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Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:24 am
by Spadaro Paolo
Hello to all ..........

I was pleased to share with you this:

This morning I took some pictures to my last guitar add to my collection, I have already released two videos on my youtube channel with this guitar (Mr. Bojangles \ Bicycle for two and Georgy Girl).
This is the GIBSON CHET ATKINS NYLON SHOWCASE EDITION 1988.

Only 200 units were produced.

I hope you like it.

Greetings from Italy, PAOLO

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:43 pm
by Roger Pratt
Most beautiful Paolo!

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:08 pm
by Brett Foster
Paolo,
I wonder if you can help me understand the specs of the guitar. I have an identical Chet nylon (same sunburst finish etc, in nowhere near as good condition) which from the serial number I understood to be about 1980 construction. Does the 1988 Showcase version have particular features that set it apart from other guitars in this line?
Thanks,
Brett Foster

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:21 pm
by Roger Pratt
Brett I don't mean to hijack the thread but I think the first year for the CE and the CEC was 1982. The year the guitar was made is determined by the 1st and 5th number of the serial on the back of the headstock. If I am wrong someone will tell me quickly on here. LOL

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:20 am
by Douglas
Paulo,

These are definitely nice guitars! I bought one of these sunburst showcase editions new in the late 80's and played it a lot until I switched to a Godin which was a lot easier on the back. The Gibson has an incredible amount of sustain, especially on the low strings. I recall Chet used a similar one his album with Jerry Reed on the "Summertime" track, except he had all the frets taken out. I ended up giving mine away to my best friend a few years back and he absolutely makes it sing, just like you do!

Regarding the "Showcase" editions, this was a promo Gibson did back in 1988 with about 9 or 10 different guitar models with different colors and appointments from the stock models.

Really enjoy your playing. From what I've seen on your videos you've got a touch that makes any guitar sound great!

Doug

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 1:49 pm
by Spadaro Paolo
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Grazie Boys.....

I really like the godin which also I bought a few years ago, but this gibson has something special.

Then, the guitar I really like, has the typical Atknis sound, that of his records.

During 1988, Gibson started a "Guitar of the Month / Showcase Edition" program. These guitars were special runs with non-standard colors and Utilized EMG pickups.
Only 200 of each model were manufactured per month.
Instument included:
-Les Paul Custom with Ruby finish-MARCH
-LP Standard with Silverburst Finisch-APRIL
-ES 335 with beige Finisch-MAY
LP Standard with Silverburst Finisch-JUNE
CHET ATKINS EC with Vintage Sunburst finish-JULY
- ,,,,,
- ,,,,
There were no guitars produced in this series During JAN FEB, DEC.


The width of the neck ?? In mm it is about 47mm that perhaps correspond to 7/8.

Also in the back it has six adjustable knobs that correspond to the volumes of each saddle of each string. Chet Atkins was also a great inventor, fantastic.

I am attaching my updated collection, I should stop? ;) ;) ;)

PAOLO SPADARO.

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 5:22 pm
by Art Sims
Hi Paolo,
What a great looking guitar! I've had a Gibson solid body nylon guitar for quite a long time and really like it. The headstock on mine is stamped K-10. I think the one you have probably has better controls for each of the strings than mine. I read somewhere that the earliest ones had an EQ adjustment for each string because of a patent problem with Ovation whereas later these were produced with actual volume pots. I hope yours has the volume pots because mine has EQ pots, and while these do effect the volume, they do so primarily by changing the tone for each string which makes getting the strings balanced considerably harder than true volume pots would. Mine required a lot of experimenting to get set up the way I wanted. But these are really great guitars. Yours is beautiful. And this guitar is very fitting too, I think, for your excellent playing skills. You will make great music with this guitar. One word of caution: The ribbon feeding each pot is fragile and if it gets damaged you will need to replace the pickup and unfortunately Gibson won't have one for you. So be very careful when changing the battery and try not to touch the ribbon. Thanks for showing the pictures. You have a great collection of guitars. This one is real jewel.

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:51 pm
by Spadaro Paolo
Thanks Art, keep in mind your advice.
I will verify whether the controls for each string individually affect the tone or volume.

Ciao, PAOLO.

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:11 pm
by Ray Bohlken
That is a wonderful collection, Paolo, and you use it to great advantage with your excellent playing. You asked if you should stop, but I think you ought to get an arch top acoustic to sort of complete the collection. I used to have one that I really enjoyed. That's just me, though. Keep having fun and recording those videos.
Ray

Re: Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon Showcase Edition

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:03 pm
by Spadaro Paolo
Thanks Ray.
An archtop guitar, Uhm ...? I think for so long;
my Gibson Tennessean guitar is among my closest to that sound but .....

There are so many, I like the Gibson ES5 Switchmaster or Gibson L5, I also saw the beautiful Eastman guitars used by Rory Hofmann, legendary guitarist ......

Do you have any advice? Archtop guitars ........Uhm......

PAOLO.