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Up for sale, a 1990 Gibson Chet Atkins Tennessean in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. This particular Chet was distributed in Japan by Gibson USA's distributor, Yamano. The Yamano instruments are often considered among Gibson's best , featuring the highest quality woods hand-picked for Gibson's discerning Japanese audience.
Following the dissolution of Atkins’ partnership with Gretsch, he collaborated with Gibson on a handful of unique signature models, including the Tennessean, which features a semi-hollow maple body with a chromyte center block (a feature Gretsch had never been able to provide Atkins with previously) for feedback reduction. In terms of design, this is certainly a very Gretsch-y feeling Gibson, with a single cutaway and Gretsch-style control layout, featuring a Wine Red gloss nitro lacquer finish.
A three-piece mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard round out the tonewood complement, and this guitar has a warm acoustic response with a glassy immediacy and dynamic feel that provides an excellent platform for the 492R and 490T humbuckers. The 490T bridge pickup is Gibson's "Modern Classic" humbucker with a slightly overwound PAF-style design, metering at 8.5k ohms, wax-potted for optimal feedback rejection and with increased midrange response. The 492R is an uncommon Gibson pickup only seen in the Chet Atkins instruments; metering at 5.5k ohms and clearly chasing a FilterTron-esque response, this humbucker is clear and bright-sounding with a woody low end and the inherent bell-like warmth that comes with neck pickup placement. This Tennessean weighs 8lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Three-piece mahogany
-Shape: Medium C with generous shoulders, measuring .830” 1st fret, .960” 12th fret.
-Fretboard: Ebony, offset dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 1/2"
-Nut Width: 1 3/4"
-Headstock: Chet Atkins signature, silver plexi truss rod cover
-Tuners: Gibson Deluxe double line tuners, greened keystone buttons
Body Specs:
-Pickups: 492R and 490T humbuckers
-Electronics: Master Volume (on cutaway), Volume x2, Master Tone, three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge and stopbar
-Plastics: Original speed knobs and Tennessean plexi pickguard
-Serialization: White oval label, hand-serialized, matching serial on peghead
The Wine Red nitro lacquer finish is notably clean, and there are a few small mounting holes adjacent to the rear strap button from a (presumably Bigsby) tailpiece installed and removed in the guitar's lifetime. Beyond that, cosmetic wear is limited to a few faint scratches in the clear coat on the top and back. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is immaculate.
The original brown tolex Gibson USA hardshell case is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano paperwork, contained within a leather booklet, and the original Gibson-branded polish cloth.
Following the dissolution of Atkins’ partnership with Gretsch, he collaborated with Gibson on a handful of unique signature models, including the Tennessean, which features a semi-hollow maple body with a chromyte center block (a feature Gretsch had never been able to provide Atkins with previously) for feedback reduction. In terms of design, this is certainly a very Gretsch-y feeling Gibson, with a single cutaway and Gretsch-style control layout, featuring a Wine Red gloss nitro lacquer finish.
A three-piece mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard round out the tonewood complement, and this guitar has a warm acoustic response with a glassy immediacy and dynamic feel that provides an excellent platform for the 492R and 490T humbuckers. The 490T bridge pickup is Gibson's "Modern Classic" humbucker with a slightly overwound PAF-style design, metering at 8.5k ohms, wax-potted for optimal feedback rejection and with increased midrange response. The 492R is an uncommon Gibson pickup only seen in the Chet Atkins instruments; metering at 5.5k ohms and clearly chasing a FilterTron-esque response, this humbucker is clear and bright-sounding with a woody low end and the inherent bell-like warmth that comes with neck pickup placement. This Tennessean weighs 8lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Three-piece mahogany
-Shape: Medium C with generous shoulders, measuring .830” 1st fret, .960” 12th fret.
-Fretboard: Ebony, offset dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 1/2"
-Nut Width: 1 3/4"
-Headstock: Chet Atkins signature, silver plexi truss rod cover
-Tuners: Gibson Deluxe double line tuners, greened keystone buttons
Body Specs:
-Pickups: 492R and 490T humbuckers
-Electronics: Master Volume (on cutaway), Volume x2, Master Tone, three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge and stopbar
-Plastics: Original speed knobs and Tennessean plexi pickguard
-Serialization: White oval label, hand-serialized, matching serial on peghead
The Wine Red nitro lacquer finish is notably clean, and there are a few small mounting holes adjacent to the rear strap button from a (presumably Bigsby) tailpiece installed and removed in the guitar's lifetime. Beyond that, cosmetic wear is limited to a few faint scratches in the clear coat on the top and back. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is immaculate.
The original brown tolex Gibson USA hardshell case is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano paperwork, contained within a leather booklet, and the original Gibson-branded polish cloth.
