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GALLERY: Chet Atkins at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

See the guitars the legendary picker used throughout his career. Photos by Chris Kies

Rebecca Dirks
By Rebecca DirksJul 25, 2012
Rebecca Dirks
Rebecca Dirks graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in journalism and art, and joined Premier Guitar as an intern in 2007. She lives in the Iowa City area with her husband, two giant dogs, and more cats than are appropriate to mention. When not petsitting, she enjoys challenging herself in the kitchen, watching the Packers dominate, and discovering new music or rediscovering old favorites.
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1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and 1954 Custom Gretsch Streamliner

1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and 1954 Custom Gretsch Streamliner
Chet's two most recognizable signature models. On the left is a 1959 Country Gentleman modified with a Super'Tron pickup at the neck position and an internal phase shifter activated by the red switch. On the right is an early version of the 6120, presented to him in 1954 as a proposed signature model. It was a special order Gretch Streamliner with bright orange finish, belt-buckle tailpiece, "G" brand, signpost pickguard, and Western-style engraved inlay.

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