CGP Prototype

[LMark]

About 20 minutes into this video Paul Moseley plays the prototype of the CGP. It has a zero fret and what looks like a giant brass nut. Very interesting. Where does this guitar live now? LMark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3-ESqyVa7c

[Norm]

I had a look at that clip and I think by that time the CGP was in production, ergo, that's not a prototype. Early model, yes.
Gretsch used that HOF event partly as a debut for that model as well as a celebration of getting rights to use Chet's name on their product again.

That "giant brass nut" is one of those contraptions people made that act as string clamps. If you go full screen and stop the movie you can see the zero fret and bone nut are still in play. The gadget is behind the nut itself.

The idea is that by immobilizing the strings behind the nut it keeps the guitar more in tune when the Bigsby is used.

Paul Yandell was experimenting with that kind of thing in his own shop.

They must have been an awkward thing to use.

[BillB]

I was thinking that it might be one of the prototypes that Paul Yandell had early on, and that a few people had a chance to try out. And since he and Paul Moseley were very good friends, it's possible that's where it came from. But like Norm said, it may actually be Paul Moseley's CGP that I'm pretty sure I've seen him play. Anyway, someone may have more information about it, and maybe they'll chime in.

Bill B.

[Norm]

You are correct, actually.

I got an email with some information I share forthwith:

About the CGP question on the Chetboard:

That is one of the two prototypes. Paul Yandell was the original owner.
Paul loaned it to Craig Dobbins for a while and it is shown in this clip.

http://www.craigdobbins.com/cgp.html

Paul later sold the guitar to Paul Moseley, not long before his death.

[BillB]

I'm not sure, but it might be the same guitar that Paul used to record this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG9K-4UWSW8

It's great what Paul and the Gretsch folks were able to accomplish together in remaking two of Chet's best guitars.

Bill B.

[Norm]

I'm not sure people really appreciate Paul's efforts in bringing in the 6122-59 and the CGP. Running a new guitar model is an expensive gamble for a guitar company and I'm sure Gretsch is pleased with the sales figures.

I think that the 6122-59 is the more important of the two guitars because people get all tangled up in the "stereo" factor on the CGP when Chet did not use it as a stereo guitar but rather as a secret trick recording instrument to confound the natives

The 6122-59 however was his longest used, most recorded instrument and it required Paul's intimate knowledge and understanding of the instrument to bring it to fruition

[Roger Pratt]

That brass clamp is part of a device named Sta-Tuned that Paul used for a while and recommended. They have a newer model out now and that may be one of the newer ones on Paul's guitar.

[Norm]

I remember Paul Y. talking about those. He did recommend them but I'm not sure how many of his guitars he had fitted with the thing. I know as he got older he (and Chet too) got to fooling around with things to try to improve tuning and staying in tune.

On page 149 of the MAMG book you can see the fine tuners normally found on fiddles and violas attached to the harp section of what is apparently Chet's main Gibson CG

[LMark]

Zero Fret. The production models do not appear to have the zero fret. I suppose it is absent for sake of authenticity. For me, the ideal Gretsch (as I said, for me) would be short scale, wide fingerboard, and zero fret. Paul M. has the ideal guitar. Thanks for your responses, all! LMark

http://www.gretschguitars.com/products/ ... 2#overview

[LMark]

Ha! The prototype does not have a zero fret after all. LMark