Gretsch Atkins Super Axe Orange 1978

Gretsch has a few famous models that bear the name of country icon Chet Atkins. But far fewer know how his quest for sustain yielded two of the more obscure Gretsches of the 1970s — the Super Axe and its humbler sibling, the Atkins Axe. The Super Axe was actually designed circa 1976 by Gretsch manager Duke Kramer in collaboration with Atkins.

Built in Arkansas, the Gretsch Super Axe is a fine guitar. A semi-hollow body for sustain with a glued-in neck and a very slim, bound mahogany body that is tapered toward the edges, making it very comfortable to play.

The Gretsch Atkins Super Axe is different in many ways from all previous Chet Atkins models. It uses a semi-hollow design, with Maple laminate top, back and sides. Down the center of the body there is a center block assembly consisting of two Mahogany strips to follow the curve of the top and back, and a solid Maple block, routed for the pickups and with cutouts for wiring. The bound ebony fingerboard has cool triple-block inlays.

What sets the Super Axe apart is the built-in effects circuit. Atkins preferred just two. In addition to master volume and tone controls, the Super Axe had compression and phaser circuits, each with its own on/off switch. With compression on, the sound waves get squashed or compressed, yielding increased sustain. This circuit has a sustain control that controls the amount of compression. The phaser circuit has a control for the rate of phasing, plus a second knob to let you determine how much of the phasing effect is blended in with the final output. The phaser on this model only works if the compressor is on. The result is a very playable guitar!

This 1978 model has some clear playwear on the body and neck. It is obviously maintained very well as it is in great condition!

Comes with a hardshell case and a TFOA passport.

This instrument has been carefully inspected for originality, condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.