Podcasts about Fretboard Journal

On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to singer-songwriter Darryl Rahn about his new album (out today on Capitol Records). Darryl shares a look into his recording process, his gear set-up to get that perfect acoustic live sound, his love for his '50s Martin, and more. https://www.instagram.com/darrylrahnmusic/?hl=en Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and live podcasts with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear! 2026 speakers include Josh Scott (JHS), Mark Stutman (Folkway Music), Chris Martin IV (Martin Guitars), Fender historian Terry Foster, and many other fretted instrument luminaries.  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Working out of his solo shop in Quebec, Thierry André is a builder of truly one-of-a-kind instruments. For episode 114 of the podcast, Thierry dives into his design process and explains why he believes every instrument should include an element of danger and surprise. We also talk about his formative time apprenticing with Fred Carlson and much more. GoFundMe to help Thierry Andre beat cancer: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-thierry-andre-beat-cancer   Links: https://www.thierryandre.com https://www.instagram.com/thierryandre.studio/   Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Musician Brad Barr joins us this week to share the story of the Barr Brothers' 2025 album, Let It Hiss, and talk guitar. Brad's guitar playing is uniquely shaped by world music sounds. For years now, Brad has been using a simple but effective trick to make drone/violin sounds on his guitar: Tie a piece of sewing thread on a guitar string near the bridge. The effect, inspired by the playing of Romanian violinist Nicolae Neascu of Taraf de Haidouks, is hauntingly beautiful. He explains how he came about with the technique and where he wants to take it. We also chat about his 1951 Gibson J-45, the musicians from Mali who inspired him, and so much more.   https://thebarrbrothers.com https://www.instagram.com/thebarrbrothers Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and live podcasts with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear! 2026 speakers include Josh Scott (JHS), Mark Stutman (Folkway Music), Chris Martin IV (Martin Guitars), Fender historian Terry Foster, and many other fretted instrument luminaries.  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Episode 165 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps!   Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.  Some of the topics discussed this week: 00 Jason and Nigel 6:26 Our sponsors! 10:42  A letter, two beers, some washers, and a crossroads: Follow Joe here and on Instagram 17:10 1967 Fender Princeton Reverb project with a replaced power transformer; a shorted reverb transformer 31:36 A baffler: Two kinds of hum  36:16 What are "getter" and "wings"? The Barkely Marathon (Wikipedia) 40:31 Has anyone put the tweed Princeton tone circuit in a guitar? swaddled meat is tender meat, cast iron 44:15 A Fender Super Reverb that kept blowing fuses; the 1972 Sacramento Farrell's Ice Cream parlor plane disaster (Wikipedia) 53:33 Federico's pizza dough recipe on the TAVA Patreon; the Tone Quest Report; Tin Can Valley Letterpress 55:08 Replacing the foam gasket on my Traynor YGM-3 reverb's tank; Vacaville's Pacific Hardware 1:00:04 Rickenbacker M-11 thoughts; King Sunny Ade  1:04:51 What's on Skip's bench: Slim Dossey's Tweed Bassman and another Bassman 1:08:59 Skip's potential barn sale ponderings  1:12:29 Once an amp has replaced caps, do you still need a Variac? rice balls 1:15:28 Skip still needs a wooden Epiphone Electar Zephyr schematic (all-octal tube with vibrato) schematic! 1:17:01 1964 Fender Princeton 6G2 with non-working trem  1:20:16 Adding a stereo headphone jack to a Princeton clone  1:24:04 Jenson transformer website schematics (link) 1:27:38 What should I do with this untouched 1976 45-watt Fender Pro Reverb?; cornbread Want to be a part of the show? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

On this week's podcast, we're mixing things up. Take a peek inside our brand new, 59th issue and hear an excerpt from our cover story with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Also, Fretboard Summit news, some of Jason's favorite stories, and more.  Get the issue here: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/whats-inside-fretboard-journal-59/ Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear!  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

On this week's podcast, we're joined by Adam Dardeck and Andy Cambria of The Music Emporium. Founded in 1968 by Stu Cohen, The Music Emporium is one of the most successful retailers of boutique and vintage guitars in the world. The Lexington, Mass.-based store is sponsoring our 2026 Fretboard Summit and, thanks to their generous support, we're granting our first-ever scholarships to the guitar festival!  To apply for the scholarship, go here.  Follow The Music Emporium here. We talk to Adam and Andy about the new program, the Summit, how The Music Emporium has evolved over the years, 2026 retail sales, the brands that they are loving right now, and more. Plus: Even more Summit updates. Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear!  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

For episode 113 of Luthier on Luthier, I'm joined by guitarist and educator Sean McGowan.    We focus on his recent Archtop Foundation recording project, featuring 20 tracks across nine exceptional Blue series archtop guitars, and dig into his detailed approach to capturing their unique voices in the studio. Sean also shares highlights from his musical journey, his work as an educator at the University of Colorado in Denver, and the realities of making a living as a modern musician.    Link: https://seanmcgowanguitar.com/   Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Episode 164 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps!   Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.  Some of the topics discussed this week: :37 The Garnet book and Garnet ponderings (order the book: http://www.garnetamps.com/order_b.htm), bias supply voltage in optocoupler tremolo    6:13 Our sponsors!  8:21 Two Fretboard Journal videos to check out: Ryan Richter on playing Coachella with Dijon (YouTube link); Gabe Noel playing a Rickenbacker bakelite tenor guitar with matching amp (YouTube link) 14:12 Beginner's corner: Amp switching, comparing different cabinets; reheating white rice; Basque soup 23:25 Can I use my Champ as a bass amp? Bass amp hacks  28:02 Does anyone have spare silverface Fender pilot lot washers, or a toggle switch washer for a Fender?  30:23 Having built a tweed Princeton, Harvard and Deluxe, what should I build next? Spam and Dr. Pepper 32:48 Can you convert the XLR speaker jack on an Ampeg B-15N to a quarter-inch jack?    35:29 The week of three curveballs: A Princeton Reverb drawing too much current; codependent electrolytic capacitors; a reverb unit that eats power transformers; Dave Segal needs an amp on the Oregon coast    44:26 A black panel Fender reverb unit with a two-prong cord    47:17 A two-prong plug needed in Norway (postscript: Jason already sent him one); reading It to your kids, redux; science fiction recommendations?    52:40 The TAVA bookshelf: An '90s Guitar World article on Cesar Diaz; Loomis, California's High Hand nursery    57:06 Plate current on a Suhr Bella 44; Tucana (https://tucana.bandcamp.com/); homemade apple cider    1:05:27 What's with the deal with the little rubber donuts for tubes? Jason is running through the night   1:10:36 Why are the plate voltages so different on my tweed Fender Deluxe clone?    1:16:35 Skip's pre-barn sale barn sale (just call Skip) Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

Guitarist, composer and Berklee professor Lyle Brewer joins us this week. We talk about his journey as a professional guitarist and educator, how he ended up teaching at Berklee (and what the students are listening to), his influences (from Pat Metheny to Andy Shauf), his love for nylon-string guitars, workshopping new music on the internet, and so much more. Brewer has a ton of insights on composing, songwriting, the future of AI and music, and more.  https://lylebrewermusic.net Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear!  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we mix things up.  Our very own Ryan Richter (https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/) just wrapped up playing two of the most talked-about sets at Coachella backing Dijon and we wanted to hear all about it. We discuss the prep that went into Dijon's Coachella performances, the gear that Ryan used, and more. Watch the whole interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zKatMHRKUgU Ryan's solo albums can be found here: https://ryanrichter.bandcamp.com Follow Ryan here: https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/ Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com  (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Guitarist Michael Daves and mandolinist Jacob Jolliff join us this week to talk about their latest project, 'We Like Jim & Jesse!' The album, a tribute to Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, features 10 of the famed bluegrass duo's tracks. During our conversation, we talk about the magic of Jim & Jesse McReynolds, some of the unique quirks of their performance style (including Jesse's wild fingernail routine), how Michael and Jacob recorded this tribute and more.  https://michaeldavesjacobjolliff.bandcamp.com/album/we-like-jim-jesse Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine here.  Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com  

Acclaimed guitarist Roy Rogers joins us this week to talk about his unique gear choices, working with John Lee Hooker, vintage amps and so much more!  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.  Some of the topics discussed this week: :56 Eric Barbour's the Tube Dumpster in Vacuum Tube Valley: 6K6, 6F6, 6Y6 tubes 2:39 A flea market Tweed Bassman 8:51 A Garnet book giveaway!  13:42 What's on Skip's bench: A distribution pre-amp 17:12 Special guest: Roy Rogers: 'The Sky's the Limit' (his new album, out now!); Mesa Boogie Mark IIB and Epiphone Electar Zephyr amps; DeArmonds in flattop acoustics; Martin New Yorkers; his custom Chappell Guitars double-neck; Johnny Shines; working with John Lee Hooker; the Hot Spot soundtrack (with Roy Rogers, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, and Taj Mahal!!) Get Roy's new album here: https://royrogers.hearnow.com/ Order 'Gaynell's Kitchen - Down Home Cooking from A Wayward Southern Belle': https://amzn.to/41mcZBn 1:27:45 How can a Traynor Bassmaster Mk. II be rated at 90 watts, while the same power-tubed YBA-1 is only 40? 1:32:14 Is Skip related to Chris Shiflett? 1:33:01 Never trust, always double-check; output transformers  1:34:29 An October meetup at Skip's, maybe Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

The incredibly talented Wendy Eisenberg joins us this week to talk about their new, self-titled album, which just earned a Best New Music nod from Pitchfork. Wendy talks about their start playing music in Western Massachusetts, the perils of awful guitar instructors, discovering prog rock (and eventually jazz…and singer-songwriters), and so much more. Hosted by Sofia Wolfson https://www.wendyeisenberg.com Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine  here.  Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com  

Thomm Jutz's story is unlike any other we've ever shared. Born in the Black Forest of Germany, Jutz became obsessed with American music when, at the age of 11, he saw Bobby Bare on TV. He eventually moved to Nashville, where he has worked with Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier, Billy Strings, and others. These days, he also teaches songwriting at Belmont University. On this week's podcast, we talk to the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer about his new solo album, Ring-A-Bellin', its companion book, his secrets for success in Nashville, and so much more. It's a great chat.   https://thommjutz.com Order the Ring-A-Bellin' book: https://thommjutz.com/store Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print magazine here.  Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com  

This week, we're chatting with Rhys John Stubbs, founder of UK-based Bigfoot Engineering. Rhys is best known for his effects pedals, but he just released a beautiful album of original acoustic guitar instrumentals called 'Zems.' We love it.  We talk about Rhys' journey through music (and how a Fretboard Journal video with the Milk Carton Kids shaped his playing!), his love for acoustic guitars, pedal production, and so much more. https://www.bigfootengineering.com/ Listen to 'Zems': https://www.bigfootengineering.com/music.html#/ Our next Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com  

For episode 112 of the podcast, I'm talking with Otto D'Ambrosio. Otto wears two hats—as a solo luthier and Chief Designer at Eastman Guitars—and he walks us through his journey from working with legends like Flip Scipio, John Monteleone, and Carl Thompson to his role today, bridging the gap between hands-on building and production design.   We talk about how the pandemic pushed him into 3D CAD, changing the way he collaborates with Eastman's workshops, and dive into some of his design work—including the Fullertone neck system, his boutique archtop builds, and an upcoming project comparing domestic and European tonewoods. Links: https://dambrosioguitars.com/ Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac. Michael Bashkin's Hub of Acoustics 2026 US Academy: https://hubofacoustics.com/en/#Colorado_Academy

Episode 162 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps! This week, we go deep on Canadian amps, tremolo tweaks, and tech tips. Plus: Rumors of a possible TAVA meetup at Skip's and a poetry slam! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Use the discount code TAVA10MOD for a one-time, 10% discount on Mod Electronics orders at https://www.modelectronics.com. Usable on speakers, amp kits, pedal kits, reverb tanks, etc. Offer ends April 11, 2026.  Some of the topics discussed this week: :00 Skip has a cold  2:04 SF's The Fab Mab (Wikipedia), 1971 Guitar Player magazine advice; changing the vibrato speed on a Fender Super Reverb 8:42 The answer to last episode's baffler: The Canadian Standards Association; TAVA merch 11:30 Caveat emptor: A UTC output transformer; why is my reverb not working? 26:12 Lead dress 101 31:40 An amp sale/TAVA gathering at Skip's? 40:01 Harmony H410 and speaker impedance 44:10 Why is the tremolo on my 1969 Traynor YSR-1 Custom Reverb head not working and how can I slow it down? 50:38 Can you put variable capacitors in a guitar circuit? 53:11 Series filaments and a Berlant Concertone MCM-2; the Epiphone Rivoli EA-65 schematic 1:00:27 Gibson Falcon mods; whatever happened to the reissue Falcon? 1:07:24 Tech tip: Hammond 154M chokes (Amplified Parts link) 1:12:10 Guitarist Chuck Wayne 1:14:05 Spaghetti sauce with meat; getting Skip an iPhone; tremolo using bias modulation on the power tubes; the Ampeg Supereverb 1:22:21 Garnet amps and Kale; the Garnet Herzog 1:24:43 A listening room for Dynaco amps and Acoustic Research turntables Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

This week, the Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson talks to Tulsa, Oklahoma-based songwriter Ramsey Thornton. Ramsey is a multi-instrumentalist with a love for both banjo and guitar. In fact, he's one of those rare individuals who boasts a graduate degree in banjo! We hear all about it and about Ramsey's forthcoming debut album, 'I Called It!'  Follow Ramsey here: https://www.instagram.com/ramsey.thornton/ Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with guitarist, writer, archivist, teacher and scholar Cameron Knowler, who has lovingly absorbed an archive's worth of early American guitar styles, and it shows. His self-illustrated book Guitars Have Feelings Too views flat picking as a continuation of the dance music that became bluegrass, not just virtuosic instrumental music. ⁠ ⁠ Cameron is a writer for Fretboard Journal magazine, and his new record CRK, released in April of this 2025, was heralded by Acoustic Guitar magazine, who said: "The dynamic performances, which evoke words like sensitive, nuanced, restrained, and understated, hint at a disinterest in flash for its own sake." We talked about Norman Blake quite a bit, learned about his fascinating background, and as always, geek out on some music history. Enjoy! ⁠ Official Website CRK Album Instagram ___ Support Educational Programming: Join the Patreon Community One-time donation via Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher Credits:  Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution  

Episode 161 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps.  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Use the discount code TAVA10MOD for a one-time, 10% discount on Mod Electronics orders at https://www.modelectronics.com. Usable on speakers, amp kits, pedal kits, reverb tanks, etc. Offer ends April 11, 2026.  Some of the topics discussed this week: :42 Phil Upchurch and 'What It's Like to Be a Musician' 3:25 On the Bench: A non-working outboard tremolo by Skip, a unique Massie trem circuit, putting trem in a Bassman 100, bias modulating tremolo 9:57 A TAVA giveaway (Thank you, Union Tube & Transistor and Exile!)  14:44 An Electro-Music Baffler, answered; a vintage Roberts electric mandolin; Tiny Moore; Bob Wills in Sacramento 25:12 Follow our Instagram page and help us get to 10,000 followers, the Garnet amp book (link), the Garnet Herzog 28:16 An amp tech for Guam 36:12 Working on a Johnson Celestion, why were some volume pots in front of the first tube? the best spare 6V6s to seek out 42:02 Talking Micro-Frets guitars on the Fretboard Journal Podcast (link) 43:13 Why is my Fender Super 60 so noisy? 49:30 A 1968 Fender Super Reverb with replaced transformers, using the extra secondaries? bias talk 56:03 Homemade salsa 59:19 Recommended reading: Proper Records' 'Hillbilly Boogie' box set (Amazon link) 1:00:33 Recommended watching: 'The Life We Have' (YouTube link, warning: it's a tear jerker) 1:01:46 The Webster-Chicago 166-1 vs. the Voice of Music 160 amp schematics; homemade chicken wings Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

For Episode 111, I'm joined by highly respected guitar builder Raymond Kraut.   Ray shares why he's embraced unconventional sound ports while staying true to his traditional tone, how his porting designs have evolved over time, and what he's learned through real-world testing.   We also dive into Ray's Derrio Wood Company, which sources and supplies desert ironwood and other unique tonewoods. Ray talks about what makes desert ironwood so special, its tonal character, and why it's becoming an exciting alternative for guitar builders.   Links https://www.derriowoodco.com/ https://www.krautguitars.com/ Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Fretboard Journal contributor Seth Lorinczi joins us this week to talk about the rise and fall of Micro-Frets, the upstart electric guitar brand launched in the late 1960s. Seth penned a lengthy story on Micro-Frets for our magazine's 58th issue (available now), and we talk about the brand's launch in Maryland, its unique offerings, the short-lived attempt to revive the company, and so much more. We also talk about Seth's history in the DC punk scene, his writing projects, and the impact psychedelic therapy has had on his life.  https://www.sethlorinczi.com/ Issue 58 of the FJ (with Seth's Micro-Frets story): https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/whats-inside-fretboard-journal-58/   Steve Melkisethian on the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcasts/the-truth-about-vintage-amps-ep-38-with-special-guest-steve-melkisethian/ Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

Episode 160 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your questions about tube amps.  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts.  Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:09 Fishing and weather report, Tule fog 4:43 Skip's amp backlog 5:19 A West guitar amp with a Dynaco 454216 transformer, a paper plate breakfast hack 10:45 Our sponsors! 12:56 What's on Skip's bench: A 1950 Princeton, a White amplifier, a Tweed Deluxe AND a Vibrolux; Electromuse amps 14:39 The Lonesome Captain's music video (YouTube link) 17:31 A Webster-Chicago 166-1 with a post phase-inverter tone control 20:36 The Valco/National/Supro single 6V6 with reverb and tremolo 28:06 A Silvertone 1472 with replaced parts; terminal strip grounds 30:55 Two filter cap Princetons (link to TDPRI forum) 32:11 An original Garnet Session Man; modding a Masco ME-27; recommended reading 39:49 The Wood Wire & Volts show; the Benson Babylon (as mentioned on episode 158!) 44:16 Speaker impedance mismatch on a Danelectro amp and its effect on tone, Spanish rice, Goya pasta 50:21 Suggestions for an unused triode in a Geloso G226A amp 54:32 Bill Krinard's return?; Dr. Z's new, single-ended PhD amp; Emery Sound amps 57:18 A new speaker for my Traynor YGM-3?; Peavey amps; smoked pork tenderlions 1:03:35 Making a baby Leslie speaker at home and adding caps to filter out EMI/interference (check out more pics on our Patreon) 1:11:00 Getting spray paint off a grill cloth (3M Safest Stripper); fixing a Fender speaker baffle; and a cursed reverb unit 1:16:50 A Cunningham CX322 tube giveaway; Alembic stereo pre-amps, redux Note: Starting around minute 60, our Zoom connection went bad and Skip can be a little hard to hear. We tried to clean it up as best we could. Sorry! Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

In what has become an annual tradition, Evan Gluck (NY Guitar Repair) hosted a guitar repair roundtable at the 2025 Fretboard Summit. This year, he brought Ceil Thompson (StewMac); TJ Thompson (Pro Luthier Tools); Mamie Minch (Brooklyn Lutherie); and Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) onstage.  It's an insightful (and often hilarious) talk about the realities of running a guitar repair business. Very quickly, these five guitar repair experts go deep on customers, the surprise revelations they've had in their careers; the tasks (and people) they avoid; and much more.  Give it a listen. It may just make you a better customer the next time your guitar needs to be repaired.  Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

Sam Skinner (Pinegrove) joins us this week to talk about his work as a guitarist, producer and engineer.  https://www.samskinner.com We also get Fretboard Journal and Fretboard Summit updates!  Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

On this episode of Luthier on Luthier, I'm joined by guitar maker Ben Wilborn. Based in Reno, Nevada, Ben brings a musician's perspective to his designs, drawing on his background in performance and composition to build instruments that are focused on tone. For episode 110, Ben shares the origins of his business and discusses how his instruments have evolved through prototype testing, data collection, and hands-on experience at the bench. https://www.wilbornguitars.com Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Fingerstyle guitar authority John Stropes joins us this week to talk all about his new two-volume book featuring transcriptions of every track on Leo Kottke's monumental '6 & 12 String Guitar' album!  Get the book here: https://www.stropes.com/product/leo-kottke-6-and-12-string-guitar-a-companion-by-john-stropes-and-benjamin-kammin/ During our chat, we hear about Stropes love for fingerstyle, how the Old Town School of Folk Music (home of the Fretboard Summit) shaped his playing, collaborating with Kottke and Michael Hedges, and so much more.  Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

The Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson interviews musician, producer, and recording and mixing engineer Philip Weinrobe. Over the years, Weinrobe has worked with a wide array of artists, including Big Thief, Hand Habits, Adrianne Lenker, Theo Katzman, Marc Ribot, Lake Street Dive, and countless others. It's a great chat about Weinrobe's roots as a recording engineer, his work at Figure 8 and Sugar Mountain studios, and so much more.  https://www.philipweinrobe.com Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com

Episode 159 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Beans, two-prong ASMR, peeling diodes (and faceplates) and more!  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And honarary mention to Rancho Gordo beans. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:32 Rancho Gordo beans in the WSJ, corn sticks 8:13 What's on Skip's bench: All the early Fender Princetons; a baffler! 11:20 Our sponsors: and (unofficially) Rancho Gordo beans 15:15: What should I do with this extra Bell Sound 2122-C hi-fi amp?; hear the TAVA All-Stars: Bob Armstong, Keith Cary, Charles Batey, Leff Jeffries (YouTube link, audio only) 25:20 How can I remove and save my tube chart when I replace the baffle? 30:09 Comparing a 5F2A kit schematic to the original; cargamanto beans (see below) 40:34 What does Skip always replace? Sello Rojo coffee; Lustre Craft pots 47:48 A Tweed Vibrolux with rusty faceplate; WEST amps transformers? 55:48 A broken, yet soothing two-prong plug question; Stephen King's 'It' 1:01:57 Are the diodes in my Premier B-220 Custom Bass amp okay? Can Switchcraft jacks go bad? 1:10:50 Real death caps; Fantastic Fungi 1:13:05 Kraft dinner; replacement transformers for 50-watt Rickenbackers; WD-40 for joint pain 1:19:28 Homemade (mostly) pizza hacks   Danny G's carmanto bean recipe INGREDIENTS: 1 can cargamanto beans rinsed and drained avocado oil in the pan 1⁄4 green pepper chopped 1⁄2 yellow onion diced 2 garlic cloves minced 1 can El Pato hot tomato sauce 1⁄2 tsp. cumin 1⁄2 tsp. paprika salt & pepper to taste Heat oil in the pan Add pepper, onion, garlic Saute for about 5 minutes until softened Stir in the beans, El Pato, cumin, paprika Season with salt and pepper Add 1 cup water or broth Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer Reduce for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally to preferred consistency Serve over rice with some avocado or sour cream This is great as is, but carnivores may want to add some meat. Living in the Polish neighborhood that I do, I first sliced up and browned some fresh made Kielbasa from the local smokery and put it aside before softening the veggies in the fond, then adding it back again during the simmering process. Multicultural chef's kiss. - Danny Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

Guitarist/composer/improviser Shane Parish is about to release a truly astounding project, Autechre Guitar. The Athens, Georgia-based guitarist has transcribed and recorded an entire album of acoustic guitar arrangements featuring the music of electronic music duo Autechre. This is no small feat. Autechre's atmospheric compositions were made with layered synths and drum machines. Shane has somehow distilled them to their essence and arranged them for solo guitar. Best of all, they sound great. On the podcast, we hear all about this Mt. Everest of a project, the Taylor 214-GE he used for the task, Shane's background as an arranger and so much more. The full Autechre Guitar album comes out on February 27, 2026 via Bandcamp: https://shaneparish.bandcamp.com/album/autechre-guitar-2 Watch Shane play Aphex Twin's "Avril 14": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC49znc2Swc Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com  

On this week's podcast, UK-based author and guitar fanatic John Stubbings returns to tell us all about his new book, 'The Guitar Detective.' The follow-up to his monumental 'The Devil Is In It' publishing project, 'The Guitar Detective' is a "non-fiction novel" based around a riveting guitar mystery. We discuss the format John chose for this book, his inspiration for the story, and so much more. https://orpharionpress.com/ Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com  

To wrap up this year, Fretboard Journal editors Jason Verlinde and Sofia Wolfson talk about some of their favorite moments from 2025. We discuss the inner workings of the magazine, our favorite articles, the 2025 Fretboard Summit, some of our favorite records and shows of the year, and so much more.  On behalf of all of us, we hope you have a very happy New Year.   Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com  

For episode 109 of Luthier on Luthier, we're joined by Juha Rukangas, a Finnish guitar maker pushing the boundaries of instrument design. We dive into his innovative Valve Bucker pickup, the Captain Nemo guitar prototype, and his use of local Arctic Birch and wood torrification to create unique guitars. Juha shares his journey from student to professional luthier and his vision for the future of guitar making, blending tradition, technology, and artistry. Link: https://ruokangas.com/ Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Episode 158: Chris Benson of Benson amps and Bryan Sours of Soursound transformers make their long-awaited returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps. Why? They want to tell us all about the logging truck of an amp they are currently building, a 700-watt(!) all-tube beast dubbed Babylon! The Babylon will feature 14 KT88 tubes, 16 total speakers, three knobs, and two power cords. It's literally the most powerful tube amp they could make without requiring a dryer outlet. Check our Instagram for a sneak peek at the creation.  https://www.bensonamps.com/ https://soursound.com/ and honorable mention to... https://bottosbbq.com/ Hear the Babylon in person at the 2026 Wood, Wire & Volts festival (or anywhere within a mile or two radius of the show). https://www.woodwirevolts.com/ Deep cuts: Bryan's first appearance on our show can be found here (it's pretty epic) and Chris originally appeared on our 30th episode.  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And happy holidays to all of our listeners and Patreon members for their support! We'll be back in 2026.  Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. 

Nearly every guitar player has daydreamed about running their favorite gear company. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we hear from two individuals who are currently living that dream: Nashville's Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard. Earlier this year, these two guitar fanatics and businessmen became the new owners of Bend, Oregon's Breedlove Guitars. During our chat, we talk about the realities of running a guitar business in 2025, the surprises they weren't anticipating, what changes they are implementing at the 35-year-old company, and where they see growth in the guitar space. Whether or not you're currently a Breedlove owner, Pete and Shannon's enthusiasm for guitars is downright infectious. We think you'll love this chat. https://breedlovemusic.com Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal will mail later this month. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com    

It's the 157th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps.   Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts  Some of the topics discussed this week:  :42 Atmospheric rivers 3:52 Skip's appearance at the Bay Area Guitar Show (Jan 10-11, link) 8:46 Fretboard Journal 58 (coming soon!) 9:57 Unsung electronics hero (and possible con man) Lee De Forest (read his memoir here); power conditioners 17:44 Skip's new trail cam 20:47 One man's trash: Repurposing the square capacitor/resistor found in a Gibson GA-19 RVT/Falcon 22:44 What's on Skip's Bench: A clean early 1969 SF Fender Vibro Champ with a trem that didn't want to go slow; an Ampeg J-20 29:11 Advice on an amp road trip (New Orleans, Phoenix, LA, and Denver) 34:25 What's louder: Two 50-watt halves or one full 100-watt stack of amps 37:29 Using the potentiometers in hi-fi speaker units from the 1950s; the Christmas Jug Band; ukuleles 42:10 What's up with this Winson combo amp? EL84s vs 7189s; garlic bread; Roy Buchanan's The Messiah Will Come Again (YouTube link); Roy Clark and Joe Pass; Van Morrison's "You Are My Sunshine;" The Fretboard Journal's You Are My Sunshine project (link) 50:29 Gigging a 1947 Fender Deluxe 5A3, Brookwood leather 55:40 6L6s in Deluxe Reverbs and Princetons? wild mushrooms 1:00:43 Are all trebles created equal? 1:05:38 Greetings from Canada; Slow Horses (redux); Life on the Line featuring John Travolta (Wikipedia link); chicken curry 1:13:26 Questions re: a Knight 93SX670 PA amp and the phono wiring 1:17:23 WD-40 musings 1:19:33 Just completed my Mojotone Tweed Princeton kit, but what's with this hum? 1:22:50 An RCA MI12155 PA head with no output; Chuck Prophet; Mosquito Coast cocktails; recommended book: 'The Night Train to Nashville' (Amazon link) 1:26:40 The Whole Earth Catalog; Stewart Brand (Amazon link) 1:30:30 Vacuum Tube Valley Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.  

Mandolin hero John Reischman joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'The Salish Sea.' We chat about the influence the Pacific Northwest has had on his music-making, discuss his famed Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson F-5 mandolin, and so much more.  Check out the Salish Sea here or on your favorite streaming platform: https://johnreischmanandthejaybirds.bandcamp.com/album/the-salish-sea https://www.fretboardjournal.com/ Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal will mail later this month. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com  

Every year during the holiday season, we chat with Guru Singh, a third-generation yogi and spiritual teacher who also happens to live and breathe guitars. On this installment (Guru Singh's third visit), we go deep. This former Reprise artist and friend of Janis Joplin talks to us about the spirit of giving, the benefits of A.I. (even for musicians), how he stays optimistic during difficult times, and so much more. We'll be sharing the video from this interview on our YouTube channel soon. https://gurusingh.com/ https://www.fretboardjournal.com/ https://fretboardsummit.org/ Check out Rhett Shull's video from our 2025 Fretboard Summit here. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal will mail later this month. Subscribe here to get it. We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com We are also brought to you by Seattle's own Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar. https://mmguitarbar.com

On this episode of Luthier on Luthier, I talk with the endlessly creative Fred Carlson. Fred shares his path into instrument making—from early sculptural dulcimers with mentor Ken Ripartella, to studying with Charles Fox, to building in communal workshops surrounded by musicians, woodworkers, and fellow artists. Fred also shares his thoughts on inspiration and reflects on appreciating a charmed life.  Link: https://www.fredcarlsoncreativeluthier.com/ Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Today's podcast episode is with Liam Kazar, a Chicago-born singer-songwriter and guitarist currently touring in Jeff Tweedy's band. Liam just put out a new record, Pilot Light, which he made at Flying Cloud Studios in upstate New York. Check it out and catch him on the road. https://www.instagram.com/liamkazar https://liamkazar.com Our 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com We are also brought to you by Seattle's own Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar. https://mmguitarbar.com

It's the 156th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. This week: Special guest Jack Weston joins us with a great Allman Brothers story.  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts  Some of the topics discussed this week:  :43 What's on Skip's Bench: a Fender Princeton with reversed input jacks 5:41 Special Guest: Jack Weston, author of 'The Allman Brothers Band: Classic Memorabilia, 1969-1976' (Amazon link) 46:17 The Magnatone Triplex; ultralinear output stages, redux; Bob Wills' The Tiffany Transcriptions 47:35 Raising kids and running a small business; tractor rollovers 51:13 A cooking baffler: Potatoes cooked in resin 52:30 Will my Airline 9003 amp kill me? 55:11 Traynor YGL-3A amps 56:43 Is it possible for a fuse to blow when the amp is fine? Best-case scenarios for a speaker mismatch? Jerry Portnoy's autobiography, 'Dancing with Muddy' (Amazon link) 1:03:02 Movie recommendations: Come See Me in the Good Light; The Lost Bus 1:05:28 The greatest Thanksgiving side dish of all-time? A corn-bread concoction; the 2026 Fretboard Summit (www.fretboardsummit.org); the TAVA Cookbook (Dropbox link) 1:07:37 Good goo: Oxalic acid/wood bleach (Amazon link); Permalac sealer 1:10:43 Using a 6SL7 as a long tail pair 1:13:03 Amps made with 6N2P pre-amp tubes and 6N6P power tubes? Ashen amps 1:15:16 The resurrection of Australia's GoldenTone amps? https://goldentone.com.au/ 1:18:39 What should I do with this West Mini IR combo amp? 1:23:37 Hopefulness and despair with a reissue Twin Reverb and a Silverface Champ 1:31:06 What should I do with my Wilcox Gay Recordio recorder 1:38:31 A Califone SP-30 powered speaker; chili  Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.  

On today's episode of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson talks to TJ Hiemel, owner of Troy, New York's Love of Fuzz store. TJ shares with us some of his favorite gear that has come through the shop, his role in the upstate music community, the magic behind his ever-evolving inventory, and much more. Be sure to follow the shop's Instagram to stay up to date with their inventory. https://www.instagram.com/love_of_fuzz/ https://www.loveoffuzz.com/ Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com We are also brought to you by Seattle's own Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar. https://mmguitarbar.com

Vermont-based guitar hero Paul Asbell joins us this week to talk about his new book, 'Stages: Ruminations, Rants, and Reminiscences on a Life in Music.' In 'Stages,' Paul recounts stories from early in his career when he worked as a sideman for legendary blues artists on the South Side of Chicago. We also hear about Paul's unique upbringing, his love for luthier-made instruments, why he left Chicago for Vermont, and so much more.  Order 'Stages' here: https://paulasbell.com/product/stages-ruminations-rants-and-reminiscences-on-a-life-in-music-book/ Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). We are also brought to you by Seattle's own Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar. https://mmguitarbar.com

Musician and Fretboard Journal contributor Paul Burch joins us this week to talk about his just-published debut novel, Meridian Rising. The book, an imagined memoir by Jimmie Rodgers, is filled with insights on the Father of Country Music and some of the unbelievable collaborators he worked with. We talk about the making of the book, why Rodgers is so fascinating to Paul, Paul's new album ('Cry Love'), and so much more.   https://paulburch.com/ Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Grateful Shred co-founder Dan Horne joins us for a chat about the making of the band, his love for the Dead (of course), and the tribute group's 2025 album, 'Might As Well.' We also talk about growing up in the Bay Area, Alembics and other gear, and so much more.  Check out Grateful Shred on tour and see what all the fuss is about: https://www.gratefulshredmusic.com/ Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

It's the 155th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. This week: Barn finds, lost dogs, an extra-grounded Jason (amp pun intended) and more!   Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:05 Skip gets the new Fretboard Journal (link); do banjos belong in the Fretboard Journal? 5:16 Recommended music: Ned Boynton's 'The North Beach Sound;' The No-Mads (nomadsband.com) 7:54 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (and Mr. Microphone) 18:12 What's on Skip's bench: A Bogen GA-5; a Realistic Carnival; Masco C-6; 6AQ5 tubes 22:53 A listener baffler, answered (speaker re-coning); Vintage 47 amps (link) 26:18 Skip's ep. 154 baffler, answered: What does Skip do when he's modding the second input of a Fender Champ? Supro Spectators 32:51 New Accutronics reverb tanks by Revisit (link)   34:52 What's the low input doing in a Marshall JCM800; green chile on everything 39:20 Lowering the B+ on a 1971 Fender Bassman 10 project; ultralinear transformers; cactus salad 48:43 The long-awaited dog story 51:35 Colin Hay's "Overkill" with Choir! Choir! Choir! (YouTube link); Traynor amps 54:52 Should I treat the pitting on a Soundmaster 600 PA? 1:00:17 Lab Series amps 1:03:39 Smoke-damaged MusicMan HD-130   1:09:20 The dangers of old tractors (and drawbridges) 1:15:34 Modifying the power section of a Twin Reverb for lower volume playing; fixing a Filmosound 385 with hum; Evan Crafts (Instagram) 1:21:26 TAVA listener spotlight: Children's book author Matt James! (Order his new book, The One About the Blackbird (Amazon link) 1:23:56 How to raise kids and run a small business; Mae Ploy curry paste  1:31:16 Barn finds: Spring-loaded input jacks; a 1947 Fender Princeton amp and matching lap steel  Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.  

For Episode 107 of the Luthier on Luthier podcast, I'm joined by Rory Dowling, the owner and builder behind the beautifully crafted Taran Guitars. https://www.taranguitars.co.uk Rory talks about his team-based approach to building and his journey from furniture design to guitar making. We also take a deep dive into his unique methods for back bracing and voicing...and much more. Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by Dream Guitars and StewMac. Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

Raymond Morin of Pittsburgh's Acoustic Music Works joins us this week for an insightful chat about running a guitar store, music and so much more. At a time when things seem pretty bleak for mom & pop guitar stores, Pittsburgh's Acoustic Music Works is a true success story. They have just relocated to a new, larger space, focusing on a select range of premium brands and hosting occasional in-house concerts. https://acousticmusicworks.com We talk about Raymond pivoting career-wise into the world of guitars; the guitar-building class he took before he became a salesperson; Collings and some of the other brands Acoustic Music Works carries; and Raymond's own Pleinview line of instruments. Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

It's the 154th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps.   Some of the topics discussed this week:  :42 Skip is back on the Ferguson TO-35 tractor; Roy Clark & Joe Pass 7:04 What's on Skip's bench: A Marshall Plexi Super Bass, Marshall bright caps, the Pet Shop Boys 11:43 Our sponsors Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts; more Fender Champ mods; a Champ gain input baffler; Soursound transformers 23:51 200 more power cords; IEC hijinks; Steve Soest  28:13 A 1954 Fender Tweed Twins and the low-powered versus high-powered Twins; Tweed Pros; Fender Champion 600 amps 31:49 A Lafayette PA with ECL82 tubes (watch on Instagram) 33:45 A 1960s Airline 62-9021A amp; how to tell a Supro/Valco from a Danelctro amp 37:33 Skip's advice for a future repair business; liability insurance; the Boilermaker; the amp that couldn't be fixed 49:06 A listener-submitted baffler: A Supro that needed a speaker recone? 52:29 What should I do with my new Knight 93350 PA head?  58:03 Should I build a 6G4 or a 6G4A in this Northern Electric PA-20 with six pre-amp sockets? 1:04:28 Wiring a Danelectro DS-100 speaker output for use with other cabs 1:11:10 Recommended media: The Birth of Loud; The Sweeney; Taggart 1:12:52 Burning up chokes in a Princeton Reverb 1:14:13 Listers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo 1:15:18 ESR meters and ceviche Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Guitarist Paul Rigby joins us this week to talk about his 15-plus-year collaboration with Neko Case and so much more. We hear about growing up in Calgary (and why it's an oddly great town for guitarists); meeting Neko; writing for Broadway; songwriting help from the Black Stallion; and why his favorite electric guitar is a $123 partscaster. https://www.instagram.com/paul.rigby003/ Neko Case's new album, 'Neon Grey Midnight Green, is out now. https://nekocase.com Our new, 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).