THE FRED GRETSCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BROOKLYN, 1960/61

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CHET ATKINS 6120In 1954 Jimmie Webster of the Gretsch company approached the young Nashville guitar virtuoso and studio player Chet Atkins about collaborating on an endorsement guitar that would carry his name. This marketing model had proved successful in the past at Gibson, with the Nick Lucas model in 1927 and later with the wildly popular Les Paul Model launched in 1952. After numerous prototypes passed by Atkins, the 6120 was born and released in 1955. The Chet Atkins 6120 was an all maple hollowbody electric in a translucent orange color, fitted with gold-plated hardware, Bigsby tremolo tailpiece, two DeArmond pickups and heavily festooned with western motifs. By 1961 the unique sound and playability of thr 6120, together with Chet Atkins' fame, had positioned Gretsch as one of the top four electric guitar manufacturers globally. Gone was the large branded G on the body, along with the cowboy and cactus engraving on the pearl inlay. Fitted with an internal “trestle bracing”, Gretsch’s dual-coil Filter’Tron pickups to subdue feedback, a “zero” fret to increase sustain, and an ebony fingerboard with pearl half-moon inlays that gave the 6120 elegant lines, the guitar was an iconic mainstay of the Gretsch brand.

THE FRED GRETSCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BROOKLYN, 1960/61

A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS 6120

Details

THE FRED GRETSCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BROOKLYN, 1960/61
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS 6120
Inlaid at the headstock Gretsch and labeled internally THE FRED. / GRETSCH / MFG.Co. / 60 Broadway / Brooklyn (11), N.Y. / Model no. 6120, Serial No. 39884 / MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS SINCE 1883, Gretsch and applied at the pickguard, along with Chet Atkins, with original hardshell case bearing a label inscribed GRETSCH 6120 #39884 and SERIAL NO. DG1066; accompanied by a facsimile copy of the sales invoice from California Guitar to Mr. Dave Gilmour, dated 15th December 1979
Length of back 20 5/8 in. (52.5 cm.)

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Lot Essay

David Gilmour purchased this 6120 from Frank Lucido’s California Guitar, Ventura, California, in December 1979, during a brief interlude between completing final recording and mixing sessions for the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall at Producer's Workshop in Los Angeles in November 1979 and beginning rehearsals for the upcoming The Wall Tour in January 1980. Gilmour kept this guitar for studio use.

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