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HI All
Further to my other post asking for Fingerpicking tutorials,can I ask which of the above mentioned guitars would be good for Fingerpicking?
I have looked on Youtube for demo's but there are not many.
Any other models considered.
Your comments appreciated.
Thanks
Alan
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"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Yes, the Country Gentleman Gretsch was once Chet Atkins signature axe. If you check the design out you will find that the f holes are actually painted on and not real f holes, this to help with feedback prevention when the amp is turned up to higher gain in order to get the fingerpicking out in the performance. At that point, just about any worthy plank would do the trick.
However, he eventually switched to the Gibson flattop series of compact acoustic-electric guitars, finally settling on the steel string model although he also featured the nylon string model for awhile as well.
Now that we have that out of the way, I don't think that the brand or model of guitar is all important here at all, having known cats who could recreate the Chet thing using all sorts of geetars from Teles to big jazzboxes and one young fellow who turned in dnamite performances using a Martin flattop with bridge pickup installed.
Chet's inimitable STYLE of playing is the forefront here, I suggest that you just start in working out with whatever guitar you already have and love. Strat on neck pickup has been known to turn in equally good performance with the Chet style, man.
The first purchase should be THUMB PICKS. Spend some time finding thub picks of the right size and length for you, then spend more time in the woodshed, getting to know and use those thumbicks as both thumb pick and also as sub for flat pick. Some of the Tommy Emmanuel tutorials are excellent for the aspiring CGP. First thing I recommend is mastery of the "dead thumb" style.
--Mac
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Quote:
However, he eventually switched to the Gibson flattop series of compact acoustic-electric guitars, finally settling on the steel string model although he also featured the nylon string model for awhile as well.
Tell ya what guys, that Gibson Chet Atkins SST is one of the most beautiful instruments I have ever seen, an d in fact if anybody owns one it might be a good idea to not tell me where you live.... 
When I saw him on a documentary called Wired For Sound: A Guitar Odyssey, in his part of the show he was playing one. (WHILE he was being interviewed!!!!) Now, of course this was Chet Atkins playing, in my humble opinion the best there ever was, and half the quality of a product is tool and half is craftsman, but that guitar sounded SO SWEET. It is on my to do list. Saving money now.
Depending on what style you play, this may be something to look at.
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Thanks for the comments everyone.
Nice to hear from you Mac,hope you are well.
Alan
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For fingerpicking a relatively wide neck, at least 45 mm at the nut, is recommended. I know experts can fingerpick a mandolin, but for starters a wide neck is advisable. Those two guitars you mentioned are like comparing apples with pears, one is semi hollow and the other is hollow. If however you are happy with a 43 mm neck, then go for the Ibanez, they are a solid, well made guitar, and you are not paying for the Gretsch image, and anyway, they are both made in China or someplace out there. On the Gretsch website there is no mention of neck width, but it is probbably about 42/43 mm.
The Ibanez-AGS-73 is a great guitar, not many around, so it didn't make the standard range but google for it, maybe you are lucky. Cheap too.
Chris
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Full hollow guitar may not be appropriate if you intend to play out live, due to feedback problems when the need is to turn the gain up to handle the fingerpicking style. Not that it cannot be done, mind you, just that the feedback problem of the hollow body can indeed be an issue. Semisolid or solid body often is the better choice for that reason.
--Mac
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Thanks Mac
The Ibanez Artcore AS73T appealed to me because it has a body thickness
of just 40mm.
I also liked the Gretsch G5120,but the body is thicker.
As I said,after playing Strats for so long,a full size Acoustic/Semi is
going to take a lot of getting used to,hence my liking of the Ibanez.
Also,the Ibanez is a Double Cutaway which to my way of thinking would make it easier to play,problem is I don't know anything about Ibanez,and no-one near me keeps them in stock.
Alan
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Details on Gretsch guitars are listed on their site under the "Specs" tab for a given model. For instance, the CG noted above has a nut width of 43 mm and a fingerboard radius of 12" (which will feel flat if you are used to a Strat, as I am; I just went from Gretsch to Strat, but wish I still had my CG). The body is only 2" deep, which wouldn't require much getting used to. You might also want to look at the 6120, which used to be called the "Tennesseean." It shares a lot with the Gentleman.
By the way, my post was a link to an ebay ad, which also gives the physical specs. Just click on the text, or go to gretschguitars.com for more information.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Hi Ryszard
Thank you for your comments.I did follow the link and again today,the guitar has been sold.
I did have a genuine Gretsch 6120 a few years ago but like an idiot,I sold it.
Never learn will I?
Alan
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