Hosts Ed Peterson and John Kieltyka tell barely credible stories about guitars, randomly describing the people, places and events surrounding the birth of each instrument.
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Justin Motander Jones is making some wonderfully inventive guitars down there in San Diego, CA. He’s been experimenting with creating effects by controlling the pickups themselves, as opposed to simply feeding their output through an effect. He calls this idea the Ardweirdo, since the brain behind all of this is the Arduino open-source electronics …
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Gibson introduced both the J-45 and J-50 acoustic guitars in 1942. Wood was scarce, and production in Kalamazoo was severely curtailed in favor of war-related endeavors. A few “banner” J-45s were made, but the J-50 would not be reintroduced until 1947. At that time, the J-50 was little more than a J-45 without the paint job. Our example is from 196…
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Fortunately for all of us, impeccable, handmade boutique guitars are easy to find; no one is wanting for choice. We are truly in an instrument-building renaissance. Dan Strain of Danocaster Guitars is one such builder, and his focus is all about having a guitar feel like it’s been yours for years, even if you’ve only just picked it up. We were fort…
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Episode 326 - Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster
23:41
23:41
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We are torn here at High Gain HQ about the Starcaster that Fender released in 1976. All these years later, it has experienced a rehabilitation of sorts in the indie crowd. Now that the Tom DeLonge Starcaster has been introduced, will those on either side of the great Starcaster debate find common ground? If so, we smell a Nobel Peace Prize for Tom …
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In the immediate aftermath of WWII, the founders of Teisco would get their guitar bodies from a milkman who built instruments on the side. By the 1960s they were responsible for a large chunk of the Japanese import market, coming up with wilder designs as they went along. They mostly built for third parties; case in point this Silvertone bass, made…
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Episode 324 - Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars
25:06
25:06
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It’s been 5 years since we met Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars, and he’s been very busy making top-shelf instruments. It seems like more and more we’re seeing Justin’s guitars in the hands of brilliant musicians. And there’s a reason for that. Like the Sonic Baroness baritone we enjoyed while catching up with Justin. Enjoy! Like the show? Fol…
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It’s been quite a while since we had the pleasure of talking to Florian at Millimetric Instruments. He’s one of the most thoughtful designers out there, and his guitars reflect the care he puts into everything he does. We’ve been fortunate enough to play several Millimetrics, and have loved every one of them. And now, Ed has his own! We took it for…
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Recently, Gibson added a new Les Paul to its lineup. It’s got hot pickups and slim neck, and sports a simpler, no-frills design. And, it’s very light! Is all this enough to convince Ed? Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgai…
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In the early 1980s Fender briefly found itself without a factory. The company had been bought from CBS by a consortium, and the factory wasn’t included in the deal. So, they set up shop in Japan. At the same time, the Hair Metal Onslaught™ was in full bloom. What’s an instrument manufacturer to do? Make a guitar shaped like a samurai sword, that’s …
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Ed has recently acquired one of the most uniquely beat up Fender Mustangs we’ve ever seen. Made in the year the model was released, every last sticker, scrape and scratch on it is perfect; character like this comes along rarely. So , naturally, we thought it best to do a review of what makes the Mustang the rock machine it is to this day. Like the …
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Nick Corasaniti is a domestic correspondent covering national politics for the New York Times. He has covered four presidential cycles, along with countless congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral races in more than 15 years at the Times. He was once the Times’s Jersey correspondent, tracking the politics, policy, people, trains, beaches, and ecce…
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Thanks to people like Jack White and Dan Auerbach, budget line catalog guitars remain fondly in our conscience as the vibe-laden machines they are. Supro was/is no exception, having crafted some amazing instruments out of little more than a pickup and some fiberglass. Among them was the Kingston, with its buff sand color and swoopy good looks. Enjo…
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Montgomery Ward produced one of the largest mail order catalogs in the US, starting way back in the 1870s. By the time the 1950s rolled around, they were including electric guitars, like the Upbeat. Our example is a stereo version, and left us scratching our heads more than we thought it would. But it sounds good, and plays well, as most budget ins…
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Episode 316 - Ernie Ball Music Man Armada
27:50
27:50
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like, well, cool things that drop out of stuff. The Armada was the company’s first guitar designed with a neck-through. The result is every bit as sonorous as you might imagine. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com…
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In 2012, Fender celebrated the 50th anniversary of one its greatest instruments, the Jaguar. In the US reissues were designed to evoke the look of those original guitars. In Japan, production took a wider turn that saw a double bound thinline model hit the market. We’re divided as to how successful it was at the time, or what we think of it now, bu…
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Starting in the 60s, and up into the 1970s, the world was awash in earth-toned appliances; refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, you name it. Autumn Harvest and Avocado Green were at the top of the heap. No wonder, then, that Harmony would create a version of its Rebel guitar to match. Because nothing says modern convenience like the color of guacamol…
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Episode 313 - Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Inspired by Gibson Custom
24:38
24:38
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Epiphone started life as a primarily jazz-tinged manufacturer, making some of the finest hollowbodies there were. Eventually, Gibson bought the company, and eventually moved production overseas, where the brand would be relegated to mostly budget guitars. Now, though, Gibson is ramping up the build quality of these instruments - using US-made compo…
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Joe Knaggs spent many years at PRS, contributing guitar designs that came to be classics. So, of course, when he left those hallowed halls, Joe fired up his own shop and hung his shingle on a whole new family of instruments, this time bearing the name Knaggs Guitars. These are elegant, next-level machines. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these f…
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In the early 1980s, Gibson undertook an ad campaign, the slogan for which was “American made, world played”. It featured a photograph of a guitar cut into the shape of the continental United States. Visibility of that ad increased curiosity about the guitar itself, and Gibson were soon making it available for purchase. It underwent various refineme…
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Episode 310 - Kay Barney Kessel Pro K1700V
25:39
25:39
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One of the venerable companies that made guitars in Chicago at the middle of the last century was Kay. Their instruments provided tremendous value at an affordable price. One such instrument was the Barney Kessel Pro. These were recently reissued, and we found our example to be a whole hell of a lot of fun to play. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us a…
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The Rickenbacker 300 series of guitars was introduced in 1958. Designed by the esteemed Roger Rossmeisl, these guitars have changed little, but withstood the test of time. Just when we thjought we knew what we were dealing with, however, a 330 in matte black shows up. We had to grab it. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: …
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Epiosde 308 - Guild S-100 Polara Kim Thayil
22:47
22:47
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We’re pretty big fans of vintage Gretsch guitars over here at High Gain HQ. Especially the S-100, with its indispensable phase switch. If it’s good enough for Kim Thayil of Soundgarden it’s good enough for us. So when we got a line on the new Guild S-100 Polara Kim Thayil signature guitars, we had to try them. We were not dissappointed. Enjoy! Like…
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When Ovation began making solidbody guitars, just about everything they came up with was full-featured, well-made and very playable. Their designs were perhaps a little forward thinking for most, however, and they didn’t fare too well in a market of Teles and Les Pauls. When it came to bass guitars, they fared little better. But the Magnum bass is …
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Carlos Lopez started his guitar-building journey on the production line at Fender. Before long he joined the Custom Shop. Not long after that he was apprenticing to become a Master Builder. You could say our man Carlos has the chops… So, it’s really no surprise to see him sailing and thriving under his own banner - Castedosa Guitars. Along with his…
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Robert Godin started his guitar-making journey in a small shop in La Patrie, Quebec, in 1972. Over the years he expanded into five factories, across six well-known brands, including, of course, Godin Instruments. The goal was/is to make quality guitars at a reasonable price. Not easily done without cutting corners somewhere, but Godin never did. No…
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Episode 304 - Graig Markel of Recovery Effects / Danelectro Double Neck 3923
27:49
27:49
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Graig Markel and Zera Marvel of Recovery Effects have been making some of our favorite effects for a long time. At any moment they can be found on our pedal boards, emitting the precise lushness Recovery has become known for. So when Graig stopped by with two of his latest, the Moonstruck reverb/delay and the Revere overdrive, we knew what we had t…
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Among the first original designs Ibanez made after the famed Gibson lawsuit was the Musician Series. These were guitar re-thought from the ground up. They are still considered sturdy workhorses, and they mark a direction that would set Ibanez on the path to being one of the world’s leading guitar makers. This MC200 got a rare ‘double buy’ from us. …
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Paul Reed Smith, the man, has been creating the highest quality guitars ever since he made one for college credit, after which he dropped out to pursue the art fulltime. PRS instruments are known for their attention to detail, impeccable response, and beautiful tops. Why then, haven’t we paid more attention to them? We’ve been remiss, and we apolog…
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Bernardo Chavez Rico grew up making classical guitars. He learned the craft from his father. Luckily for us, Bernardo decided to branch out into solidbody electrics. And the world was never the same, as musicians across all genres played his instruments at some point in their careers (Elliot Easton of The Cars? Yup…) We were fortunate enough to tak…
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Before Rickenbacker, there was Rickenbacher, and they pioneered electric guitars with their clever use of electronics, materials and design. But one instrument, the Ken Roberts electro-Spanish guitar, introduced in the throes of the Great Depression, and discontinued a few years later, would come to be regarded as one of the forerunners of today’s …
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Episode 299 - Rock N Roll Relics Lightning Junior
23:00
23:00
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The fine folk over at Rock N Roll Relics continue to kick out some of the most beautiful ideas. We’ve been fans of theirs for quite some time, and the Lightning Junior, with its lightning bolt f-holes and single pickup, does nothing to dissuade us from these rock machines. Give a listen and see if you don’t agree. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at…
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Episode 298 - Graham Instruments Baritone
25:30
25:30
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Our friend Iain Graham is at it again. THis time he’s loaned us a baritone guitar, fresh off the press. There are so many bespoke touches on this thing, we almost forgot to actually play it. And it did not disappoint. It was as easy as could be to get any kind of sound out of this instrument. Contact Iain for more info at https://grahaminstruments.…
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Once upon a time, a man named Joe Hall learned how to make guitars at the foot of Semie Mosely. He then struck out on his own with Hallmark Guitars, before leaving the industry altogether. And that may have been the end of that, had not Bob Shade resurrected the Hallmark brand and run with it. It’s unanimous - the 60 Custom is a rock machine. Enjoy…
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Episode 296 - Dave Dederer of The Presidents of The United States of America
27:57
27:57
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Dave Dederer stopped by for a vast discussion about all things guitar, including his use of only three strings during his time with The Presidents of The United States of America. Dave has an encyclopedic knowledge of his instrument, even if he is using all six strings these days. But he did bring donuts, and that counts for a lot. Enjoy! Like the …
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Episode 295 - Fender "10 for '15" American Standard Double Cut Telecaster
23:46
23:46
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In keeping with its tradition of mixing and matching designs from its own history, Fender introduced the “10 for ‘15” series of limited edition guitars. Rolled out in 2015, each model was limited to 500 instruments. One of the more unusual guitars was the American Standard Telecaster - with a double cutaway. We were pleased to try it out, as you do…
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Paul Hamer and Jol Dantzig were pioneers of what we know today as the boutique, or custom, guitar phenomenon. Many a touring band went to Hamer to get something that could not be had anywhere else. One such custom instrument is the Virtuoso. It boasted 36 frets and a scalloped fingerboard. Each guitar had a unique finish; no two are alike. We decid…
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Jesse Herlitz couldn’t find a pedal that matched the sound he had in his head; brutal, sharp, cacophonous, loud. So he set about learning the pedal biz. The result is the Visceral, a saw tooth fuzz synth pedal. Jesse swung down from Canada to walk us through it, and to show us his new guitar from Partscaster Concierge. He explained how a fella with…
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Episode 292 - Ted McCarty and The Golden Age of Gibson
29:08
29:08
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Ted McCarty resided over the most innovative period in Gibson history. Under his leadership, the company produced some of the most innovative designs to ever grace a guitar store wall. But what about the man himself? Ed has been reading up on Ted, and is taking a turn in the host chair to report what he’s found out about our man Ted. Enjoy! Like th…
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Episode 291 - Fender Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster
23:18
23:18
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Fender has two factories in North America - one in California, and one in Mexico. They share a lot of resources, both material and human. Is this why, more than ever before, it’s getting harder to choose between the two? We’re taking the new Vintera II series Jazzmaster for a ride. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patre…
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Episode 290 - Epiphone 150th Anniversary Wilshire
24:55
24:55
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Epiphone was an instrument manufacturer founded 150 years ago in the Ottoman Empire. Upon emigrating to the United States, the Stathopoulos family continued their craft in New York. By the end of the 1950s the company belonged to CMI, owners of Gibson. Itself now operating under recently changed hands, Gibson is celebrating Epiphone’s rich sonic hi…
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Episode 289 - Fender Bowling Ball Stratocaster
24:57
24:57
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As the hair metal wars shifted into high gear, Fender sought to up its own bling game by releasing a guitar with a marbled paint job. Only 300 were ever made; 225 of them were Stratocasters. Named Marble Strats, they became more commonly known as “bowling ball” Stratocasters. Introduced in 1983, these were among the last CBS-era instruments made in…
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In 1950s America there were tons of instruments being made for the growing guitar market. As quickly as old companies disappeared, new ones were formed to give the people what they wanted. Many of these outsourced manufacturing to third parties, like Kay and Harmony. In the case of New York distributor Bugellsein & Jacobsen (B&J), the work of creat…
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Episode 287 - Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster
24:59
24:59
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Tom DeLonge has been playing juicy power punk pop stuff for a long time. He’s always favored stripped down, single pickup rock machines, and has had a few signature models along the way. The newest Tom DeLonge Stratocaster is no exception, as we found out. It’s a ripper. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https…
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Episode 286 - Justin Motander Jones of Motander Guitars
25:39
25:39
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Justin Motander Jones of Motander Guitars is hard at work combining Mid-Century Modern design touches with the very best of Guild’s quirkiest 1970s creations, such as the Sky Scorcher we‘re playing this week. Once he adds his own vision to those bones, what you get is a guitar unlike any other. We enjoyed an entirely pleasant conversation with Just…
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Shortly after Norlin purchased CMI, and Gibson along with it, Les Paul returned for the design of several new models, each with specific controls and low impedence pickups. The last of these was the Les Paul Signature, a kind-of-offset looking amalgam of a regular Les Paul and an ES-335. That's where the similarity ends. Why did Norlin do this? Joi…
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Episode 284 - Barry Grzebik of Grez Guitars
31:12
31:12
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Barry Grzebik is making some mighty fine guitars at Grez Guitars in Petaluma, CA. They are beautiful instruments, with tops made from salvaged redwood. The example Barry was kind enough to send us was a Mendocino baritone, with a top made of redwood from an old municipal water tower in Lake Tahoe. The body is hollow, and it plays like an acoustic. …
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Dreams are mysterious, funny things. Who among us hasn’t spent time trying to interpret them, in order to make sense of something in our lives? Way back in 1995, the Jackson marketing director Charles Perrino had a dream he could not shake, and from it the Roswell Rhoads guitar was born. Enjoy! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram …
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Episode 282 - Iain Graham of Graham Instruments
24:25
24:25
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It's a great day whenever we get to talk to someone who puts the time and effort into making a great instrument. But when the builder lives in your neighborhood? And shows up in a vintage Japanese fire truck? 10 out of 10, no notes... So it is that we came to have a great conversation with Iain Graham. When he's not busy working on wooden boats, or…
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The Guild Surfliner Deluxe represents the oft-relocated company’s first new solidbody guitar design in close to 40 years. Borrowing from elements of some its greatest hits, Guild has crafted a guitar that looks at once modern and retro. But how does it play? We got our hands on a black one (of course) and put it through its paces. Enjoy! Like the s…
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Episode 280 - John Roderick/Fender Starcaster, part 2
24:53
24:53
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Last week John Roderick of The Long Winters stopped by High Gain HQ to chat. Three old guys in a room? Literally, what’s NOT to talk about. So we let the tape run long enough for each of us to compare/contrast our various old man ailments, the cost of socks and Young People These Days. Enjoy part 2, in which we dive into John’s music, and get to he…
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