Jared James Nichols in Nashville Guitars, Gear & "Louder Than Fate" at Carter Vintage | Life in Six Strings
Jared James Nichols in Nashville
Guitars, Gear & "Louder Than Fate" at Carter Vintage | Life in Six Strings
Join Kylie Olsson in Nashville as she meets with blues-rock powerhouse Jared James Nichols at the legendary Carter Vintage Guitars. Discover the stories behind his unique fingerstyle technique, a $425,000 Les Paul, and his vulnerable new album. Watch the full episode on Life in Six Strings.
Episode Overview
In this gear-heavy episode of Life in Six Strings, host Kylie Olsson travels to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet with Gibson brand ambassador and guitar phenom Jared James Nichols.
Surrounded by the jaw-dropping collection at Carter Vintage Guitars, Jared shares wild tales from his early career—like opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd—and details the intensely personal process of recording his new album, Louder Than Fate, at Dave Grohl's Studio 606.
Explore Nashville's Culture
This episode immerses viewers in the heart of "Guitar Town," highlighting why Nashville has become the center of the universe for musicians:
- ■ Carter Vintage Guitars: Known as the friendliest guitar shop in town, Carter Vintage is a non-intimidating haven for musicians. Jared and Kylie explore its famous "Wall of Fame" and get hands-on with museum-grade vintage instruments.
- ■ The Center of the Universe: Jared explains his move from Los Angeles to Nashville, driven by the concentration of studios, fellow musicians, and the headquarters of iconic brands like Gibson.
- ■ The Smell of Vintage Gear: Jared reveals his quirky habit of literally smelling vintage guitars and amplifiers, noting that when old amp tubes get warm, they give off a comforting scent like warm cookies.
Episode Highlights
- The $425,000 Les Paul Burst Jared and Kylie check out a pristine, early-1960 Gibson Les Paul "Burst" valued at $425,000. They discuss the historical nuances of its perfectly faded finish and why early '60s models are so highly coveted.
- The Bloody Lynyrd Skynyrd Show Jared shares a wild story from his first arena tour opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2015. Right before hitting his first chord, he ripped his thumbnail nearly completely off on a pickup, spat it out, and played the entire set bleeding.
- The "No Pick" Technique As a natural lefty playing a right-handed guitar, Jared explains his unique, pick-less fingerstyle approach. He emphasizes the physical, tangible connection of flesh-to-string that gives his playing its distinct, aggressive feel.
- Recording "Louder Than Fate" Jared discusses his most vulnerable record yet. Recorded mostly live at Dave Grohl's Studio 606, he opens up about stepping out from behind the "sonic armor" of his electric guitar for the delicate acoustic track "Killing Time."