The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

This week's podcast is a banjo double-header of sorts: First up, we talk to musician Laura Baird (the Baird Sisters) about her debut solo album, I Wish I Were a Sparrow. This mesmerizing album features both traditional and original ballads featuring just voice and banjo. Next up, we talk to author Richard Jones-Bamman about his new book, Building New Banjos for an Old-Time World. The book is a scholarly take on the contemporary world of old-time, open back banjo makers and their place in banjo history. This week's episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music. Next week, we'll talk singer-songwriter (and Men at Work founder) Colin Hay. Subscribe via iTunes to make sure you don't miss it. RIP Tom Petty. Links: Richard's book on Amazon Laura's album on Amazon

On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're joined by fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian. Michael is talking to us from his new home in Paonia, Colorado and offers us an insightful, thought-provoking glimpse into the life of a working musician. He tells us about his childhood and the impact that Middle Eastern music had on his own compositions. We also talk about his time with John Fahey, Michael Hedges and Robbie Basho and the sad downfall of Takoma Records. Michael also explains why so many great guitar players have come out of Minnesota, talks to us about his choice of acoustic guitars (built by frequent FJ contributor Todd Lunneborg) and much more. This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Michael Gulezian's official site.

This week's podcast is a bluegrass double-header. First, we talk to the one-and-only Billy Strings. He's about to release his first solo album, Turmoil & Tinfoil and we talk about the making of the record, his guitars of choice (he recently switched from his Noble dreadnought to guitars made by Preston Thompson) and a lot more. Over on fretboardjournal.com, you can hear a stream of "Pyramid Country" from the new album right now. Next up, we talk to the IBMA's Paul Schiminger about the organization's mission, it's annual World of Bluegrass festival (happening later this month) and the future of bluegrass. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music. Check out their offerings and tell them the Fretboard Journal sent you. Next week, we talk to fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian! This week's podcast is a bluegrass double-header: First, we talk to the one-and-only Billy Strings. He's about to release his first solo album, Turmoil & Tinfoil and we talk about the making of the record, his guitars of choice (he recently switched from his Noble dreadnought to guitars made by Preston Thompson) and a lot more. Over on fretboardjournal.com, you can hear a stream of "Pyramid Country" from the new album right now. Next up, we talk to the IBMA's Paul Schiminger about the organization's mission, its annual World of Bluegrass festival (happening later this month) and the future of bluegrass. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret and Dying Breed Music. Check out their offerings and tell them the Fretboard Journal sent you. Next week, we talk to fingerstyle guitar legend Michael Gulezian! https://www.billystrings.comhttps://ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass Use the coupon code PODCAST when you subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine and you'll save an extra $5. Click here.

Singer-songwriter Pieta Brown has had quite the journey. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast we talk to her about unique upbringing (her dad is famed folk musician Greg Brown), her early attempts at songwriting and the fateful day her father showed her a vintage guitar. She also talks about Postcards, her 2017 album that features collaborations with Mark Knopfler, Calexico, David Lindley and others. Watch for a video with Pieta soon on fretboardjournal.com. As an added bonus, we share a quick story David Rawlings shared with us about his Epiphone Olympic, featuring luthier Joe Glaser. This episode is brought to you by Retrofret, Adam Levy's Guitar Tips Pro and Dying Breed Music. Use the coupon code PODCAST and save $5 off any Fretboard Journal subscription or order.

Our guest on today's Fretboard Journal Podcast is Chris Young, founder of Union Tube & Transistor. Chris walks us through Union's history, his current pedal lineup and the story behind his pedal collaboration with Jack White. We also hear about the time he gave a pedal to Tom Waits and about some of Union's latest products, including their new Lab compressor pedal. While Chris was in Seattle, we also took him to Johnny Sangster's Crackle & Pop studio to do a quick video demo. Watch it on fretboardjournal.com. This podcast is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Adam Levy's new Guitar Tips Pro, where you can get great professional video lessons for as little as $5 a month.

The second installment of our interview with Zack Vex of Z.Vex Effects covers a lot of ground. Zack gives us an overview of Z.Vex's current offerings, he then gives us his thoughts on the guitar effects industry today and he walks us through his latest invention, an all-new microphone that has to be heard to be believed. Plus a lot more... Listen to part one of this two-hour interview here. This episode is brought to you by Dying Breed Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine and use the discount code PODCAST to get $5 off your order. https://www.zvex.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com

On this week's podcast, we talk to Zack Vex of Z.Vex Effects. Over the last twenty-plus years, Zack has been at the forefront of the boutique pedal movement. But, as you'll hear during our lengthy interview, his love for electronics and science goes way beyond just guitar effects. Zack walks us through his childhood, his first guitar repairs and the early days of his now-flourishing company. On next week's episode, we'll hear about Z.Vex today and some of Zack's most recent inventions including the Candelas Vibraphase and a brand new (and mind boggling) microphone. This episode is brought to you by Dying Breed Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and use the discount code PODCAST to get $5 off your order. https://www.zvex.comhttps://www.fretboardjournal.com

Musician Christian Lee Hutson is one of the most impressive young songwriters we've talked to in recent memory. On today's podcast, we talk to Chrstian about getting hooked on guitar (thanks to Nirvana), dropping out of high school to pursue music and his latest recording projects, including a forthcoming album featuring members of Dawes. We'll have videos of Christian at the Fretboard Journal coming soon. In the meantime, check out some of his music performances online to get a sense of his unique songwriting or catch him on tour opening for John Moreland. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Retrofret Vintage Instruments. http://www.christianleehutson.com Watch: Christian Lee Hutson - "I Just Can't Fucking Do It Anymore"

On this week's podcast, we talk to builder Todd Cambio of Fraulini Guitars. While a lot of guitarmakers focus on traditional Martin or Gibson-style instruments, Todd loves to focus on models built by more obscure vintage instrument brands, including Stella, Larson Bros., Lyon & Healy and Oscar Schmidt. During our talk, Todd talks to us about his start in lutherie and his love for early blues and 78 recordings. He then explains the research he did to recreate Lydia Mendoza's 12-string guitar and his new attempt to create a replica of Lonnie Johnson's 12-string guitar (both, it turns out, were originally built by San Antonio's Acosta family). Cambio is equal parts luthier and history detective… it's fascinating to hear how he cobbles together information and grainy photos to build some of these instruments. We hope you enjoy our talk. This episode is sponsored by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Dying Breed Music. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes. And use the discount code PODCAST when you check out at fretboardjournal.com to save an additional $5 off your order.

Sam Amidon is, quite simply, one of our favorite musicians. His visionary music is mesmerizing, he somehow melds traditional Appalachian folk with experimental music. On this week's podcast, we talk to Sam about his music-filled childhood (his parents are folk singers Peter and Mary Alice Amidon) and his transition from being a professional traditional fiddler to a groundbreaking solo artist. Sam tells us about his discovery of avant-garde music and free jazz, what it was like to get lessons from Leroy Jenkins and his time in the indie band Stars Like Fleas. He also discusses his collaboration with hero Bill Frisell (2014's Lily-O), the energy he finds in primitive field recordings, why he wore a kung fu outfit to his first solo gig… and a lot more. Sam has had a fascinating musical journey and he walks us through it all. Sam's 2017 Nonesuch album, The Following Mountain, is his first recording to feature his own songs. We can't recommend it enough. Audio note: There's some cell phone distortion in the first ten minutes of this call; it gets better as the conversation goes on. Stick with it. This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Order a subscription to the Fretboard Journal via our site and use the coupon code PODCAST to save $5 off any order.