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

Up for sale, a 1997 Gibson Chet Atkins SST 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. This particular instrument has been augmented with a “cresting wave”-esque pickguard.

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 1oz, 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 .825” 1st fret, .905” 9th fret
Fretboard: Ebony, graduated star inlays
Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, 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
Pickguard: White single-ply “cresting wave” (non-original, small chip at lower treble-side corner)

The gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish shows two repaired splits on top at the center seam and on the treble-side lower bout, both of which are minimally visible. Cosmetic wear is otherwise limited to an area of shallow buckle rash central to the back and various minor dings and finish scratches. The nitro loss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple shallow marks.

The original Gibson USA hardshell case is included.