An 80s Single-Cut ES-335 Prototype?!? | Gibson Chet Atkins Tennessean Prototype Review

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🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:20 - About Chet Atkins
0:55 - Opening
2:06 - Overview of Atkins Models
3:30 - The Gretsch Version
5:43 - The Prototype
6:24 - Differences
8:10 - How I Got This Guitar
10:46 - Inside Look / Specs
33:33 - Playing Demo by Michael Weber
35:57 - Tone Demo (Clean)
38:25 - Tone Demo (Dirty)
39:49 - Final Thoughts

🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
8:03 Great Scott, I Got It! | 2013 Gibson Memphis Hand Signed Scotty Moore Signature ES-295 1 of 81 Gold

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Guitar + Recording:
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Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

[modergav]

Chet atkins was great BUT Roy Clark SHREDDING while doing comedy bits was legendary

[RevGerryRM]

I LOVE the ORANGE! I may be talked into Gibson, as long as it is orange❣

[zuperdee]

2:50 — While electric nylon string guitars were certainly one reason that Chet moved to Gibson, there was another, far BIGGER reason, too: Fred Gretsch Jr. had sold Gretsch to Baldwin in 1967, and Baldwin-Gretsch consequently saw an era of malaise from the late 1960’s to the early 1980’s, much like CBS-Fender and Norlin-Gibson did. By the early 1980’s, Gretsch was truly in shambles—they had shut down the Gretsch factory in New York in 1970 to relocate it to Arkansas, and in 1973, they had not just one, but TWO fires at their Arkansas plant that dealt a major setback to production. By 1981, Baldwin completely shuttered Gretsch’s factory, leaving them without any manufacturing facilities whatsoever. THAT is probably the biggest reason that Chet moved to Gibson, and from what I’ve read, although publicly, he stayed true to them, privately, he apparently told close friends that he was not terribly happy with Gibson, because he never really bonded with the Gibson models the way he did the Gretsch ones. I have to agree: The Gibson Chet Atkins models were simply NOT as elegant as the Gretsch ones. You can see it in the finish and in the shape, in particular. That square-looking upper bout just looks UGLY to me, and the under-wound Gibson humbuckers are still nothing like Filtertrons!

[upload]

Austin missed the scale measurement. In addition to the wider 1.75" nut, this model's got the "full" 25.5" scale not typically found on a Gibson semi-hollow.

[xvidx]

Looks like there were two dots side by side at the12th fret, the second was filled in and moved to it's current location. Fill visible at 7:33

[starvingfilmcritic]

I'd want to take a look in person, but it looks to me like the Prototype's twelfth fret had a double dot inlay initially, not a single dot. Some of the light made it look like there was a plug right next to the top dot. So everything was squished over to one side, but then it was changed to a more traditional twelfth fret layout.

I wonder if Chet/Gibson was trying to get close to the offset look of the Gretsch Neo-classical thumbnail fret markers without getting into trouble.

[jjdillon]

Great episode Austin. I know you put a lot of time in producing this. It was great to have both a prototype and regular production run model, for side by side comparison. 👍

[_drewplays]

7:38 anyone else notice what looks like a filled in inlay as well right underneath that top dot?

[scottbogfoot]

25:30 pickgaurds that need to be painted or lettered are usually done from the back so you can't scratch it off.

[monmixer]

Chet was also the Gate Keeper at RCA Nashville. His blessing a the gate to the big stage and massive record sales.

[EdMurphy]

at 7:33 you can see that the moved the dot on the 12th fret. it was a double dot on with both on the topside it looks like and then moved one dot to a more traditional spot.

[rosbyduhart]

I like the one without the Bixby. I love the master volume set up. I have a 335 with split pickups ....master volume would be a plus.

[hkguitar]

I've often thought to myself, if I could have the ability to play like any other guitarist Chet Atkins would be my first choice.
I've been a Practicing Guitarist since 1974 and I'm still totally amazed when I watch or listen to Mr. Atkins play.

[drivemytrain]

Wow!! OK, so it was all about the Gibson Tennessean, but to see a pic of the Gretsch 6119 made my 72 year-old heart sing! I have a 1963 Tenny...with painted-on f-holes and Hi-lo tron pups. She's a bit long in the tooth but well loved. We have nothing like your show here in the UK..it kept me going through the COVID lockdown. Keep up the good work.

[stevem.]

Chet was doing wah-wah type effects with the master tone and a steel guitar tone pedal in the late 1950s

[jimmyjames]

Thanks for the awesome and unique comparison of this cool Tennessean model and it's prototype. I'd rock that orange for sure. Hats off to Chet for all his work, and Gibson for this model.

[thomasriley]

Also, Gretsch 6119 is a thin (not big) hollow body. Switches include:

1st switch- pick up selector
2nd switch- tone switch (low pass, open, high pass)
3rd switch- standby

and one master volume and one volume for each pickup - no tone switch

[lazyboyrider]

Excellent reviews! Really enjoy how you always go in depth on the builds and give us history where you can.

[megaterius]

Hey Trogly! I had a 1990 without the plastic armrest in walnut color, mine also had the “made in Japan” hardware. I’ve always had the impression that the body was bigger than a regular 335... I loved the wider fretboard but the overall sound wasn’t that special. The pickups were totally lifeless, the worst I’ve ever had in a Gibson, probably because of the additional wiring, who knows... Keep on rocking Trogly!

[sassycat]

I'm not seeing them listed on your website. Have they already sold?