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1930 Gibson Nick Lucas Special
Built in late 1930, this Nick Lucas Special features a deep-sided spruce and mahogany body with light X bracing, hand-rubbed sunburst finish, and a 12 fret neck. This iteration of the NLS model was very short-lived and saw production for not much more than a year. By mid 1931 the Nick Lucas was a 13 fret model with rosewood back and sides and archtop style bridge and tailpiece. There weren’t all too many 12 fret mahogany versions built, and today they are exceptionally difficult to come by.
This example is in excellent condition both in structure and playability It has a small repaired top crack stemming up from the binding’s edge at the lower bout but no other cracks. The bracing and bridge plate are all original and in great shape, and the top arch is even and undistorted. The bridge is an accurately made and aged reproduction by Mark Stutman and the pins are original. The guitar has just had a refret with modern acoustic fretwire for optimal playability and tone and the nut is an aged exact reproduction. Currently set up with D’Addario EJ-16 strings and an action of 5-7 64ths at the 12th fret, there is saddle height available for slight downward adjustment if desired. The guitar’s finish is original everywhere but for the back-side of the headstock where it appears to have been redone a long time ago and there is some old overspray on the barrel of the neck up to about the 5th fret. There is no headstock damage or repairs. The body finish is original throughout, and the neck has not been reset. There’s minor playwear on the guitar’s top, two tiny screw-holes by the soundhole from a pickup once mounted, and the endpin hole was previously drilled for a jack but has since been plugged and a period correct pin installed. The tuners are the guitar’s original Waverly’s with engraved plates; they work perfectly.
Low rounded neck carve with a nut width of 1-3/4”, 24-3/4” scale and 2-3/8” string spacing at the bridge. The neck has a very contemporary feel, with nicely rounded fingerboard edges and a modest depth. With its worn finish and friendly carve it feels excellent to play and handles easily.
The guitar is housed in its original Redline hardshell case.
We are truly sorry that we don’t have more than one of these to offer.
