Fretboard Journal

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Channel • 6 Shows

Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Every two weeks
Music History

Music History

Every two weeks
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Every two months
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated 20/08/2021
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated 24/08/2022
Design

Design

Every two weeks

5 DAYS AGO

"Some People Can't Stand an Unused Triode"

Episode 160 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your questions about tube amps. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:09 Fishing and weather report, Tule fog 4:43 Skip's amp backlog 5:19 A West guitar amp with a Dynaco 454216 transformer, a paper plate breakfast hack 10:45 Our sponsors! 12:56 What's on Skip's bench: A 1950 Princeton, a White amplifier, a Tweed Deluxe AND a Vibrolux; Electromuse amps 14:39 The Lonesome Captain's music video (YouTube link) 17:31 A Webster-Chicago 166-1 with a post phase-inverter tone control 20:36 The Valco/National/Supro single 6V6 with reverb and tremolo 28:06 A Silvertone 1472 with replaced parts; terminal strip grounds 30:55 Two filter cap Princetons (link to TDPRI forum) 32:11 An original Garnet Session Man; modding a Masco ME-27; recommended reading 39:49 The Wood Wire & Volts show; the Benson Babylon (as mentioned on episode 158!) 44:16 Speaker impedance mismatch on a Danelectro amp and its effect on tone, Spanish rice, Goya pasta 50:21 Suggestions for an unused triode in a Geloso G226A amp 54:32 Bill Krinard's return?; Dr. Z's new, single-ended PhD amp; Emery Sound amps 57:18 A new speaker for my Traynor YGM-3?; Peavey amps; smoked pork tenderlions 1:03:35 Making a baby Leslie speaker at home and adding caps to filter out EMI/interference (check out more pics on our Patreon) 1:11:00 Getting spray paint off a grill cloth (3M Safest Stripper); fixing a Fender speaker baffle; and a cursed reverb unit 1:16:50 A Cunningham CX322 tube giveaway; Alembic stereo pre-amps, redux Note: Starting around minute 60, our Zoom connection went bad and Skip can be a little hard to hear. We tried to clean it up as best we could. Sorry! Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

5 days ago

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1h 22m
14 FEB

The 2025 Fretboard Summit Guitar Repair Panel

In what has become an annual tradition, Evan Gluck (NY Guitar Repair) hosted a guitar repair roundtable at the 2025 Fretboard Summit. This year, he brought Ceil Thompson (StewMac); TJ Thompson (Pro Luthier Tools); Mamie Minch (Brooklyn Lutherie); and Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) onstage. It's an insightful (and often hilarious) talk about the realities of running a guitar repair business. Very quickly, these five guitar repair experts go deep on customers, the surprise revelations they've had in their careers; the tasks (and people) they avoid; and much more. Give it a listen. It may just make you a better customer the next time your guitar needs to be repaired. Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. 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). Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

14 Feb

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59 min
18/10/2023

TJ Thompson and Mark Stutman Live from the 2023 Fretboard Summit

TJ Thompson and Folkway Music's Mark Stutman are two of the most respected authorities on Earth when it comes to the repair and restoration of 1930s and '40s vintage acoustic guitars. In this unforgettable session from the 2023 Fretboard Summit, TJ and Mark share some never-before-heard revelations from their decades of working on rare and collectible Martins and Gibsons. During this conversation, you get to be a fly on the wall and hear two repair people at the top of their craft, geek out on the little details that add up. They talk about guitar rosettes, popsicle braces, bridge plates, neck angles, how wood ages, 1970s Martins, and so much more. It's a 90-minute masterclass on the minutia and magic found inside old instruments...and why it's so hard to make a new, luthier-built instrument sound "old." We hope you love it. Registration is now open for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago: https://fretboardsummit.org/ Links: TJ Thompson: https://proluthiertools.com/ Mark Stutman: https://folkwaymusic.com/ If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and consider joining the Fretboard Journal's new Patreon page. Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Get a discounted digital subscription and get our 52nd issue immediately: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/collections/downloads/products/fretboard-journal-digital-subscription-offer Our podcast is sponsored by Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); and Stringjoy Strings (get 10% off your order with the FRETBOARD discount code). This episode is also sponsored by iZotope. Use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off off your Izotope order. You can also get 10% off your Native Instruments software at Native-Instruments.com with code RUIN10. Some restrictions apply.

18/10/2023

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1h 33m
01/04/2023

The Mystery of G. Weller

Longtime Fretboard Journal correspondent Ryan Richter knows a lot about music. So, when Spotify turned him onto a mysterious album of guitar instrumentals entitled Pirate Songs of the Lower Islands, his curiosity was piqued. Who is G. Weller, the artist behind the collection of beguiling acoustic guitar instrumentals? When were these recordings made? And why would such a talented musician have basically no internet paper trail? On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, Richter tries to uncover the mystery behind Pirate Songs… It's a journey that involves Weller's label, Full Color Sound Records, musician/producer Blake Mills, and a bait-and-tackle shop in Nova Scotia. Listen to Pirate Songs of the Lower Islands on Spotify here. Full Color Sound Records Bandcamp: https://fullcolorsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow Ryan Richter here: https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/ Our podcast is sponsored by the 2023 Fretboard Summit, Retrofret Vintage Guitars; Deering Banjos; Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); Izotope (use the coupon code FRET10 to save 10% off their plug-ins); and Stringjoy Strings.

01/04/2023

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1h 14m
22/03/2024

John Leventhal

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 NYC, the gear that he used on the album, his favorite microphones, and his go-to acoustic tuning (CGDGBE). Also discussed are the influence of Ry Cooder on his playing, the magic found in old Gibson flattops (and '60s Guilds), and why John tries to ignore industry trends when he's working as a producer. Finally, we talk about a very special feature in the Fretboard Journal's 54th issue on a Martin that belonged to John's father-in-law, Johnny Cash. 'Rumble Strip' can be streamed now in all the usual places or visit https://www.rumblestriprecords.net/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/ This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a new Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal

22/03/2024

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59 min
17 JAN

"TAVA, Again...Exclamation Point"

Episode 159 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Beans, two-prong ASMR, peeling diodes (and faceplates) and more! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And honarary mention to Rancho Gordo beans. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:32 Rancho Gordo beans in the WSJ, corn sticks 8:13 What's on Skip's bench: All the early Fender Princetons; a baffler! 11:20 Our sponsors: and (unofficially) Rancho Gordo beans 15:15: What should I do with this extra Bell Sound 2122-C hi-fi amp?; hear the TAVA All-Stars: Bob Armstong, Keith Cary, Charles Batey, Leff Jeffries (YouTube link, audio only) 25:20 How can I remove and save my tube chart when I replace the baffle? 30:09 Comparing a 5F2A kit schematic to the original; cargamanto beans (see below) 40:34 What does Skip always replace? Sello Rojo coffee; Lustre Craft pots 47:48 A Tweed Vibrolux with rusty faceplate; WEST amps transformers? 55:48 A broken, yet soothing two-prong plug question; Stephen King's 'It' 1:01:57 Are the diodes in my Premier B-220 Custom Bass amp okay? Can Switchcraft jacks go bad? 1:10:50 Real death caps; Fantastic Fungi 1:13:05 Kraft dinner; replacement transformers for 50-watt Rickenbackers; WD-40 for joint pain 1:19:28 Homemade (mostly) pizza hacks Danny G's carmanto bean recipe INGREDIENTS: 1 can cargamanto beans rinsed and drained avocado oil in the pan 1⁄4 green pepper chopped 1⁄2 yellow onion diced 2 garlic cloves minced 1 can El Pato hot tomato sauce 1⁄2 tsp. cumin 1⁄2 tsp. paprika salt & pepper to taste Heat oil in the pan Add pepper, onion, garlic Saute for about 5 minutes until softened Stir in the beans, El Pato, cumin, paprika Season with salt and pepper Add 1 cup water or broth Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer Reduce for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally to preferred consistency Serve over rice with some avocado or sour cream This is great as is, but carnivores may want to add some meat. Living in the Polish neighborhood that I do, I first sliced up and browned some fresh made Kielbasa from the local smokery and put it aside before softening the veggies in the fond, then adding it back again during the simmering process. Multicultural chef's kiss. - Danny Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

17 Jan

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1h 26m
20/09/2024

Alister Atkin (Atkin Guitars)

On this week's podcast, we talk to Alister Atkin, founder of Atkin Guitars. Alister and his growing team are building vintage-inspired flattop acoustics in Canterbury, England. During our chat, we talk about the company's history, its ongoing growth, the aged finish that Atkin instruments are known for, how they've penetrated the US market, and even the company's choice to start making electric instruments. We think you'll love getting to know Alister and his story. https://atkinguitars.com Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. For a limited time, you can register now with discounted early-bird pricing: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/ This week's show is sponsored 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). Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal

20/09/2024

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1 hr
30 JAN

110. Ben Wilborn

On this episode of Luthier on Luthier, I'm joined by guitar maker Ben Wilborn. Based in Reno, Nevada, Ben brings a musician's perspective to his designs, drawing on his background in performance and composition to build instruments that are focused on tone. For episode 110, Ben shares the origins of his business and discusses how his instruments have evolved through prototype testing, data collection, and hands-on experience at the bench. https://www.wilbornguitars.com Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

30 Jan

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1h 9m
13/02/2015

Podcast 81: Dana Bourgeois on Torrefied Guitar Woods

Call it whatever you like: torrefaction, thermo-cured, roasted or baked. Fact of the matter is that acoustic guitar companies are flocking to a process where woods are put in a specialized, oxygen-free kiln and essentially cooked, resulting in a stiffer, drier end product (not unlike the woods found in a 60 or 70 year old guitar). read more

13/02/2015

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32 min
24/12/2025

Ep. 158: "Not Just Living in Their Mom's Basement"

Episode 158: Chris Benson of Benson amps and Bryan Sours of Soursound transformers make their long-awaited returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps. Why? They want to tell us all about the logging truck of an amp they are currently building, a 700-watt(!) all-tube beast dubbed Babylon! The Babylon will feature 14 KT88 tubes, 16 total speakers, three knobs, and two power cords. It's literally the most powerful tube amp they could make without requiring a dryer outlet. Check our Instagram for a sneak peek at the creation. https://www.bensonamps.com/ https://soursound.com/ and honorable mention to... https://bottosbbq.com/ Hear the Babylon in person at the 2026 Wood, Wire & Volts festival (or anywhere within a mile or two radius of the show). https://www.woodwirevolts.com/ Deep cuts: Bryan's first appearance on our show can be found here (it's pretty epic) and Chris originally appeared on our 30th episode. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And happy holidays to all of our listeners and Patreon members for their support! We'll be back in 2026. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

24/12/2025

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1h 6m

The Fretboard Journal channel of podcasts: Smart guitar storytelling for acoustic and electric musicians around the world.

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