Chet Atkin’s Haile Guitar: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Hascal Haile of Tompkinsville, Kentucky made this guitar in 1972. Hascal "Hack" Haile (1906-1986) began making guitars professionally after retiring from furniture making in the late 1960s. He made guitars for many classical and country musicians and was considered to be among the world’s top makers of custom guitars. This six course (6x1) guitar has a top of Spanish pine, back and sides of Spanish cypress, and a maple neck. The guitar’s edge and soundhole is inlaid with abalone and ebony. Country musician, Chet Atkins previously owned and played this guitar and owned several Haile guitars throughout his career.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1972
• user: Atkins, Chet
• maker: Haile, Hascal B.
• Object Name: guitar
• Measurements: overall: 41 in x 14 5/8 in x 4 1/4 in; 104.14 cm x 37.1475 cm x 10.795 cm
• place made: United States: Kentucky, Tompkinsville
• ID Number: 1980.0681.01
• accession number: 1980.0681
• catalog number: 1980.0681.01
• Credit Line: Gift of Hascal Haile
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.