Brand: Gretsch
Instrument Categories: Archtop, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Thinline
This Gretsch 7655, a Chet Atkins Tennessean in a shaded cherry finish, dates to October of 1974 and appears to be in very good, clean and original condition. This guitar is from the Baldwin era and was built in Booneville, Arkansas.
In 1958, Gretsch launched the original Tennessean as model 6119, placing it below their very popular 6120 Chet Atkins model. The ElectroTone (sealed) single-cutaway body was thinner, and at first it had one Filter ‘Tron in the bridge position. During 1961, the layout shifted to a pair of single-coil HiLo ‘Trons, with pickup selector and tone switches, and in 1962 a Standby switch was added. In 1970, the body shifted away from the sealed ElectroTone to having genuine F-holes, and in 1971 it was renamed the Gretsch 7655 Chet Atkins Tennessean.
While the rights to the ‘Tennessean’ name seem to have been lost to Gretsch, they do make a modern version of this guitar named the Tennessee Rose.
In terms of construction, the Gretsch 7655 and the previous 6119 used Maple Laminate for the body, and the open F-hole 7655 has a block underneath the bridge. The neck is Maple with an Indian Rosewood fingerboard after 1960; after 1962 a Zero Fret was installed. Gretsch often used Van Gent tuners and Bigsby tailpieces on these models, and for 1971 the original rocking-bar bridge was replaced with an intonation-adjustable model. The truss rod adjuster is a clock-key type, located under the triangular plate on the back.
This example is one of the cleanest we have seen. There are signs of wear from being used as intended, particularly finish wear in some areas of the neck and light jean-style markings on the back. It plays well and cleanly, and looks great.
The original Gretsch hard shell case is included.
- Model: Chet Atkins Tennessean
- Year: 1974
- Finish Shaded Cherry
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 10-4134, dated to October 1974 at Booneville AR
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Brand New
- Date Posted: 09/03/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 7.92lbs 3.60kg
- Scale Length: 24.4in 620mm
- Nut Width: 1.704in 43.28mm
