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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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 brand new songs that feel like they came straight from Tin Pan Alley. On their latest release, West of Broadway, the duo was inspired by both classic musicals and West Coast jazz. They even roped in Stephen Colbert for a cameo on the album.
During our chat, we talk about Vilray’s love for jazz, his days of busking (and the downside of cell reception at subway terminals), meeting Rachael at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music, how they recorded West of Broadway and so much more.
Bonus: Watch Vilray perform “Forever Never Lasts” from West of Broadway on our Fretboard Journal YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/oL85JbQXV6c
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).
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. To help finish the record, she turned to fellow songwriter moms in her orbit.
It’s a beautiful record and a great talk. Added bonus: We're streaming her new single "Everything at Once" on our site right now: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/columns/song-premiere-courtney-hartmans-everything-at-once/
Follow Courtney here.
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: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
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 Tasmania (!), and his influences. It's an insightful chat with an artist we think you'll love.
https://jacobcole1.bandcamp.com/album/slow-gold
Read the poignant story Jacob’s sister penned for the Guardian here:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/07/i-spoke-for-my-brother-when-he-was-too-afraid-to-answer-now-he-speaks-in-melodies-and-i-have-learned-to-listen
Our new, 57th issue is now mailing. You can 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: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
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 dozens of bands at once, and his solo project.
https://www.instagram.com/i_stalling_/?hl=en
Our new, 57th issue 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: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
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 (Ryan). They are all based in Los Angeles.
At the 2025 Fretboard Summit, we sit down with these three musicians to discuss their journeys as artists and collaborators. We hear about why they all landed in LA, how they work with big-name artists, the gear they are currently obsessing over, their solo recordings, and so much more. It's an introspective chat filled with insights.
https://www.instagram.com/dylnday/
https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/
https://www.instagram.com/scarrisonwhitford/
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: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Subscribe to our reader supported print magazine: https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 selling instruments in 2025. Included were Rebecca Jasso (Old Town School of Folk Music retail store), Joe Caruso (The Music Emporium), Matt Kappenman (Mass Street Music) and Nathan Schiller (Folkway Music).
Their thoughts on guitar retail may just surprise you, and their insights into how to take care of a customer (and stay profitable during these tumultuous times) were revelatory.
Recorded live at the 2025 Fretboard Summit. We’ll be sharing more talks and panels from the Summit soon. Our next Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 gathering.
This group guitar build - combining the talents of Asheville-based luthiers Jayne, Kyle Landers, and Judson Riviere - features domestic blowdown woods from Hurricane Helene.
We talk about the region and its recovery from the storm, the unique tone woods used for this guitar, what it's like to build a guitar with other makers, and so much more!
Come see Jayne at the Fretboard Summit taking place this week: https://fretboardsummit.org/
The Fretboard Summit is our three-day festival celebrating great guitars and great guitar people. We have nearly 80 luthiers, amp builders, and pedal makers exhibiting, hourly workshops and master classes, and some mind-bogglingly great evening performances. The fun takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.
We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 to any Jazzmaster-style guitar. It requires no drilling and works with stock or Mastery bridges.
Wade’s story is one of a kind. We hear about his love for steel guitar, meeting elderly guitar tech Bob Stafford, and about the Steelmaster’s origin story (which involves Black Bobbin’s Shelby Pollard and last year’s Summit).
Come see Wade and the Steelmaster at the Fretboard Summit taking place this week: https://fretboardsummit.org/
Showcase-only tickets are just $40.
The Fretboard Summit is our three-day festival celebrating great guitars and great guitar people. We have nearly 80 luthiers, amp builders, and pedal makers exhibiting, hourly workshops and master classes, and some mind-bogglingly great evening performances. The fun takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.
We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
“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 we’ve had in years.
We talk about what the company is unveiling at our 2025 Fretboard Summit in two weeks – a new instrument for guitarists – but we also talk about so much more.
For nearly 20 years, Northfield has built superb instruments both in the US and China. We discuss Northfield’s unique business model, how they are navigating recent tariffs, and the growing popularity of acoustic music in China itself. Whether or not you play mandolin, Bagale’s enthusiasm for music – and gear – is truly infectious.
https://www.northfieldinstruments.com
Come see Northfield and the new instruments at the Fretboard Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org/
We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 this week's podcast, we talk to Dave about his love for guitar, why teenage gear obsessions are so hard to kick, his plans for his Summit set and how he balances so many different facets to his career. It's a great chat with a brilliant and funny artist.
https://www.davehillonline.com
See Dave at the Fretboard Summit on Friday night: https://fretboardsummit.org/
We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 about the D-18's restoration (which Nashville luthier Hugh Hansen just completed), East Nash Grass' forthcoming record 'All God's Children,' why you should always have an Intellitouch tuner on-hand, and so much more.
https://www.eastnashgrass.com
https://www.instagram.com/jamesalankee/?hl=en
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 School will be debuting a new, wild pedal at our Summit. For the first time ever, Mark will also teach a pedal-making class during our festival. Space is limited, but you'll go home with the ultimate Summit souvenir...a new pedal that you created!
Register for our Summit:
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
To RSVP for Mark's pedal build class: https://www.summerschoolelectronics.com/shop/p/fretboard-summit-pedal-building-class
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 about his early pieces for the magazine - including the story on John Hartford he penned for our fourth edition - and so much more. Skip has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to music. You may just want to take notes.
https://skiphellersvoodoo5.bandcamp.com/album/mojave-after-dark
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 over 200,000 followers on Instagram and accolades from numerous guitar heroes.
During our chat, we talk about her guitar journey, including her time at Berklee, working at Guitar Center, her favorite tuning, her love for Radiohead, why she won't be covering Nick Drake or Adrianne Lenker any time soon, her new single, and so much more. It's a great conversation and Emma's first interview to date.
Follow Emma:
https://emmaharner.com
https://www.instagram.com/emmaharner/
https://substack.com/@emmaharner
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 expand his band beyond the trio format; the unorthodox recording process he used to make the album; drummer Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) and so much more.
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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.
We talk about his time at Berklee, performing in mandolin competitions, his go-to mandolins (and microphone!) and so much more. A great chat with a player who should be on your radar.
Jolliff’s Mandolin Mysteries, Instrumentals Vol. 2 is a must-listen. Check it out.
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 their solo project, touring as a sideman, gypsy jazz, being in a broadway musical, and more.
https://www.instagram.com/hank_heaven/
Hank’s latest record, Loaded Dice: https://hankheaven.bandcamp.com/album/loaded-dice
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!)
https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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 several albums of self-recorded music using instruments he’s built himself. On this episode, we talk about working with John Prine and Oh Boy Records, the intersection between visual art and music, instruments he has built, and much more.
Be sure to give his latest record, Smithereens, a spin!
We are brought to you by:
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
https://fretboardsummit.org/ https://www.fretboardjournal.com
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'Brien.
We also talk about Mike's songwriting, his role at the FJ and so much more.
https://mikebuchmanmusic.com
https://obrienguitars.com
Our 56th issue of the Journal is now mailing to everyone. We hope you love it.
You've heard Jon Rauhouse's music on every episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast. For our 500th episode, we decided to check in with Jon to hear about his journey as a steel guitarist. We also talk about working with Neko Case, interviewing Bud Isaacs for the FJ, and so much more.