Keystone Hobbies Podcasts

This month's podcast features one of my favorite builders, Keisuke Nishi of Keystone Guitars. Keisuke went to luthier school in both Japan and the US, worked for First Act, and then did an apprenticeship with acclaimed guitarmaker Mario Beauregard. For episode 78 of the podcast, Keisuke compares his educational experiences and discusses how he was …

In Akropolis, you build a miniature city in ancient Greece, scoring points for plazas and districts in five different ways. Akropolis feels like five puzzles in one. Can you layer the pieces to make each part of your city prosper?By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Joshia de Jonge builds world-renowned classical guitars out of her one-person shop in Western Quebec. Joshia grew up in a famed guitar-building family and was helping her dad, Sergei, build and teach guitarmaking while she was still a teenager. For episode 77 of the podcast, Joshia tells us when she decided to make lutherie her full-time profession…

Portugal's poetic soul was best expressed by writer Fernando Pessoa. Visit cafes to gather cards or the bookshop to influence your style. Then linger in the public square to assemble the best poems you can, hoping the stars align with each move you make.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Dick Boak started as a draftsman at Martin guitars and stayed for 42 years taking on numerous roles at the company, including Director of the Martin Museum and Archives; Director of Advertising and Artist Models; Guitar Designer, Founder of the 1833 Shop; and more. For episode 76 of the podcast, Dick tells us about his first attempt at guitarmaking…

Scribbly Gum is a flip and write game. Each turn a movement tile is flipped and players direct their larvae by drawing paths through the layers of tree bark, hoping to gather food to complete meals. The most well fed moths will emerge the winner!By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

From a young age, Tim Frick knew that he wanted to make instruments. As a teenager, he began building basses for himself. He'd eventually take a class with famed archtop guitarmaker Tom Ribbecke, work at Gary Brawer's repair shop in San Francisco, and then spend years alongside lutherie legend Frank Ford at Gryphon Guitars in Palo Alto, California.…

From the Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls, to the protests, rallies, and organized campaigns across the nation, Votes for Women chronicles the 72 year struggle to ratify the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Legendary inlay artist Larry Robinson has been adorning guitars with jaw-dropping inlays for over 40 years. For episode 74 of the podcast, Larry discusses the creative and the technical side of inlay work and working with directly with guitar builders and players. Larry also shares his experience working on the Millionth Martin guitar, as well as o…

Guitarist Michael Watts is back for episode 73 of the podcast. Michael recounts the history of Scott Chinery’s famous Blue guitar collection and how it led to his new gig working for the Archtop Foundation. Michael also shares with us his views on flattop vs. archtop guitars, his experience with online gigs during Covid lockdowns, previews all his …

Mr Walton was killed in his study. And all the guests at Walton manor have good reasons to want him dead. With a few leads, you must piece together the crime by asking questions and sharing information.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Bryan Galloup started out as a tool and die maker and now runs one of the largest lutherie schools in the US, in addition to making his own line of highly-coveted acoustic guitars. For episode 72 of the podcast, Bryan tells us about his background before making musical instruments, the path that led to the development of his wood grading system, an…

Keystone North America is a card driven board game. Players are biologists tasked with assembling ecosystems by arranging organisms into the most optimal sequences possible. The challenge is balance.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Stampede is a game of card swapping and set collecting. Using each animal's special action, can you build the best album? It will take stealth, planning, and a bit of luck to collect the most dangerous... postage!By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Hey Yo is a rhythm-based card game driven by a small electronic gizmo that lays down a beat for your team to follow. Connect cards and symbols in time with the beat and you’ll have a chance to score well before the song ends.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

For his entire life, Max Krimmel has dedicated himself to two paths: Making and music. Though Max stopped building guitars in 1983, he went on to craft dulcimers and marimbas and create turned alabaster pieces, some of which are on display in the Smithsonian. For episode 71 of the podcast, I sit down with Max in his Nederland, Colorado studio to he…

An ancient dragon threatens Nidavellir, the realm of the dwarves! The King needs an army, so off to the taverns you go, collecting warriors, blacksmiths, hunters, and more. Bid to recruit the best assembly of brave heroes, upgrading your coins as you go.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Disney Mad Tea Party is a nerve wracking cup stacking game atop a very precarious table. Be the first to play all your cards or stack every last cup to win. Tension tuned by skill, strategy and a touch of luck drives each decision you make.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Michael Gurian started building guitars in the early 1960s and then founded the Gurian Guitar Company. He’d go on to create one of the first successful boutique steel string guitar companies of the modern era, with clients ranging from Paul Simon and Jackson Browne to Pierre Bensusan. Michael has also consulted with major guitar companies and event…

Golem is a game of cosmic forces and practical magic. Over four turns you will select marble and rabbi actions from the synagogue, studying ancient books, constructing powerful artifacts, and building golems to serve the community. The problem is control.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

The coffee craze has hit Portugal and there's a fortune to be made supporting its growing cafe culture. Can you create a successful supply chain harvesting, drying, roasting and delivering coffee beans to meet the demand for this magic drink?By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

San Antonio’s James Roadman is not only a top-notch repair person but also the maker behind some incredible tooling for luthiers. For Episode 69 of the podcast, James tells us how he went from making his own drum set to repairing guitars. He also covers all his machine shop tools and how he uses them in both repair and machining. http://www.jroadma…

Picture Perfect is a game of logic and space with a technological twist. Over six rounds, can you puzzle out how to arrange all the party guests in a cardboard diorama? When you’re ready, snap a a photo with your phone and compare.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Musician, vintage instrument expert, and guitar dealer Eric Schoenberg is largely responsible for the resurgence of OM-size guitars. In the early 1970s, Eric worked with the Martin guitar company to start making OM guitars based on their own late 1920s and early 1930s designs. The project at times also included names we all know such as Dana Bourge…

Take a deep dive into this remarkable one-against-many game of hidden movement and deduction based on the graphic novel series by Matt Kindt.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Les Godfrey makes world-class electric guitars and basses known for their unique style out of his one-person shop in Kingston, Canada. For episode 67 of the podcast, Les dives deep into his thoughts on design and the role of instrument making in his life. We also hear about his time working in Carl Thompson’s shop, his time as a touring musician, a…

Aves is a card game with roots in the classics. It is also a game of simple, subtle, and sneaky strategies. To celebrate our 400th review episode, we invited Spielers from around the world to host 7 different segments featured over the past 16 years.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

7 Wonders Architects is a quick-playing game of card drafting and empire building. Inspired by its wildly successful sibling (7 Wonders), Architects builds a different kind of fun - one that is open and approachable by a broader audience.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Dusty Gregg spent years as a professional touring guitarist and road tech before starting his own line of guitars. For episode 66 of the podcast, Dusty tells us about how his time on the road serving professional musicians influenced his guitar designs. He also shares his thoughts on winding pickups, pickup magnets, carbon fiber, and much more. htt…

The Boomerang family of games are draft-and write games. Build the best trip over seven cards, balancing multiple ways to score. Pick and place and go! The farther you wander, the better the trip.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Glow is a dice driven card and board game. You have eight days to gather companions and collect shards of light. The journey will be arduous, BUT with careful plans... and a little luck, you could become a legend!By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Doug and Sharon Proper own and operate Guitar Specialist, one of the top repair shops in the country. Doug started out with ambitions of becoming a professional jazz guitarist and began repairing guitars to help pay for his music studies in college. For our 65th episode of the podcast, Doug tells us about approaching lutherie as a sound financial b…

Brian Boru united Ireland and ended centuries of Viking dominance. Round by round and town by town, play cards to secure the crown through might, cunning, and matrimony in this trick-taking board game.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson

Veteran luthier Bruce Sexauer has been building guitars for over 50 years. For episode 64 of the podcast, Bruce tells us about his moldless method of construction, his oil varnish finish, and his collaborations with Eric Schoenberg. Bruce also shares is thoughts on the relationship between function and beauty in his guitars and how this relates to …

Three Sisters is a roll and write dice game where you plan, plant, nurture, and harvest a small farm over a single growing season. Each die you choose will shape your garden and the goods you can bring to market.By Stephen Conway & Doug Richardson