A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CHET ATKINS 6120

Purchased from Gary’s Classic Guitars in Cincinnati, Ohio, in October 2004, this is one of at least three Chet Atkins 6120s owned by Mark Knopfler, all dating to circa 1957. Mark mentioned the 1957 Gretsch 6120 in a 2014 interview with Vintage Guitar magazine, noting 'I like those for just playing notes with a pick and holding the whammy bar in my hand and get the vibrato from my picking motion,' adding that it would be a toss-up between the 6120 and his 1954 Fender Strat if he’s doing a 'pick-and-whammy-bar thing' on stage. This 6120 was used by guitarist Richard Bennett on Knopfler’s Shangri-La Tour from February to July 2005. Keyboardist Guy Fletcher photographed Knopfler's three 6120s lined up on guitar stands at British Grove Studios in 2006 during early recording sessions for his 2007 solo studio album Kill To Get Crimson, suggesting that all three were tried in the studio for sound on a particular song. 'When preparing for an overdub', Fletcher revealed in 2011, 'Mark will often give [guitar tech] Mr. Saggers a long list of instruments to bring into the room and tune, ready for action… Amplifiers and speaker cabinets are also subjected to this rigorous process. All in all, it's the only sure-fire way to be absolutely sure you're getting the best sound possible...“for the song”.'

GRETSCH AND CHET ATKINS
In 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, first with the Nick Lucas model in 1927 and then with the wildly popular Les Paul Model launched in 1952. After numerous prototypes were passed by Atkins, the 6120 was born and released in 1955. The Chet Atkins 6120 was an all maple hollow-body electric in a translucent orange colour fitted with gold-plated hardware, a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece, two DeArmond pickups and heavily festooned with western motifs.

By 1961, the unique sound and playability of the 6120, combined with Chet Atkins' fame, had positioned Gretsch well 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 ebony fingerboard with pearl half-moon inlays that gave the 6120 elegant lines, the guitar was an iconic mainstay of the Gretsch brand.