1997 Gibson Chet Atkins SST Ebony Acoustic Electric Steel String Guitar w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1997 Gibson Chet Atkins SST in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Among the more unique guitars ever produced by Gibson, the Chet Atkins SST (solid state transducer) is essentially the steel-string version of the Chet Atkins CE, a chambered acoustic/electric thinline guitar designed in collaboration with Atkins himself. Beyond Atkins, the SST is arguably best associated with Dave Matthews, who played an Ebony example just like this one for several years in the late ‘90s during the peak of DMB’s popularity.

Sonically and aesthetically somewhere in between a steel string acoustic and an electric, this guitar features a feedback resistant chambered body and a solid state transducer undersaddle pickup system with active two-band EQ. Crisp, lively, and immediate, there’s a surprisingly broad array of tonalities on tap, from the brassy warmth typically associated with piezo undersaddle transducers to a fuller, notably robust and punchy tone with the Bass EQ wheel rolled up (both wheels are center detent boost/cut). Featuring the traditional acoustic-style tonewood complement of a chambered mahogany body and a spruce top (chromyte centerblock), this Chet Atkins SST weighs 7lbs 5oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Medium C, full shoulders, measuring .820” 1st fret, .920” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, graduated star inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 1/2”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Schaller (Gibson-branded)
-Serialization: 8-digit stamp dates to ‘97

Body Specs:

-Wood: Spruce, mahogany (chromyte centerblock)
-Pickups: Solid State Transducer undersaddle
-Controls: Volume, Treble and Bass EQ (center detent)
-Bridge: Ebony
-Marquetry: Multi-ply top binding, Chet Atkins signature script at fretboard extension

The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish exhibits prominent vertical checking on top, and cosmetic wear is limited to two scuffs on top at the bass side of the bridge and a few fainter marks on the back. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

The original brown Gibson USA hardshell case is included.