Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins 1960 Ex Nile Rodgers / Chic

Seeking to directly compete with the association between Les Paul and Gibson, Gretsch decided in 1954 to develop its first signature model. Who better than Chet Atkins, creator of the “Nashville sound” and pioneer of entire generations of guitarists, to embody the authorship of this model?

Developed and manufactured by Gretsch in the mid-1950s, the one that charms with its round and delicate shapes was designed with the close support of a Nashville icon, Chet Atkins. Then a user of a Sears Silverstone guitar, the guitarist agreed to represent the brand and shaped this guitar guided by his desires and criteria. Gretsch’s first signature guitar was born.

The Gretsch 6120 is a hollow body guitar that has established itself as a key model in music history. Its smooth resonance and delicate warmth helped elevate this model into a legendary instrument played by Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, and George Harrison. To summarize its place in rockabilly, just look at the Stray Cats: it was with an old, wide 6120 that Brian Setzer unleashed generations with the band’s great hits and brought this model back to the glory it enjoyed at its release.

Highly appreciated for its acoustic qualities and its enchanting harmonic richness, the Gretsch 6120 managed to win over Nile Rodgers, an icon of disco and funk. The model offered by Matt’s Guitar Shop comes directly from the collection of the former leader of Chic. In orange stain finish, it was made in 1960 and corresponds to the golden age of this guitar at Gretsch. There is no doubt that this legendary model quickly captivated and inspired the sensational American guitarist who used it from the 1980s onward. Known for his refined taste in instruments, Nile Rodgers once again demonstrates with this guitar his knowledge and attachment to the unique soul linked to a few select pieces.

Its maple body reveals the characteristic Gretsch plaque, bearing the printed and stylized signature of its illustrious creator Chet Atkins, while the f-holes reveal the depth of the body. The guitar satisfies with the inimitable Bigsby vibrato, inseparable from the brand’s classic models; while the 6120 borrows the typical inlay pattern of markers on the upper part of the fretboard developed by Gretsch — the neo-classical “thumbnail”.

This legendary guitar, bringing back the fiery roots of rock, comes with its original hard case bearing the inscription of its prestigious pedigree, Nile Rodgers Productions.