P-90's on. His D'Angelico, though, defined him in the late 40's early fifties. An accident involving incautious placement on a chair and June Carter's skirt knocking it to the floor and breaking the neck forced him to use a Gibson 175 (I think...florenitne cutaway hollow body two pickup) Jimmie Webster came by about that time and made his pitch...
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 10, 2008 11:55 p.m. Bryan K.:

Chet played the L-10 when he recorded Main Street Break Down
- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 12:15 a.m. Proteus:

Sounds of CAAS #3: Larry Odham and Gretschvolution

When I first heard Larry, he was playing a Godin 5th Avenue from the Broadway Sound booth. We sat and talked awhile, Larry thoughtfully articulating his considered opinions in a languid east Tennessee drawl.

Then he suggested he'd be interested in playing some of the Gretschs, with an ear to figuring out the differences among them. Do you hear the distant echo of a classic shootout in the making?

I invited him to the booth, sat him down in front of the Variety amp, turned on the recorder, and conducted a historical tour of Gretsch's evolution from 1957 through 1959 (which turns out to be a greater sonic distance than it sounds).

We started with the 6120 series: the 16 x 2.75" 6120DSW at 24.6" scale with soundpost and Dynasonics. This had essentially been Chet's Gretsch ride from 1954 through 1956.

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(I believe the floating bridge had floated a bit out of place, and Larry fought the tuning and intonation on this particular guitar.)

Larry Odham on the 6120DSW.
Larry Odham on the 6120DSW some more.
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Then we moved forward in time to 1959, with the 6120-1959. Still 24.6" scale and 16" x 2.75", but with trestle bracing, and of course Filtertrons. (In this case, TV Classics.)

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This guitar was more to Larry's taste for fingerstyle. He liked the smoother, fatter sound of the 'trons.

Larry Odham on the 6120-1959.

Suddenly it's 1958, and time for the 6122 series. We started where the Gent started, with the 6122-1958. 17" instead of 16", still 2.75" depth, and now with simulated f-holes on a closed body, and High Sensitive Filtertrons.

Larry Odham on the 6122-1958.
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Our evolutionary journey ended where so many fingerstyle players' trips have ended up, with the still-magnificent 6122-1959, the Yandell-developed reissue of Chet's own modified 1959 Gent.

Still 17", but 2.25" deep, 25.5" scale, the zero fret, and combination of a TV Supertron at the neck and TV's slightly overwound Filtertron Plus at the bridge.

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There's something about this guitar that truly suits this kind of playing, and Larry heard it and felt it himself. It was smooth and responsive, it sustained better through rich chords and against bass lines, and it simply felt better. You can hear him relax as he plays it – and he didn't want to put it down. At 6:00 the vendor room closed, and they shut off the lights on us...

Larry plays the 6122-1959.
Larry plays the 6122-1959 again.
Larry still plays the 6122-1959...
Larry plays the 6122-1959 till they pull the plug.

A good fingerpicker has no trouble holding a crowd at CAAS. For all their geniality and good-ol-boy demeanor, these guys take their music with deadly seriousness. They'll devote about 20 seconds to listening to a player, and if he's got it, they stick around and listen supportively (and with keen attention to every lick and technique). If he's not so good, they're quick to smile politely and move along.

Larry held our attention. Note that we watch pretty intently.
- Rated: 46 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 4:14 a.m. Timthom62:

Chet played a D'Angelico Excel cutaway before coming to Gretsch.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 8:01 a.m. Jet-Head:

This previous post regarding Guy Van Duser bears repeating. Guy Van Duser
- Rated: 78 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 8:22 a.m. Deed Eddy:

In 1978, we were introduced to the amazing playing of Guy Van Duser by a legend of the Vegas-Tahoe-Reno circuit, Garn Littledyke, who is a fantastic picker himself. Great to see that Guy is still out there working.

It's an education to some to see so many great thumbpickers in one place. I'm curious as to who else Proteus has heard. Thom Bresch?... Buster B?
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 8:45 a.m. JC:

ARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH! Its the return of the dreaded time difference!

I'll say it anyway, Chet played a D'Angelico Excel.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:17 a.m. Proteus:

Buster B. Jones.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:29 a.m. Proteus:

Swagaway #1 Results

The D'Angelico is what I had in mind, but since everyone either got that right and/or brought out more early Chet guitar history, we have our ten lanyard winners:

Norm, Mark S, tommy59, Boyko, antik, ScottieDawg, Ric12String, BryanK, TimThom62, and JC. If we haven't sent you stuff already this year, message me with your mailing address.

Swagaway #2 Begins

But first, I guess I haven't told the whole truth about the Picker Poke. The idea, see, is that it's made of nothing but soft fabric (feels like it would make great guitar-polishing material), so you can safely throw it in your guitar case to carry extra strings, maybe a slide and a tuner.

And it's kinda like those Russian nesting eggs. (OK, not MUCH, but go with me here.)

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Cause, see, there's a little poke inside the bigger poke, and it comes pre-stashed with picks.

And I have one each for the first three best posts on the history of the letters "CGP" in Chet lore. (The answers won't necessarily be the same.)
- Rated: 47 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:36 a.m. The Norm:

Chet was a high school dropout and this always bothered him. He knew educated folks put letters after their names (Phd etc). He decided to add CGP after his name… first as ‘country guitar picker’ then ‘Cerrtified Guitar Picker (or Certified Guitar Player) This whole thing morphed into an “award” that only he could give out. Chet gave out only four CGP's, Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner, John Knowles and Tommy Emmanuel addendum It also is the title of the newest Gretsch guitar based on one of Chet's most famous guitars the legendary "red" sealed top with prototype filtertrons, one tricked out as a stereo pickup (even though "stereo" was not a common term in those days)
- Rated: 52 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:39 a.m. Bear:

CGP stands for Certified Guitar Picker and it was a moniker Chet bestowed to guitarists he felt were exceptional in his eyes.
- Rated: 52 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:41 a.m. Bear:

Shoot, The Norm beat me to it and his answer was even better. Way to go TN!
- Rated: 65 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:51 a.m. antik:

A cut and paste job:

CGP stands for Certified Guitar Player, the honorary degree Chet bestowed upon himself. He used this moniker CGP on everything, taking enormous joy in adding it to his signature on letters. It always bothered Chet that he was a high school dropout. He always advised young wannabe entertainers to 'go to school first and at least finish high school' before they tried for the search for stardom. He was, in spite of that, a well read man with a dry sense of humor. He noticed people of letters singing their names Phd or _LLB or whatever so he came up with CGP (Certified Guitar Player/Guitar Picker) to add to his autographs.

There was even an album titled Chet Atkins C.G.P. (Certified Guitar Player)

Chet went on to award this honorary degree to other great guitarists. In 1996, Chet Atkins awarded John Knowles an honorary CGP. Tommy Emmanuel, Australia's guitar genius, has the rare honor of being awarded the CGP (Certified Guitar Player) by legend Chet Atkins. Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner were also awarded the CGP by Chet.

Edit: For the record, some of the above cut and paste came from previous writings by The Norm.
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 9:54 a.m. JC:

What The Norm said

I couldn't say it any better myself,but i guess that doesn't count ,eh...

WOO Hoo! Thanks for the lanyard Prot!

Love those Gretsch picks
- Rated: 55 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:05 a.m. otterbean:

Certified Guitar Player
- Rated: 47 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 10:16 a.m. The Norm:

We forgot to add it now is the name of Gretsch's newest bombshell, the CGP stereo guitar. I added it to my original post on this question. So the history is: A tongue in cheek addition to Chet's autograph so he could say he was a 'man of letters' to an award to a guitar... all called CGP
- Rated: 22 ↑
Jul 11, 2008 4:29 p.m. Boyko:

Stupid work making me miss stupid giveaways...stupid time difference too.

Great coverage, I'm loving all of it!

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