The Chetboard

That is such a beautiful guitar.

I understand the change in neck for Chet...but what is the "tone bar"? I know when Johnny was approached by Gibson to design an instrument, he went with x-bracing, a guitar fingerboard that touched the top all the way to the last fret, and floating pickups. Is the "tone bar" the sound post that Chet put under the bridge of some of his acoustic arch tops?

Anyway...even without the Johnny Smith and Chet connection, that guitar is wonderful looking.

Congratulations on having it!

thanks,
George

Tone bar might be a variation of the Gretsch "Trestle bracing" It would be someting connecting the top to the back in the area of the bridge. Increases sustain a bit, also.

Now I remember where I read about this guitar, it was listed in the Gibson Guitar Bible. It said it was made somewhere between March 1989 - March 1991. Now we know exactly when it was made: June 7, 1990. So I just updated my List of Chet Atkins Signature guitars:

http://www.misterguitar.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=560&p=3157#p3157

Here's more photos of the guitar:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/isuadam/albums/72157632597826905