We have the same favorite music shop in Palo Alto, CA. One founder runs the store & the other runs the repair shop. The repair shop partner asked me to loan Tuck a guitar so he could try the model/design out while this L5 was in for repairs. Why repairs? Tuck brought it in and said, "The neck lost alignment out on the tour. I finished the tour but I'd like you to take a look." Frank, the repair guru, said the strings were up so high he didn't see how anybody could play the thing. Looking around to diagnose the situation he found that the neck had broken! Tuck had been playing a guitar with a broken neck and crazy difficult action and just brought it in because it didn't seem quite right. He included a signed copy of a CD when he returned the ax. He went back to the blond L5.
@@sgringo But, I did exactly that. Never saw a blemish. My guess is that he pretty quickly decided it wasn't for him. It's a Collings 17" archtop, signed with no serial, signed by Bill Collings with no serial #. It still has no pickup. I don't mind loaning gear & get some interesting stories. So far, Tuck Andress, Julian Lage, Bill Frisell, and some younger players still coming along.
@@manabozho LOL, no kidding? Given the company you keep, you must be a pretty big deal in your own right. Maybe you're right; perhaps he decided your Collings wasn't for him. Or maybe he's extra careful to treat others' instruments with care. Contrast this with a story told to me by a friend. He was a gigging bass player in FL, in the early 80s. While he was setting up for a gig at a bar one afternoon, in walks Jaco Pastorius! He asked my friend if he could play his bass. Of course, he let him (after all... who wouldn't??) He said Jaco treated his bass very disrespectfully. I don't know much about Tuck, but he seems like a very personable, down-to-earth, decent soul. If he did perform with your Collings, I'll bet he was mindful to handle it with care.
@@sgringo Yes, that describes the whole episode. Tuck is performing regularly with Patty on a Facebook broadcast. I catch them as often as I can & chip in for their online tip jar. You get a good sense of his kid-like persona and view of himself and his music. Delightful humans both of them.
I came across a video of "Mr. T" with some close ups of his L5. I noticed it was in a bad state and needed some maintenance / replacement. So your story confirms what I saw. Isn't it time for Gibson to honor Tuck Andress with a signature L5 T, to his own specifications?
Just jaw dropping great guitarist. Tuck is one of the great finger style guitar players. All the greats have amazing technique especially picking hand.
Just to defend this poor guy who is knocked upon so bitterly. No doubt that this is a brillant presentation by Tuck. There is enough material to fill a mastersdegree in music. But besides brillance there is always a question of taste behind it. Europe was a smash hit by Santana and would strike any non-musical person by its feeling and passion it transmitted. Tuck has put it up to artlevel with a little sarcasm in it besides his unbelievable musical chops. But that must not be everybodys choice