Conference napalm::guitar

    
    Hey, that's easy, it's called a Chet Atkins model.  I believe they come
    in both steel and nylon string versions, and it is a solidbody
    instrument.  For that matter, I haven't seen any lately, maybe they
    don't make 'em anymore? 

    	Gibson shows a "Chet Atkins CE/CEC with a slotted tuning peg
    head area,no fretboard markers are visible. And a "Chet Atkins"
    SST Antique with a standard tuning peg head and fret markers.
    and a volume and tone control on the top.              
    
    	transducer pickup's
    	gold hardware
    	ebony hardware
    	25.5 scale length
    	
    I've played the CE/CEC it was a nice playing instrument......but
    expensive and to find as I remember...
       
    

    Yes, they are made and you can find them every once in a long
    while at a store. They go for about $1000. Washburn (sp?) and
    Honner (sp?) also make a nylon string electric. These are about
    $300 with the case.
    
    I go for the Honner. You can always upgrade the hardware and
    I liked the neck and sound much better than the Gibson.
      
    Yamaha, Ibanez and Ovation also make one, but these are not
    solid.
    
    
    

>    I go for the Honner. You can always upgrade the hardware and
>    I liked the neck and sound much better than the Gibson.
      
Do you have one?  I didn't realize there were so many electric classicals
available.  I tried the Ovation years ago.  I liked the sound, but it squirms
in my lap.  

Any opinions about how these beasts sound compared to putting a pickup on
a classical?  I've heard Chet on TV and the Gibson sounded pretty good.

Bob

    Chet Atkins CE/CEC??
     Excellent guitar and easier to play than most too!
      It also records very nicely.
    
       I'd take it over an Ovation anyday of the week!
        The price may be higher than some, but IMO well worth it in the
         long run.
      
    Fred

    
    My cousin owned a Gibson Chet Atkins classic/electric. He hardly
    ever used it and traded it into Fitchburg Music. They may still
    have it. If you are close to Fitchburg, their number is 508-342-8711.
    
    He liked it but never incorporated it into his act. He also owns
    an Alvarez Yairi Classic, and for the light playing he does at home
    the Yairi is all he ever played.
    
    Mark

	I agree with Fred and would find it hard to compare a Gibson
Chet to a Washburn. I find they are really in a different class of
instruments.


	I've been looking at acoustic/electrics for a couple weeks
and have played several Ovations,a couple of Kramer Ferringtons
and a Guild Songbird. The Guild won this hand's down,Ferringtons
feel like they are going to fall apart,and ovations have never
been on my top ten list. Anyway I've seen Ferrington's(used) go for as
little as $250 to $350,The Guild Songbird was around $800,Ovations
used go for $350 and up...... My search is kind of on hold due to
other projects.....
	My question is what kind of feedback do you get from these
kind's of guitars? Do people run them through regular guitar amp's
or do they go direct to a soundboard? Any recomendations?

	Chet's are nice guitars like I said and in the right hands
they can sound incredible. (anybody got a set of hands I can borrow?)


						;^)

							Rick

    What we are talking here is a solid body guitar with nylon
    strings. I do not have one yet, but I am working on it.
    
    I saw a Ginson use some time ago for $450 with the case. It was
    in good conditions. I did not like the sound or the neck.
    
    I like much better the Honner sound and neck. I agree it is not
    a gibson. But than again, if Fender made one, I go for it because
    I like the name!
    

    	re. .8 Actually I was told that sometime ago that Fender use
    to sell the Ferrington model guitar,and the only difference was
    it had a strat neck and a Fender logo. I've seen only one and of
    course it wasn't for sale....  The kramer neck is alot different...
    at least to me....

    Another guitar to check out is the Takamine acoustic/electrics.
    The steel string models have basically the same pickup and preamp 
    as an Ovation (individual crystal under each string, FET preamp). 
    They also make classical/electrics including cutaway models. The 
    classical/electric models feature a thin flat pickup which greatly 
    resembles a Martin Thinline transducer. They also include the FET 
    preamp.
    
    The biggest advantage of the Gibson is the fact that it is solid
    (can be cranked up as loud as you want with literally no feedback. 
    All the hollow models (Ovations, Takamine, etc) will feedback at 
    some point. The thin solid body also makes it very comfortable to 
    play standing.
    
    In my mind a classically trained guitarist will tend to strive
    for purity, and will probably lean towards a regular hollow
    classic with some kind of pickup or mic. The Gibson CE/CEC
    is more for the Rocker that wants to add a touch of classical 
    guitar to the beginning, or bridge in a song (ie. Roundabout)
    I could be way off base, by in my mind the classically trained
    guitarist is compelled to adhere to tradition and will tend to
    play in a seated position with the guitar held in the "snob"
    position. 
     
    Mark
    
    

    
>    re. .8 Actually I was told that sometime ago that Fender use
>    to sell the Ferrington model guitar,and the only difference was
>    it had a strat neck and a Fender logo. I've seen only one and of
>    course it wasn't for sale....  The kramer neck is alot different...
 
    That's a good story but I think it's wrong.  What *is* true is that
    Danny Ferrington built a number of these guitars by hand (check
    the cover of Richard Thompson's "Hand of Kindness" for one) and
    so some of them were around before Kramer liscenced the design and
    started building them in Korea.
    
    

    	I've never seen them in catalog's so I wonder if this
    was the case,of a custom job. I didn't consider my source
    of "the story" real reliable
    
    	I don't alway's believe what I hear when it come's to words.
    	
                                                             :^)
    

    There is someone at DEC who owns the Chet Atkins Model.
    
    His name is Steve Frisselle.  I don't know his node off-hand
    but if you're serious about getting one, you oughta look up
    his number (DTN) and give him a call.
    
    I've played Steve's guitar and LOVED it.  In fact, he had to
    just about rip it out of my hands.  It plays very much like a
    classical guitar and sounds wonderful through an amp, especially
    my JC-120 which is an excellent clean amp with a good built-in
    stereo chorus.
    
    I'd love to have one, but it's low on my overall list of priorities.
    
    	db

    Steve Frisselle is living on node CURIE::(FRISSELLE) now...buzz
    him and see what the scoop is.
    
    

    
    Mark,
    
    I agree with you that a classical guitarist would want a traditional,
    hollow body guitar.  But come on, your comment about the "snob
    position" really burns me up.  
    
    Have you ever tried to play a tough classical piece holding the guitar
    on your lap?  I have, it's no fun.  I can't imagine trying to stand
    up and play classical guitar either.
    
    I'll admit that the classical position is wierd and sometimes
    uncomfortable but it does allow the player great freedom for both
    left and right hands.  More important I think, it allows you to
    really relax your hands and arms and let them almost hang while
    playing.
    
    One more comment and I'll stop.  I watched Chet Atkins a few days
    ago.  In my opinion what makes that guy such a fantastic player
    is his technique.  His playing is incredibly clean and precise.
    He could play on a plywood Harmony with strings 2 inches off the
    neck and still sound great.
    
    It's the player, not the guitar. 
    
    Joan
    
    
    

    RE .15 "the snob position". 
    
    Since I am unfamiliar with the actual term, I chose to affectionately
    refer to it as the "snob" position. No offense to classical guitarists
    was intended. 
    
    Sorry,
    Mark Jacques
    

Thanks for all the comments.  I'll contact Steve F.

Anybody had experience with putting a pickup on a standard classical?  
I might just try putting one on my Khono (or is it Kohno? I've had it 12 years 
and still can't spell it).  On the other hand, I don't really want to haul the 
Khohnoh around to gigs.  

BTW, I started using the "snob" position about 12 years before I had any 
classical training.  I saw a picture of Andres Segovia and decided to try it.
I like the freedom it gives me.  I even play bluegrass that way if I'm 
sitting down.  

Bob

    Mr C's in marlboro had a CE model. I have a concert classic guitar,
    and really thought the Gibson was disapointing. It had no resonence
    ( might have been this 1 example) and I thought it looked cheep, 
    particuarly the fake soundhole. IMO