For episode 103 of the podcast, we speak with legendary guitar maker Andy Manson.
Andy shares stories from his early days of building and tells us about his commitment to traditional construction techniques and how his craft has evolved over the years. Andy also discusses some of his most iconic instruments, how his approach has shifted with age, and the benefits of Thai massage.
Link: https://www.andymanson.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.
For episode 102 of the podcast, I talk with Michel Pellerin, an inspiring guitar maker from Québec.
Michel shares his journey, from teaching guitarmaking at lutherie schools to his time at the Godin factory, to developing and teaching his own advanced finishing course.
We also dive into his current line of guitars — from parlor to harp — and how he continues to evolve his work through collaboration with musicians and colleagues.
Michel explains his method of building two nearly identical instruments, changing just one feature between them to push the boundaries of design and sound.
Stick around after the main episode for a bonus segment: I catch up with Mario Beauregard at the Sound Messe Guitar Show in Osaka for a quick conversation on what's new.
For episode 100 of the podcast, I talk with the legendary Jim Olson.
Jim should need little introduction to most Luthier on Luthier listeners. His guitars have been played and cherished by artists including James Taylor (you can even spot the trademark headstock "O" during Taylor's appearance on the Simpsons), Paul Simon, Phil Keaggy, Zac Brown and Patty Larkin.
Though he creates some of the most valuable flattop guitars around, his build process is all about efficiency and quality control. Jim talks about how his tooling and processes have changed over the years, how Bob Taylor talked him into his first CNC, early career challenges ("I couldn't give them away," he says about his first guitars), and about the subjective nature of a "better" guitar.
Link: https://olsonguitars.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.
Maegan Wells is known for her beautifully crafted archtop guitars and mandolins made in her one-person shop in Northern California.
For episode 99 of the podcast, Meagan shares her guitar-making journey, starting with attending Bryan Galloup's Galloup School of Guitar Making and Guitar Repair, followed by apprenticeships, side jobs, and a stint at LMI. Meagan also discusses her views on smaller archtop guitars, contrasting sides, and much more. She also reveals a new project on the horizon!
http://www.maegenwellsguitars.com/mwg
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.
For episode 98 of the podcast, I am joined by renowned classical guitar maker Gary Southwell. Based on the banks of the River Rede in Northumberland, England, Southwell has been building instruments since 1983.
Gary and I talk about the unique characteristics of Bog Oak, the history and influence of 19th-century Viennese guitars, his interactions with Julian Bream, and some reflections on 50 years of guitar making. https://www.southwellguitars.
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
Episode 94 of the podcast is a live interview at the 2024 Fretboard Summit with the incredible Michael Millard of Froggy Bottom Guitars.
Michael has over 50 years of guitar-building experience. In 1970, he spent four years working with Gurian Guitars before launching Froggy Bottom. He shares with us lessons learned from customer interactions, guitars, martial arts and much more.
https://froggybottomguitars.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Joe Zon of Zon Guitars has been pushing the limits of bass building with phenomenal results since the early 1980s. For episode 87 of the podcast, Joe explains his theory and the construction of all-composite necks and how they are used to enhance the sounds of the wood.
Joe also discusses his collaboration with Bartolini pickups, active versus passive electronics, bolt-on versus neck-through construction, and why the Hyperbass is a misunderstood instrument. Finally, Joe shares a few stories about his time making basses for legendary musician Rick James.
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.
Aluminati Guitars offers innovative, environmentally friendly, and beautifully designed guitars built in Asheville, North Carolina. For episode 86 of the podcast, I sit down with the company's founder, James Little.
James tells us about the aluminum, carbon fiber and Lucite components used to make their complete instruments, OEM necks, and off-the-shelf parts. He also shares with us how the company got started, how the bike industry helped their fabrication, some new projects, and his plans for the future.
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.
Al Beardsell makes beautifully designed and crafted guitars in Winnipeg, Canada. Al started building as a musician because he could not find, or in some cases, afford the kind of guitars he wanted to play.
For episode 85 of the podcast, Al shares with us his thoughts on engineered sides, electric acoustic hybrids, making pickups, and much more. Finally, Al discusses why he thinks guitar making was the only career path for him and how he recently came to this understanding.
https://www.beardsellguitars.
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.
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.
James Condino builds and repairs guitars, mandolins and standup basses in Asheville, NC. And he plays all of them! For episode 83, James shares with us some commonalities and differences of all the instruments he works on, his business philosophy and the importance of playing music to his craft.
Links: https://condino.com/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Condino-String-Instruments-100028847900108
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.
Richard Hoover is the founder of the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, which has been a leader in the world of boutique acoustic guitars since 1976. For episode 82 of the podcast, recorded live at the 2023 Fretboard Summit, Richard shares his guiding principles, thoughts on running a company, selecting materials, and much more.
Links:
https://gofund.me/56ef4040 (GoFundMe for luthier Joel Wilkens)
https://www.instagram.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.
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.
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.
Larry Fitzgerald is considered one of the world’s top guitar repairmen. As a teenager, Larry was often hanging around NYC’s famous guitar shops on 48th Street. After a year at the Berklee College of Music, he worked at Rudy’s doing repairs and eventually assisted John Suhr in making the renowned Pensa/Suhr guitars.
Larry then worked at Mandolin Brothers before opening up his own shop. For episode 80 of the podcast, he shares his thoughts on fretting, neck angles and so much more. Larry also tells us how it all got started thanks to some sage advice from his grandfather.
Link:
https://www.fitzgeraldguitars.
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.
Support Luthier on Luthier with our new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/
You may not know the name Mitsuhiro Uchida, but you should. Mitsuhiro is a national treasure of Japan and has influenced makers like Michi Matsuda and Isaac Jang, who join me for today's podcast.
Uchida-san started his international lutherie journey working for guitar companies in Japan and then moved to Germany to do repairs before working at Lowden Guitars in Ireland. In the 1990s, he moved back to Japan to set up shop on a remote mountainside where he builds incredible one-of-a-kind creations.
For episode 79 of the podcast, Uchida-san tells us his story and his philosophy of guitar making.
Links:
http://www.melodist-net.com/~
https://asamiuchida.thebase.
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.