The 7685 Atkins Axe was a Balwin-era offering aimed at the rock market. It didn't work.
Despite the name, Chet Atkins had relatively little involvement in it's development. but there were a few touches of the Country Gentleman: the 7685 featured distinctive dice-like fret markers on a neck that was only very slightly radiused (as Atkins preferred).
Atkins had wanted to name them "High Roller", with dice engraving on the distinctive square block markers, but Baldwin management squelched that plan. Two models, the 7685 (Gray) and 7686 (Deep Red) were offered.
Like the Super Axe (which Atkins was much more involved in developing) the Atkins Axe used two DiMarzio pickups. On the other hand, the Atkins Axe was a much simpler guitar.
Not surprisingly, the Atkins Axe went out of production in 1980, but has been resurrected in spirit as the modern-day Gretsch Axe.
Platinum Gray
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