The Gibson FUTURA Has Been RESURRECTED | Episode 4 | The No Cover Charge Podcast
Step into guitar history with Tyler Larson (@MusicisWin) and Jared James Nichols (@JJNicholsMusic) as they unveil the Gibson Futura—a rare prototype that paved the way for the Explorer. In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, they dive into the story behind Gibson’s bold late-’50s designs, demo Jared’s one-of-a-kind Korina-built Custom Shop Futura, and explore the legacy of vintage guitars, including Jared’s legendary “Dorothy” Les Paul rescued from an actual tornado. Expect laughs, deep gear talk, and tones you won’t hear anywhere else.
???? Watch now if you love Gibson guitars, rare prototypes, or vintage gear stories that changed rock forever.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Opening Jam and Heat Check
1:27 – The Birth of Loud and Guitar Innovation
2:17 – Gibson’s Forgotten Futuristic Designs
3:44 – The Rare Gibson Futura Unveiled
5:01 – Headstock Secrets and Futura Playability
9:33 – Futura Tone Test and Demo
12:31 – Jared’s 1952 Les Paul Came Out of a Literal TORNADO
17:03 – Restoring “Dorothy” and Vintage P90 Magic
21:50 – Vintage vs Modern Guitar Debate
33:13 – Fuzz Madness and Closing Thoughts
The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there’s never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you’ll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.
Whether you’re a lifelong shredder or just love music, you’ll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that’ll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.
Plug in and hang out.
#Gibson #FUTURA #RESURRECTED #Episode #Cover #Charge #Podcast
Originally posted by UCByw94IQQkzfiIlRc9PZzgA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZFtdL1EbN4
Let us know what you think of the tandem pod setup! More VERY exciting guests joining the channel soon, stay tuned, and thanks for checking out the show! Please subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review if you're so inclined 😛 https://open.spotify.com/show/1etwgleKExKzncMWSeSqe6?si=a22394d8374542a1
I was more interested in the story behind Dorothy. What an incredible tale of craftsmanship and restoration, the guy who rebuilt that thing really was an exemplary artist.
lot of realestate on that guitar. A person could stick a couple pedals on there. its also a pedalboard. lol
Great video man. Such a great interview on different types of guitars and playing. Jared James Nichols sounds like such a sweet guy. He’d be great to hang out with. Honestly, both of you guys would. Take care. Keep up the good work.
They all sound good but the 52 sounds great ????.
I'd get into vintage if I found a Les Paul in my backyard from a tornado.
Towards the end it looks like Jared thinks there’s something wrong with the guitar until Tyler turns up the pickup volume lol
How is the neck on the new Epiphone/Gibson Explorers and V's? Are they closer to a 50's fat neck or the 60's necks? I prefer the 60's personally just curious.
Both guitars and both guitar players are insanely good, and fun to watch.
The Disco Party House is worth a deep dive.
Punty is an American Original and worth the look
His sons played with Curtis Mayfield. It wasn't a mistake that he bought the Futura.
That train ride from Norman to Juarez…
Lonnie Mack, Punty Gonzalez….
It's a story worth knowing. One you owe yourself.
Vinnidge
Tornado relic goes crazy
Love this podcast! Jared is such a nice guy too! Still got the pics at Rock City where he met us outside and let my daughter hold Dorothy! My only regret is I didn’t get to play it!????????????????????????????????
P90 goldtop is a killer
Got a 2016 Limited Epiphone Korina Explorer.
Thing plays and sounds great; but the wood grain is phenomenal.
Love the show you guys. ????
15:18 great stuff guys! One bit of feedback, Ive been mostly listening to the podcast as audio only and more than once I wished you add more audio description of what’s being played. For example, in the guitar test section, saying out loud “Futura, Les Paul, Goldtop p90” etc would help an audio listener understand what’s happening haha. And Jared, see you in Barcelona!
Love this!! Enjoyed the content! Can’t wait for more! The futura looks crazy! Love Jared!! ????????????????????????
Let’s be honest, guys. Every Gibson solid body sounds the same if the pickups are the same.
Best damn guitar content on the interweb ????
More playin please
The headatock shap is perfect i wish it was dark like the original. Sounds killer. I want one!
Looks like they copied my Ibanez Destroyer. /
Love the format. You guys are killing it. Cough cough Charley Star cough
Love the podcast! Keep it up! I might even forgive Tyler for removing Pete Townsend from that list!????
JJN has some very thoughtful takes. I love it when I hear a musician whose music I like turn out to be a thoughtful and interesting person. Because there sure are a lot of examples where that doesn't turn out to be the case.
RIP Joel!
I love this F-ing pod cast so much. the inspiration pours out of you guys!! Thanks Tyler and Jared
ps im going to get your signature.
Get someone to cut the nut to help alleviate, or smooth out, the angles of the strings. Nuts are never properly cut on mass produced guitars.
My Dean Aviator stayed in tune for almost one full year , then the lower e got stretched
The Futura is actually a "mid-century modern art design " and now that I'm looking at it on the screen I'd say that sounds really good .
Daaaaang.. Tyler got to play Dorothy?! Lucky!
I know someone who has a '50s futura. odd looking guitars.
That last jam was something guys
Great interface talk.
Jared's new guitar is a flying V for lap players… Perfect along a strat.
Liked the anti-snob talk too. I want to appreciate the gear, not worship it.
Most 1st and 2nd albums are never expensive guitars anyways.
My favourite guitar stories are how they're reliced naturally or built.
And they can be scared or pristine, but naturally relic'd, not dropped off a strap throwing one over their shoulder.
Greeny, Bluey, Frankenstrat, Lucile, etc, personalized and/or defects, not spec'd via some AI-like research paper.
Like what's his name with a Jazzmaster body and Tele neck and a visible gap at the joint. Awesome guitar because an awesome player built it and dialed it in!
I'm 30 and fully expecting that the non-grail grade of vintage guitars will be relatively affordable in my 50s and 60s, even the people who are interested in guitars my age aren't knowledgeable about vintage and don't have the same association. They primarily see them as expensive rather than seeing the instrument underneath (in general), and most look at it as 'too much' to spend on a guitar, even those that have the budget. The market might support bursts, Korina models, but your average 50s LP Junior won't be holding at $12-15k when the guys in their 50s and 60s right now have arthritis and need to pay care bills.
Charlie, Joe, Kris, all these guys from LPF and the various guitar shows have done a great job of engaging younger players but no-one wins against time, trends change and vintage electric guitars are a niche within a niche. It doesn't mean they're any less of an instrument, it doesn't change how important they are to the people that do love them, but it doesn't change reality either. The old car guys said they'd hold value, the baseball card guys said they'd made great investments etc. Golden-era vintage guitars are next and that's ok!
Moving on, another cool episode and the Futura is the coolest of the cool, I hope you bring it across the pond for the UK tour, even if the case is as big as your squat rack ????
Tyler as an audio engineer if I can give you one bit of advise! Use a pair in an XY pattern or a single overhead mic (condenser) to capture your voices. The room is too small for lavs, and you guys keep bleeding into one another's mics. It driving me nuts!! LOL Other than that this is truly a great podcast so far! Loving everything you have done so far! Keep it up!
What a team! This really plays to both your guys’ strengths. about the Futura this isn’t the first time that Gibson has has re-issued this. Memory serves about 12 years ago or so they were doing this this shape for a metal, blacked out epiphone, but I think it had an explorer headstock.
Aloha Guys! I know the Futura was made before. Is Gibson making another lot. I got a Epiphone Korina Modrene with a Futura Headstock made about 5 years ago.
Its so hard to find anything with vintage specs in the big guitar stores these days
Leslie West had so much SWAGGER!
I love vintage because I think the historicity is cool and nostalgic. I like new because they are the refinement of what we love.
Horses for courses.
Would you rather have a 70 Chevelle or a new Corvette? Both are cool. Both go fast
Both sound awesome. The old Chevelle has a certain cool factor that appeals across the ages. The new Corvette would do everything the old Chevelle does, but better.
But, you can't go wrong.
Edit: Haha. Just posted the comment, and you mention the old car vs Ferrari.????
no it was great to me ????
in honor of the original owner and joel it should be played!
Would you call the fuzz pedal episode, dare I say, a Muff Dive?
Love this podcast!
What a total reality. I work on machines all day, and these old machines. If they can't plug a computer into it, these guys of the other generation, will walk away from it, where you got a guy like myself who knows how to rebuild a carburetor who knows how to tune a carburetor? Who knows how to get a machine? That's all mechanical running you're right. They don't know you're right about a lot of your conversation about the vintage and shovel, as soon as they stop, I talk in the price and this and that, and so funny, I know guys who had these bases, because I am a bassist. That they spent thousands of dollars on and look what I got, and they can't play it, they don't even know what they got and the instrument winds up becoming destroyed.This is an excellent show of today❤❤
Just some feedback guys, love that you guys are able to make great content even without having a guest and just being able to talk music and guitar
F YEAAAAAAAAAH!
Invite Uncle Ted and his big old Byrdland to the show! That would be SOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOL.
Jared, you put it all in place. These were tools, and these are tools that's the big difference between people like us and I'm not famous, but I have 50 spaces and you know what, they come out of the case. If they go out, they get played. I have friends old. I paid this for this guitar, and this sadad and blaba, the guitar just sits there. And wouldn't they want to go pick it up and play It? They're over there sitting there twiddling with it. The guitar loses its sound that loses its value for what it is and not talking about money. And the point made the money money money money part, that's what rips it apart, you know what you're talking about, man❤❤❤