The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Musician, writer and educator Cameron Knowler joins us this week to talk about his incredible self-published book, Guitars Have Feelings Too, and so much more. We learn about Cameron's singular upbringing in Arizona (including how he was "unschooled" for most of his youth) and hear about how a random encounter with Norman Blake's music as a teenager forever changed his life. We also get his thoughts on the difference between old time and bluegrass music, the perils of flatpicking contests, how to horse trade instruments with your heroes, and so much more. Knowler is the FJ's newest contributor and in our 52nd issue, he pens a lengthy interview with Phoebe Bridgers' guitarist Harrison Whitford. We're happy to announce that Knowler will also be teaching the music of Norman Blake at the 2023 Fretboard Summit alongside Bob Minner. Order your copy of Guitars Have Feelings Too here: https://www.cameronknowler.com/shop-1/p/guitars-have-feelings-too Want to meet Cameron, Bob Minner, Wayne Henderson, Josh Scott, Bill Frisell, and dozens of other guitar luminaries? Come to our 2023 Fretboard Summit August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Subscribe to our magazine here: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Our podcast is sponsored by Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings (get 10% off your order with the FRETBOARD discount code).

Offset guitar authority, tech and journalist Mike Adams (@puisheen) joins us for another monthly recap of guitar news, but this episode is about a lot more than just industry updates. To start, Mike shares a deeply moving story about the loss of his father. Around the 24-minute mark, we discuss some recent guitar news, including the new offerings that debuted at NAMM like the Guild Surfliner Deluxe, the Martin StreetLegend D-18, the T-Rex Binson Echorec, and the Yamaha FG9. We also talk about the announcement of a new CEO for Gibson; the mystery of G. Weller; Fretboard Summit updates; the Dr. Herringbone 'Tone Traveler' (full review to come) and more. Join Mike Adams' Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puisheen Jason Mays NAMM highlights: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/columns/namm-2023-highlights/ The Mystery of G. Weller Podcast: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcasts/podcast-406-the-mystery-of-g-weller/ The Dr. Herringbone Tone Traveler: https://www.drherringbone.com/ Want to meet Mike, Josh Scott, Bill Frisell, and dozens of other guitar luminaries? Come to our 2023 Fretboard Summit August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Subscribe to our magazine here: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings (get 10% off your order with the FRETBOARD discount code).

Detroit's Via Mardot makes incredible music that evokes classic exotica and Spaghetti Western soundtracks, but her journey is far from traditional. Since dropping out of high school, she's put all of her energy into composing, playing and learning new instruments and gear. She showcases her multi-track creations on Instagram - making captivating videos where she plays ALL the parts (including guitar parts, bass percussion, theremin, and musical saw) - and has garnered an astounding 100,000+ Instagram followers. She's also become a Reverend Guitars endorsee. On this week's FJ Podcast, we talk to Via Mardot about her growth as an artist, how she taught herself to play all of these instruments, and the perils of playing the musical saw. It's a great chat with a young artist doing something truly original. https://www.instagram.com/viamardot/ (Vintage movie Jason mentioned on the podcast: 'Multiple Sidosis' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mblxjfh5kE) Via Mardot will be performing at The Fretboard Summit, our three-day celebration of all-things-guitar taking place August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. In addition to Via Mardot, featured performers include Wayne Henderson, Jeff Parker, Bryan Sutton, Jorma Kaukonen, Jake Eddy, and numerous others. During the Summit, we'll also be hosting our first-ever Germanium Chef, an Iron Chef-inspired pedal build-off hosted by Josh Scott and featuring Robert Keeley against Heather Brown. There will also be jam rooms, parties, live podcast tapings, and tons of surprises. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings (use the discount code FRETBOARD and save 10% off your first order). Subscribe to our keepsake print magazine here.

Robbie Fulks joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his new album, 'Bluegrass Vacation.' Fulks' first full-length bluegrass album features an all-star lineup of guests including Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Ronnie McCoury, Tim O'Brien, Alison Brown, John Cowan, and Jerry Douglas. We talk about the alt-country pioneer's deep bluegrass roots, stretching back to his time playing in Greg Cahill's Special Consensus, his approach to songwriting (and writing in general), and we hear about a book Fulks is currently working on. Plus a lot more. http://www.robbiefulks.com/ The Fretboard Summit, our three-day celebration of all-things-guitar is taking place August 24-26, 2023 at Fulks old stomping grounds...Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Featured performers include Wayne Henderson, Jeff Parker, Jorma Kaukonen and much more. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings (use the discount code FRETBOARD and save 10% off your first order). Subscribe to our keepsake print magazine here.

Prepare to have your mind blown by Michael King, founder of Cowbrand Design. Michael is an authority on vintage Chicago-made guitars (Kay, Regal, etc), a repair ninja, an early adopter of 3D printing and CNC machines, a designer, and the creator of some of the most stunning electric guitars around. On this week's podcast, we talk about his start working at a hobby store as a kid, the influence that Scott Chinery's Blue guitars had on his early work, the magic found in Kay electrics (and how to fix them), his residency with Bantam Tools and so much more. We also talk about the space-inspired guitar Michael built for Vernon Reid, how he uses 3D printing and CNCs in his builds (and where he doesn't use them), and so much more. https://www.cowbranddesign.com/ Want to meet Michael, Josh Scott, Bill Frisell, and dozens of other guitar heroes? Come to our three-day 2023 Fretboard Summit, taking place August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings (use the discount code FRETBOARD and save 10% off your first order).

Longtime Fretboard Journal correspondent Ryan Richter knows a lot about music. So, when Spotify turned him onto a mysterious album of guitar instrumentals entitled Pirate Songs of the Lower Islands, his curiosity was piqued. Who is G. Weller, the artist behind the collection of beguiling acoustic guitar instrumentals? When were these recordings made? And why would such a talented musician have basically no internet paper trail? On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, Richter tries to uncover the mystery behind Pirate Songs… It's a journey that involves Weller's label, Full Color Sound Records, musician/producer Blake Mills, and a bait-and-tackle shop in Nova Scotia. Listen to Pirate Songs of the Lower Islands on Spotify here. Full Color Sound Records Bandcamp: https://fullcolorsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow Ryan Richter here: https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/ Our podcast is sponsored by the 2023 Fretboard Summit, Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings.

The always-entertaining guitar tech/writer/historian/musician Michael James Adams (@puisheen) joins Jason this week to talk about life updates, offset Fenders, the proper setup of a Jazzmaster setup and so much more. In a new feature, we then recap some of the memorable guitar news of the month of March 2023, including some cool guitar-centric events, the new EMG pickups for Jazzmasters (the EMG Retro Active JMaster), Taylor Guitars selling direct, the JHS Show / Digitech Bad Monkey saga, the passings of some great guitar heroes, and a lot more. https://www.instagram.com/puisheen Want to meet Michael, Josh Scott, Bill Frisell, and dozens of other guitar luminaries? Come to our 2023 Fretboard Summit August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings.

This week, Micah Bruce (Bruce Guitars) joins us to talk about the 2023 Fretboard Summit guitar giveaway and so much more. Bruce does a bit of everything: Electric builds, acoustics, repair and restoration. Speaking to us from his new shop space in Ohama, Nebraska, he recounts his early days in the guitar industry when he landed a job at Collings in Austin, Texas. We then talk about his time at Allison Guitars and Moniker and his decision to set up his own shop and work for himself. It's a candid look at the realities of the guitar industry and the life of a solo, largely self-taught guitarmaker. https://bruceguitar.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bruce_guitars/ Now the big news: Micah will be building a custom guitar that one lucky 2023 Fretboard Summit attendee will get to take home. Check out his current offerings: https://bruceguitar.com/build and tell us what you think the ultimate "Fretboard Journal" Bruce guitar would look like. Send your comments, ideas, and secret Brazilian rosewood stash GPS coordinates to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. And come see Micah and over 40 other great guitarmakers at our 2023 Fretboard Summit. All-access tickets are on-sale now. Lutherie-showcase only (no concerts, no workshops) tickets will be available soon. The Summit takes place August 24-26, 2023 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings. Need a subscription to our keepsake print magazine? Simply click here.

For five decades, Lansing, Michigan's Elderly Instruments has been an institution for vintage guitar, banjo, and mandolin lovers. Founded in 1972 by Stan Werbin, the store has provided old and new instruments to countless musicians around the world through its storefront, legendary catalogs, and, now, website. On this week's podcast, we talk to Elderly's new President, Lillian Werbin, about this famed store. She gives us a brief history, explains why she decided to work at the family business, and describes her hopes for the shop's future and the collector's market in general. It's a great chat with a young retail visionary who is committed to maintaining Elderly's stellar reputation while also looking forward. Get tickets to our forthcoming 2023 Fretboard Summit in Chicago: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings. Need a subscription to our keepsake print magazine? Simply click here.

This week, we're offering two episodes! First up: We're talking to Simon Haycraft of Preston Thompson Guitars about their new Peter Rowan-signature model dreadnought. This uniquely appointed guitar is limited to just 15 instruments...and the second-ever guitar is our latest Fretboard Journal Exclusive instrument currently for sale on our site. It will be the cornerstone of some lucky FJ reader's acoustic guitar collection. We talk to Simon about the design elements found in the Adi / Indian Rosewood guitar (with plenty of turquoise and koa touches), shooting sunbursts, and the custom inlay commissions he gets at Preston Thompson customers. Learn more about this Peter Rowan signature guitar: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fj-exclusive-preston-thompson-peter-rowan-signature-model-serial-002 Watch our 2023 Wintergrass Vintage Instrument Workshop here: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/video/wintergrass-2023-vintage-instrument-workshop-with-darrell-scott-and-matt-flinner/ Get tickets to our forthcoming 2023 Fretboard Summit in Chicago: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Our podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings.