Rig Rundown - Lucero

Article and photos: bit.ly/LuceroRR
PG’s Chris Kies catches up with Lucero’s Brian Venable, Ben Nichols, and John C. Stubblefield before the band’s first tour date in support of All a Man Should Do at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom.
Lucero’s longtime lead guitarist eschews a loaded guitar boat-that’s for his studio time-and brings out two identical Fender Highway One Telecasters. The only modification that Brian has done to either axe is adding a custom-made leather pickguard that was given to him by his friend Danny from Crazy Heart Leather Goods. Oh, and the other customization he did to his pink No. 1 is that he carved his son Henry’s name onto the side.
Ben Nichols, the band’s founding member, has been a big fan of Epiphone 6-strings since he bought his first Dot model decades ago. Since then, he’s graduated to the Epiphone Sheraton II that gets beats to hell all night, every night. At the end of the day, Nichols appreciates how it sounds, how it plays, and that if something ever were to happen to it he could go to a local guitar store and replace it without taking out a loan. He actually records with the Sheraton II rather than the higher-end, fancier cousin ES-335. Like Venable, he uses Ernie Ball Slinkys .011-.048 strings.
To continue learning about the gear behind Lucero's live sound, visit: bit.ly/LuceroRR

[@jpayne13]

As a long time fan, I'm truly shocked to see a Lucero rig rundown. I love that they keep it simple. With all of the time the band spends on the road, it just makes sense to me to use solid easily replaceable gear. Music after my own heart, and simple rigs after my own heart too.

[@colecosby5632]

"Some days, when I'm feeling extra doing good things..." New favorite quote.

[@amosikner1297]

I remember thease guys when they were a bar band. Ben ant the guy's have stayed true to their roots and I never get tired of listen to them. one of if not my favorite band!

[@Itsa6stringthang]

I just finished watching the Documentary Dreaming in America and it made me think we were all young once. It makes me happy to see these dudes are still around making great music and making more money than they were in there early 2000's. Lucero was the last band that we saw in St. Pete Florida before the pandemic kicked off and they were great....

[@RoyRamone955]

Saw them for the first time 4/30/22 where they played a tiny bar for a benefit Long Island NY. Place held about 100 people. Was awesome.

[@TimBrannen]

Never heard of them before but they seem like the kind of unpretentious guys I'd want to drink beer with, and that's about the biggest complement I can give. Great job by the interviewer also. Loved the rundown. Now going to go find some of their tunes to listen to.

[@rivercity3908]

+Tim Brannen You are in for a treat! The new stuff is great but Tennessee is the album to start with if you ask me

[@TimBrannen]

+Matt Handley I listened to the entire catalog on Spotify and loved it!

[@PedalScience]

Make sure you check out their cover of Kiss the Bottle

[@chuckelator]

+Tim Brannen Been a Lucero fan for years myself, these guys are true rock and roll.

[@estebanarias8481]

+Tim Brannen I couldn't agree more, they seem like the type of guys you'd want to hang out with. I listened to them a few months ago for the first time and I was blown away by the simplicity and heart of their music. Sweet stuff

[@jbknight]

Just saw Lucero and flashed back on this video. It always cracks me up when they do the dramatic cut to their tiny pedalboards. I love that they keep things simple and still sound good. You don't need to spend oodles of money to make great rock and roll.

[@jasonpeck9100]

My brothers band has played with Ben a few times in batesville. He's always been the coolest most layed back dude I've ever met.

[@chrisbrooks2468]

One of the best shows I've ever seen.

[@Datmainman]

Met these guys after their show bunch of amazing guys very polite and extremely talented

[@thegunslinger7377]

They need to do a rig rundown of Reckless Kelly

[@ZachMyersOfficial]

YESSSS My Memphis dudes. . one of my FAV bands. . good job . . Premier Guitar

[@benlogan430]

I like these guys and their gear. Real people with real peoples instruments. Now to check out their music.

[@estebanarias8481]

This is incredibly refreshing. I've watched a bunch of "rig rundowns" and they are full of pretentious crap like boutique amps, modified guitars and insane pedal boards with custom-made pedals; these guys use the most basic gear and make really beautiful music. I love how they just use whatever it works instead of going for the overpriced high-end stuff. Awesome band as well by the way!

[@stratton78ja]

Love this band!!!! Memphis Tn based band I go see them everytime they are hear in Memphis!!

[@misubi]

Cool that the lead singer uses an Epiphone and ain't ashamed of it. No one in the audience even cares.

[@Itsa6stringthang]

I've always thought that it was cool he does. I mean they are great guitars! I met Ben Nichols last night in St. Pete, such a nice guy....

[@pshep138]

Man, I love Lucero so hard.

[@emptybottlesandbrokensouls1689]

Great band and great dudes!

[@AdamforPresident2.0]

Lol finally, I’m seeing someone use a pedal board that resembles mine 😅

[@smiley4288]

I'm with Tim's comment, never heard of them but they seem real cool music dudes to get drunk with, off to iTunes to download there music!!!! Rock on!!!! :)

[@garrettwheelermusic]

I saw them the day after this was filmed at the variety playhouse

[@alejoromero]

Gatcha!!

[@unclechaos27]

A REAL MAN'S WORKING BAND...

[@cbobcheck]

@14:02 dude looks like the tupac hologram. Creepy. Great band, cool guys.

[@Taintlouis]

The best dudes.

[@alstreet2009]

Rig Rundown Requests: Mumford and Sons, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, and Andrew Bird, please!

[@superdupergriz]

Pretty sure is Sheraton ii is NOT stock, not sure why he said it is.

[@yungstaben7675]

How is it not? Cuz it’s missing a knob?

[@superdupergriz]

Yungsta Ben because I was in the guitar shop here in Memphis and the guys there work on his guitars and said they change pickups and tuners every time he gets a new one.

[@ChipsHandonJr]

Please do a rig rundown of Deafheaven if you get the chance!

[@premierguitar]

+ChipsHandonJr They're not touring near our video crew, but we have them featured in the next issue of Premier Guitar so keep your eyes peeled.

[@ChipsHandonJr]

Premier Guitar Excellent, I'll have to track down a copy of that issue. :)

[@Project-yp9ft]

:-)

[@SiQuemaCuhh]

Can you do a rug rundown on Israel houghton (Israel & New Breed) thanks would appreciate

[@christianboddum8783]

Stop saying gotcha!!!

[@premierguitar]

+Christian Boddum Gotcha.

[@christianboddum8783]

Good grief!

[@LDCoronel1]

Am i the only one who thought it was about the mexican pop singer?

[@mattkeegan827]

+Luis David Coronel yes

[@k1ll4m3tal]

Nah i also thought it was the Mexican pop singer

[@philipweber404]

Luis David Coronel yes

[@brickman6243]

Garbage. This is lucero.