The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Podcast 138: Noam Pikelny of the Punch Brothers Mar 07, 2017

Show notes

Banjo virtuoso Noam Pikelny joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his new (and excellent) solo album 'Universal Favorite', some of the instruments in his growing collection (including his 1930 Gibson Granada, his 1941 Gibson TB-7, his 1953 Martin D-28 and his 1953 Fender Telecaster) and a lot more.

Get Noam's tour dates and order 'Universal Favorite' here: http://noam.net

This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music: http://www.dyingbreedguitars.com

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal Podcast via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fretboard-journal-podcast/id394447340?mt=2

Podcast 137: Wes Lambe and Ben Maschal of Pre-War Guitars Mar 02, 2017

Show notes

Relic'd guitars are nothing new in the world of electric instruments, but they're relatively unheard of when it comes to acoustics. Pre-War Guitars – the duo of Wes Lambe and Ben Maschal – hopes to change that. The pair of veteran luthiers are creating guitars that tap into the vintage sound and feel of Martins and Gibsons of the 1930s and '40s with hide glue, ultra-thin finishes and torrefied top woods. But they're also adding scratches, dents and play wear to each of their new guitars (they offer a variety of distress levels based on a customer's preference). On this week's podcast, you can hear about how this company came together, how they're constructing these instruments and why sometimes a little wear can result in a better sounding guitar.

This week's episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music. Check out their Gbase page here: https://www.gbase.com/stores/dying-breed-music

https://www.fretboardjournal.com https://www.pre-warguitars.com

Don't forget to subscribe to us via iTunes and please leave us a review if you can. Our 38th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing... with features on Daniel Lanois, Leo Kottke, the first "Loar" mandolin and a lot more.

Podcast 136: Wyatt Wilkie of Wilkie Stringed Instruments Feb 16, 2017

Show notes

If you love a good story, you'll want to tune into this week's podcast with luthier Wyatt Wilkie. Though he comes from a musical family, Wilkie is a completely self-taught instrument maker. He built his very first instrument, a mandocello, while working in New Mexico as a gravedigger. He then moved to a small town in Wales where he honed his craft and eventually found himself in Georgia apprenticing for archtop guitar icon Bob Benedetto. Wilkie is now nestled in the Comox Valley on British Columbia's Vancouver Island, where he divides his time today between mandolins and archtop guitars. Nearly all of his work is exquisite and custom… and no two guitars are alike.

This week's episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music: https://www.gbase.com/stores/dying-breed-music

Links mentioned: http://wilkiestringedinstruments.com http://laconnerguitarfestival.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com/columns/fretboard-journal-38-whats-inside/

Podcast 135: Jason & Pharis Romero of J. Romero Banjo Co. Feb 11, 2017

Show notes

On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to Jason and Pharis Romero of J. Romero Banjo Co. From the tiny town of Horsefly, British Columbia, the Romeros craft some of the most coveted new fretted instruments being made. They currently have a five year waitlist and, as they describe it, even getting on the waitlist is a bit of a challenge. The duo are also exceptional musicians and won the 2016 Juno Award for Best Traditional Album of the Year.

In June 2016, a fire swept through the Romeros entire shop, destroying many of their new instruments as well as some of the prized vintage possessions. During our conversation, we talk to them about the fire, the help they received from the music community and how their rebuild process is going. We also chat about some of their latest banjo creations and innovations.

http://www.romerobanjos.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com/video/fretboard-films-trip-romero-banjos/ (our film on the Romeros original shop) Subscribe to the Journal here: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/collections/all/products/fretboard-journal-subscription-no-auto-renew (use the coupon code PODCAST and save an additional $5 off your order)

Podcast 134: Luthier Maegen Wells Feb 02, 2017

Show notes

On this week's podcast, we talk to luthier Maegen Wells. After years of working alongside famed archtop guitar and bass builder Tom Ribbecke, Maegen is now building her own guitar and mandolin creations out of her Forestville, California workshop.

Wells has devoted nearly her entire adult life to learning the craft of lutherie and woodworking. Straight out of high school, she enrolled in Bryan Galloup's Galloup School of Guitar Building and Professional Guitar Repair. She then went on to work at the Reverend Guitars warehouse and served as an apprentice to both Andrew White and Ribbecke.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Fretboard Journal Podcast via iTunes and, if you can, leave us a review on iTunes to help us with our search rankings: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fretboard-journal-podcast/id394447340?mt=2

The Fretboard Journal's latest issue, #38, is now mailing worldwide. Subscribe via fretboardjournal.com and we'll start you off with this edition.

This episode is brought to you via sponsor TR Crandall. Check out their amazing inventory of vintage archtops, electrics and flattop acoustic guitars. And tell them the Fretboard Journal sent you: http://trcrandall.com

Links:

http://www.maegenwellsguitars.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLYZL2xae8A (StewMac video featuring Maegen Wells creating a tortoloid pickguard for a Gibson archtop)

Podcast 133: William Seeders Mosheim of Seeders Instruments Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

On today's podcast, we talk to William Seeders Mosheim, the owner of Seeders Instruments. Seeders is an open-back banjo builder who has found success combining old world designs with new world craftsmanship. The Vermont-based luthier honed his woodworking craft at his father's furniture business but now has a multi-year wait list for his banjos. His custom creations can incorporate any number of tone ring styles, wood options and levels of ornamentation.

This episode is sponsored once again by TR Crandall. If you're visiting their store or website, don't forget to tell them that the Fretboard Journal sent you.

trcrandall.com fretboardjournal.com seedersinstruments.com

Don't forget to subscribe to all of the Fretboard Journal podcasts via iTunes. And leave us a review if you can!

Podcast 132: Recording Engineer Larry Crane on Elliott Smith Jan 12, 2017

Show notes

This week, we talk to recording engineer Larry Crane of Portland's Jackpot! Recording Studio about the new and expanded 20th anniversary reissue of Elliott Smith's Either/Or, his friendship with Smith and what those original recording sessions were like. Larry tells us about Smith's in-studio work habits, the gear they used, the work that went into remastering these songs and a lot more. We also discuss the economics of running a recording studio and Tape Op, the magazine that Crane co-founded with John Baccigaluppi.

This week's episode is sponsored by TR Crandall in New York.

Links Discussed:

Elliott Smith's Either / Or (Expanded Edition) on Amazon

Elliott Smith helping build Jackpot! (pics)

Tape Op magazine

The Fretboard Journal

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal podcast via iTunes and leave us a review, please.

Podcast 131: Michael James Adams & the Guitar Store Panel at the 2016 Fretboard Summit Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

This week: A double-episode of sorts! First off, we talk to Michael James Adams (aka by his social media handle, puisheen) about interviewing Nels Cline for us for issue 37. Michael walks through the interview process, Nels' gear selections and more. Around the 20 minute mark, we share another session from the 2016 Fretboard Summit, this one on the next generation of guitar stores. On the panel: Adams (co-founder of Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar), Mark Stutman (Folkway Music), Reuben Cox (Old Style Guitar Shop), Will Lowe (Lowe Vintage) and Paul Heumiller (Dream Guitars). Topics covered: Using social media to sell guitars, finding your niche, and how these stores find their inventory.

This episode is brought to you by another relatively new store, TR Crandall.

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal Podcast via iTunes here.

Podcast 130: Singer-Songwriter Paul Burch Dec 29, 2016

Show notes

On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to singer-songwriter Paul Burch, who went from performing in rock and indie bands in the Midwest to working the honky tonks on Lower Broadway. Burch tells us about his years performing at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, focusing on "post-war, pre-Elvis" music; his classic country music influences; how his songwriting and singing evolved; and his latest project, Meridian Rising, an imagined, musical autobiography of Jimmie Rodgers.

Read about Burch on fretboardjournal.com here: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/blue-ode-paul-burch-channels-inner-jimmie-rodgers/

This episode is sponsored by TR Crandall.

Podcast 129: Vintage Gibson Panel at the Fretboard Summit Dec 23, 2016

Show notes

Yet another fun session from the 2016 Fretboard Summit! This week we hear John Thomas (Kalamazoo Gals), TJ Thompson, Mark Stutman (Folkway Music), Jim Baggett (Mass Street Music), Robb Lawrence (The Les Paul Legacy) and David Sheppard (Lowe Vintage) field questions on vintage Gibson acoustic guitars. Topics include: the many variables found in most vintage Gibsons; solid linings versus kerfed linings; converting ladder-braced models to X-braced; repair headaches; finish thickness and much more.

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