Can an "art guitar" be a functional, workingman's instrument? If its built by Vermont's Creston Lea, the answer is a resounding yes. In this week's podcast, FJ publisher Jason Verlinde talks to Lea about his current output, some of the exotic woods he tracks down to build his guitars (including pieces salvaged from old barns, pickle vats and more) and about his ongoing collaboration with artist Sarah Ryan. We also talk a bit about Lea's other passion: he's a published short story author.
As many readers know, Lea was featured in the Fretboard Journal #21 along with guitar building pal Paul Languedoc. This podcast allows us to hear a bit more about the luthier's creations and the energy that goes into them.
For more information on Creston Lea's guitars, visit his site here.
Ever wondered what it’s like to play guitar alongside Lucinda Williams? Or what the Rick Rubin-produced Kid Rock album sessions were like? Our 38th Fretboard Journal Podcast will answer all of those questions and then some.
Today's guest is Blake Mills, the 25 year old guitar phenom / singer-songwriter currently touring with Williams. Mills stopped by our office and gave us the candid scoop on his background, his recent session work and what guitars he takes on the road. Also mentioned: Jackson Browne's acrylic nail advice and the magical tone contained inside Synsonics toy guitars.
For more information on Mills, visit his site here.
Next week's podcast will feature electric guitar builder Creston Lea, who was featured in the Fretboard Journal #21.
Acoustic guitarists and mandolinists all over the world know of the importance of Sitka spruce. It's one of the favored choices for guitar tops (and for bracing inside the instrument). What many musicians may not realize is that the Sitka forests in Alaska face some of the same over-harvesting dangers that have occured with Brazilian rosewood, Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce.
Musicwood is a new documentary that follows the fate of one forest in Alaska and the efforts of a group of guitarmakers (including Taylor Guitars' Bob Taylor) to slow down the harvesting.
In this week's podcast, we talk to the Musicwood's director, Maxine Trump, about the project, the Kickstarter campaign currently underway to finish funding the film and about the current state of the Sitka forests in Southern Alaska.
In May of 2011, Joe Spann will release Spann’s Guide to Gibson 1902-1941, a new book on vintage Gibson guitars, mandolins and banjos that may very well rewrite how we classify, age and think about these wonderful instruments. On this week's podcast, we talk to him about the book, the quirks of vintage Gibson guitars and mandolins and more.
Our 35th podcast features 2/5ths of the Punch Brothers: banjo great Noam Pikelny and fiddle virtuoso Gabe Witcher. We caught up with the pair right before the PB’s show at Seattle’s Showbox Theater on March 15, 2011. We asked them about the instruments they’re using on this tour as well as their future recording plans.
Our 34th podcast features an interview with singer-songwriter duo Corinne West and Kelly Joe Phelps. Though the pair have had lengthy solo careers for years, they've recently decided to perform together as a group. We ask them about how they approach songwriting as a duo, what instruments they're using and about their forthcoming album. We also ask Phelps about his great slide guitar playing (which, sadly, he no longer does). At the end of the interview, the duo performed a tune on their matching Martin HD-28s.
Recorded at the Fretboard Journal offices on January 17, 2011. Be sure to check out our exclusive video of the pair singing "Night Falls Away Singing" here.
Our 33rd podcast features a nearly hour-long interview Fretboard Journal editor Marc Greilsamer conducted with Phish bassist Mike Gordon. Gordon talks about the gear he uses, recent shows, comparisions between Phish and the Grateful Dead, his solo album Moss and much, much more.
On this week's podcast, FJ editor Marc Greilsamer talks to Walter Salas-Humara from the groundbreaking Americana band the Silos. We catch up with Salas-Humara in our offices right before he played a gig at Seattle's Tractor Tavern. The singer-songwriter talks about his tried-but-true Gibson, his early recordings with the Vulgar Boatmen and his work with the Silos. He also talks a bit about his career in the visual arts, including his recent work doing pet portraits. We also hear about the forthcoming Fretboard Journal Fifth Anniversary festivities.
On this week's podcast, Marc and Jason discuss the new Fall 2010 issue of the Fretboard Journal, which is mailing now to subscribers and features stories on Sam Bush, Froggy Bottom Guitars and much more. We also get a sneak peek at what's in store for the forthcoming Winter edition. Jason also talks to Seattle-based author (and FJ contributor) Kurt B. Reighley about his new book, United States of Americana. The book studies our country's current fascination with handmade crafts, old-time music and other throwbacks from bygone eras.
The long awaited return of the Fretboard Journal's podcasts. This week, editor Marc Greilsamer talks to incredible mandolinist David Grisman. Grisman, as many FJ readers know, was the cover story of our very first issue...some five years ago. He also interviewed Chris Thile for us in issue 10.
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to acclaimed archtop maker (and restorer) Cris Mirabella.
For our 27th podcast, editor Marc Greilsamer interviews jazz guitar legend, Larry Coryell.
For our 26th episode, Marc, Jason and Michael from the Fretboard Journal interview acclaimed luthier Kevin Ryan.
Our seventh podcast episode features special guest, Eric Danheim of Big Tex Guitars.
Recorded June 26, 2009.
The Fretboard Journal's sixth podcast episode, featuring special guest Mike Marshall.
Recorded on June 12, 2009.
The Fretboard Journal's fifth podcast episode, recorded on June 9, 2009.
Musician John Roderick (The Long Winters) joins us to talk about his gear and the unique songwriting process he underwent (thanks to a Boss looper pedal).
Originally recorded via Blogtalkradio.com, apologies for the awful audio fidelity.
The fourth episode of the Fretboard Journal podcast, recorded via blogtalkradio. Richard Johnston, acclaimed guitar dealer, historian and author joins us at 11:17 to talk about the early days of vintage guitar collecting, the economics of vintage instrument dealing, and more.
Recorded: April, 2009.
The Fretboard Journal's third-ever podcast, recorded in April of 2008. David Lindley joins the FJ's Jason Verlinde, Michael Simmons and Marc Greilsamer.
David Lindley joins us at 4:55. We discuss Dumble amplifiers, guitars, John Bilezikjian (who Lindley eventually interviewed for the FJ magazine) and more.
Recorded via the blogtalkradio platform.
The Fretboard Journal's second-ever podcast, recorded in the Spring of 2009.
Special guests John Thomas and luthier Rick Turner join us.
4:55 John Thomas joins us to talk about CITES, illegal tortoiseshell picks, and more.
26:42 Rick Turner joins us to talk about sustainable woods and more.
Recorded via blogtalkradio, the FJ's original podcast platform.
The Fretboard Journal's first podcast episode, recorded live on April 3, 2009 via BlogTalkRadio. Guests included Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case) and Martin Guitar expert (and now Mastery Bridge founder) John "Woody" Woodland.