The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Friends Rich D'Ginto and Mike Desiderio love two things: great guitars and great coffee. So they decided to combine their passions and create Acoustic Coffee Company, a new subscription-based coffee company with perks catering specifically to guitar fanatics. During our chat, Rich and Mike talk about some of the guitarmaking and woodworking pursuits leading up to the launch of the coffee project, where they see the company expanding and a lot more. FJ fans: Acoustic Coffee Company is offering our listeners a free bag when you buy two or more. Just use the code FJ50 when you check out at https://www.acoustic.coffee. This episode is sponsored by Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and Calton Cases. Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts. Click here.

A bonus episode of sorts: Jason describes what he has brewing for the 2022 Fretboard Summit, taking place Aug. 25-27, 2022 at Chicago's legendary Old Town School of Folk Music. This unique in-person event will feature many former FJ Podcast guests and magazine subjects, live podcast tapings, hands-on displays, a game show, an array of great musicians (The Milk Carton Kids and Molly Tuttle are two of our featured artists), plus a 50-exhibitor handmade guitar show. We hope to see you there. All-access tickets: https://www.oldtownschool.org/fretboardsummit/

Paul Bigsby is one of the most important figures in the world of electric guitar development. Of course, everyone knows about his namesake (and still enduring) vibrato design. But the ultra-rare creations he made before the vibrato took off - innovative lap steels, pedal steels, electrics, and neck conversions - are the stuff of legend. These instruments, primarily built for country stars in the '40s and '50s, helped usher in and influence the modern electric guitar. New York City's Retrofret Vintage Guitars recently posted what might be the last Spanish-necked guitar that Bigsby ever built. Previously undocumented, this guitar was finished on September 15, 1958 for a Midwest studio owner named Larry (whose name is still engraved in the pickguard). At the time, Larry's guitar order cost around $400. Today's asking price? $750,000. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to the always-lively Steve Uhrik and Peter Kohman from Retrofret about it. We hear about how this guitar ended up at their store, Bigsby's incredible legacy as a guitar designer (and why it's so hard to copy one even today), the evolution of early electric guitar design, Bigsby's strained relationship with Leo Fender (and Semie Moseley), the skinny "hot rod" neck that Bigsby specialized in, and the time Merle Haggard bought Lefty Frizzell's Gibson J-200 from Retrofret (and the gamble with Haggard they politely declined). We also hear about Retrofret's recent video shoot with Bill Frisell on this Bigsby guitar and what Bill thought of it. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOZ9eBrFZz0 This is an entertaining chat about both an extremely collectible instrument and the rich history of the electric guitar. We hope you enjoy it. This episode is sponsored by Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and Calton Cases. Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts. Click here.

Last October, The Fretboard Journal's Ryan Richter (and ace producer/engineer Sean O'Brien) attended a screening of Somewhere You Feel Free, the documentary examining the recording of Tom Petty's seminal album Wildflowers. Ryan recalls: "After it ended and as we were making our way through the lobby, I noticed a woman graciously accepting thanks and congratulations out in front of the theater. Sean motioned to her, indicating that we'd be breaking stride to take our place in line. 'Have you met Alison yet? I've been meaning to introduce you two. Her father invented this wild synth that she's making a documentary about.' Sean went on to say that she also the handled all the archival footage and helped produce the film we'd just seen. Needless to say, I was intrigued." After a quick introduction, Alison and Ryan decided they'd find time to talk on mic about her father's creation, for which she's been acting as a steward, reinvigorator, forensic investigator, evangelizer, and documentarian for the last several years. The device, called The Resynator, was not only way before its time in terms of sonic character, but also in its marriage of emerging technologies in the realm of musical instruments. Her father, Don Tavel, (a musician and inventor) passed away when Alison was just ten weeks old, leaving her to not only learn about him though the memories of others, but also to reconnect with those involved in the development of The Resynator (including Mu-Tron inventor Mike Beigel) to refine and more fully realize an instrument that lost it's maker so many years ago. We hope you enjoy this conversation between Alison Tavel and Ryan Richter. Alison's completed Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/resynator/resynator The Resynator on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpGdbnmvZYI&ab_channel=Resynator Spotify Resynator playlist: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5JOjjnhNJCrBN1sJ7kgN14?si=jaYMRvEPSDqpaSTVtBMEig&dl_branch=1&nd=1 This episode is sponsored by Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts. Click here.

On our 357th episode, we heard an incredible guitar safari tale from the Po' Ramblin' Boys' C.J. Lewandowski that involved a trip to Greece in the middle of a pandemic, an underground bank vault and the Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson mandolin he ended up bringing home. Today we're sharing the second half of that interview where C.J. talks to us about the Po' Ramblin' Boys' new record, 'Never Slow Down' (out now), his band's lineup, signing to Smithsonian Folkways, and much more. Yes, there's even another great mandolin lost & found story. This episode is sponsored by Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts. Click here.

Afie Jurvanen (Bahamas) joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about life on the road, his 2020 album 'Sad Hunk,' Bahamas' often hilarious Instagram feed and so much more. We also talk about his gear of choice (including the Nachocaster guitar he recently purchased), the importance of walking, and the perks of ending up on all those Spotify "chill" playlists. It's a fun chat with one of our favorite artists. During Afie's visit, we also filmed him performing two songs. Look for those soon on fretboardjournal.com. https://www.bahamasmusic.net This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our 50th issue. Join us by clicking on this link.

Norman Blake turns 84 this week. To celebrate, we're joined by guitarist Bob Minner who is about to release an entire Normal Blake tribute album, From Sulphur Springs to Rising Fawn (Engelhardt Music Group). Minner, longtime guitarist for Tim McGraw and FJ contributor, recruited a who's-who of virtuosos on the album, including Mike Compton, Chris Eldridge, Vince Gill, Trey Hensley, Kenny Smith and Tim Stafford. It's a gorgeous album. https://minnerguitar.com During our chat, we talk to Bob about the project, his visits to Norman's house, the vintage guitars used on the project, and the Martin that Norman is currently excited about (it may just surprise you). Plus a lot more... Whether you've been inspired by Norman Blake like countless others or you just want to hear about this unique American treasure (and all the cool instruments he's championed), you'll love this chat. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our 50th issue. Join us by clicking on this link.

How far would you go for a great deal on the instrument of your dreams? How about a 5,500 mile trip halfway around the world in the middle of a pandemic? On this week's podcast, we meet C.J. Lewandowski, mandolinist and lead singer for the Po' Ramblin' Boys. C.J. just flew to Greece to buy a Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson F-5 mandolin, dated July 9, 1923, just like Bill Monroe's. He recounts the leap of faith he took to obtain it, the complexities of buying an instrument overseas, the condition of the mandolin when he finally obtained it (which had likely never played bluegrass prior to his ownership), and what's next. It's the ultimate guitar, err, mandolin safari tale... all the way to Athens, Greece and back. The Po' Ramblin' Boys have a great new album coming out March 25, 2022 called Never Slow Down on Smithsonian Folkways. We'll hear more about that on a future FJ Podcast episode. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Mono Cases, Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more).

You're going to love this hilarious and insightful chat with a true zen master of the music business, singer-songwriter Steve Poltz. This is one of the wildest Fretboard Journal conversations we've ever had. Sit back and hear about Steve's excellent new album, 'Stardust & Satellites,' produced by Oliver Wood and Jano Rix of the Wood Brothers. We also hear about Steve's childhood encounter with Elvis, some truly wild gigs with the Rugburns, why you should never take that gig opening for Styx, why record sales don't matter, the perils of cocaine (and elephants), and why Bob Taylor didn't want Steve to take "Smokey Joe" (his now-cherished Taylor guitar). Poltz famously co-wrote "You Were Meant for Me" with Jewel, but he continues to co-write with some of our favorite artists, including Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Anthony da Costa, and Sierra Hull. We hear about all that... and more. "I've never quit. It gets better every year. I'm the most unjaded musician you'll ever meet..." -Steve Poltz This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time); and www.acoustic.coffee (use the code FJCoffee2021 and get a free bag when you order two or more). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts.

Musician Sam Weber joins us this week to talk about the making of his new album, 'Get Free.' The Canadian-born songwriter and guitarist crafted the album along with his partner, musician Mallory Hauser, and Danny Austin-Manning. Recorded in a Hollywood apartment, the album is full of unique old and new gear, including Kalamazoo amps, a rubber-bridged guitar built by Reuben Cox, a Partscaster and more. It harkens to the sounds of Bahamas, Blake Mills, Adam Levy and other FJ favorites, but with its own unique spin. During our chat, we talk about the making of the album, Weber's quirky gear choices, the life of a Canadian musician, influences, and more. Check out Weber's 'Get Free' here. https://orcd.co/samweber-getfree This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Izotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase); and the FJ's newest sponsor, BED|STÜ shoes (save 20% off with the code FRETXBS for a limited time). Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here and support all that we do, including our growing family of podcasts.