The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Our Fretboard Summit OM guitar project is now nearing completion. On this episode, we conduct one last Skype conversation with luthier T. Drew Heinonen to talk about the instrument, where it stands currently and about some of the finishing touches Drew will be making to the guitar. He tells us a bit about pore fillers, the intricacies of UV finishes, how he prefers to glue the bridge to the body, the merits of Ironwood as a replacement for Ebony and much more. We'll be unveiling this guitar for the first time at the Fretboard Summit, October 14-16, 2016 in San Diego, California. Join us for three days of music, guitar talks, interviews and panels if you can. We'll even let you play this very guitar. It's going to be a blast. Special thanks to Stewart MacDonald for sponsoring this and other Summit guitar episodes. http://www.stewmac.com http://www.fretboardsummit.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com http://www.heinonenguitars.com

We don't often cover religious music here at the Journal but on today's podcast we talk to Paul Enns, a music pastor based in London. He walks us through his unique job, crafting music and playing acoustic guitar for church services; tells us about his wildly eclectic music tastes (here's a player who can appreciate everything from Joe Henry to John Zorn and Albert Ayler); describes the life changing impact Springsteen's The River had on him as a child and a lot more. Also, Summit updates, some Southern California FJ reader meetups and more. Intro and outro music by Jon Rauhouse, who has a new album out with Eric Bachmann. www.fretboardjournal.comwww.fretboardsummit.com Jon Rauhouse with Eric Bachmann: http://stores.portmerch.com/ericbachmann/featured-products/eric-bachmann-and-jon-rauhouse-lp.html

As Santa Cruz celebrates its fortieth anniversary, we're sharing the talk that founder Richard Hoover gave at the first-ever Fretboad Summit. Richard tells us a bit about the SCGC operation, gives us his thoughts on how tonewoods affect what we hear, describes his specific builds for Tony Rice and much more. The next Fretboard Summit takes place October 14-16, 2016 in San Diego, California. Once again, Hoover and many luthiers from around the country will be on-hand, fielding questions and explaining their craft. We'll also have some of our favorite musicians, interactive exhibits, dozens of vintage guitars in a pop-up "guitar library" and much more. http://santacruzguitar.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com http://www.fretboardsummit.com

Jim Olson is a legend in the world of acoustic guitar making. The Minnesota-based luthier is a cult favorite among guitar collectors around the world thanks to the instruments he's built for James Taylor (Taylor's Olson was once immortalized in cartoon form on a Simpson's episode), Phil Keaggy and Leo Kottke. Due to their high demand, Olson's new creations start at $15,000, a price that even he is a little embarrassed by. "I'm the Forrest Gump of guitarmaking," Olson tells us. "I fell into here. I don't think these things are any more special than anything else." During this candid talk, Olson tells us about the first guitar he built (with help from the classic Irving Sloane book), how Keagy ordered the first cedar guitar and how an early (and failed) distribution deal for his dreadnoughts in the late '70s resulted in his fanatical appreciation for tooling and build efficiency. "I'm sometimes more interested in making a new piece of tooling than a guitar," he says. We also talk CNC machines, the creation of the Small Jumbo, tone woods, his fateful meeting with James Taylor and more. Subscribe to all the Fretboard Journal podcasts via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fretboard-journal-podcast/id394447340?mt=2 https://www.fretboardjournal.com http://www.fretboardsummit.com

These days, Otto D'Ambrosio is best known for his exquisite archtop guitars. But his guitar journey began long ago, when he stumbled into Mandolin Brothers as a 13 year old. He ended up working at Mandolin Brothers for Stan Jay, then for luthier legends Flip Scipio and John Monteleone. He did some time at the repair department of Guild's Westerly plant and, eventually set out on his own as a luthier and repairman. On this week's podcast, D'Ambrosio tell us about his background, describes the ongoing evolution of his archtop models and tells us about his ongoing collaboration with Eastman Guitars. After working for most of his life on the East Coast, Otto has now relocated to the West Coast to work out of Eastman's California headquarters. It's an informative and fun chat with one of the fretted instrument world's best craftsmen. http://eastmanguitars.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com http://www.fretboardsummit.com

It's starting to look like a guitar! Luthier T. Drew Heinonen is hard at work on the OM guitar project we'll be unveiling at the 2016 Fretboard Summit. On this week's podcast, Drew tells us about his assembly of the guitar's body, gives us his views on bracing and bridge plates and much more. The Fretboard Summit OM will be unveiled at the next Fretboard Summit, taking place October 14-16, 2016 in San Diego. Go to www.fretboardsummit.com for details.

Author, record producer, historian and performer Bob Carlin joins the Fretboard Journal podcast to talk about his latest project, the gorgeous new book 'Banjo: An Illustrated History.' The book is an exceptional tome for any fretted instrument collector: Carlin walks us through the history of the instrument while showcasing some of the most gorgeous banjos ever created. It also offers profiles on notable players and builders (including Jason Romero, Doc's Banjos, Kevin Enoch, Deering and others). Order the book here: http://amzn.to/29W7i0w

Tim Young is best known for his guitar playing with Wayne Horvitz in Zony Mash but he's also done a ton of session and studio work with everyone from Todd Rundgren and Fiona Apple to John Legend. On this week's podcast, we talk to Young about his career as a session guitarist, including his stint playing on the case/lang/veirs record (he's also immortalized as the subject of the song "Best Kept Secret" on the album) and his work as the guitarist in the house band for The Late Late Show with James Corden. Young tells us about his time at Seattle's Cornish College of the Arts, his struggle to connect with some classic jazz sounds and how he found his guitar voice thanks to the music of Bill Frisell and Ween. Added bonus: We shot video of Young playing with Bill Frisell at the Fretboard Journal, coming soon to our website. Stay tuned… Special thanks to D'Addario for sponsoring this episode. http://www.timothyyoungmusic.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com The Fretboard Summit takes place October 14-16, 2016 in San Diego, California. We hope to see some of you there. It's our take on our dream guitar festival, with incredible concerts, panels and talks from some of the world's best musicians and luthiers and a lot of surprises.

On May 24, 2016, jazz guitarists Bill Frisell and Matt Munisteri performed a short Facebook Live set at the Fretboard Journal's Seattle headquarters. After the cameras were turned off, we kept the microphones rolling while Bill and Matt had an insightful conversation that covers Johnny Smith, the '80s New York City jazz scene, guitars, Bill's work with Vernon Reid, inspiration, attempting to take vacation time and much more. Watch Bill and Matt's Facebook Live session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQUq9v34dsA or via the Fretboard Journal's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/fretboardjournal Matt Munisteri will be appearing once again at the Fretboard Summit, held October 14-16, 2016 in San Diego, California. www.fretboardsummit.com http://billfrisell.comhttp://mattmunisteri.com

Once again, we check in with Minnesota-based luthier T. Drew Heinonen. As we've discussed on podcasts #100 and #101, Heinonen will be building the Fretboard Journal an OM-style guitar, which we'll be unveiling at the 2016 Fretboard Summit. As you'll hear in this podcast, we sent Drew a wide variety of domestic tone woods to choose from – from highly-figured koa to sleeper Black walnut. We also sourced some bracing material from Michael Gurian, a Lutz top from Pacific Rim Tonewoods and a Red spruce top from the Hampton Brothers. During this conversation, we talk to Drew and get his reaction to the various tonewoods we mailed to him. We get his thoughts on thickness sanding, how much (if at all) a luthier can affect the tone of the raw materials he's using and a lot more. Last but not least, we finally decide on the raw materials we'll be using for the Fretboard Summit OM. Special thanks to Stewart MacDonald for sponsoring this episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast. Backing music by Jon Rauhouse. www.stewmac.comwww.fretboardjournal.com www.fretboardsummit.com