Tools of the trade - Nick Drake’s Levin

 

This is a 1964 Levin LS-18 -  I believe Nick Drake owned the same model and could have used his one for some of his early recordings. I am delighted with the tone. 

I believe this is very close to that of some of Nick's studio recordings: in fact, the now-iconic cheap all mahogany Guold M-20 shown on Bryter Layter cover wasn’t Nick’s but a studio technician’s, only used for the photographic session. 

Although this guitar was cheaper to buy than a Martin D28, it seems to have a unique charm of its very own! The tuners and the bridge are original too.

To faithfully (try to) replicate Nick’s sound, strings must necessarily be old, well used, worn out to give that muddy yet evocative old-timey, yet timeless sound.

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