FYI for Chet Atkins fans

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Oct 2009 6:08 pm

A tip for fans of Chet Atkins: I picked up a copy today in suburban Boston of a unique book called Chet Atkins - Me and My Guitars. The book features beautiful full color shots of all the guitars associated with Chet throughout his long career, as well as many B&W shots too and Chet's recollections about people, places, and behind-the-scenes stories. They had a number of copies in softbound format for $7.98. The list price was originally $35 so a pretty good deal, I thought. Just passing it along for anyone who wants to grab a copy.

New England Mobile Book Fair (music remainders section)
(617) 964-7440

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 4 Oct 2009 3:51 pm

Thanks for this, Andy. I love Chet's music
And certainly would love the history and
Guitars portion.

I will be procuring this one, hopefully.

Thanks
Ed

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 4 Oct 2009 5:19 pm

This is an excellent book, he mentions buying one of his favorite amps from none other than Jimmy Day way back when.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 4 Oct 2009 6:00 pm

I have had my copy since the original numbered editions came out and this is a great history to all of Chet's fans. I was in his office years ago after he started using Gretsch and he reached in his closet and pulled that beautiful D'Angelico which he had sent back to the original builder in New York. The electronics were removed and had a new carved top put on, like it was when he bought it in the late forties. Chet proceded to play me some great stuff on it. Years later, he and Paul Yandell decided to put the old Bigsby and Gibson pickups back on it with the old Vibrola and restored it to it's glorious condition of the early 50s.
As well as I can remember, the amp he bought from Jimmy was an early Standel.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 5 Oct 2009 4:16 pm

Andy would it be okay to post this over on the Chet board? That isn't if you havent already done so?

Tom

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 5 Oct 2009 5:37 pm

Sure, Tom. I didn't even know there WAS a Chet board.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 5 Oct 2009 6:20 pm

Thanks Andy, I will post it with your permission. For those who haven't found the Chet Board its a real treasure trove if your the least bit interested in Chet, Merle or Jerry or for that matter anything to do with finger picking.

Regards.

Edward Efira · Post by **Edward Efira** » 6 Oct 2009 10:02 am

Can you post the board's URL?
Thanks,
Ed

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 6 Oct 2009 6:06 pm

Apologies,I knew I was forgetting something. Heres the address. www.chetboard.com Its a wealth of help and information. Sort of like the steel forum.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 7 Oct 2009 5:27 am

I bought this when it first came out. Enjoyed it immensely! The quality of the picture is incredible and the stories are mostly ones I never heard anywhere else.

Greg

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 11 Oct 2009 8:20 am

Steve Wariner(CGP) has recently released a new "Tribute to Chet" CD. It is absolutely fabulous. A bit of topic , but still about Chet.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Oct 2009 1:13 pm

Few people in the history of the music business could come close to matching Chet's career ....

- Fingerstyle pioneer who created/helped innovate many techniques that are now part of the guitar language
- Popularizer of reverb, echo and other effects
- open tuning pioneer (G major-tuned rhythm playing on Everley Brother's hits as just one example)
- Guitar designer for both Gretsch & Gibson
- Record company exec responsible for setting trends and helping the careers of dozens of artists& putting Nashville on the map as a center of recording excellence
- Influential artist with world-wide influence on both acoustic and electric guitar

And that's just all I can think of off the top of my head. And with all he accomplished, from what I can tell by reading, he remained kind and humble.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 13 Oct 2009 1:53 pm

Andy, you mentioned Chet's influence in two competing guitar companies for the same model of guitars.
In 1960 I bought a new Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman. In 1989 I also bought a new Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, and I still have them today. In 1994 I took them both to the convention (CAAS) in Nashville and Chet signed them both and what a great Chet Atkins collector's treasure.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 13 Oct 2009 2:23 pm

Tommy, I just went to Steve's web site and ordered the CD. In Jan. 1980 Chet toured in our area and he introduced his young bass player by the name of Steve Wariner. Steve sang a great song that evening and made quite an impression on the crowd. Having been a fan of Steve since that time, I'm looking forward to the tribute CD. Thanks for the head's up.

Steve Nelson · Post by **Steve Nelson** » 24 Nov 2009 2:36 am

I just heard Steve Wariner on Prairie Home Companion...Garrison Keillor was a BIG fan of Chet's and so was I, I started playing cuz of him back in 1962. Just this year I got a Super Chet signed by CGP from Dave's Guitar in La Crosse, WI. I know I'll never lose a penny on that guitar.
And I'm on the forum 'cause I started on Hawaiian guitar and moved on to non-pedal (Stringmaster) then my first electric. Still love the steel and still play.
Steve

Steve Nelson · Post by **Steve Nelson** » 24 Nov 2009 2:39 am

BTW, the link is www.misterguitar.com
Cheers, Steve Nelson