Life With Strings Attached

Welcome to Life With Strings Attached. I’m your host, Jamie Gale. Today, I’m joined by someone whose curiosity about the guitar has taken him across countries, genres, and generations of musical history: Julien Bitoun.  Julien is a guitarist, an author, a content creator, and a lecturer. You’ve read his work in major French publications, and you may know his books Les Paul: 70 Years, Guitars and H...

Welcome to Life With Strings Attached. I'm your host, Jamie Gale. In this episode, I sit down with Ola Strandberg to talk about a shift that's happening right now in the guitar world. The next generation musicians isn't looking back. They're looking for instruments that fit their bodies, their workflows, and the music that they're making today.  On tour with the boutique g...

In this special biography episode of Life With Strings Attached we explore the life and legacy of one of the most significant luthiers of our time, John Monteleone. Born in Manhattan and raised in Islip, John grew up in a world shaped by sculpture, architecture, and music, thanks to a family deeply rooted in the arts. From his early work repairing instruments at Mandolin Brothers to creating the G...

Today I’m joined by Max Spohn, a luthier whose path into guitar making has been unusually intentional. While many makers discover the craft by accident, Max set out early with a clear plan: a childhood surrounded by music and art, formal training in Markneukirchen, and a pivotal apprenticeship with Raymond Kraut, drawing from the Somogyi lineage. His work reflects that depth: modern acoustic guita...

In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, I’m joined once again by Italian luthier Giulio Negrini. Someone who sits right at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and the changing culture of music.  Today, we’re stepping back from the bench and looking at the bigger picture: how music is evolving, what novelty means in a post–rock-era world, and why the legacy of the great musicians of t...

Today on Life With Strings Attached, I’m joined once again by master luthier Michael Greenfield. Someone whose work and thinking continue to shape the modern acoustic guitar. In this conversation, we look at how musical inspiration evolves across generations, from the impact of cultural moments like Elvis and the Beatles to the way those sparks still influence why so many of us first picked up a g...

This is the second part of a two-part episode with our guest George Gruhn. If you've not listened to part one, we suggest you go and do that first. Then return here for part two.  Find the first part right here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305961/episodes/18258900 Watch the video version on YouTube: 🔗 YouTube Channel – Life With Strings Attached Learn more about Life With Strings Attached, B...

Today, I'm speaking with someone whose name is synonymous with vintage guitars and collecting: George Gruhn. Since opening Gruhn Guitars in 1970 George has become the go-to authority for everyone, including the biggest names in guitar like Eric Clapton, Vince Gill and Paul McCartney, and frankly anyone who wants to understand the soul of a great instrument.  George changed how we think about...

Today, we sit down with one of the most celebrated living luthiers, John Monteleone, a maker whose instruments have graced museums, concert halls, and the hands of some of the world’s finest players. From his Long Island workshop, John crafts guitars and mandolins that are as visually captivating as they are sonically alive. Instruments where Art Deco elegance meets timeless tone. His work expands...

This week, I’m joined again by John Mlynczak, CEO of NAMM. With the NAMM Show 2025 right around the corner, we talk about what it really takes to lead the world’s largest music trade organisation in a time of rapid change. John shares insights on how NAMM is more than just a show, it’s a mission-driven association that serves and strengthens the global music products industry all year round. From...

Welcome to another special Life With Strings Attached 'Biography' episode. Today, we trace the incredible life of legendary luthier Andy Manson, a craftsman shaped as much by chaos and curiosity as by chisels and wood.  From building forts as a child in Hertfordshire to busking through Europe with a self-made guitar, Andy’s journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in luthiery...

In this episode we visit a century-old church in the heart of Kansas, now transformed into the creative sanctuary of luthier Randy Parsons. Randy’s story is one of risk, reinvention, and the courage to live life outside the lines. We talk about creativity, faith, music, and the strange moments of luck that shape our paths. This is a story about following your calling, even when it doesn’t make sen...

Welcome to Life With Strings Attached! In this episode we explore the evolving world of guitar making, where craftsmanship meets innovation. From the floor of guitar shows to the heart of the workshop, we reflect on how artistry, science, and sound continue to shape our musical culture. We pay tribute to the late Ken Parker, a visionary who redefined what a guitar could be. We also discuss the ong...

** Whoops! It seems we've forgotten to cut out the end of the podcast, which is usually reserved for the members of our Patreon 'Business of Guitar'. Oh well, we're happy to give everyone a glimpse into what they're missing... 😉  Find out more here: https://www.patreon.com/thebusinessofguitar On this episode of Life With Strings Attached we welcome Dave Dunwoodie, founder...

In this special Life With Strings Attached biography episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Michael Spalt. Guitar builder, sculptor, and creative force who’s redefined what a guitar can be.  From his roots in Vienna and early fascination with music and film, to his innovative Totem guitars and the founding of the Holy Grail Guitar Show and EGB, Michael has merged art, craftsmanship, and com...

In this special segment of our Luthier’s Story series we’re honoured to feature Ulrich Teuffel, visionary in the world of guitar design whose work challenges convention and redefines what it means to build an instrument. Ulrich’s guitars are more than tools for music, they are philosophical statements. Each crafted with a deep respect for wood, sound, and the courage it takes to break from traditi...

Today on Life With Strings Attached, we’re joined by Joe Caruso of The Music Emporium in Boston: a shop that has become legendary for its thoughtful curation and deep respect for the guitar as both an instrument and a cultural icon.  In this conversation, Joe and I explore the parallels between the artisan guitar movement and the craft traditions of furniture making, the balance between heritage a...

Today on Life With Strings Attached, I sat down with Richard Hoover, founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company. From California’s redwood forests and the threat of wildfires to the physics of string tension and modal analysis, Richard brings nearly 50 years of lutherie to this conversation.  We explore how science, craftsmanship, and empathy shape the acoustic guitar, why collaboration and open knowled...

This week on Life With Strings Attached, I sit down with Avi Shabbat. From growing up in Jerusalem, discovering music in the middle of the grunge era and serving in the military, to building a career in sound engineering and eventually founding Shabbat guitars in Los Angeles.  Avi's story is one of resilience, collaboration, and vision. In this conversation, we talk about uncompromising craft...

Welcome to Life With Strings Attached. I'm your host, Jamie Gale. For this week's special biography edition of Life With Strings Attached, we're on location in Switzerland with Giulio Negrini, founder of Giulio Negrini Guitars, to uncover the remarkable journey behind one of the boutique world's most imaginative and precise builders. From a childhood steeped in fantasy and musi...

Welcome to Life with Strings Attached. I'm your host, Jamie Gale. For this week's special biography edition of Life with Strings Attached, we're on location in Edmonton, Canada to dive deep into the story of Dion James, an extraordinary guitar maker who is helping to redefine the modern acoustic guitar.  In this episode, Dion opens up about formative moments, the mentors who shaped...

This week on Life With Strings Attached , we sit down with Reuben Forsland: Adventurer, innovator, and the luthier behind JOI Guitars.  Reuben’s story stretches from backcountry snowboarding and near-death kiteboarding crashes to building guitars out of hempwood, carbon fiber, and even the walls of Jimi Hendrix’s childhood home. What drives him? A relentless curiosity, a hunger for challenge, and...

This week on Life With Strings Attached, I’m joined once again by Omer Deutsch, founder of OD Guitars. Omer returns with insight forged under pressure, literally. Living and working in a conflict zone, he shares how humor, community, and creativity have become essential tools for coping and resilience.  From the emotional toll of war to the deeper value of custom guitar making, Omer opens up about...

Today’s guest is internationally acclaimed guitarist Maneli Jamal , known for his deeply expressive compositions and a playing style that fuses rhythmic complexity with emotional clarity.  Born in Belarus to Iranian parents, Maneli’s journey spans five countries, twenty moves before the age of 18, and a lifetime of transformation through music. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore everything...

Welcome to Life With Strings Attached . In this episode, we travel to the small Bavarian town of Illertissen to meet Rainer Tausch: Guitar maker, musician, and founder of Tausch Guitars.  Rainer’s journey began with a homemade guitar at age 13, inspired by the music of Hendrix, AC/DC, and Deep Purple. Over decades, he carved his own path through craftsmanship and tone, blending tradition with bold...