Best Fretboard Journal Podcasts (2024)

1
Podcast 468: John Monteleone 1:10:44

8d ago1:10:44

1:10:44

Today we share an hour-long interview with one of the true greats of guitar-making, John Monteleone. Collectors and musicians around the world have sought out John's archtop creations, resulting in six-figure price tags, a quartet of guitars at the Met (the Four Seasons), and even a song penned by Mark Knopfler (simply titled, "Monteleone"). He's a…

1
91. Noemi Schembri (Noemi Guitars) 49:19

14d ago49:19

49:19

Noemi Schembri builds outstanding guitars out of her one-person workshop in Northern Italy. Noemi had an interest in woodworking at a young age and went to high school and college to prepare for a career in the wood industry. For episode 91 of the podcast, Noemi tells us how she ended up forging her own path in woodworking and how this led to her s…

1
Podcast 467: Scott Tsai (Queens Vintage Guitars) 1:13:26

16d ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Meet Scott Tsai, founder of Philadelphia's Queens Vintage Guitars. Queens Vintage Guitars may just be the newest brick & mortar vintage guitar store in the country. On today's podcast, owner Scott Tsai tells us about its inception, its community focus, and so much more. https://queensvintageguitars.com Scott's story is fascinating: His love for gui…

1
Ep. 135: "Liquor, Candy, Model Airplane Magazines..." 1:36:18

17d ago1:36:18

1:36:18

It's the 135th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this time around: 1:24 Another hopeful story; Winters, California 7:44 The fift…

1
Podcast 466: Mikkel Ploug 1:07:13

18d ago1:07:13

1:07:13

We just premiered Mikkel Ploug's beautiful arrangement of Bach's Art of the Fugue for guitar on our YouTube channel. Today, we hear all about it. Ploug talks to us about how he turned to a Gibson ES-330 and an Estey-era Magnatone M-14 for this recording, his arrangement process on the Bach piece, and so much more. We talk gear, European jazz, and t…

51
Podcast 465: Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) 37:28

24d ago37:28

37:28

The Decemberists' Colin Meloy joins us this week to talk about the band's new, long-awaited album, 'As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again.' Longtime readers of the magazine will remember Colin gracing the cover of our 45th issue. This time around, we chat about why there was a six-year break Decemberists albums, the tedious side of touring, the joys …

1
Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) 1:08:46

26d ago1:08:46

1:08:46

Lord of the Les Paul and Mariscal of the Marshall Stack, Scott Gorham shot to worldwide prominence with the legendary rock band Thin Lizzy. He created what would become known subsequently as “The Twin Guitar Attack” - a harmonised lead guitar style developed alongside players such as Brian Robertson and Gary Moore, driving home the larger-than-life…

51
Podcast 464: Tony Trischka 1:08:50

1M ago1:08:50

1:08:50

Bluegrass banjo legend Tony Trischka joins us this week to discuss the making of his new album, 'Earl Jam.' He also gives us a mini-masterclass into the world of Earl Scruggs. The story behind 'Earl Jam' is truly remarkable: Upon receiving a USB drive full of never-before-released Earl Scruggs home recordings from the '80s and '90s, Trischka decide…

1
Podcast 463: Sofia Wolfson 1:14:15

1M ago1:14:15

1:14:15

Meet Sofia Wolfson, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, writer, and Fretboard Journal contributor who just released an incredible album called 'Imposing on a Hometown.' This project features a bunch of former Fretboard Journal subjects and contributors, including Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, Mason Stoops, and Harrison Whitford. Mostly though, it's a c…

1
90. Jeff LaQuatra 56:01

1M ago56:01

56:01

Jeff LaQuatra is a professor of guitar and has directed the guitar program at Colorado State University since 2016. For episode 90 of the podcast, Jeff shares his musical journey from student, to winning and judging competitions, to teaching. Jeff also talks about how he prepares his students to make a living as a professional player and what advic…

1
Ep. 134: "A Little Debbie Swiss Roll" 1:26:39

1M ago1:26:39

1:26:39

It's the 134th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp. This week, we're joined by jazz guitarist Jonathan Stout where we talk EH-150s, field coil speakers and more! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.…

1
Podcast 462: Ethan Sherman Returns 57:10

2M ago57:10

57:10

Guitarist Ethan Sherman returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his new acoustic album, 'Passages.' This contemporary bluegrass-inspired record features Ethan alongside Wes Corbett (banjo), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Thomas Cassell (mandolin), Avery Merritt (fiddle) and Ethan Jodziewicz (bass). During our chat, Ethan explains why banjo recor…

1
Ep. 4: Nina Gerber 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

For our fourth episode, we speak with Nina Gerber, a teacher, arranger, producer, and accompanist currently based in Sebastopol, California. We wandered through the conversational terrain of early guitar experiences, how to define success, and much more. To learn more about Nina and her music: http://ninagerber.com Also, please check out the articl…

1
Podcast 461: Dr. Molly Miller 47:21

2M ago47:21

47:21

When guitarist Dr. Molly Miller isn't teaching music at USC, she's touring the world with Jason Mraz or recording with her own Molly Miller Trio. Or, as we learn today, she might be over at the tennis courts. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, Miller walks us through a week in her life, talks about the gear she uses, and hints at hosting a t…

1
Ep. 133: "A Spicy Tomato Sauce" 1:34:56

2M ago1:34:56

1:34:56

It's the 133rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed: 1:14 Skip's 1950 Ferguson tractor, the Truth About Lawn Mowers 7:28 A zebra on …

1
89. Josh Rieck (J. Rieck Lutherie) 57:57

3M ago57:57

57:57

Josh Rieck has many arrows in his luthier quiver. He builds and repairs instruments, and also owns a full-service music store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Josh started out studying double bass in college and then completed the Guitar Repair & Building program at Red Wing College in Minnesota. He does it all: Violin family instruments, acoustics, a…

1
Podcast 460: John Roderick 1:01:22

3M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

On this week's show, we have a candid chat with Seattle indie rock musician-turned-podcaster (Roderick on the Line, Omnibus) John Roderick. The Long Winters frontman was an early Fretboard Journal subject and guest on our podcast. This time around, we talk about John's break from music-making, the new songs he's been writing, the perils of pedal co…

1
Podcast 459: Ryan Richter 1:06:53

3M ago1:06:53

1:06:53

For the last several years, Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter has served as a touring guitarist for Dijon, Ryan Beatty, Lizzy McAlpine and others. Years ago, he was also one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest employees. Ryan recently released his first solo project - a fascinating one-track, 20-minute long album called "As Good A Place As An…

1
Podcast 458: Josh Scott (JHS Pedals) 1:11:51

3M ago1:11:51

1:11:51

This week, JHS founder Josh Scott joins Jason to talk about guitar media, following your passion, marketing, work/life balance and so much more. We talk about how JHS was founded, the JHS Show on YouTube (and the work that goes into it), guitar media, printed matter in 2024, events, social media, the enduring power of Facebook (and paper books!), m…

1
Derek Gripper 56:49

3M ago56:49

56:49

Derek Gripper plays Malian Kora music on a vintage Hermann Hauser classical guitar...and if that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will! John Williams himself describes feeling that this was, and, I quote, "absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it." So that’s pretty cool. We talk about his work translating the music of this beautif…

1
Podcast 457: John Smith 59:12

3M ago59:12

59:12

Singer-songwriter John Smith joins us this week to talk about his moving new Joe Henry-produced album, 'The Living Kind.' We hear about the British folk scene and John's time with John Renbourn and others; his guitar collection (including a rather unusual custom Fylde, his Mule guitars and others); the making of the new album; his thoughts on strea…

1
Ep. 132: "Start Dark" 1:21:58

3M ago1:21:58

1:21:58

No guests or special theme this week...just an all-new, old-school episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed: 1:31 What's on Skip's workbench: Va…

1
Podcast 456: Scott Ballew 47:43

4M ago47:43

47:43

Scott Ballew is an Austin, Texas-based filmmaker and musician. For years, he’s directed unforgettable videos and documentaries for Yeti and others. In 2020, he decided to take up songwriting and recorded his first album just a year later. This week, Ballew releases his third album, Rio Bravo. It’s an exceptional work that somehow combines Ballew’s …

1
88. Casimi Guitars 1:09:51

4M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Lifelong friends Mathias Roux and Matthew Rice make visually stunning and beautifully executed Casimi Guitars out of their shop in South Africa. For episode 88 of the podcast, Mathias and Matthew discuss how they developed their visual style and the voice of their guitars. They also share their thoughts on the division of labor in the shop, their t…

1
Podcast 455: John Leventhal 59:22

4M ago59:22

59:22

Six-time Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer John Leventhal joins us this week to talk about 'Rumble Strip,' his long-awaited debut solo album! John tells us why, after five decades in the music business, he decided to make a solo album. We chat about his writing process, the home studio he and partner Rosanne Cash have in …

1
Podcast 454: Craig Korth 1:06:40

4M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Craig Korth is a bluegrass musician, instrument collector, and luthier based in British Columbia. Over the years, Craig performed at countless festivals, ran a music camp, and amassed a world-class collection of vintage instruments. As he recounted at the end of his appearance on episode 271 of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, he's also struggled wit…

1
Podcast 453: Julian Lage 39:23

4M ago39:23

39:23

This week, guitarist Julian Lage returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk to us all about his new, Joe Henry-produced album, 'Speak to Me' (Blue Note). We talk about working with Henry, the 'Speak to Me' band (including Levon Henry), Lage’s writing process, his favorite practice hacks, the gear he used, and so much more. We pack a lot into …

1
Ep. 131: "Sandy Soil" 1:48:19

4M ago1:48:19

1:48:19

Illustrator/musician/underground comix legend Robert Armstrong (Mickey Rat, Couch Potato, the Cheap Suit Serenaders!) joins Skip and Jason this week for a very special installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps. Want to support our show? Join our Patreon! Some of the topics discussed: 1:38 NOS military-grade green pilot light jewels from Gary Econ…

1
Podcast 452: Rasmus Zandvliet & Jeremy the Guitar Hunter 1:18:24

5M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

This week, we share two great interviews: First, we talk to Rasmus Zandvliet, a young (17-year-old!) aspiring luthier from the Netherlands teaching himself how to build acoustic guitars from scratch using YouTube videos for inspiration and a modest array of tools (and a curling iron to bend sides!). Rasmus is already on to his third guitar and garn…

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