The Chetboard

I found a 2005 Nashville Classic at a Guitar Center for $1599 the other day. I surf the net endlessly looking for things like this. I called and ordered it and it came yesterday and it and the case are in mint condition. I played it for quite awhile and the neck is just perfect for me. I also have a Gibson Tennessean, which has the same size neck, so it really fit my hands. It has a stationary Bigsby and I think I am going to like that. It is right by my hand when I play. It has a great tone and I just can't say enough good things about the guitar's neck and pickup tone and the great finish with all of the figuring. Color me happy!
Ray

The thing about stationary handles...once you understand the reason for it, it's just a matter of getting used to having it there. It's no big ordeal unless you do a lot of sweeping strums.

Having said that, when I see some people on YouTube copying Chet tunes they seem to avoid using the Bigsby at all or maybe just giving it a very light downward push at the end. When young Chet heard about the Vib-Rola he immediately knew it was something he wanted and from 1945 onward it figured heavily in his playing. I use mine intuitively much like he did... a quick quiver at the end of any extended note, just like a singer does whith their voice. To me it seems the natural thing to do after years of doing it. I remember craving my first Gretsch. Not so much that it was like Chet's but becauseit had a Bigsby and I knew what it was about. Getting used to my first starionary handle only took me a day because, again I knew why I wanted it.

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congrats on the buy!

Congratulations, Ray... I'm happy for you. I got a 2006 model one year ago that was also in mint condition and just love it. I'm curious as to what amp you're using with it? -Tom W.

Tom, I use a Crate GX 50 TT like this one:

http://www.activemusician.com/Crate-Int ... -t101i3708

I think they are a discontinued product. I really enjoy it and it has two sets of controls so I can my buddies and I can play together.

Norm, the fixed Bigsby seems to be working out. I have a "normal" Bigsby arm installed on a Les Paul and I kind of like that, too, but the position of the fixed arm is right where I want it. On my Tennessean, I have a Les Trem installed, which uses a spring mechanism and gives a similar sound and feel to the Bigsby. I play that one the most, so right now it is what I am used to.
I am having a ball playing this guitar.
Ray

Link to Les Trem photos
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/i ... em+tremolo