Gretsch Guitars
has announced that the signature of its most famous endorsee, the late Chet Atkins, is to return to the brand - after an absence of 25 years.
From this month onwards, Chet's signature will once again be emblazoned across the pickguards and headstocks of the newly renamed Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body, the 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, and the 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessee Rose guitar lines.
Atkins famously designed the instrument range after a meeting with a Gretsch rep back in 1955, and his name appeared on them up until the late 1970s, when company founder Fred Gretsch passed away.
“Everyone has known all along that these instruments were really Chet's guitars, but without his name on them, something just wasn't right,” said Mike Lewis of Gretsch. “Now that Chet's name has returned to the guitars, it's like the circle is complete, and all is right with the world.”
In total, there will be 28 different models of Gretsch guitars bearing the Chet Atkins name. Click
for more info on the Gretsch and Chet Atkins story.
Are there any more artist/guitar brand blasts from the past you´d like to see resurrected? Or have we already reached signature guitar saturation? Let us know…
