Guitar Blah Blah

Sustainable Guitar Building At Its Finest

December 28, 2020 21:36 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MB

In continuing to cover the best of sustainable guitar practices – and some highlights in this otherwise crazy year – I wanted to talk about the amazing work of Seth Baccus Guitars. Check out his incredible guitars here: IG: instagram.com/sethbaccusguitars FB: facebook.com/sethbaccusguitars Site: sethbaccus.com/ Today's music: guitar.com/features/the-best-guitar-albums-of-2020/

Some Little Highlights In A Stupid Weird Year

December 23, 2020 21:20 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MB

There have been some nice highlights come up this week in guitarland, so as always in this stupid year, I thought it was worth sharing them for a bit of positive spirit. Take care, and check out the links below for more: Nik Huber Guitars: nikhuber-guitars.com/ de Gier Guitars and Basses: degierguitars.com/ Adamovic Basses: adamovic.nl/ Guitar.com list: guitar.com/features/guitar-coms-10-most-popular-videos-of-2020/ Today's music: nickreinhart.bandcamp.com/album/satans-power

A New Guitar Show

December 21, 2020 21:55 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

Well, none of us can predict the future, but it's great to see the enthusiasm and skills of the community coalesce into more events and activity, so it's awesome to learn about another potential guitar show appearing on the scene for 2021. Check out more info on the Montreux International Guitar Show here: migs.ch/?lang=en Today's music: youtube.com/watch?v=hGi9SOFX5rc

A Surprising, Stunning Archtop Guitar | Guitar Highlight - Saitenkraft

December 20, 2020 21:13 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

Known for their eye-catching contemporary models and incredible custom inlay work, Saitenkraft have surprised us all by fusing these distinctly modern elements with the elegance of an archtop. Check out Saitenkraft if you know what's good for you! IG: instagram.com/saitenkraft FB: facebook.com/Saitenkraft Site: saitenkraft.ch/ Today's music: flanafi.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-have-my-money

The Great String Experiment

December 20, 2020 11:26 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MB

In some weird moment of extreme guitar nerdiness, I've decided to start a string experiment to try and settle once and for all what strings are right for me. As with all things guitar, I'm certain the tweaking and changing will go on forever and never end and I'll never have an answer...but it's worth a shot, right? I'm mostly focusing on Elixir Strings, and you can follow along at Axes & Blades here: FB: facebook.com/axesandblades IG: instagram.com/axes_and_blades/ Today's music: realize...

The Hottest Guitars Around | Hilko Guitars Interview Part 2

December 18, 2020 22:47 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MB

In part two of my interview with the Belgian luthier, we carry on discussing custom options, hear some more fantastic tech stories and go off on many a tangent about Glasgow pubs and hot sauce. Be sure to listen to part 1 in the previous episode! Check out Hilko Guitars: Site: hilkoguitars.com/ IG: instagram.com/hilkoguitars/ FB: facebook.com/hilkoguitars/ YT: youtube.com/channel/UCbd7PJIDsfr17x2BOkE5yyQ

Guitar Tech Stories, 3D Printing & Custom Guitars | Hilko Guitars Interview Part 1

December 17, 2020 20:41 - 56 minutes - 52 MB

In the first part of this interview, we get to know Hilko Guitars, builder of fine custom instruments in Belgium. He shares some of his experience and lessons from time on the road as a guitar tech, and gives us an insight into some of the custom shop options available on his models. Catch part 2 tomorrow! Check out Hilko Guitars: Site: hilkoguitars.com/ IG: instagram.com/hilkoguitars/ FB: facebook.com/hilkoguitars/ YT: youtube.com/channel/UCbd7PJIDsfr17x2BOkE5yyQ

My Honest Opinion On Harley Benton Guitars

December 16, 2020 19:48 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

The Thomann in-house brand is a constant topic of conversation in the guitar world, sometimes with some pretty exciting claims getting thrown around about their big-brand-killing quality. Having had a good amount of experience with Harley Benton guitars and basses, I thought it was worthwhile putting out some thoughts. Are they really unbeatable in terms of bang for the buck? Today's music: youtube.com/watch?v=plVRg5X7UW4

FM Guitars - A Fascinating New Guitar Brand

December 14, 2020 22:49 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

Guitarist Felix Martin has teamed up with luthiers around the world to launch a genuinely intriguing new guitar company – FM Guitars. Focused on tending to the needs of tapping-focused guitarists, the FM double-fretboard designs certainly stand out. But why two fretboards? What are the advantages? Today, we'll to know some of the story behind the concept, and go through a run-down of the models available. FM Guitars: fmguitars.com/ Today's music: youtu.be/jeBcrw_iwmw

The Ultimate '50s Revival Pickups

December 13, 2020 22:31 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MB

Master of tone TV Jones has teamed up with retro gurus V8 Custom Guitars to create the ultimate '50s cool pickup. Fans of the '50s – and all guitar geeks – should check this out! TV Jones: instagram.com/tvjonesinc V8 Custom Guitars: v8customguitars.com/ Today's music: orgonemusic.bandcamp.com/album/connection

How To Make A Unique Singlecut Guitar | Guitar Highlight - The Rootster

December 12, 2020 22:58 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MB

With a wealth of experience as a tech and a builder, Hilko Guitars brings together a fascinating array of specs and details to create a masterclass in unique guitar building – The Rootster. Hilko Guitars: instagram.com/hilkoguitars/ Today's music: yossahaile.bandcamp.com/album/menta-menged-2020

A Great Way To Get To Know More Guitars

December 11, 2020 21:13 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MB

After my two-part interview with Fran Rodriguez of Franfret Guitars, I thought it only made sense to give some thoughts on his new virtual guitar show. It's a great concept for presenting more instruments, another awesome thing for us guitarists stuck at home to do, and something more builders should get into. Franfret Guitars on YouTube: youtube.com/user/franfretcustom Today's music: youtube.com/channel/UCcwOodzn176V5S11rufTUgA

How To Design Your Dream Guitar | Fran Rodriguez Luthier Interview Part 2

December 10, 2020 20:26 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MB

This is part two of my interview with Fran Rodriquez of Franfret Guitars, so be sure to listen to part one in the last episode! This time around, Fran lets us know about his own custom shop approach, how guitar players should choose a builder, and how we should work with a builder when making our guitar. We also get into thinking about the future of the guitar and guitar music. A big thank you again to Fran for joining me! Check out Franfret: FB: facebook.com/FranfretGuitars IG: instag...

Get To Know Franfret Guitars | Fran Rodriguez Luthier Interview Part 1

December 09, 2020 21:33 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MB

Based in Galicia, Spain, Franfret Guitars creates true custom shop models built around the players needs, wants and passion. In part one of this interview with founder and builder Fran Rodriguez, we get to know the stories behind the Franfret models, talk about some good ol' rock n' roll, and go through guitar therapy to come to terms with some guitar truths. Catch part two tomorrow! Check out Franfret: FB: facebook.com/FranfretGuitars IG: instagram.com/franfret_guitars/

An Important Cause Worth Supporting

December 08, 2020 21:46 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MB

Paul Gilbert just sold his iconic Ibanez Ice-Stroyer – along with a bunch of other signed and signature gear – to raise money towards Juan Alderete's recovery. Juan's music and playing, across an incredible body of work, are constantly inspiring, as are his sonic wizardy, unique approach to the tools of the trade and his infectious enthusiasm. He and his family are having to deal with large medical expenses after Juan was involved in a serious bicycle accident earlier this year. The music c...

Dude, Did Your Guitar Do Keto? | Guitar Highlight - The Wayfair

December 07, 2020 21:51 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

Instantly striking and obviously something different, The Wayfair wasn't just designed for aesthetics. Its deceptively thin looking body carving results from a pursuit of better ergonomics and a much more comfortable jazz box experience. Get to know a little about this fascinating model from Moar Guitars in Copenhagen. Today's music: yossahaile.bandcamp.com/track/leselam-biye-2

What Are Foilbuckers?

December 06, 2020 22:31 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MB

It's always a pleasure to find something so different in the guitar world that it stops you in your tracks as soon as you see it. The Foilbuckers from Ronin Guitars in California are a great example – but what's the story behind these pickups, and what makes them so different? More info on Foilbuckers here: roninguitars.com/ronin-pickups foilbucker.com/ Today's music: table-scraps.bandcamp.com/music

Another Cool Deal!

December 05, 2020 22:52 - 5 minutes - 5.28 MB

'Tis the season of finding some deals, and Nik Huber Guitars are offering a cool pre-order discount on their new padded gig bags. Check out all the details here: blog.nikhuber.com/premium-gig-bags-are-available-for-preorder-now/

Amazing Guitar Build Updates And Roundups

December 04, 2020 22:24 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MB

I'm always wanting to highlight the best and most interesting new builds happening in the world of guitars – and the best new models coming out. As well as highlighting ongoing builds, I want to give more updates on their progress and the finished products. So that's what this episode is all about! Plus, the new article series on Axes & Blades is an easy way to see the best guitar highlights every month. November guitar highlights: axesandblades.com/guitar-highlights-november-20/

And The Winner Is...

December 04, 2020 22:13 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

After going through the nominations on a previous episode, I thought it would make sense to talk about the winner of Guitar.com's High-End Guitar Of The Year Award. All of the nominations were excellent, and it was awesome to see this very special new model win! Music suggestion: youtu.be/vTrmHnwg36I

Guitar Builders Are Planting Trees

December 02, 2020 21:37 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

With more and more of a focus on sustainability – from companies big and small – guitar builders are finding ways to protect and plant trees as part of their efforts. This even includes planting fairly large numbers of trees themselves, and encouraging one another to do the same. Today's music suggestion: youtube.com/watch?v=WNDAIuJvf5U

Yes, Another Guitar Lawsuit, But This One's Different

December 01, 2020 22:35 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MB

I think as a guitar community we're pretty fed up with hearing about all this legal stuff. It's seemed constant for quite some time at this point, and it's not why we're all into music and guitars. But it's still important and impacts us, and this latest development is definitely worth paying attention to, as it has some potentially worrying signposts for the future.

Amazing Guitar Builds To Follow Right Now

November 30, 2020 21:59 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MB

Get to know some of the most interesting guitar builds that are going on right now from some of the best builders around the world. These luthiers are always sharing great insights into their processes and previews of the amazing instruments they have coming soon. Worth checking out!

More Virtual Guitar Shows

November 29, 2020 21:30 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MB

Guitar Summit's Web Camp this weekend is showcasing another impressive virtual guitar show concept. But how do virtual guitar shows compare to the in-person "real deal"? And once in-person shows return, do virtual guitar shows have a place going forward? It's something that's been discussed on the podcast before, but worth returning to here as we see more of these concepts go live.

How To Make An Innovative S-Type | Guitar Highlight - de Gier's Surfer

November 28, 2020 22:59 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MB

The S-Type or Strat-inspired model has, of course, been done more times than there are planets in the solar system or grains of sand on a beach. That means it takes a lot to stand out in this crowded marketplace and make an S-Type that really brings something new to the table. The Surfer model from de Gier Guitars manages just that, with a whole host of design innovations combining to successfully reinvent this much-loved wheel. de Gier: degierguitars.com/ Today's music: davidregueiro.band...

Like No Goldtop You've Ever Seen | Guitar Highlight - Tweakster

November 27, 2020 23:21 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MB

Zeal Guitars in Germany have always brought eye-catching twists to their T-style Tweakster model. While this latest build looks fairly familiar at first glance, it's no exception, showing off a truly unique gold top technique. Check out Zeal Guitars here: zeal-guitars.de/en/

Spalt Instruments Lockdown Antidote

November 26, 2020 22:51 - 10 minutes - 9.33 MB

Spalt Instruments (check out Episode 1 to learn more about their work!) are looking to help tackle some lockdown blues with discounts on a selection of their beautiful guitars. Plus, you can get 20% off a custom order during the sale! The offers run until 30th November. Check them out and get to know some beautiful examples of Michael Spalt's work here: https://www.spaltinstruments.com/home/lockdown-antidote/

Copying Copying Copying Copying Copying? Cloning?

November 25, 2020 22:02 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MB

Copying is a constant topic of conversation in the guitar world when it comes to both music and gear. What counts as a copy? What is legal and what should be legal? What seems acceptable and fair? Does 'cloning' or 'following' another product harm the industry? Does it really help consumers? It can be helpful to look outside of our own little world that's full of brand loyalties and personal preferences to get a fresh perspective. A big story in the world of MIDI keyboards right now offers ...

Save Our Venues

November 24, 2020 21:50 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MB

The Music Venue Trust's #saveourvenues campaign is another example of the music community coming together to help one another in this incredibly difficult year. Their latest raffle gives you a chance to win IDLES guitarist Mark Bowen's Hiwatt amp head and a Hiwatt cab, and you can enter from anywhere in the world. Find the raffle and more info at the following links: Raffle: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/win-idles-hiwatt-guitar-amp-head Campaign fundraiser: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/mvtredalert Musi...

Guitar Highlight - Firestar 170

November 23, 2020 22:51 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

It's always best to expect the unexpected with Deimel Guitarworks' most experimentally minded model. But even so, each iteration can still find a way to surprise you, and this latest build is no exception. Get to know about this unique 10-string guitar from the high-end German builders.

A Few More Plugin Ideas For Recording Guitar

November 22, 2020 21:56 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MB

When you're starting to record guitar, navigating the vast world of plugins can feel a little overwhelming. It helps to have a really small number of curated selections to start with. Well, Music Radar's new list is a helpful place for a few such suggestions, and we're taking a look at those in today's episode. Check out the list here: musicradar.com/news/the-best-free-vst-plugins-2020-must-have-freeware-synths-drum-machines-and-effects

'Boutique' Is A Weird Word

November 21, 2020 22:40 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

There are definitely some mixed opinions about the word 'boutique' in the guitar world, and its use possibly becoming more common could make it an even weirder, more polarising term.

The End Of Guitar Music?!

November 20, 2020 22:27 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Obviously not. Every year it seems there's some claim about guitar or certain genres of music dying, and we all talk about to what extent it's just BS. But it generates some interesting thoughts, and there's a point to be made about 'guitar music' ending - but not in the way you think. Promise. Don't hate me. I can explain...

Who Plays Boutique Guitars?! Artist Highlight - David Regueiro & Extremoduro

November 19, 2020 22:26 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

It's a good question. If these luthier-made guitars really are so good, then there'll be a bunch of great guitarists around the world playing them...right? I've already highlighted a bunch of amazing players who use 'boutique' guitars on this podcast, but it's something I want to do more to answer this question - so here are a couple of examples to start us off! Here's the video discussed in the episode: youtube.com/watch?v=kSRkkwBZvvQ

Support Artists And Enjoy Live Music Today!

November 18, 2020 22:05 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB

Bandcamp have announced the launch of Bandcamp Live, their new service for artists to create ticketed, live-streamed performances. It's a way for artists to create the most gig-like experience in these current times, a new avenue for performing as an artist into the future, and a way for us to enjoy the excitement of the live music we miss in this nearest-possible alternative - most importantly, it's a way to support artists and one another as a community.

What Is The Freedom Neck?

November 17, 2020 22:09 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MB

Leo Lospennato brings some truly unique features to his guitars, one of them being the Freedom Neck. In this episode, we take a look at just a couple of the fascinating ideas to come out of Lospennato Guitars, giving a flavour of the breadth of amazing work out there in the world of guitars.

Things To Follow Right Now In Guitarland

November 16, 2020 22:32 - 9 minutes - 8.88 MB

A few suggestions for some awesome things to check out right now in the world of guitar, from a new (actually really old!) type of pickup design to some deep-dive guitar history.

Get To Know Mikagi Guitars

November 15, 2020 21:30 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

Builder Miran Katar brings a deep understanding for the materials he works with into each of his builds - that's just one of the reasons why Mikagi Guitars are well worth checking out.

Why We Should All Record Guitar

November 14, 2020 22:43 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MB

Even if we have no interest producing or sharing or selling our music, recording can be a great way to improve our playing - even with the most basic setup and minimal know-how.

Super Early Van Halen Recording Discovered

November 13, 2020 22:01 - 9 minutes - 8.33 MB

A recording of the band from a gig at a Pasadena high school in 1975 has emerged, and it's definitely worth a listen for Van Halen fans and all guitar players in general! Hearing such a raw recording of a great band in their infancy is something I've always loved, and this is a fantastic example.

An Incredible Looking New Guitar Book

November 12, 2020 22:25 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

Coming across John Stubbings' book "The Devil Is In It" today got me fascinated to learn more about the project. If you're wanting to find out more yourself, go check out orpharionpress.com.

Collaborative High-End Guitars

November 11, 2020 22:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MB

It's not something you see often, but Spalt Instruments of Austria and Jersey Girl Homemade Guitars of Japan have come together to create a truly stunning and unique build. Could we see more collaborative high-end guitars in the future?

My Favourite Pedal Of All Time

November 10, 2020 21:58 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MB

It's a pedal I've loved at every stage of my guitar-playing life so far - it's the only pedal I've ever gigged with, and many times it's been the only pedal I've needed when recording. I come back to this one again and again, and even after all this time, it still inspires me.

Mastery (Bridges) Of The Craft

November 09, 2020 20:46 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MB

It seems like more and more luthiers are turning to Mastery bridges these days - and us players are doing the same. So what are the advantages of a Mastery bridge? Why are Mastery bridges so popular? And is the offset/Mastery trend really a trend at all?

New Music From System Of A Down

November 08, 2020 22:24 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

After 15 years, System of a Down have released new music to raise awareness of the conflict in Artsakh and Armenia. Please check out the music and read the band's statement at: systemofadown.bandcamp.com

What Everybody's Talking About

November 07, 2020 22:09 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MB

It's what everybody's talking about. The vote. We gotta do it. We gotta talk about it. Guitar.com's Best High-End Guitar of 2020 vote. This is what everybody's talking about. Pretty sure. Think this is the thing. Maybe. I think.

A New Place For Guitar Inspiration

November 06, 2020 22:57 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

The Fender Artist Check-In Series is a great place to go for finding songwriting inspiration, getting a detailed look at great guitar playing, discovering new guitar music or just sitting back with a coffee and enjoying performances from across a wide range of genres.

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