Guitar Talk - 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins (Randy Bachman Tells A Story About His Guitar)

[@BachmanVideo]

When I shared my Gretsch story, I never imagined negative speculation about the musician in Japan who has graciously offered to trade me. I never even asked him. He was an infant when it was stolen. The Ontario police searched for a month but thieves cover their tracks. However we did find the chain of sale from Texas into Japan and it was legally paid for by every owner since. Takeshi has been honest and kind in every way and is a known musician, honing his craft. So for the commentary claiming he was somehow involved with the original theft, CUT IT OUT. He is an example to me of the goodness that still exists in the world, despite everything else. For all the positive comments, thank you very much. It means so much to me. Thank you for coming along for the ride. -RB

[@marylousewell5360]

Amazing tale...storytellers are story makers...Have been attending your performances at Mary Winspear...a highlight of this wretched covid-19 blight on the concert landscape...looking forward to the re-uniting....and the performance of 2 musicians that would likely have never connected!

[@Hulkhoagie1]

Please give Mr William Long the same love you're giving to Takeshi. Without his determination, none of this would be possible. Best wishes to you all.

[@davidgrist6325]

I've only just seen this story,and although I've never met you,I'm very pleased for you... Nothing short of a miracle to get it back after so many years.. As for the guy that has the guitar,a true gentleman.. He's not been greedy or tried to take advantage. All the best

[@AlohaSiempre]

The Japanese are very honorable people. I'm sure Takeshi loves that guitar as well and paid dearly for it. The offer of an even trade is beautiful ❤️ I listened to an interview this morning that you did I believe with a woman from the BBC... sorry if I got the affiliate wrong. Let me tell you, I was working at the time and I was in TEARS! The loss, the search, the anguish, the discovery.... I am so happy that you will soon have you baby back in your arms. God bless you and all involved in the recovery of your "Magic Guitar". ❤️

[@Rick_Reno]

Hi mr bachman ive been trying for years to find my dads 1961 gretsch 6120 it had a black headstock and a stand by switch. My dad sold it in the 97 ish cause he needed the money to fix his house after a bad fire ive been trying to find it and get it back for him my dad is 73 now and not in the best of heath. Ive heard the guitar was bought buy your self or a collector in montreal

[@donolbers9446]

Right on Randy! So glad to see you get your guitar back!

[@NickNicometi]

Congrats, Randy. Had my Strat stolen a while back from a friend's house. His reaction was, "Well, you stored it here s long time ago." I think the lack of empathy hurt just as much as losing the guitar. I'll show him this video so he understands how musicians can be very attached to particular instruments which hold so much nostalgia for we musicians.

[@robster7316]

What a great story, as always, from Randy. Glad he will soon be reunited with his original 6120 after half a century of searching. Sometimes, not often, these guitars find their way back home: Peter Frampton and Myles Goodwin are two other examples off the top of my head.

[@charliepickard7798]

I love this story. Randy, I enjoy your stories and love your music, it framed my teen years.

[@KenKabuuu]

ギターも５０年以上旅をしていたのですね！ランディーさんの手元に戻ってこれて安心していることでしょう！ホントによかった:) The guitar traveled over 50 years. It must be so happy that came back to be with Randy again. Really happy for both of you!!

[@darlenemcmillan5802]

What a great story from the man that has tons of stories. Randy is the guy that I can listen to for hours with or without guitar in hand.

[@TheMsBluelady]

.....and the saga continues!!! Can't wait to watch the story evolve!

[@FiremanFrach]

Congratulations on finding your original Gretch!

[@dtcrozier]

I love this! I cannot wait to see your expressions when you reunite with your first love! 🥰

[@guitareveryone]

That guitar looks in supreme condition! Ive got a Japan reissue G6120 that I purchased some dozen years ago thanks in part to you Randy for selling Gretsch your collection and Gretsch using your guitars to design the reissues.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Good to hear from you again. That is a very cool looking and sounding guitar. Cheers, Randy, Tal and Koko!

[@scotonfire1]

Congratulations Randy, it goes to show that real life can be stranger than fiction. Rest easy, peace.

[@aum3.146]

That is 1 of the best guitar stories I ever heard!

[@wolfcatwithagun]

Give big thanks to Gary!

[@stubee56]

I have older Godins, and among my high end acoustics, the older Larrivees are my favs. Love Canadian workmanship By the way...happy birthday Randy and thank you for all the the years of great songs and shows!

[@wallsmartsme]

Great story Randy. One of the very first albums I learned the guitar from was Chet Atkins Mr Guitar 🎸 lp. Yes, that guitar sounds unique.

[@wallsmartsme]

I miss the Friday night train wrecks.

[@markusm.lambers8893]

@@wallsmartsme me too! - What's about some new sessions ? - Greetings from S.W.-Germany (Where the police-bikers, not wearing 'frog-green' uniforms anymore! They are more like a marine-blue to black now today, Mr. Bachman. )

[@rjecsn]

I know how happy it makes me listening to your songs and can only imagine how that happiness is multiplied many, many times for you to get that beautiful guitar back! All the best Randy!

[@BachataDeVerdad]

Love the story! So wonderful! I grew up on Guess Who and BTO! I'm now watching more of your videos with your son. Be well and keep on sharing your passion and love for great music! Greetings from Los Angeles!

[@zedman6516]

It’ll be the best $12k you ever spent Randy…. and thanks for all your contributions to R&R! ✌🏻

[@mikeflower4091]

Enjoyed your guitar stories Randy

[@omahahaha]

That is a great story and so cool that you can get your guitar back!

[@Anothertominohio]

Amazing story...I live very close to Loveland. Small world.

[@ruffalo09]

the provenance, history, story of it all is just off the charts. (states the obvious lol) Think my favourite kind of electric guitar tone. . might be a guitar plugged straight into a small amp. . . that is miked up. Doesn't even have to be a tube amp. (not that anybody was askin' lol)

[@therealcharmander738]

Randy, that is the most amazing story I have heard in a long time! I'm so happy for you, I can't imagine losing any of my guitars and the pain and wondering it must have brought you all these years. Takeshi sounds like a real stand up guy and I'm glad to know that he is willing to do this for you. Maybe there is still hope to find Paul McCartney's long lost Hofner bass after all! Keep rocking Randy! :)

[@thewarhenk]

Great story and glad it's 'home.'

[@Dunwyche]

Great story! Pete Townshend played one of these. A lot of their hits he actually played on this guitar. There is one vid on YT you can see him playing it, Rockestra theme in the studio. If you keep an eye out, you'll catch it.

[@TheBeteljuice]

OH MY GOSH! I just read the story, twice, on CNN! I just couldn't be happier for you, what an amazing and beautiful story! So many congratulations and blessings on your reunion. I can't wait to see you and Takeshi jam together. You must be elated. My day has been made by this amazing and highly improbable story. There is so much sorrow in the news these days... Thanks for all the great music. I'm old and still listen to your music. It is timeless and classic. Keep on keepin' on! Michael.

[@cordovanbee713]

Great story, the man that will trade your original back is a man of HONOR!!

[@TedBear1954]

Great story. Thanks for sharing

[@vansongs]

I knew I get up early for a reason. This is the coolest guitar story ever!

[@YogsenForfoth]

Aw man, he’s gotta put out a record now that he has his classic guitar back!!

[@320roscoe]

my Mother say she meet you at a show in Winnipeg as a young Lady. Busch

[@claytonphelps9911]

Randy, I love your music, I love your stories, and actually recently I watched your Every song has a story, "Vinyl Tap", it brought me back to when I was 14 or so and a lot of good memories came back to me from hearing your outstanding songs with both The Guess Who and BTO, and since then I've watched dozens of your interviews. Thank You so much for your gift, talent, stories and music. God Bless you and your family.

[@glenncarnagey3829]

what a wonderful story! and all the best musicians are storytellers ;-). such a stellar guitar.

[@broncodeviltexas]

We've missed you guys on Friday nights. 😎

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Nice hopefully start of cool set of videos. 🎸🎶 Fantastic piece of electrified wood🙌 Good to hear from ya Be safe RT&K

[@fscottgray9784]

Glad you got your old friend back. Love your music by the way. My favorite rock group is BTO.

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

Reunited and it feels so good. Awesome for you!!!! That git does have a great sound. Good luck getting it back.

[@user-jc5sk4ee2v]

45年の時を経て主の元に帰還..。 まるで...懐かしい我が家に帰って来たような音を奏でる...

[@nicolascalera7858]

wonderful

[@pwyfplaywhatyoufeel5333]

Got a quick question for you Randy, what are three of your own favorite songs to play live? Thanks!!!

[@greghunterdesty171]

The question now is...will another hit record come from this guitar 😎

[@GregMAtkin]

Great story Randy.

[@MarekSokal]

As a Winnipegger, Chet Atkins fan, Lenny Breau (and Chet Breau) fan, fan of you this was such a cool story... Hopefully I get to see you at Club Regent! Rad.

[@wolfcatwithagun]

Hell yeah, Randy.

[@Bliggick]

I'd say Randy is the honorable one in this situation.

[@crowhaven200]

Glad you got your guitar back Randy. I think it is an awesome story......

[@MrAMO73]

What a great, heartening story. I have one of the Japanese re-issues of that '57 model - and it is indeed a thing of beauty (looks and sound).

[@Hulkhoagie1]

This is a great story. I'm happy for you. I hope you're giving Mr. William Long just as much love and credit as you're giving Takeshi. Without his unsolicited work on your behalf, you'd never have the chance to see your original Gretsch again. If you haven't, please include Mr William Long on your journey to be reunited with your instrument.

[@dougphelps6917]

Great story Randy!

[@FalconTypo6]

Glad you are getting it back; it would it have been on next-day air, had it been my possession-- no questions asked!

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Saw BTO opening for Van Halen during the 5150 tour at the LA Forum. Great show from BTO and VH.

[@DLee1100s]

Can't wait to see the trade. It will be a special moment.

[@peggyrichardson8553]

Oh man, I can't wait to see the video of the Tokyo performance, and the return of the original guitar to Canada!

[@chetedwards5801]

AWESOME!

[@squatch545]

Thank God you had Koko to translate.

[@davegreen4236]

What a nice vintage ax. Beautiful sound, I can imagine that volumed up a bit, yeah. Takin Care of Business was one of the first songs I learned back in the day. Still hits me just as strong today as when I was 17. Then I heard Freewheeling. And that instrumental took me. Still trying to do your leads, very tasteful. Wonder if it was a trade off between you and your lead guitarist. I often wonder what that effect was on his SG for the solo bits on You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, cool effect. Glad to see ya, your looking well thankfully and getting some sun perhaps. I look at the Sun as a nutrient you need so much of for health, but not too much. Take care

[@KRDecker]

I'm So Glad . . . Randy, you got yer gretsch Back, Man!!!

[@KRDecker]

now, if any sees my cherry-red '57 Guild Starfire III single-cutaway . . . with buckle gouges all over the back from the Montréal cowboy singer who had it before me . . . i bought it in 1982 from a pawnshop on the rue St.Antoine in Mtl; it was stolen from the lighting truck in Van ~2004 . . . sad

[@djmoulton1558]

It would be a much more epic story if you could trace back where it's been, even if you can't get all the way back; like when and how it made it's journey all the way to Japan.

[@phillipc.1805]

You are right - It almost seems fit for an animation - kind of like The Red Violin meets The Yellow Submarine - with Randy's music playing along with the journey. Check out The Red Violin if you haven't and watch as a musical instrument travels through time as an evolving expression of human's capacity to create.

[@djmoulton1558]

Ah, yes, The Red Violin, I saw that bloody thing years ago. ;)

[@richardleary9085]

Love these stories. Jimmy page recently got his les paul back stolen almost 50 years ago. Peter Frampton got his lp back after almost 50 years. I would love to know how randy knew it was his guitar. What identifiable features that he knew it was his.

[@SteveW628]

Cool story. Any news on your new album with Tal?

[@martinmanhold6358]

Amazing story! WOW!

[@crabejoss]

Wwwoooow ! looks more than cool, you found it ! The graal quest is done after 50y !

[@FCMC123]

Question. So the serial number matched? With only 35 made, You found a “twin” . If serial number or something else matched how does one know? Funny. The store wasn’t notified it was dealing in stolen goods? Just curious. Buyers and sellers typically know these things. 🤔✌🏻

[@Bobbycat115]

Nice!

[@DanyRivard]

i know your joyce. i have the same beautiful Gretsch orange « unfortunately not a Chet Atkins model », but pickups, bigsby, etc, are gold color! Gréât guitar 🎸 !!!

[@MONSTERMADHOUSETV]

That Guitar sounds amazing. Looking forward to seeing you play the one from japan. nice.

[@ClayAGray]

Very cool story! Well not that it was stolen but everything else. ;) Can't wait to see the exchange in Japan!

[@pinewaves]

I would like to know more of this Japanese musician and his music. A possible future story or interview perhaps?

[@MONSTERMADHOUSETV]

what an awesome story man. wow

[@wilofsherwood1811]

Can Randy ever stop coming out with stories like this..? I hope not.

[@fasteddie4145]

Very cool....Frampton got his Les Paul Black Beauty back, Randy got the 6120 back.....it's time for McCartney to get his '61 Hofner back....

[@tubeyouall2]

Did you get paid for watching your brothers, or was that for someone else? So happy for you that you are reunited!

[@Agent-kb3zb]

How could you tell by looking at a video that was specifically your original guitar?

[@ClintHalliday]

How did you identify that it was yours? Serial number or certain marking?

[@zofo264]

What does 6120 mean? Is it a measurement?

[@weswemyssonbass]

If you're talking about Takeshi Terauchi, the surf guitarist, he died in June.

[@BachmanBachmanchannel]

Nope. It’s different TAKESHI.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

What are the train wrecks coming back Tal mentioned October is it going to be November?

[@ScareglowSkull]

Who is Takeshi?

[@stevef]

Randy, what a great story. If I understand it right, did he acquire it or was he the one that took it from the hotel?

[@BachmanBachmanchannel]

It was stolen 45 years ago from the hotel room. I don’t know who stole it. It somehow made it down to the guitar trade show in the US and it was sold to the Japanese buyer years after. TAKESHI bought this guitar from the vintage guitar shop in Tokyo about 5 years. Stay tuned for the documentary we are making about the whole story in details about this guitar, as well as making of Bachman & Bachman album👍

[@stevef]

@@BachmanBachmanchannel wow. What a journey. Can’t wait to see the doc.

[@jjjameson5]

@@BachmanBachmanchannel A documentary is certainly in order... a correction for when that time comes, the 6120 actually went missing in January 1977.

[@kevjou1]

please live stream it

[@gregorykrug8034]

Great story, but I do not understand how THE guitar was discovered in Japan.

[@shogun_assassinator6773]

Black Panthers