The Story On Chet's Action, My Action

[Tom Workman]

Ray, you are quite welcome. I'm always so impressed when people like yourself whom I consider to have reached celebrity status are willing to interact with us regular pickers. Thanks again, Tom W.

[RandeDager]

I think that the reason for the concern about the height of Chet's action is tied to the belief that duplicating every aspect of how Chet did what he did will enable one to play and sound like he did. This goes for the length, hardness, and material of the nails, the gauges of the strings, the neck width, type of pickups, amps used, mics, etc. If these are all duplicated exactly as Chet did, then the belief is that the ease and sound of the playing will be the same.

That belief is where the problem lies.

[Tom Partridge]

Having re read this post and Pauls remarks in his archive I would like Ray to point out just what it is that he finds so offensive about Norms remarks. It seems that what we lack here is a clear cut defination of just what constitutes a low or high action which seems to be Norms point. I really don't see anything personal in any of the remarks. As Norm says this is just my opinion. Thanks Tom

[Eddie Estes]

My last post on this subject.
In 1986 I played the CG and the Phaser Chet had Gibson
bring to the convention.
Were the strings a 1/2 inch off the neck? No.
But it was not how I would like a guitar to play. For me.

I hate a guitar where the strings are right against the neck though.
I like something to push against. From playing Chet's guitar I have a feeling
he liked it a little more than most.
In the second Bear Family book you can see that the pole pieces on the bass side
are raised up as well as the strings.

On Chet's electrics especially Paul Yandell's word is second to none. End of story.
He worked with Chet and basically worked on Chet's D'Angelico. The value of that guitar
I would say was upwards of $60,000 due to it being a D'Angelico and it being Chet's.

Chet may have liked his nylon strings action lower.

I am sure Paul will be back on here to clear this up.

[Ray Cummins]

Easy does it now!! Paul McGill stated too that Chet liked a low action!!!
Paul Yandell is a friend of mine. We're all praying for him..I am just telling a few Chet stories and it is the truth no matter who says it's not...I haven't gotten one bad e mail. Many of you stated that you played Chet's guitars and the action was low on here and in emails. I have Chet the man, on tape saying it! There you go. It doesn't matter. Thanks everyone for your emails!!! Done Deal!! Enough said!!! I've got concerts to play!! God Bless Everyone...Thank you!! ))

[BillB]

I don't know what the big deal is about Chet's action. What I want to know is the color of the socks. If I can get that, I think I'll be close to getting Chet's tone.

Bill B.

[guitarchuck]

This reminds me of the old days on the Chetboard!
I'll never play or sound like Chet. It's fun trying though. I'm always curious about Chet's guitars and what he liked about them. I'm very glad for all the first hand knowledge stories posted here. One thing for sure, Paul has done this board a great service by answering all of our questions about Chet throughout the years. Different people have different perspectives and I like to hear about it as long as people don't get into fights about it. I think Paul did a great thing by working with Gretsch producing the 59 Country Gentleman and the 6120 CGP. After playing those guitars you get a feel to why Chet liked his orignals.
I still would someone to measure Chet's 59 CG's action at the 12th fret, down at the CMHOF. (I know I've said this over and over again). But for now this is the closest info we have on Chet's 59 CG action, quote from Paul Yandell:

I once measured the distance on Chet's old Country Gentleman from the top of the bars on the bass side to the bottom of the 6th string and found it to be 0.2170inches or 5.52 mm, and the same on the treble side, I didn't measure the back pickup but he had the screws up some.

I'm guessing that if you take a new Gretsch G6122-1959 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman guitar and set your action up using the measurments Paul gave to the top of the front pickup bars, you might be close to Chet's. That pickup has a fixed height, unless you shim it. It don't have height adjustment screws. But it may be somewhat different than Chet's original, that's why the 12th fret measurement would be a more acurate action measurement in my opinion. Even if we knew what Chet's was on that guitar exactly, we may not want ours that way.

I think this thread has about run it's course, I like everyone's input, if we agree or not.

[pattie surman]

You guys are all crazy. It's not the action ,It's the thumb pick.Get the blue one and you will sound just like Chet. Stan Surman.

[guitarchuck]

Funny that you mentioned that Stan, I still have a couple of those picks! I finally figured out that Fred Kelly picks stay on my thumb (even though Chet never used them).
That reminds me of another funny story. When I was 13 I bought my first Gretsch, a new double cutaway Country Gentleman. I bought it because I was told "That's what Chet plays". Not long after that I got to go to my first Chet Atkins concert in Tulsa. Guess what? He was playing a Gretsch Super Axe! I was so disappointed! Then years later I found out his favorite Gretsch guitar was his old 59 Country Gentleman.

Still chasing the dream!

[Paul Rauch]

No, No, No! The blue pick is all wrong. Don't get a blue pick whatever you do. I saw Chet using a white pick on the Utube. That is the only correct one to use. If anyone disagrees, it's just too bad.
The color of the socks is a whole 'nother story to delve into.
I appreciate this board for the entertainment and information. Thanks.