The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

To wrap up this year, Fretboard Journal editors Jason Verlinde and Sofia Wolfson talk about some of their favorite moments from 2025. We discuss the inner workings of the magazine, our favorite articles, the 2025 Fretboard Summit, some of our favorite records and shows of the year, and so much more.  On behalf of all of us, we hope you have a very happy New Year.   Our next Fretboard Summit takes...

Nearly every guitar player has daydreamed about running their favorite gear company. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we hear from two individuals who are currently living that dream: Nashville's Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard. Earlier this year, these two guitar fanatics and businessmen became the new owners of Bend, Oregon's Breedlove Guitars. During our chat, we talk about the realities...

Mandolin hero John Reischman joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'The Salish Sea.' We chat about the influence the Pacific Northwest has had on his music-making, discuss his famed Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson F-5 mandolin, and so much more.  Check out the Salish Sea here or on your favorite streaming platform:  https://johnreischmanandthejaybirds.bandcamp.com/album/the-salish-sea https://w...

Every year during the holiday season, we chat with Guru Singh, a third-generation yogi and spiritual teacher who also happens to live and breathe guitars. On this installment (Guru Singh's third visit), we go deep. This former Reprise artist and friend of Janis Joplin talks to us about the spirit of giving, the benefits of A.I. (even for musicians), how he stays optimistic during difficult times,...

Today's podcast episode is with Liam Kazar, a Chicago-born singer-songwriter and guitarist currently touring in Jeff Tweedy's band. Liam just put out a new record, Pilot Light , which he made at Flying Cloud Studios in upstate New York. Check it out and catch him on the road. https://www.instagram.com/liamkazar https://liamkazar.com Our 57th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe...

On today's episode of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson talks to TJ Hiemel, owner of Troy, New York's Love of Fuzz store. TJ shares with us some of his favorite gear that has come through the shop, his role in the upstate music community, the magic behind his ever-evolving inventory, and much more. Be sure to follow the shop's Instagram to stay up to date with their inventory. https://www.instagram.com/l...

Vermont-based guitar hero Paul Asbell joins us this week to talk about his new book, 'Stages: Ruminations, Rants, and Reminiscences on a Life in Music.' In 'Stages,' Paul recounts stories from early in his career when he worked as a sideman for legendary blues artists on the South Side of Chicago. We also hear about Paul's unique upbringing, his love for luthier-made instruments, why he left Chica...

Musician and Fretboard Journal contributor Paul Burch joins us this week to talk about his just-published debut novel, Meridian Rising. The book, an imagined memoir by Jimmie Rodgers, is filled with insights on the Father of Country Music and some of the unbelievable collaborators he worked with. We talk about the making of the book, why Rodgers is so fascinating to Paul, Paul's new album ('Cry Lo...

Grateful Shred co-founder Dan Horne joins us for a chat about the making of the band, his love for the Dead (of course), and the tribute group's 2025 album, 'Might As Well.' We also talk about growing up in the Bay Area, Alembics and other gear, and so much more.  Check out Grateful Shred on tour and see what all the fuss is about: https://www.gratefulshredmusic.com/ Our new, 57th issue of the Fre...

Raymond Morin of Pittsburgh's Acoustic Music Works joins us this week for an insightful chat about running a guitar store, music and so much more. At a time when things seem pretty bleak for mom & pop guitar stores, Pittsburgh's Acoustic Music Works is a true success story. They have just relocated to a new, larger space, focusing on a select range of premium brands and hosting occasional in-house...

Guitarist Paul Rigby joins us this week to talk about his 15-plus-year collaboration with Neko Case and so much more. We hear about growing up in Calgary (and why it's an oddly great town for guitarists); meeting Neko; writing for Broadway; songwriting help from the Black Stallion; and why his favorite electric guitar is a $123 partscaster. https://www.instagram.com/paul.rigby003/ Neko Case's new...

Guitarist Ben Garnett joins us this week to talk about the making of his new acoustic album, Kite's Keep.    Garnett's journey as a musician is one-of-a-kind. This former tuba player became infatuated with the guitar thanks to his uncle, Andy Timmons. He then discovered the Punch Brothers, immersed himself in bluegrass, and now has actual Punch Brothers on his new album.  Give it a listen and then...

On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're joined by New York City-based guitarist and composer Vilray Bolles. Alongside Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, he's one half of Rachael & Vilray, a duo with an uncanny knack for writing brand new songs that feel like they came straight from Tin Pan Alley. On their latest release,  West of Broadway , the duo was inspired by both classic musicals and...

Singer-songwriter/guitarist Courtney Hartman joins us again on the podcast to share the story of her forthcoming album,  With You. The album – her first since becoming a parent – is a beautiful collection of songs with a unique backstory. To help finish the record, she turned to fellow songwriter moms in her orbit. It's a beautiful record and a great talk. Added bonus: We're streaming her new sing...

Melbourne, Australia-based guitarist Jacob Cole joins us this week to talk about his 2025 instrumental album 'Slow Gold' and so much more. We hear about his Cole's record-filled childhood, the guitar scene in Melbourne, recording in Tasmania (!), and his influences. It's an insightful chat with an artist we think you'll love. https://jacobcole1.bandcamp.com/album/slow-gold Read the poignant story...

On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we introduce you to Brooklyn-based guitarist Isaac Stalling. Isaac sits down with editor Sofia Wolfson to talk about his musical roots in Oklahoma City, moving to NYC, playing in dozens of bands at once, and his solo project.  https://www.instagram.com/i_stalling_/?hl=en Our new, 57th issue is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it. Our next...

Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford are wildly creative guitarists who happen to play with some of the most-streamed artists of the last few years, including Ed Sheeran (Dylan), Phoebe Bridgers (Harrison), and Lizzy McAlpine (Ryan). They are all based in Los Angeles.  At the 2025 Fretboard Summit, we sit down with these three musicians to discuss their journeys as artists and collaborat...

Do guitars still sell in 2025? Is there a glut of unsold instruments? How have tariffs affected the high-end musical instrument space? At this year's Fretboard Summit, we asked a handful of guitar retailers for their unfiltered thoughts on selling instruments in 2025. Included were Rebecca Jasso (Old Town School of Folk Music retail store), Joe Caruso (The Music Emporium), Matt Kappenman (Mass Str...

One last Fretboard Summit 2025 announcement: Jayne Henderson (EJ Henderson Guitars and Ukuleles) stops by the Fretboard Journal to tell us about the Asheville Guitar Project group build that she'll be unveiling at our annual guitar gathering.  This group guitar build - combining the talents of Asheville-based luthiers Jayne, Kyle Landers, and Judson Riviere - features domestic blowdown woods from...

3Bender's Wade Back joins us this week to share the fascinating history of 3Bender and reveal an incredible new product he's unveiling at this year's Fretboard Summit, the Steelmaster. The Steelmaster is a string bender that can be mounted to any Jazzmaster-style guitar. It requires no drilling and works with stock or Mastery bridges. Wade's story is one of a kind. We hear about his love for steel...

"Here's what happens when you invite a mandolin company, with crazy curiosity, to a guitar show four years in a row." -Adrian Bagale  Northfield's Adrian Bagale joins us this week for what has to be one of the most insightful industry chats we've had in years. We talk about what the company is unveiling at our 2025 Fretboard Summit in two weeks – a new instrument for guitarists – but we also talk...

Dave Hill is a comedian, actor, author, musician and podcaster. He's also a guitar fanatic. In fact, at the 2025 Fretboard Summit, he'll be performing an entire stand-up set on guitar (!) and doing some crowd work on your pedal boards. On this week's podcast, we talk to Dave about his love for guitar, why teenage gear obsessions are so hard to kick, his plans for his Summit set and how he balances...

James Kee of East Nash Grass joins us this week to talk about his band's forthcoming album 'All God's Children' and the guitar he just acquired and restored, a 1955 Martin D-18 formerly owned by Earl Scruggs! During our chat, we learn all about the D-18's restoration (which Nashville luthier Hugh Hansen just completed), East Nash Grass' forthcoming record 'All God's Children,' why you should alway...

Summer School Electronics founder Mark Turley joins us this week to discuss the history of his pedal company, his day job as a schoolteacher, our Fretboard Summit gathering, and so much more.  In what has become an annual tradition, Summer School will be debuting a new, wild pedal at our Summit. For the first time ever, Mark will also teach a pedal-making class during our festival. Space is limite...

Musician, composer, and writer Skip Heller was one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest subjects, contributors, and podcast guests. On this week's show, we catch up with Skip to talk about his new exotica album, 'Mojave After Dark.' We chat about his early pieces for the magazine - including the story on John Hartford he penned for our fourth edition - and so much more. Skip has a wealth of knowled...