Guitar Stories - Your #1 show for everything guitar!

One More Thing! In Summer 2022 we met with US-guitarist Dave Weiner who had just decided to end his 23-year-stint as guitarist in Steve Vai's live band. Dave has been a fan favorite on the show and, again, didn't fail to leave an impression by explaining why it was time for a change for him and providing so many valuable chunks of wisdom from his career as a professional guitarist. You better take notes ... and enjoy this last ride!

The last livestreamed episode of Guitar Stories features British YouTuber and shredder Jake Leigh. Funnily enough, Jake is a die-hard fan of the show and has listened to all previous 88 episodes, so he knows the drill! We talk with him about strategies for launching a new Metal Guitar channel on YouTube and how to find a niche. We also dive deep into the story how he came to release his own signature guitar with UK brand LT Custom Guitars. Enjoy this last round of the GSP carousel.

Many guitar building secrets are being revealed in episode 88 from Jackson's Principal Master Builder Pasquale “Pat” Campolattano. He joined Fender in late 2020 after having built a reputation for exquisit guitar creations with a Japanese company previously and has been bringing some of the wildest, prettiest and sexiest custom creations to life for Jackson, Charvel, and EVH ever since. We take a deep dive on the challenges of building high-end guitars from scratch and what secret methods he is using to make them play like butter, we discuss what innovations in the guitar realm are a must on a custom shop build, and lastly Pat reveals how his personal dream guitar would be spec'd. Get enthused about custom guitar building in this episode and enjoy the ride.

In episode 87 we welcome Canadian steam hammer Glenn Fricker. When he starts talking guitarists listen as the Ontario-based YouTuber has earned a reputation for debunking common gear myths on his YouTube channel “Spectre Sound Studios”. We talk with Glenn about why guitarists hear with their eyes, what kind of speakers sound usually best for rock and metal players, and how to improve your tone without busting the bank. Spoiler alert: It's not the f'ing pickups. Join us on this wild ride and get yelled at!

Get Your Nails On Fleek! In episode 86 we welcome Acoustic guitar wunderkid Marcin. The 22 year old Polish guitar virtuoso regularly trends on YouTube with his ferocious Acoustic Fingerstyle renditions of Metal, Hip-Hop or Classical tunes which even led him into the semi-finals of America's Got Talent. Marcin gives us a deep dive into his music and gear, reveals what Japanese Energy gel he uses to keep his nails so amazingly sturdy, and explains the background story of his newly released signature guitar with Ibanez. This episode is one of the best we ever did - enjoy!

Hola Amigos! With almost four million subscribers Carlos Asensio has one of the largest guitar channels on YouTube called GuitarraViva. We talk about his  journey from uploading his first "Wonderwall" lesson in 2011 to becoming one of the most followed and reputable YouTubers in the Spanish-speaking world of guitar. We chat about his first and favorite guitars, why proper guitar setups are a gamechanger nowadays, and explore what keeps Carlos going everyday as an online guitar instructor. This episode comes with a big smile attached, enjoy!

In episode 83 we talk with Canadian shredder Andrew Baena about how he created one of the hottest TikTok channels for metal players, why he is so obsessed with green Extended Range guitars, how he reinvented his Deathcore band Carcosa, and what is the best pickup line if you are into heavy metal. Enjoy!  

For episode 82 Canadian guitar virtuoso Nick Johnston joins us to talk about his personal guitar story that culminated in a Schecter signature guitar series with 40+ variants, how he is keeping his musical approach fresh and his looks stylish, and why the best coffee is served in Japan and Australia. Enjoy!

In episode 81 Colin Scott takes us into the Science of Loud. The Scotsman with a Master in Physics answers your gear questions and gives some exciting insights into the making of his educational gear videos. Enjoy!

Guitar Stories is back for Season 4! Pauline France was chosen from hundreds of applicants to work at Fender in the PR department. Having had three different positions at Fender up to now she has a plethora of interesting behind-the-scenes stories and valuable advice to share on how to make it in the guitar industry.

Zachary Adkins (Guitar teacher of Aidan from Stranger Things) joins us in episode 79 to talk Shred, speed and efficiency in our final episode of season 3 of the Guitar Stories podcast. We take an unexpected detour on advanced business strategies for guitar teachers, Andy talks about his Fender Meteora giveaway and the hurdles it brought about, and Dr. Dan brings the Shred Medicine as usual and an unexpected pick of the week that caused an unexpected chain reaction of G.A.S. - wanna know more? Tune in and enjoy!

Robert Keeley joins us for Episode 78 to talk about all things Pedals and more. We enter the Pedal Zen zone and discuss what a signature Guitar Stories pedal would look like, Robert provides advise on hunting down vintage tubes, and we take a deep dive into the development of the new Keeley Halo pedal with guitar legend Andy Timmons. Enjoy this firecracker!

Stranger Things and Guitar fans rejoice! In episode 77 we have Eddie Munson's hands, Aidan Fisher, as a very special guest. We find out what it was like to play the epic solo from Metallica's Master of Puppets in The Upside Down and save Hawkins and the word from Vecna in the Most Metal Concert Ever!  Aidan was the Guitar Double for Joseph Quinn in Netflix' TV show, Stranger Things. Enjoy!

In this week's episode we bring you legendary producer, composer, and guitarist Warren Huart. We chat about how Tim Pierce made him jump on the Youtube train and start "Produce Like a Pro", how he ended up buying the house in L.A. he had his first BBQ at, why trusting your ears is often the most important component when creating music, and why a cheap Yamaha Revstar is his favorite guitar at the moment. Fasten your seatbelt, guys and gals, Warren is at top speed in this episode!

Episode 75 marks a milestone for Guitar Stories as for the first time ever, Andy and Dan are LIVE and in the same room. Joined by our friend and professional guitarist, Jen Majura, we talk the truth behind her recent career changes, take a closer look at her custom-designed Ibanez PIA guitar, pick the most surprising gear picks ever on the show (meow!), and rave about the fantastic Steve Vai concert that we all went to this week. Whoop whoop!

For episode 74 we invite Kris Barocsi to openly discuss current (and future) guitar prices. Are they too expensive or not? We also have the undoubtedly hardest Buy, Borrow, or Burn in Guitar Stories history with three AMAZING picks from Keeley Electronics, Beetronics, and Two Notes Audio. We also talk about a Guitarist's Hierarchy of Needs and why selling every guitar you own and start from zero can be a cathartic and rewarding experience. This was an enlightening one, enjoy the ride!

This year's NAMM was smaller but still brought us some cool new gear. Andy and Dan present their 10 most interesting finds and chat with Swirlmeister David Bonvillain about how he created the breathtaking Ibanez PIA35TH prototype that was revealed in Anaheim. We go in-depth with Dave about his unique finishing techniques and why a degree in organic chemistry helped him to push the envelope for swirl designs, why he prefers to trade guitars with artists, and what hilarious experiences he had working as a guitar tech for Kerry King. Dave also brings us his most ridiculous product finds from the NAMM floor and Andy & Dan round this week's episode off with a comprehensive Obi-Wan discussion. Enjoy!

In episode 72 we welcome Brian Wampler to discuss pedals, the MI industry in general, and goats. We start of with a NGD as Andy shows us his new old Fender Vintage Hot Rod Strat, we dive into the business talk as Brian elaborates why the current circumstances make it almost no more profitable to build a $199 pedal in the US. We also exchange thoughts on why Josh Scott is the root of all the pedal hype in the industry at the moment and we learn why goats are like dogs and should not be milked. Enjoy!

In episode 71 we welcome the enigmatic Dave Simpson, a British guitarist and gear lunatic that rose to fame with his YouTube channel. We argue with him about what the best Red Hot Chili Peppers album is, why Hendrix might be overwhelming for teenage guitar players, and try to answer the question what a "toneless amp" is. Enjoy!

Pop Power! In Episode 70 we welcome Macedonian singer-songwriter Martina Blazeska who has just released her new single 'Trending Love'. Andy and Dan talk with her about trending on Social Media, Martina's personal guitar story, and why you neither should miss out on visiting the Supercandy! nor the Chocolate museum when in Cologne. Gear picks include the new Kirk Hammett pedal, earning Andy a new nickname as Willy Wah Wah, the new Epiphone Jerry Cantrell signature guitar duo with an obnoxious pickup choice, and the new Roland Juno-X synth. A synth? Yes, you read correctly! Listen to the episode to find out more about the why and how Martina was able to sneak a synth into the show. Enjoy!

Peter "Danish Pete" Honoré joins us in episode 69 to discuss his guitar story from huge gigs to huge videos and beyond. The Andertons co-host and all around guitar legend loves purple guitars so we will aim to discover why and if they sound better. We also explore if and how Digitech and DOD may be saved by a buyout from CorTek, admire the simplicity of the new Orange Marcus King signature amplifier, and drool over the sleek new Billy Corgan signature guitar that Reverend has released this week. Enjoy!

We're back for episode 68 and we bring you Phil McKnight in extra length! We discuss how the country of origin effect can mislead all of us at times, why you basically cannot buy a bad guitar anymore, and why a proper fretjob makes all the difference in the world. Phil also reveals how he became the only person in his community to have two paper bins, we take a look behind the scenes of musical instruments distribution imagining which problems Dan would be running into if he was to build 500 guitars overseas, and Andy learns Phil‘s favorite joke about headless guitars. Go check out this packed episode!

Guitar virtuoso Jack Gardiner is our guest in episode 67. We discuss how he became one of the hottest players in the UK, why Headless guitars should be judged by ears and hands instead of eyes, and what adult chords are. Enjoy!

Beware Jedi Knights! We execute Episode 66 and talk with progressive metal guitarist Justin Hombach who went viral on Youtube when he released a meticulous cover of Dream Theater's song "The Alien" only hours after its release. Justin teaches us what it takes to start shredding today, why he never owned a single pedal, and how he manages to sleep only 3 hours per night. Enjoy! 

Filipe Pampuri of Beetronics FX joins us in Episode 65 to discuss the wonderfully weird world of his busy bee pedal company, how they make dreams come true in their custom shop, and how he became the Lord of the Knobs. Enjoy!

Looking for the perfect vintage guitar can be a daunting task, but with the help of Guitar Point's Simon Gauf it can be easy and fun! In Episode 64, Simon shares his tips for finding the perfect vintage instrument, provides insight on what to look for when inspecting a potential purchase, and clarifies what year of Custom Shop Gibsons smelled the best. Enjoy!

Guitar Magazines are evolving and in episode 63 Music Radar's Guitar Editor, Rob Laing, talks to us about how working in music instrument journalism has changed throughout the course of the last year, how magazines can still survive despite heavy competition from Social Media, and what the best articles have been that he has written throughout his career. Enjoy!

This week is all about Boutique Guitars! In episode 62 we welcome Mike Milton, organizer of the British Boutique Guitar Festival. This three-day guitar show hosted at Mike's home took place just days ago, welcoming 15 of the best British Boutique Builders. We also talk with Mike about how a notorious German youtuber broke five guitars during that show and dive deeper into Mike's Youtube history as Chinese Guitar Sceptic, in which role he demystifyed Chinese knockoffs. Enjoy!

In episode 61 we talk with Guillaume Chenin about what it takes to get a job in the guitar industry. Guillaume is musician, content creator, and also host at Thomann's YouTube channel. He abandoned a teaching career in France to pursue his dream of making a living with playing the guitar. He has some substantial tips for you if you really want to make it in the gear business. Enjoy!

In this week's episode we welcome Youtuber Robert Baker who gives advice on how to get the best from online guitar lessons. We also talk with Robert about how buying a Mac with iMovie started his 10-year streak as an online tutor for shredding through the pentatonic scales and why you should always BURN the Camouflage guitar. Enjoy!

The last episode before Christmas brings Andy Crowley, aka Andy Guitar, again to the Guitar Stories Podcast. We talk about writing songs in the sleep (incl. live performance), how taking a nap can help to get better, and if determination can be taught by a guitar teacher. Enjoy!

Get ready for the wildest Guitar Stories episode ever! We welcome Filipino guitarist Perfecto De Castro who shows us his original 1971 Fender Tele Deluxe - an impossible guitar that shouldn't have existed at that time. We also get to see his fantastic 1974 Ibanez Les Paul jr. and talk about the hottest six gear picks of last week. Enjoy this frotastic episode!

In episode 57 of the Guitar Stories Podcast we talk to Joe Fenton, the British designer, sculptor and illustrator who is best known to us guitar geeks as the artist behind Mark Tremonti's new and very limited edition PRS anniversary guitars. Joe takes us on a journey through his career with highlights such as designing props for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy motion picture, creating two children's books in his very distinct style, to eventually handpainting 20 Tremonti singlecut guitars to help celebrate the 20-year partnership of PRS and the metal guitarist. Enjoy!

Yvette Young is back in this episode and she has a new signature guitar and new musical projects to chat about. Yvette explains to us how being stuck at home during the pandemic led her into a creative renaissance, how new gear (pedals!) can act as a muse, and why Jackie Chan might be a surprise guest the next time she returns to our show. Enjoy!

It was about time! Henning Pauly (long-time viewer, first time guest) is finally joining us on the show so we can discuss what he knows best: Good and bad guitar gear. We focus on the topic of gear charts and discuss why such lists (like the ones that Reverb.com recently released) need to be read with extra care and interpreted with some brains. In an unexpected turn of events a surprise guest takes over the show without Henning and Dan having a clue about it. What a crazy rollercoaster ride - enjoy!

In Episode 54 we welcome Jamie Humphries (Queen, We Will Rock You, Licklibrary) to talk about getting back on the road for gigs, how to create a super small fly-rig with full Queen sound and why a reduced pedalboard sometimes beats a "wall of doom". We also chat about Fender's latest "Affordacoustic" release, PRS' latest hand-painted Tremonti anniversary models, and more stuff from this week. Enjoy!

In episode #53 we welcome singer-songwriter Nicole Milik as our first ever repeat guest on Guitar Stories. Since Dan is on sick-leave this week, Nicki also fills in for the weekly gear chat and shows us what has happened in her musical world, PLUS she gives an amazing live performance. Enjoy!

Manuel Gardner-Fernandes talks to Andy & Dan about his new single "Rain" as well as his favorite gear (spoiler alert: no pedals!), some deep talk about the "hands don't glitch" controversy, and how he came out of this toxic rabbit hole even stronger. Enjoy!

Chris Hermsdörfer from "Beyond The Black" joins us to chat about playing guitar in a modern Symphonic Metal band and mixing sellout tours with Twitch sessions and a comprehensive LEGO obsession. Enjoy!

Let's celebrate! A very special episode as Andy is back in England AND it's episode 50! We chat with Jassy Pabst about her band Oversense, her Youtube channel JJ's One Girl Band, and how she has built a very supportive and successful online community over the last years. Enjoy!

We are BACK for Season 3 of the Guitar Stories Podcast. There has been SO much gear and SO much happening, let's recap the summer in this first episode of the new season. Enjoy!

This week we bring you the crossover nobody asked for and nobody needs - but here it is! Andy, Dan and Ryan from 60 Cycle Hum talk gear, sandwiches, penguins and the essential picks from 42 Gear Street. If you listen closely, you will also hear some cameos from many of your favourite Guitar YouTubers ... and Henning, too. Enjoy!

With a Summer NAMM 2021 in the books that had only one third the size of previous years, we discuss the future of guitar shows. Andy just recently returned from a well-growing guitar show in Italy with a bag full of videos and Dan considers Winter NAMM a business essential for him, so there's ample room for a turbulent discussion. We also discuss whether the new Epiphone Slash signature line is dull or good fan-service, what plug-in can make your cheap acoustic sound like an expensive sixstring, and why Reeves Gabrels might have one of the coolest signature axes out there with his new Reverend Dirtbike Royale. Enjoy this last episode, it's time to say goodbye … until season 3!

Jason and Tia have hit on something that no one else is doing. Their guitar YouTube channel "Working Class Music" is an absolute must watch and we cannot figure out why. So for Episode 46 Jason is going to be chatting with us in the hope that we can distill their excellence, bottle it and sell it. We also tackle the new John Mayer Silver Sky from PRS in Roxy Pink and debate why there is no SE version yet. We also chat about Fender's re-introduced Parallel Universe series and the new J. Mascis Telecaster. Enjoy!

Back to the 80s! In episode 45 we welcome GuitarByAsh, a young and talented guitarist from the US who is successfully shredding her way through the 80s music on Instagram. Ash explains why Slash was the initial spark for her 80s craze, why comparison is the theft of joy as an ambitious musician, and why leopard patterns make for the best backgrounds when shooting shred videos. As usual, we talk the latest in gear as Dan takes Andy on a Quest through the latest Ibanez news without allowing him to say the i-word whilst the new Boss Cube Street II makes Andy reminisce about his old days as a busking musician on the streets of Europe. Enjoy this packed episode!

We bring you Storm and Thunder this week! More precisely, we welcome Annie Clements and her husband Thad Beaty in episode 44 of the show. Clem wanted to become a touring musician since she was a child and saw her dad perform live. Clem is releasing her band's new single "What Would Dolly Do (W.W.D.D.)" live on the show and also brings a stellar duo performance of her song "My Dog". We also get to know the story behind the Bass of the Future and learn what it takes to maintain a marriage between two active musicians. Tune in for one of the most hilarious Guitar Stories episodes ever. Cheers!

This week's episode reveals how to get vintage gear for killer prices. Luke Hobbs from British auction house Gardiner Houlgate takes us on a virtual trip around their quarterly guitar auctions that are packed with droolworthy guitars, pedals, and amps. We talk about the temptations of being the temporary custodian of more than 1,200 guitars at once and where that huge pile of gear actually comes from. We also pick our most interesting pieces from the auction catalog and debate what's hot or not from the latest gear news of this week. Enjoy!

This week's episode 42 marks the premiere of our new format “In the Loop” in which pedal builders get to share their wisdom live on the show. We welcome Mikey Demus from the British metal band Skindred as he is also one of the two minds behind Redbeard Effects. We get to the bottom of pedal making with Mikey by answering what sparks the development of a new pedal, how to decide on functions and looks (rhubarb pink!), and how even a small pedal company can establish a massive dealer network for their distribution. Of course we do also chat about the latest gear news such as the TC Electronics Mojo Mojo, the Redbeard Effects Angry Rhubarb, and Orange's new OE-1 custom shop guitar. Enjoy this episode and do the thing!

Episode 41 is here and this week we bring you nothing but enlightenment! We talk with Anthony Garone from Make Weird Music about his 22-year-long journey to play one of the most difficult songs in the world, "Fracture" by King Crimson. While discovering the underlying meanings of Robert Fripp's composition Andy has a thumping epiphany and Dan is presented a mindblowing new standard tuning that invites for nerdy talk on string gauges. We also crown EytschPi42 as King Henning I. during the show as he takes over the livechat and comments on our packed selection of gear news. Pick a drab olive, grab a cold drink and enjoy this wild ride!

Our 40th episode marks a milestone as we have the first live-show pedal reveal ever. Charlie Cooper, Marketing Director at Orange Amps, joins for an exclusive (and unexpected) sneak peek of their new retro pedal line. We also welcome Michiel from Studio Chimiel on the podcast to show us around his lunatic collection of guitars and basses. Of course, like every week we discuss the latest news and also dive deep into the story of how the Ibanez JS „Flame“ was created that recently fetched nearly 70k Euros in a fundraiser for Jason Becker. Enjoy!

We're getting educated by Twitch phenomenon Raquel Lily in this episode. Raquel tells us about her life as a live streamer, how to become a Twitch partner and when to re-negotiate your contract to maximize your revenue share. We also talk about the brand new John Petrucci 20th Anniversary models from Music Man, Fender's Final Fantasy Stratocaster, and Mooer's new intelligent guitar with drum machine and effects. Enjoy the show!