The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

How do you make a new acoustic guitar sound slightly more "vintage?" This was the nebulous premise that Jason posed to three great builders at the 2024 Fretboard Summit: John Slobod (Circa Guitars), TJ Thompson, and Steve "Nully" Nall from Collings. In this live panel, we hear these luthiers' thoughts on the topic, including wood, the importance of aging (even with a brand new guitar), the hardest body style to make sound period correct, and so much more. It's 45 minutes of great insights from three exceptional makers. http://www.circaguitars.com/ https://proluthiertools.com/ https://collingsguitars.com/ Want to be a part of our next Summit? Registration is now available for our 2025 Fretboard Summit, taking place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Attend and enjoy three days of panel discussions, all-star concerts, jam rooms, interviews, exhibitors, workshops and surprises...created just for like-minded guitar fanatics. https://fretboardsummit.org/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

D'Addario founder and Fretboard Journal 55 cover subject Jim D'Addario joins us this week for a fascinating talk about strings, innovation, and so much more.  We talk about Jim's first mentor, Mario Maccaferri; Jim's relentless work ethic, where he sees forthcoming innovation in guitar strings; and much more. It's a great chat with one of our favorite FJ subjects. Check out the new issue of the Journal featuring Jim here: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/whats-inside-fretboard-journal-55/ Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today:  https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Frequent Fretboard Journal contributor Cameron Knowler returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his forthcoming new album, CRK. Inspired by classic Terry Allen and Ry Cooder records, CRK features expansive acoustic guitar playing and atmospheric touches that evoke Cameron's Southwest roots. We also go deep on good vs. bad guitars; horse trading with Norman Blake; the groundbreaking technique of Riley Puckett; drummer Jay Bellerose and more.   Pre-order CRK and listen to Cameron's new single, "Felicity," here: https://worriedsongs.bandcamp.com/album/crk Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Ella Feingold is a Grammy-winning guitarist who has performed alongside Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, Bruno Mars, and numerous other heavyweight musicians. She's also one of the most inspiring musicians we've ever met, a trans artist who shares her love for funk and rhythm guitar on Instagram on a near-daily basis with fans around the world. On this week's podcast, we talk to Ella about her life as a recording artist, a music historian, and a video game orchestrator. We learn about the life-changing magic of inverted tuning (and how a couple of former Fretboard Journal subjects hipped her to it), the only amp she needs, the power of Fred Rogers and so much more. This is one of our favorite interviews to date and is filled with insights. We hope you love it. https://www.instagram.com/ella_rae_feingold/ https://feingoldmusic.com/ https://www.patreon.com/feingoldmusic Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Watch the video from this interview over on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

Guest host Sofia Wolfson introduces us to Renny Conti, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter/producer. They discuss Renny's introduction to music, the influence of Big Thief (Sofia just interviewed Adrianne Lenker for our 55th issue, btw), the beauty of cowboy chords and more.  Renny's self-titled album is out today (January 17, 2025). Check it out on Spotify or Apple Music. https://rennyconti.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/rennyonline/ Host Sofia Wolfson: https://sofiawolfson.bandcamp.com/album/imposing-on-a-hometown Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

This week, we're joined by Mike Nelson, Martin Guitars' VP of Global Marketing.    Mike has a coveted job: He gets to tell the story of one of the world's most loved guitar brands.   We talk about the challenges Mike faces in his role, the yearslong planning process for new Martin models, where he sees growth in the industry, the Martin Custom Shop, NAMM, and more.    It's a unique take on the business of guitar.    Martin: https://www.martinguitar.com Martin's Custom Shop: https://www.martinguitar.com/about-martin-custom-shop.html?srsltid=AfmBOor0gH2rquaP_2ZQOYJxOALmzB6uprJCvpqFqfrSVMrSDGHo5qEz   2025 LA Fire Relief:  Musicares Fire Relief: https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirerelief LA Mutual Fire Aid Resources: https://www.fireaid.info/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZX8rVNnTmxCs5y7FxfKVC7MPMztRiLJp_fWMzLcKsihzK82aF1mC8-DRI_aem_GS0GIyZN5hSAMVs8OdVRbw LA Wildfires Help List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10Q387T4udLBFSEj5MJs16E8OwZNZHU9RemS39ZhSyt8/htmlview Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

Singer-songwriter and Fretboard Journal contributor Sofia Wolfson recently joined our editorial staff. As we close out 2024, we decided to check in with her to get her recap of the guitar scene in NYC, her favorite records, artists to watch, the gear she loved and more. It's a deep dive full of new discoveries!    https://sofiawolfson.bandcamp.com/album/imposing-on-a-hometown   The Fretboard Journal is proud to present two PNW shows with Sofia:  On Friday, January 10, 2025, Sofia will be performing at one of our favorite guitar stores, Strum in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are available here. On Saturday, January 11, 2025, she'll play in Seattle at the Rabbit Box Theater. Get tickets to see Sofia in Seattle here.  Some of the stuff mentioned during this podcast:  Albums:    Woodland - Gillian Welch and David Rawlings: https://open.spotify.com/album/7zZI8ki72x4CYVJ1H2JgUA?si=T1_5XCIUTJCdLowDWFXBqg   Manning Firewords - MJ Lenderman: https://open.spotify.com/album/1bKiiYGt1fzm9YMlTnUqpN?si=pkefrVjxS8qap3NVCN2-Iw   Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Y8WS7iDIZkvzB5GUeLvku?si=SnJjef1NRiq4YH4I_eVyZg   Two Star & The Dream Police - Mk.gee: https://open.spotify.com/album/6DlLdXBGCsSDPOV8R2pCl7?si=3dw8Yv-iQAOJF5brnmeIbA   Inside the Marble - Margaux: https://open.spotify.com/album/6Tifn26BUT16VlQ3WG2khN?si=WBfItl_JSG6rencd1XCNrA   Blue Raspberry - Katy Kirby: https://open.spotify.com/album/0fVXraFe5B7rZLnGjTVZWy?si=vRq8BA-HRzWeu5TsLuQiAw   Close Your Eyes - Blue Ranger: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ekbSIvcRXFgoucz2HRSq0?si=SdlOWu0mQEe7WDjwfXJoTg   See You at the Maypole - Half Waif: https://open.spotify.com/album/42IiJqXh1ICEPJjwqG5D1B?si=GCLOCqKdT2m14e5zC7MPnA     Other Odds & Ends:    Gemini Pickups: https://www.geminipickups.com/#/   Gunk: https://gunkyard.substack.com/   No Hassle Castle: https://www.instagram.com/nohasslenyc/   Union Pool: https://www.union-pool.com/   Baby's All Right: https://babysallright.com/   Public Records: https://publicrecords.nyc/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

We first met Spokane, Washington-based luthier Tyson Soth at our annual Fretboard Summit. We loved his guitars and the story of how he fell into guitar making.    On this week's podcast, we share Tyson's story. He talks about learning from guitar maker Joel Stehr, the personal challenges that made him focus on guitars as a career, the financial perils of lutherie, why he doesn't hoard rare tonewoods, and so much more.    https://sothguitars.com   Follow Tyson Soth on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tyson.soth.guitars/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Singer-songwriter/storyteller Jason Walsmith (The Nadas) joins us this week to talk about the life of an enterprising troubadour. In addition to performing in a variety of settings across the country, Jason is the founder of Guitar Satchel, a gig bag company inspired by heritage wax canvas clothing brands. We hear all about it.    We also talk about life on the road, van life for singer-songwriters, house concerts, corporate gigs, Bedell Guitars, the Fretboard Summit, and so much more. It's a great chat with one of our community members.    https://guitarsatchel.com https://jasonwalsmithstoryteller.com/home Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

In what has become a November tradition, Guru Singh - the Fretboard Journal's favorite guitar-loving yogi and spiritual teacher - returns to the podcast. This time around, we hear more about his early days growing up in Seattle, including the now-customized Gibson J-45 that he purchased in the '50s, used throughout the '60s as a Reprise Records artist, and still plays today. We talk about his new album, en CHANT ed (out now on all the streaming platforms), working with Seal, and how he defines mantra music.  https://gurusingh.com en CHANT ed on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3iuFFu5euoPjz7Fxlf9xlQ en CHANT ed on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/en-chant-ed/1776796072 We also get advice on how to stay positive during stressful times (including the recent election), the importance of inclusion, the history of yoga in the U.S. and so much more.  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/ StewMac: Check out this affordable S-style guitar kit: https://stewmac.sjv.io/XmYmbo Thanks, as always, for tuning in.