Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman - good for jazz?

[Teltamoj]

Hi everyone!

I’ve found a good deal on one from 1991. At the moment, I mainly play a newer ES-335, but I’m not completely satisfied with the ergonomics (I’m tall and have large hands). I was especially drawn to Chet’s wider nut. And to be honest, it’s looks (love the L5-shape). However, it has a longer scale length, and I’m not sure how that will feel in the long run, as I’m more used to Gibson’s standard.

I won’t have the opportunity to try it with thicker flatwound strings.

Does anyone have experience using this as a jazz guitar? Seems to share many specs with 335, but has a maple neck, ebony fretboard och balsa center block. I know nothing about the pickups (492R on the neck).

[Jim Soloway]

I've only ever had my hands on one of them. It had to weigh 12 lbs. Just amazingly heavy.

[Soccerpoodle]

I am in a duo with a guy that plays one. Sounds amazing. Seems like an excellent instrument.

His is about 50 years old. I have heard it through a Fender Blues Jr., a Quilter Mach 2 and a DV Mark Jazz 12. Sounded great through all three.

Hope this helps.

[bananafist]

Used to own one. The 492 neck pickup is really good, and sounds much sweeter and clearer than the 335 or other Gibson neck pickups. Gibson won't sell it separately, sadly. I loved the 1 3/4" nut too. Sadly 17", even very thin, is just too wide for me now.

[Marty Grass]

Does it sound good with jazz? Depends on the player. Can it sound good? Of course.

The guitars tend to be heavier, about 10 lbs. That's a lot of good guitar. And you can ditch the Bigsby and put a trapeze tailpiece on it easily.

Here is the Heritage-built answer to the Gibson. It's a prototype, probably the last, and it has a heavier center block and a heavier Bigsby. Sitting down and using a strap, it's not unconfortable. Does it do jazz well? I believe so. Players can make a Tele sing beautifully, too.

The Gibson Chet model is fine.

[deacon Mark]

Those guitars will play acceptable jazz with no questions that exist in the players fingers and ability. That said, it would not be a guitar I would want to buy to play jazz. I am not sure what you are aiming for exactly but if it is jazz sound then skip this and go to a ES 175. The bigsby to me is useless and not for jazz as such. Seeing you like a 1 3/4 nut then you might look to another guitar with that spec

Mark Campellone Standard 17" Archtop Biltoft Pickup | Reverb

If you just want to cut to the chase, then I would suggest this guitar by Mark Campellone. It has a 1 3/4 nut and will definitely play jazz. This guitar will hold and play jazz as well and anything and really if you like Chet Atkins it will do that too. Yesterday I played my 1998 Campellone working on a Chet Style arrangement of You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To. I have to say it did with no trouble and no bigsby.

I have nothing to do with the sale but if you are interested find the dealer and don't go through Reverb to buy the guitar to the source.

[Sam Sherry]

I had the Epiphone (Japan) version briefly in 2017. (That might be the last guitar I bought off EBay.)
17" x 25.5" with a volute neck FWIW.
Wearing OEM humbuckers which were allegedly bespoke for that model.

Played it on one or two sax & guitar jazz duo gigs. It sounded nice but it was WAY too heavy, even with a two-shoulder strap.
Sold it very quickly to a guy who was trying to complete his collection of Gibson Chet Models.

I guess if you're looking for a nice-sounding 17 x 25.5" semi-hollow and you play sitting down . . .

[Mick-7]

Would anyone here buy a guitar with a Bigsby on it if they did not intend to use it? (the Bigsby, that is). It would have to be a really great deal price-wise for me to even consider it.

I always thought of Chet as a Gretsch guitar guy?

[Teltamoj]

Many thanks for the responses! Great input regarding the pickups. I was a bit concerned about those.

Some have commented the weight and size. Since I’m tall, I need a larger guitar to improve ergonomics, as I sit down to play 99.9% of the time. I do have a strap, but I still want the guitar to sit higher so I don’t strain my back while sitting.

I already own an ES-175 but rarely play it. I prefer the sound of archtops but, for some unclear reason, tend to prefer playing semihollows, which is why it doesn’t get much use. Tried other archtops but never fallen in love with them.

Of course, I’ll never use the Bigsby, so it’s completely unnecessary. Thanks for the advice about installing a trapeze tailpiece! However, doesn’t the Bigsby leave a large hole?

I’ll be playing it more extensively soon. If I like it, I might trade in my 335.

[bananafist]

You don't absolutely need to replace the Bigsby, remove the handle and use a small piece of pipe the same size as the spring and it'll be fine. Keep the parts for if ever you sell it. Julian Lages named custom Collings has a bigsby which I read he never uses, but has because it 'adds weight to the sound'.

[RJVB]

The extra string length behind the saddle may make the strings feel a little softer, which could compensate for the longer scale length esp. when you install heavier strings.

Best way to raise a guitar without straining the back while sitting is to use a support of some sort. Several have been discussed on here.

[Marty Grass]

This Bigsby should have no holes in the top. It's designed for hollowbodies and only rests on the top. I've had them before.

Look carefully at the pics. I don't see top screws.

[Marty Grass]

Looks like the Bigby B3.

[bananafist]

Marty Gross is correct, my Gibson CG had no holes drilled in the top for the Bigsby.

[skykomishone]

Not a gibson, but..

[Jim Soloway]

Would anyone here buy a guitar with a Bigsby on it if they did not intend to use it? (the Bigsby, that is). It would have to be a really great deal price-wise for me to even consider it.

I always thought of Chet as a Gretsch guitar guy?

He was but by the end of the Baldwin era in 1985 they had pretty much run it into the ground. They made a strong comeback after Fred Gretsch bought out Baldwin but by that time Chet had moved to Gibson.

[DawgBone]

Would anyone here buy a guitar with a Bigsby on it if they did not intend to use it? (the Bigsby, that is). It would have to be a really great deal price-wise for me to even consider it.

I always thought of Chet as a Gretsch guitar guy?

TLDR, what RJVB said.

Yeah I would. I would put a bigsby on a guitar just to correct neck dive if necessary. The B7 unit lowers the tension on the strings down, making bends easier. I don't play jazz but everything set up wise is based around having easy bending. Light strings, low action, top wrap a tune-o-matic or use a bigsby. I never actually use the trem though, lol

As for the Chet, they are a great sounding guitar. When the weather allows that is what the 2nd guitarist in my group uses and it is an exceptional sounding instrument. He has t-tops in his and it's 70's era. Not a boat anchor but not lightweight either. My band sounds the best when he brings the Chet, it really adds to the sound. He plays everything on it from blues to funk to jazz and fingerpicking stuff. He's a big Joe Pass fan....

[Marty Grass]

Not a gibson, but..

This suggests that no guitar can mute the expression of jazz. Weak and strong single coil pickups, round and flat wound strings, Byrdland to 27" scales, solid bodies to hollow can all do and have done jazz. The signal chain can screw it up some I suppose.

Here is an example of jazz that calls into question what the definition is.

Here is a light trapeze tailpiece. https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-ha...hoCp2AQAvD_BwE

[RJVB]

Here is an example of jazz that calls into question what the definition is.

What definition?

[Dennis D]

What definition?

" It depends what your definition of ' is ' is. "....... : )

[skykomishone]

Zappa lives!

[Teltamoj]

Huge thanks for all the input! I ended up buying it. The wider nut and flatter fretboard, probably combined with the neck profile, make a huge difference in playability for me. It sounds exaggerated, but it’s like playing an entirely new type of instrument. My fingers finally have some breathing room.

It’s heavy, but not excessively so. Ergonomically, it suits me well.

I’m not a tone geek, but it sounds a bit less “warm” than a 335, yet a bit “snappier,” more like a 175. I haven’t experimented much with pickup height yet, so I won’t make any definitive statements.

An amazing instrument.

[bananafist]

Glad you love the feel and playability of the neck, 100% in agreement. If you decide you don't care for the neck pickup - I'll buy it from you I love these pickups!
Enjoy.

[skykomishone]

Very cool. My very first guitar lesson was from a guy who played Chet style on a Chet! That was over half a century ago, and I still remember that sound and awesomeness that I experienced. It was inspiring. He played other styles, but it was Atkins the left the impression.

Glad you scored a guitar that works for you!

Cheers!

[Joel H]

I've owned a Chet Atkins Country Gentleman for 15+ years and love it! It makes for some lovely jazz tones...I get many compliments. I've used it in full band settings and find it's not overbearingly heavy at all.