❌SOLD❌ Gretsch Atkins Super Axe 7680 Orange, 1977

Designed by Duke Kramer and Chet Atkins in 1976 and launched in 1977, the Gretsch Atkins Super Axe model 7680 was built under Baldwin ownership in DeQueen Arkansas, and available with and without built-in effects. These models went out of production in 1980.

Here we’re looking at a Gretsch Atkins Super Axe dating to May of 1977. The label – visible after removing the battery cover – has a date-coded serial number of 5-7147. The first digit is month, the second is year. This example is in overall good clean and original condition. It plays well and is generally a very cool guitar!

The Gretsch Atkins Super Axe is different in many ways from all previous Chet Atkins models. It uses a semi-hollow design, with Maple laminate top, back and sides. Down the center of the body, rather like the ES-335 models, there is a center block assembly consisting of two kerfed Mahogany strips to follow the curve of the top and back, and a solid Maple block, routed for the pickups and with cutouts for wiring. In the late 1950’s, Atkins had encouraged Gretsch to include a center block for feedback resistance, but the closest they came was the ‘Trestle’ bracing, preserving the acoustic character of the tone.

The neck is Maple with a bound Ebony zero-fret, 24.4 inch (620mm) fingerboard. The ‘neo-classic’ thumbnail markers are gone, replaced by Mother of Pearl blocks. The tuners are Schaller models, and the bridge is a chrome Leo Quan Badass style part, allowing full control over intonation. The truss rod adjuster is accessed on the back under the small rectangular cover, and uses a clock-key type tool.

The pickups were apparently sourced from Japan and are relatively low output, possibly to prevent overdriving the built-in effects – a compressor and phaser, powered by a single 9v battery. These two effects are installed into epoxy-potted enclosures mounted to the larger rectangular rear cover. The third small cover provides access to the battery, and when removed, the label with the Model 7680 marking and serial number 5-7147 is visible.

The original Gretsch hard shell case is included.