The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
Music
About
The Fretboard Journal magazine's weekly podcast, where we interview legendary guitarists, luthiers, and much more.
Episodes
- Podcast 550: Inside Fretboard Journal 59
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 t…
- Podcast 549: The Music Emporium's Adam Dardeck and Andy Cambria
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 Lexingt…
- Podcast 548: Lyle Brewer
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 (fro…
- Podcast 547: Ryan Richter on Backing Dijon at Coachella
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 ab…
- Podcast 546: Michael Daves and Jacob Jolliff on Jim & Jesse
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.…
- Podcast 545: Wendy Eisenberg
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…
- Podcast 544: Thomm Jutz
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…
- Podcast 543: Rhys John Stubbs
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…
- Podcast 542: John Craigie
Singer-songwriter John Craigie joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'I Swam Here.' https://johncraigie.com We also talk about Craigie's unique humor during his sets, his Beatles covers, album covers, and so much more. Plus...a r…
- Podcast 541: Ramsey Thornton
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 g…
- Podcast 540: Jonah Sissoyev & Eric Skye
Portland, Oregon-based musicians Eric Skye and Jonah Sissoyev join us this week to talk about Jonah's beautiful new EP, 'A Place Called Nowhere.' The EP's origin story begins with Jonah asking Eric, an acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist and S…
- Podcast 539: Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) Returns
Acclaimed vintage guitar repairperson Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) joins the Fretboard Journal Podcast once again. We talk about his early training as a luthier, running Folkway Music, and his approach to repairing vintage acoustics that m…
- Podcast 538: The Story of Micro-Frets Guitars with Seth Lorinczi
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…
- Podcast 537: The 2025 Fretboard Summit Guitar Repair Panel
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 Lut…
- Podcast 536: Sam Skinner
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…
- Podcast 535: John Stropes
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.…
- Podcast 534: Philip Weinrobe
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, Th…
- Podcast 533: Shane Parish
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 mus…
- Podcast 532: Author John Stubbings Returns
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…
- Podcast 531: The Fretboard Journal's Year-End Wrap Up
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…
- Podcast 530: Breedlove Guitars' Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard
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. Ear…
- Podcast 529: John Reischman
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 m…
- Podcast 528: Guru Singh Returns
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 arti…
- Podcast 527: Liam Kazar
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. Ch…
- Podcast 526: Love of Fuzz's TJ Hiemel
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 mag…
- Podcast 525: Paul Asbell
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 sidema…
- Podcast 524: Paul Burch
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…
- Podcast 523: Grateful Shred's Dan Horne
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…
- Podcast 522: Raymond Morin of Acoustic Music Works
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 M…
- Podcast 521: Paul Rigby
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…
- Podcast 520: Ben Garnett
Guitarist Ben Garnett joins us this week to talk about the making of his new acoustic album, Kite's Keep. Garnett's journey as a musician is one-of-a-kind. This former tuba player became infatuated with the guitar thanks to his uncle, Andy…
- Podcast 519: Vilray
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're joined by New York City-based guitarist and composer Vilray Bolles. Alongside Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, he's one half of Rachael & Vilray, a duo with an uncanny knack for writing bra…
- Podcast 518: Courtney Hartman Returns
Singer-songwriter/guitarist Courtney Hartman joins us again on the podcast to share the story of her forthcoming album, With You. The album – her first since becoming a parent – is a beautiful collection of songs with a unique backstory. T…
- Podcast 517: Jacob Cole
Melbourne, Australia-based guitarist Jacob Cole joins us this week to talk about his 2025 instrumental album 'Slow Gold' and so much more. We hear about his Cole's record-filled childhood, the guitar scene in Melbourne, recording in Tasman…
- Podcast 516: Isaac Stalling
On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we introduce you to Brooklyn-based guitarist Isaac Stalling. Isaac sits down with editor Sofia Wolfson to talk about his musical roots in Oklahoma City, moving to NYC, playing in doz…
- Podcast 515: Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford (Live from the 2025 Fretboard Summit)
Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford are wildly creative guitarists who happen to play with some of the most-streamed artists of the last few years, including Ed Sheeran (Dylan), Phoebe Bridgers (Harrison), and Lizzy McAlpine (Ry…
- Podcast 514: Guitar Retail in 2025 (Fretboard Summit Panel)
Do guitars still sell in 2025? Is there a glut of unsold instruments? How have tariffs affected the high-end musical instrument space? At this year's Fretboard Summit, we asked a handful of guitar retailers for their unfiltered thoughts on…
- Podcast 513: Jayne Henderson on the Asheville Guitar Project
One last Fretboard Summit 2025 announcement: Jayne Henderson (EJ Henderson Guitars and Ukuleles) stops by the Fretboard Journal to tell us about the Asheville Guitar Project group build that she'll be unveiling at our annual guitar gatheri…
- Podcast 512: 3Bender's Wade Black
3Bender's Wade Back joins us this week to share the fascinating history of 3Bender and reveal an incredible new product he's unveiling at this year's Fretboard Summit, the Steelmaster. The Steelmaster is a string bender that can be mounted…
- Podcast 511: Northfield Instruments' Adrian Bagale
"Here's what happens when you invite a mandolin company, with crazy curiosity, to a guitar show four years in a row." -Adrian Bagale Northfield's Adrian Bagale joins us this week for what has to be one of the most insightful industry chats…
- Podcast 510: Dave Hill
Dave Hill is a comedian, actor, author, musician and podcaster. He's also a guitar fanatic. In fact, at the 2025 Fretboard Summit, he'll be performing an entire stand-up set on guitar (!) and doing some crowd work on your pedal boards. On…
- Podcast 509: James Kee (East Nash Grass)
James Kee of East Nash Grass joins us this week to talk about his band's forthcoming album 'All God's Children' and the guitar he just acquired and restored, a 1955 Martin D-18 formerly owned by Earl Scruggs! During our chat, we learn all…
- Podcast 508: Summer School Electronics' Mark Turley
Summer School Electronics founder Mark Turley joins us this week to discuss the history of his pedal company, his day job as a schoolteacher, our Fretboard Summit gathering, and so much more. In what has become an annual tradition, Summer…
- Podcast 507: Skip Heller
Musician, composer, and writer Skip Heller was one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest subjects, contributors, and podcast guests. On this week's show, we catch up with Skip to talk about his new exotica album, 'Mojave After Dark.' We chat…
- Podcast 506: Emma Harner
Meet Emma Harner, an incredibly talented artist from Nebraska who, unbelievably, has only been playing guitar since the pandemic. Emma's complex playing, a mix of math rock and acoustic fingerpicking, and arresting vocals have earned her o…
- Podcast 505: Adam Levy Returns
Acclaimed guitarist, educator, songwriter, and all-around-great-human Adam Levy is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast! We talk about his new instrumental album, 'Household.' We discuss the concept behind this record, his desire to expan…
- Podcast 504: Jacob Jolliff
Jason is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast to interview mandolin great Jacob Jolliff. Over the years, Jolliff has worked with a variety of bands, including Joy Kills Sorry, Yonder Mountain String Band, and his own Jacob Jolliff Band. W…
- Podcast 503: Hank Heaven
To rebel against musician parents, a young Hank Heaven wanted to be a French chef. But after a serendipitous moment of discovery, they became a Django Reinhardt expert. On Episode #503 of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson interviews Hank about th…
- Podcast 502: Dan Reeder
Today on the podcast, FJ assistant editor Sofia Wolfson interviews legendary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist Dan Reeder. Born in Louisiana, raised in California, and now based in Nuremberg, Germany, Reeder has released…
- Podcast 501: Mike Buchman
Mike Buchman is a Seattle-based guitar fanatic and the Fretboard Journal's newest hire! On this week's podcast, we talk to Mike about his recent experience learning the craft of guitarmaking with Colorado-based builder/instructor Robbie O'…