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Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin

Every month, luthier Michael Bashkin interviews his peers and guitar building heroes for the Luthier on Luthier podcast. Brought to you by the Fretboard Journal magazine.
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Now displaying: Category: general
Dec 30, 2024

Max Monterosso builds beautifully detailed steel string guitars, harp and electric guitars out of his one-person shop in the Veneto region of Italy. 

For episode 97 of the podcast, I caught up with Max at the Acoustic Guitar Village Show in Cremona, Italy this past October. 

https://www.maxmonte.com/en/

https://www.instagram.com/maxmonte_guitars/

Max shares insights from building harp and steel string guitars, his thoughts on 3D printers and CNC in his shop, and discusses how visiting other builders has helped shape his career.

Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

 

Nov 30, 2024
Episode 96 of Luthier on Luthier is a collection of interviews from the 2024 Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival, sponsored by Henriksen Amplifiers. 

At the show, Cris Mirabella, Tyler Wells, and Maegan Wells each presented their guitars to the new Blue Guitars Collection. 
 
I sit down with each of them to hear their thoughts on the instruments and their construction.
 
There is also a bonus interview with George Leach of the Phoenix Guitar Company, who just published a new book on guitar building. 
 
Patreon supporters: You can listen to the 2024 Blue Guitars presentation ceremony hosted Linda Manzer and Tom Ribbecke. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/luthieronluthier to hear the whole thing.
 
Links
 
https://theblueguitars.com/
https://www.lhtguitars.com/home-2
https://www.mirabellaguitars.com/
https://www.maegenwellsguitars.com/
https://www.phoenixguitarco.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 Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

Oct 28, 2024
 
Mark Stutman is renowned for vintage guitar repairs and is also the owner of Canada's Folkway Music in Waterloo, Ontario.
 
For episode 95 of the podcast, Mark goes into the history of his repair career and how it all started with the search for a good left-handed guitar. Mark also shares with us some of the unique challenges of working on vintage Gibsons and much more.
 
Link:
https://folkwaymusic.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 Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

Aug 29, 2024
Seth Baccus creates a range of beautiful electric guitars in the UK. Seth learned the guitar business and guitar making from renowned luthiers Andy and Hugh Manson, who also happen to be his stepdad and uncle, respectively. 
 
For episode 93 of the podcast, Seth tells us about his retail experience and being a road tech for John Paul Jones and the Led Zeppelin reunion tour and how these experiences helped inform his own guitars. 
 
And for Patreon supporters only, Seth and I get into his pickup choices and more tales from the Led Zeppelin reunion tour rehearsals.
 
Link:
https://www.sethbaccus.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 Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

Jul 27, 2024

Guitarmaker Mark Blanchard has a background in machining, a skill he learned at a young age from his dad. These days, he uses his metal-working skills to not only make his own excellent truss rods but also a CNC lathe and many of his own tools, including chisels and planes. Mark does all this out of his one-person shop, located in the mountains of California making highly collectible and outstanding guitars.

For Episode 92 of the podcast, Mark tells us how it all got started, and we discuss his use of Chlandi patterns, top selection, and much more.

http://www.blanchardguitars.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 Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

May 31, 2024
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 advice he gives them regarding buying their first concert-grade guitar. Finally, Jeff discusses his plans for a new guitar venture starting this fall.
 
https://www.jefflaquatra.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 Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

 

Aug 30, 2023

Island Instruments' Nic Delisle makes a wide variety of incredible and innovative guitars out of his Montreal workshop. For episode 81 of the podcast, Nic tells us all about the construction and origins of his new archtop double-top model. We also talk about the guitar co-op he operates out of, his milk paint finishes, his aluminum-neck basses, and more. 

Link: https://www.island-instruments.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 Dream Guitars. Want to support Luthier on Luthier? Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive photos and content from Michael and his builds.

May 30, 2023

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 eventually able to start his own shop in Tokyo. He also shares his thoughts on design, the luthier scene in Japan, and much more.

Links:  https://www.keystone-si.com/ https://ogawainlay.com/

Love Luthier on Luthier? Support it via our new Patreon page:  https://www.patreon.com/luthieronluthier

Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by Dream Guitars.

Jan 17, 2019
For our 26th episode of Luthier on Luthier, we sit down with veteran guitarmaker Ric McCurdy of McCurdy Guitars. Ric takes us from building guitars barefoot in Santa Barbara, California to his busy NYC shop where he now makes some of finest archtop and electric guitars around. Ric also shares his insights into voicing archtop plates and changing the resonant frequency of a guitar neck.

At the end of the day, Ric sums it up like this: "If I can help a musician get their art out and play a little better, that's what I want."
Oct 23, 2018

John Kinnard has always been a part-time guitar builder while being a full-time high school science teacher. On this episode of Luthier on Luthier, John shares his perspectives on 40 years of building instruments. It's a fascinating talk with someone who makes guitars for a love of the craft. 

Apr 18, 2018

On episode 17 of the Luthier on Luthier Podcast, we talk to the collective of legendary builders who make up the Luthiers Beyond Limits group. These mini interviews were conducted at the 2018 NAMM show where the LBL showcased their forward-thinking guitars. During this podcast, we hear from Mario BeuregardJean-Yves Alquier, Steve Klein, Claudio and Claudia Pagelli, Michi Matsuda and John and Serge of Tao Guitars. We hear the story of how and why these six artisans formed Luthiers Beyond Limits and about the unique instruments that were on display.

Sep 19, 2017
For our ninth episode, I sit down with Dream Guitars founder and owner, Paul Heumiller. If you build or play custom guitars you probably already know Paul's name and that Dream Guitars is one of the top boutique guitar dealers in the world. Paul discusses his philosophy for life and business and how for him they are one in the same. Paul also talks about how Dream Guitars got started and the successful partnerships he has forged with some of today's most collectible builders. Lastly, Paul gives some great advice to new and established builders about competing with your own guitars on the secondary market, and how to avoid burning out.
 
Links:
Aug 14, 2017
For our eighth episode, I talk to luthier John Slobod. John shares his thoughts on why vintage guitars sound the way they do, and how he honors them in his own Martin-inspired instruments. We also go through John's journey from working with Dana Bourgeois and later with Julius Borges before starting his own Circa guitars. In this interview, John also offers some valuable advice to new luthiers.
 
Links:
 
Jul 27, 2017

Our seventh episode of the Luthier on Luthier podcast is a little different from the rest. Rather than interview one builder, I have shorter interviews with several luthiers. Each of these interviews took place at the 2017 GAL (Guild of American Luthiers) Convention in Tacoma, Washington. 

During this podcast, you will hear from Dan Erlewine, Erick Coleman, Chelsea Clark, Jeffery Elliott, Chris Herrod, Steve Marchione, Don Macrostie, Evan Gluck and many others. You’ll also hear an adventurous tale of buffing from Harry Fleishman.  

If your into lutherie and have the chance to attend a guild meeting, I highly recommend it. There were a lot more people I would have liked to talk to but I just ran out of time. I know a lot of guitar builders listen to this podcast and it was great to meet so many of you in person, too.

Links:

http://www.danerlewine.com/
http://www.stewmac.com/
http://marchione.com/
http://www.elliottguitars.com/
http://www.lmii.com/
http://newyorkguitarrepair.com/
https://obrienguitars.com/
http://www.jroadman.com/
http://lichtyguitars.com/
http://www.reddiamondmandolins.com/
http://www.jeffreyyong.com/
http://www.fleishmaninstruments.com/
http://luth.org/
http://www.guitarsandcaffeine.com/

Jun 21, 2017
On Episode 6, I sit down with world-renown guitar maker Michi Matsuda. Originally from Japan and now living in the US, Michi is known for his inventive designs and craftsmanship. We stay mostly in the head-space of guitar making and talk about what is the identity of a guitar and how it affects music. And, I was surprised to learn how free-spirited Michi's approach to guitar making is.    
Mar 17, 2017

Before moving to the United States, Laurent Brondel was a professional musician in France for 20 years. He originally moved to New York and, along the way, Laurent started to work on his own guitars. Laurent eventually found himself in rural Main and, after working for a time at Bourgeois guitars he started building guitars under his own name. For our third episode, Laurent and I talk about this journey and hear his perspectives on the music industry, vintage Martins, his varnish finishes as well as his new electric guitars.

Feb 21, 2017
Burton Legeyt started building guitars without any formal training or apprenticeship.  Instead he came to guitarbuilding through painting, picture framing, metal working and vintage watchmaking equipment. His open-minded approach gives his guitars a distinctive look and feel, even down to the tuning machines. In this interview we cover restoring vintage tooling, his definition of art, why he started (and stopped) shaving braces with a razor blade.
 
 
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