The Fret Files

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about his new endeavor in humbucker production – the “Patent Denied” humbucker pickups (available soon.) Eric does a few product reviews – the “Cleatus” guitar cleat system , the T. J. Thompson Belly Reducer , the Allparts True Tune tuners , and the vintage style Tele bridge plate from Philadelphia Luthier To...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk guitar news with the results of a few recent guitar auctions including guitars owned by Mark Knopfler, Prince, and John Lennon. Then they took questions about pickup polarity, a Kay Barney Kessel truss rod, a lot of wiring questions about Eric’s book “Solid Sound,” some talk about what types of polish Eric recommends, a...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat give a tribute to renowned guitar restoration expert Joel Wilkens who passed away this week. Then there’s the questions – a question about Don Teeter’s guitar repair books, a lot of wiring questions about Eric’s book “Solid Sound,” some intonation and bridge placement questions, and a very nice call from a...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews Rhett Harris from Rhett’s Frets in Nashville TN. Eric and Rhett talk fretwork, pickups, 3D printing, Eric’s book, running your own business from home, and Idaho winters. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and cl...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat review some guitar news about John Lennon’s Framus Hootenany 12 string, Eric Clapton’s 1974 Martin 000-28, and a guitar exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento. They then take questions regarding backward functioning truss rods, what to do with an inherited guitar collection, P-90 queries, and more about compound radius gui...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding ground wires on Telecasters, sheilding inside electric guitar cavities, idiot proofing jacks and pots, Desert Sand finishes, and how to set string radius when adjusting action on a guitar with a compound radius. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. ...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding pickup phase, guitar finishes with no pore filler, getting rid of pick marks on lacquer finishes, the Sorkin “bowtie” bridge, and Eric’s ideal Jazzmaster wiring. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric a...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding the string wrap around Telecaster bridge pickups, coated strings, when to say no, how to treat warped bass necks, and will there be a Solid Sound Vol. 2? To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click th...

In this, the ten year anniversary episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding string trees, power tools, acoustic guitar neck humps, pickup specs, and stopping the clicking noise that happens with loose Fender tremolo arms. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDa...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric announces the new podcast schedule for 2024, answers a few listener submitted questions, and interviews Frank Gross from Thunder Road Guitars in Seattle, Wa. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat do a little guitar news, and then take questions regarding softening lacquer on Rickenbackers, slotted headstock tuners, different magnets and their sonic properties in pickups, and oversized Martin bridges. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eri...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about life recently, and then answers listener questions regarding tapping threads in Telecaster pickup elevator plates, finish touch up, selecting the right nut slotting files, restoring vintage Kluson tuners, finishing schedules and of course- Eric’s book “Solid Sound,” which you should order at solidsoundbook.com. To partic...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Eric’s website contact form malfunction, and take questions regarding wood suppliers, plastic Gibson acoustic bridges, guitar building schools, soldering methods, tapped single coil pickups, different types of switches, and of course- Eric’s book “Solid Sound,” which you should order at solidsoundbook.com. T...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Eric’s ten tips for independent luthiers. Then, they take questions regarding 5 way super switch wiring, pickup height, vintage Danelectro necks, friskets vs. silkscreening on Gibson headstock logos, and a curious pickguard screw question. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by ca...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding proper potentiometer values for a pedal steel guitar, plastic undercoating on a Squier Stratocaster, vintage pickguard shrinkage, and a bit of an overview on winding pickups. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at Eri...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, we have some guitar news, and then Eric takes questions regarding tremolo springs on Stratocasters, correcting the excessive belly in a 12 string, the best cleaner and polish to use on nitro lacquer, making a bowed neck behave, and gluing a loose skunk stripe on a Fender Telecaster. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding pickup choices and a soldering stations. Also discussed is the schematic for Andy in Deniliquin for a Tele that has the blend circuit mixed with the series circuit. For the second half of the show, Eric is joined by Jim Glinsky, guitar repairman based in Austin, Texas. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding Gibson wiring, stripped pickup mounting holes, rewinding Danelectro pickups, refinishing a 90’s Tele, and more hyper analysis of Eric’s pronunciations and mis pronunciations. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding fret ends, proper pronounciation of Yamaha, steel wool, fret levelling, guitar wiring, and installing a mini humbucker in one of Eric’s custom guitars. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the c...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding a warped back on an acoustic guitar, deteriorating binding, a custom wiring request, a quiet d string pole-piece on a Strat, the Payola Telecaster, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and clic...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding warped pickguards, pinless acoustic bridges, potting pickups in lacquer vs. wax, where to get pickup parts, and whether or not you should buy Eric’s book. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and c...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and special guest host Lauren take questions about truss rods, fret slots, saddle shims, Epiphone guitar history, and a follow up to the question, “what makes a vintage guitar so special?” To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.co...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions about Luthier stress levels, lacquer checking techniques, gummy finish on a Les Paul neck, and Gibson solid body neck resets. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions about finding rare tuner ferrules, wax potting pickups, guitar refinishing, amplifier maintenance, the one takeaway you should get from listening to this podcast, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click...

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding notched straight edges, identifying mystery fretwire, pickup winding, intonation, tuning problems, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482.  To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.