Gibson luthier, James “Hutch” Hutchins has passed away.

Nashville, Tennessee…January 26, 2010….One of Gibson Guitar’s most accomplished and dedicated luthiers, James “Hutch” Hutchins,  who spent 45 years at Gibson, passed away from an undisclosed illness surrounded by his family last evening. “Hutch” as many of his Gibson friends called him, had a career that’s spanned two states, three changes of ownership, and thousands of priceless Gibson guitars. Hutch began his career in the original Kalamazoo, Michigan plant, making a name for himself there before transferring to Nashville in 1983. He had worked every job from maintenance to pattern making with an unflinching attention to detail and an abiding pride in the Gibson name. “Hutch” chose the Gibson family as his own often defining the company’s legacy, heritage and tradition by the many guitars and people he touched on a daily basis. He was 72.

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