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Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:16 pm
by Doug Working
Long story short, I'm a decent picker, but my knowledge of various guitar models is weak. Kind of embarrassing, it is, but I'm willing to learn.

The guitar I now have is an Epiphone Chet Atkins nylon string electric, with the classical fingerboard.

I saw it in the music store years ago and it looked so PERTY sitting there. I had to have it. And now I do. But I want to learn more. I'd like to find out how it ranks quality wise in the minds of other players. I'd like to find out how many Chet nylon string electrics were designed, and which ones Chet actually preferred and played.

I'd like to know which models players consider top of the line.

In trying to get information, I talked to the owner of the local music store, and he said Epiphone only made ONE Chet nylon string electric. But I think he's wrong.

Can anybody help me to get educated, here?

Doug

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:03 pm
by Norm
The store owner is probably correct. I think the epiphone run was the only one they made for epiphone. It didn't do as well as the Gibson variants because the Gibsons had the individual volume controls for each string.

As for some sort of poll as to which guitar is 'best' I think once you get past three or four hundred dollars for an instrument it is a matter of taste and usage. If you want to be encyclopedic about guitars like some people are about baseball stats I suppose it would make a good hobby but Paul used to say the time is better applied practicing.

I have an old single cut Gretsch CG. If I hit the lottery and had the room I would get a Super 400 with P-90 pickups, a Byrdland, a Les Paul and one of the better Gibson electric classics (the one with the fleur de lis inlays on the top.

But I also know I would do most of my playing on my old Gent. Oh...forgot... a 6122-59 might edge my old guitar out...

No Fenders for me. Never met a Fender guitar I liked.

But that's all my slant on things. Someone else would come up with an entirely different list.
Meanwhile, I'll settle for the only electric I have... I can only play one at a time.

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:01 am
by Doug Working
Norm, I think I agree with you on hitting the lottery. I think if I hit it (which will never happen because I don't play!) I would want to buy every Chet guitar that exists! (Just to have fun!)

The Super Chet (I believe he played it on "Me And My Guitar") looks sweet with all those control knobs. I always wondered what each of those knobs do. Looks like so much fun to play with!

The guitar I now have says CEC on it, and it has two knobs. One for volume and one for tone. You say they have one with a volume control for each individual string?

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:37 am
by Richard Hudson
Doug, the Gibson CE/CEC does have individual volume controls for each string, but the controls are hidden. It's kinda like setting it up to suit your tastes. You have to remove the back plate to access them. I played with them when I first got my guitar, but once I got it set like I wanted it I haven't touched it since.

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 2:14 pm
by guitarchuck
Doug,
Epiphone made the Chet Atkins CEC solid body electric nylon in Korea and then later in China, I believe. The Korean models were the better of the 2. They cataloged a CE model with a narrow neck, although I've never actually ran across one. They also made a Studio model without the fake soundhole, those are rare and hard to find.
The Gibson is a more desirable guitar.
(Edit - I was wrong, the later ones were made in Korea also, not China)

(Also, the early models were passive electronics and the later models used a 9v active electronics)

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:42 pm
by Doug Working
I'm still not exactly sure which model mine is, but if I had an e-mail to send it to, I could send you guys a photo and or a video and maybe you guys could set me straight. I would truly appreciate that.

Be that as it may, I posted above about my many woes with the input jack. I sure hope someone can help me, because taking photos of the guitar is about the only thing it's good for right now. :(

Doug

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:57 pm
by guitarchuck
Got your email Doug, answer sent.

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:16 pm
by Doug Working
Ok. I'll send one to you, and I appreciate it!

Doug

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:22 pm
by Doug Working
I sent it.

Re: Trying to get my guitar education.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:34 pm
by guitarchuck
Doug,
Yours is the final version of the 3 that Epiphone made. I'm curious, what is the width of the fretboard at the nut? I'm sending a more details to your email.