Gibson’s Nick Lucas Special, with Mark Stutman

[@Gamerooster51]

My neighbor in Johnston, South Carolina had a Nick Lucas that he told me he bought brand new for $50.00 in 1928 and a few years later had his name put on the neck also for $50.00. He told me it was a 1928. He liked to play my Taylor OM. He died around 1996. His name is Claude Casey. He played music around the world. He was on the radio in Charlotte, NC and played with The Pine State Playboys. My mother said she used to listen to them on the radio. He moved to Johnston which was his wife's hometown and opened an AM Radio station WJES. He had a number of records and Chet Atkins played on his 1950 album. Also he appeared in 24 movies. I was a pall bearer at his funeral. I was told his Nick Lucas is in a museum in Chattanooga and that his guitar is a 1932. He was in his 80's when he told me the story of his guitar which I thought was true as he seemed so clear then. He also owned a 1950 J100. He told me The Country Music Museum in Nashville wanted his Nick Lucas. He told them no because he thought a guitar should be played. You can see Mr. Casey with this guitar along with The Pine State Playboys in Gibson Guitars 100 Years Of An American Icon by Walter Carter page 129.

[@LanceisLawson]

I have a 13 fret rosewood Nick Lucas with natural top and Guild bridge. A Dylan NL clone if you will. In general it can punch through a mix owing to it's brightness.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

When I see some of the beauties that you guys come up with, it makes me regret (a wee bit) leaving Canada back in the mid 80s! (In addition to not having access to the magic of Ted Woodford!) But seriously, I can't complain, as I have been able to find what I need, and it's all rather moot at this point as my career is long over... I really enjoy your exposition of these rare and lovely old Gibsons, which I have developed an interest in rather late in life. But now, thanks to the internet and channels like yours, it's probably the best time to learn all the ins and outs of these uncommon instruments, that require the expertise of someone like yourself in order to know what's what.

[@kylecravens6501]

I have a 1962 L-48 and while a MUCH more accessible guitar to the average Joe, I find it's a real GEM for similar reasons to what you shared here about balances, overtones, response to sensitivity of touch. Sadly so many people try to demo or even record these guitars with such an agressive right hand - then many people say, well that's not for me - I feel these instruments (particuarly older Gibsons) are often overlooked by many players who love them if they learned how to rightly approach them. Personally I don't like my L-48 as a strumming guitar or even with a flatpick... but I can play jazz, classical, basic folk, simpler fingerstyle arrangements, ballads, etc with great success.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Agreed! Those L-48s are often exceptional sounding guitars if played the way they want to be played.

[@SiggyMe]

Its very informative talk on Nick Lucas guitar. Really helps understanding how it goes together and how that fits in its survival, repair, and tone.

[@dannymarks988]

This one really comes across sonically in your video. Wow! Most enjoyable and informative.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks for this video Mark- always a pleasure to listen to Gibson history

[@chrishartz2397]

Great video…lots of great information…and I learned a few things as well..

[@DanFrechette]

Good to see you Mark! Hope to play some lefties at your shop again someday

[@stlrfan09]

Thank you, Mark, for this marvelous video! Your expertise and contributions to the vintage guitar world are second to none. The guitar community appreciates all of your magnificent work. This NLS is an absolutely otherworldly sounding guitar! What a haunting, warm, and mesmerizing tone.

[@adamiverson4383]

I would love to see a video of you talking about the IRIS MS-00!!!!

[@alnbama]

Nice presentation, El Kabong!

[@davidpotsdam]

Thank you for showing that Gibson and sharing your expertise .

[@edmiller4149]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting historical guitar. Any idea who was making the design decisions at Gibson since Gibson himself was long out of picture and Loar was not there either, unless I’m mistaken?

[@firecrackerheart]

excellent detailed description-what a beauty! have you uploaded a video on one of those rare AJ's you talked about with jason verlinde on the fj podcast? i'd love a similar history!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

No vids of those, sorry!

[@benbirdsall3547]

This is perhaps a quixotic request, but if you ever get a Kay Kraft Nick Lucas in the shop I'd love a video talking about the differences between them and their Gibson counterparts. I've got an old Recording King that I know is KK rather than Gibson from the inlays and bridge and would love to know more about how it is similar to and also different from the Gibsons it is clearly aping. It's a great old guitar and I'd love the light I'm sure you could shine on it and its siblings if you get the chance. Regardless please keep up the great work with these videos; they're a wealth of information presented in a great way.

[@davemoy330]

I love these videos. Please write a Gibson book.

[@davemoy330]

I know you have a lot of extra time on your hands.

[@tomehCanada]

Thanks Mark. One the nicestest imho looking samples that I have seen. A lucky new owner for certain. Tom eh

[@russellpowell5767]

Great video, thanks Mark Question- how did the binding remain so white?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks, Russell. Gibson scraped the finish off the binding in those days, so there was no lacquer to yellow.

[@ideaslinger]

Great as ever, Mark

[@billfischer687]

Very informative thx

[@lovechild89507]

back in the early 70's I owned a clean, all-black, Nick Lucas Special from the late-20's. I didn't really know what I had at the time and sold it off for not a lot of $$.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

be of good cheer, i've had three LG's that i bought between 2013 and 2016 i got for about £300 each, and sold for about £600, whereas now they go for £1100 upwards.. if only...

[@Richard_Lush]

Is the neck profile the same as a 1930 L-1? My 30 L-1 has a thinner profile than a 36 L-00 I had which had a bigger V profile but the L-1 is like a smaller maybe C or D profile. Just curious. Beautiful guitar. Personally I like the 12 fretters. I take my L-1 in every couple of years to get the bracing checked but no cracks at all. The 36 was a pretty robust guitar by comparison.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The necks on 12 fret 1929-32 Gibsons are all round in profile. Neck depth varies, based on fretboard thickness, which ranged from very thin to very thick.

[@j.justinzimmerman9836]

Thank you Mark. You represent your Craft in such fine steed, and spirit, I think there should be an international award for your achievements! Now that thar is sum big ass words. Seriously, thanks for your contributions! JJZ…(°¿.°`)

[@HarryNicNicholas]

maybe you can help me out, i've posted a video about an epiphone texan i acquired last year so if you're inclined to take a look you might be able to throw some light on a query i have. it's previous owners had made if fretless, so on top of the neck being warped frets needed replacing, but the front had been brush varnished, which i managed to sand off, but the bare wood finish has fibers that whatever i have tried to do (i have no workshop of any kind) seems to me would be a problem to refinish. what puzzles me though is the back and sides, i also have a 66 j45 that looks great, and the epiphone's sides look really similar (it's a 69 by the way) with a chocolatey brown and a nice aged lacquer finish, but the back is a kind of reddish finish, it doesn't look like the grain has been filled and i'm not sure it is book matched, it looks like the back and sides are original, but they don't look like they came from the same guitar. anyway, you know more about gibson history than i do, i wondered if there was a commonly known reason i wasn't privy to.

[@mojobrando]

Great info as always Dr. Stutman. Quick question are the banner era maple j45s plywood maple as well?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Most I’ve seen have plywood backs, yes.

[@richsackett3423]

I just realized who you remind me of. Larry Zalkind was my trombone professor in college for four years. You look and sound like him to a remarkable extent.

[@9ramthebuffs9]

my wm-00 is 4.75" tapered to 3.75" for those of you who like random gibson info.

[@roberthale2268]

I wish you'd turn up the mike in your video. I can barely hear you in the video and my volume is turned up all the way

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Thanks for the feedback, so to speak. We'll investigate.

[@MrResomaker]

Thank you for another great vid! Question: When did Gibson start making the wider neck heels as opposed to the narrow one on this guitar? Was there a reason for the change or just stylistic?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Sometime around 1940 on the flat top Ls and Js. It’s an odd little feature as many models had the big round heel through the 1930s. All the higher end guitars with heel caps had the rounded heel, as did the HG-00s and a few others. Seems a bit arbitrary, but it was likely due to neck carve. The rounded heel often goes hand in hand with round-carved necks. But not always. They were Gibson, after all…

[@bradc32]

man that's in great shape for a ol timer

[@HarryNicNicholas]

it's almost square, lol.