At the heart of rock’n’roll was one man, known as “The King,” Elvis Presley. Equally responsible for the revolutionary sound that accompanied him were his musicians, who played a crucial role in the rise and global spread of a whole musical style. Among them was guitarist Scotty Moore. Let’s take a closer look at one of his final guitars…

Like Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins working in the shadow of Neil Armstrong, Scotty Moore was one of the key figures supporting a revolution without enjoying its public fame. He joined Elvis Presley at the start of his career in 1954, playing through the first part of the King’s immense journey and again in the late 1960s. Scotty Moore is recognized as a legendary guitarist who helped shape the rock revolution we know today.

Scotty Moore remained an aficionado of archtop guitars throughout his career. As with any great musician, getting close to one of their precious instruments offers a moving and valuable insight into their playing habits. This Gibson Custom Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen is one such piece. Among the last guitars of his illustrious career, it stands out with personalized details: his name engraved on the pickguard and a Gibson case labeled “Personal Property Scotty Moore.” This guitar appeared in several homages to the King, including alongside Eric Clapton in 2004.

This piece of rock history, played by one of the masters of the electric guitar, can be discovered at Matt’s Guitar Shop.