Watch Dan Auerbach Swoon Over Rare Guitar in ‘American Pickers’ Clip

The Black Keys are well-known for helping keep blues rock alive in the new millennium, so it was only a matter of time before a member appeared on American Pickers, the History Channel show that revolves around preserving the past. In this exclusive clip from the show’s season premiere, set to air Wednesday, May 6th, the group’s frontman Dan Auerbach has his eyes on a vintage Chet Atkins Gretsch guitar.

“The Chet Atkins model is probably the most desirable Gretsch,” Auerbach says as he reverently holds up a model nicknamed “Rudy.” Though he has never played one, the guitarist appears set on Atkins’ model being his first. “There’s a difference between guitars that collectors collect and ones that players use,” Auerbach says. “This one is a player’s guitar.”

Auerbach recently revealed to Rolling Stone that he had “just finished up” an album for Nonesuch Records with a new band called the Arcs. “I just wanted to do my thing and get extra weird,” he said. “I wanted everything to flow [and] be cohesive. A lot of the songs bleed one into the other, a lot like the Grateful Dead — my favorite records that they did. So I’ve got a lot of connected songs. It’s basically everything I love about music all wrapped up into one record.”

As for his main gig in the Black Keys, Auerbach will join the duo’s rescheduled tour, which had been delayed due to drummer Patrick Carney’s shoulder injury. The Arcs’ first two songs — “Stay in My Corner” and “Tomato Can” — will be released on 7-inch vinyl on May 2nd.