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Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:34 pm
by Dwayne Monroe
Hello everyone,
Back in the early 70's Chet appeared on the Kraft Music Hall program. One of his selections was Snowbird. Does anyone know what guitar he was using for his presentation? It had a toggle switch down near the volume control. I'm seeking whatever information I can get on this guitar. Was it a 58 or 59 model and what modifications were done to this guitar?
Snowbird has to be one of Chet's all time great pieces and I first heard it on a eight track tape I bought at one of our local music stores. Any information anyone can give me on this guitar and Chet's presentation surely will be appreciated. This period in time was well before I could afford a VCR. I don't believe many people had one at that time.

Thanks,

Dwayne

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:40 pm
by Norm
If it was in the 70's and a single cutaway it is most likely his favorite 59.

For a couple of years the volume controls were only the two on the lower bout of the guitar by the bridge and Bigsby.

He had a three switch configuration because he was in tinkering mode. The switch on the cutaway was probably the pickup selector and I believe he had two mudswitches instead of one, each switch only affecting one pickup. Could have been anything at any given time because he and Ray Butts liked to fool around with that kind of thing.

I had a Tennessean that I had scored some Filter Tron pickups for and had my guitar wired up that way. (individual tone switch for each pickup, selector switch on the cutaway) Getting it to work is a story in itself but I got the switches isolated so they only affected their assigned pickup.

I was fortunate to be able to show this configuration to Chet himself and he said he had done a similar thing.

I saw one other party post years ago who said Chet told him that was what he had done at that time.

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 1:15 pm
by Dwayne Monroe
Norm, Thanks a lot for the information.

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 8:55 pm
by albertgen
Chet put a phasor in that Country Gentleman, or I think Paul did it. I believe that was what the switch was for at the lower bout. Chet always loved those phasors. I believe that's what gave him the idea for building the Super Axe. I like phasors too! I always loved the way Chet used them. Waylon Jennings used it very nice in his sound. Al

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 1:17 am
by Norm
The phaser switch was added by Paul at Chet's request. I'm pretty sure by then Chet had eliminated the mudswitch and moved the selector switch back onto the upper bout so he could restore his master volume knob on the cutaway.

However, reading the Dwayne's question again, he says " It had a toggle switch down near the volume control"

That does describe the phaser switch (clearly seen on page 89 of the MAMG book) located midway and just above the two volume controls.

Paul hired on with Chet in 1975 and Chet left Gretsch around 1980. Paul mentioned putting it in but did not cite the year. He said Chet used it on the song "Charade" which came out in 1975.

RCA Victor APL1-0845 Chet Atkins Goes To The Movies: Paramount On Parade; My Own True Love; Everybody's Talkin'; The Terry Theme From "Limelight"; Emily; Charade; Paramount On Parade; Solace; The Entertainer; Over The Rainbow; Somewhere, My Love; A Man And A Woman; Merrily We Roll Along - 01-75

The Phaser device itself was a module Paul removed from an Electra guitar. Paul endorsed Electras for a while and was familiar with their features.

I apologize for any confusion I may have caused by referring to the three switch configuration Chet used in the late sixties.

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:01 pm
by rhirvine
I don't know anything about equipment but that has to be the performance by Chet Atkins that blew me away in the 70's even as a fan since 1965. I knew I couldn't play it. No way! But I will always cherish seeing that performance and hearing it on television at that time. Thanks for posting about it Dwayne!

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 2:30 pm
by Dwayne Monroe
Norm,
You are a fountain of information on all things Chet! Thanks again!

Re: Chet's 70's appearance on Kraft Music Hall

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:39 pm
by Norm
Nah...I just read a lot and, when possible, I try to cite my sources.

When I get it wrong I believe in admitting it and fixing my error as best I can.

Over the years some people have expressed displeasure about my input but I'm just trying to keep the "life and times" as accurate as possible. As time goes on we see more "articles" published that, instead of facts, have guesses that are flat out wrong or misleading and people tend to pass that stuff on.