Gibson Chet Atkins CE Model Classical Electric Guitar (1982), made in Nashville, TN, serial # 81722574, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
Over the decades "Certified Guitar Player" Chet Atkins contributed to the design of a number of instruments, most famously starting in the mid-1950s for Gretsch. Under the failing Baldwin management that company ended their guitar building operation after 1979, leaving Atkins free to bring ideas to Gibson. The Gibson Chet Atkins CE was introduced in 1981, the first solidbody classical to see large-scale production. Atkins was using nylon string guitars quite a lot by the late 1970's and wanted a fully electric, feedback free instrument suited to higher volume stage use.
Atkins brought that idea to Gibson and this instrument, the Chet Atkins CE was the result. The classical-style neck is made of three pieces of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard, helpfully provided with side position dots for non-classical players. This is mounted to a soft-cutaway body consisting of a spruce top sitting over solid mahogany, resulting in sort of a cross between a Ramirez and a Les Paul! As Chet played sitting down, the weight was apparently not a concern; this one comes in a 9.96 Lbs.
The guitar has very little acoustic resonance; this is a true solidbody not a heavily chambered instrument. The mock soundhole has a sort of plastic cup installed that carries Chet Atkins' signature and the old script Gibson logo. The guitar originally featured a fairly early piezo-crystal hex pickup in the bridge which unfortunately proved prone to failure over time. This one now has a later Fishman undersaddle unit in lieu of the original which is both more reliable and less brittle sounding. The rotary tone and volume controls are recessed into the side on the upper bout. This is a niche instrument perhaps but as such a very useful design, a truly stage-worthy solidbody classical suitable for a range of playing styles with a cool pedigree.
Overall length is 39 3/16 in. (99.5 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.)., 9.96 lbs.
This guitar shows some general wear and tear with some broad checking to the face and dings, dents and scuffs scattered around. There is a deep nick to the face on the lower waist, several off the back edge of the headstock and a deep ding to the back of the neck behind the 9th fret. The bridge has been reglued and as noted the original 6-unit piezo pickup setup has been replaced with a more recent Fishman under saddle setup which works more reliably sounds fine. Apart from that change the guitar is original and plays very nicely, still housed in the deluxe "Made in Canada" brown Tolex HSC with the bright pink lining and infamous blanket flap that many players found more annoying than useful! Overall Very Good + Condition.
