Music is the universal language
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:14
Fretboard Journal
Case Study: Charlie Parr on Spider John Koerner’s Gretsch
Troubadour Charlie Parr brought a bit of history to the Fretboard Journal headquarters, a circa-1950 Gretsch acoustic that was owned by Spider John Koerner. The guitar was gifted to Parr by Koerner towards the end of his life.
It’s an unusual instrument, even by acoustic Gretsch standards. For starters, the headstock sports a mispelled logo. Beyond that, Koerner modified the instrument to be a 12-string, using mandolin tuners and a relocated pin bridge. “The top is wildly crooked. It shouldn’t work at all, but it does,” Parr explains. “I’ve been carrying it with me ever since John handed it over.”
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Podcast 531: Author John Stubbings
On this week’s podcast, UK-based author and guitar fanatic John Stubbings returns to tell us all about his new book, ‘The Guitar Detective.’ The follow-up to his monumental ‘The Devil Is In It’ publishing project, ‘The Guitar Detective’ is a “non-fiction novel” based around a riveting guitar mystery.
We discuss the format John chose for this book, his inspiration for the story, and so much more.
Order ‘The Guitar Detective’ here: https://orpharionpress.com/
Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org
Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal is now mailing. Subscribe here to get it.
We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
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Luthier on Luthier: Juha Rukangas
For episode 109 of Luthier on Luthier, we’re joined by Juha Rukangas, a Finnish guitar maker pushing the boundaries of instrument design.
We dive into his innovative Valve Bucker pickup, the Captain Nemo guitar prototype, and his use of local Arctic Birch and wood torrification to create unique guitars. Juha shares his journey from student to professional luthier and his vision for the future of guitar making, blending tradition, technology, and artistry.
Link: https://ruokangas.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 the Looth Group, 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.
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The Truth About Vintage Amps, Ep. 158
Episode 158: Chris Benson of Benson amps and Bryan Sours of Soursound transformers make their long-awaited returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps. Why? They want to tell us all about the logging truck of an amp they are currently building, a 700-watt(!) all-tube beast dubbed Babylon!
The Babylon will feature 14 KT88 tubes, 16 total speakers, three knobs, and two power cords. It’s literally the most powerful tube amp they could make without requiring a dryer outlet.
Check our Instagram for a sneak peek at the creation.
and honorable mention to…
https://bottosbbq.com/
Hear the Babylon in person at the 2026 Wood, Wire & Volts festival (or anywhere within a mile or two radius of the show).
https://www.woodwirevolts.com/
Deep cuts: Bryan’s first appearance on our show can be found here (it’s pretty epic) and Chris originally appeared on our 30th episode.
Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And happy holidays to all of our listeners and Patreon members for their support! We’ll be back in 2026.
Want amp tech Skip Simmons’ advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.
Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.
Don’t forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.
The post The Truth About Vintage Amps, Ep. 158 first appeared on Fretboard Journal.
Podcast 530: Breedlove Guitars’ Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard
Nearly every guitar player has daydreamed about running their favorite guitar company. On this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, we hear from two individuals 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-based Breedlove Guitars.
During our chat, we talk about the realities of running a guitar business in 2025; the surprises they weren’t anticipating; what changes they are implementing at the 35-year-old company; and where they see growth in the guitar space.
Whether or not you’re a Breedlove owner, Pete and Shannon’s enthusiasm for guitars is downright infectious. We think you’ll love this chat.
Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org
Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal will mail later this month. Subscribe here to get it.
We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
The post Podcast 530: Breedlove Guitars’ Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard first appeared on Fretboard Journal.
Hayden Pedigo – “I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away”
Hayden Pedigo performs “I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away,” the title track from his 2025 album, at our headquarters.
For this recording, he borrowed our ladder-braced Waterloo WL-14 guitar (the same one that Bill Frisell used for prior FJ sessions).
Follow Hayden’s Instagram here.
The post Hayden Pedigo – “I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away” first appeared on Fretboard Journal.
The Truth About Vintage Amps, Ep. 157
It’s the 157th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps.
Some of the topics discussed this week:
Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts
:42 Atmospheric rivers
3:52 Skip’s appearance at the Bay Area Guitar Show (Jan 10-11, link)
8:46 Fretboard Journal 58 (coming soon!)
9:57 Unsung electronics hero (and possible con man) Lee De Forest (read his memoir here); power conditioners
17:44 Skip’s new trail cam
20:47 One man’s trash: Repurposing the square capacitor/resistor found in a Gibson GA-19 RVT/Falcon
22:44 What’s on Skip’s Bench: A clean early 1969 SF Fender Vibro Champ with a trem that didn’t want to go slow; an Ampeg J-20
29:11 Advice on an amp road trip (New Orleans, Phoenix, LA, and Denver)
34:25 What’s louder: Two 50-watt halves or one full 100-watt stack of amps
37:29 Using the potentiometers in hi-fi speaker units from the 1950s; the Christmas Jug Band; ukuleles
42:10 What’s up with this Winson combo amp? EL84s vs 7189s; garlic bread; Roy Buchanan’s The Messiah Will Come Again (YouTube link); Roy Clark and Joe Pass; Van Morrison’s “You Are My Sunshine;” The Fretboard Journal’s You Are My Sunshine project (link)
50:29 Gigging a 1947 Fender Deluxe 5A3, Brookwood leather
55:40 6L6s in Deluxe Reverbs and Princetons? wild mushrooms
1:00:43 Are all trebles created equal?
1:05:38 Greetings from Canada; Slow Horses (redux); Life on the Line featuring John Travolta (Wikipedia link); chicken curry
1:13:26 Questions re: a Knight 93SX670 PA amp and the phono wiring
1:17:23 WD-40 musings
1:19:33 Just completed my Mojotone Tweed Princeton kit, but what’s with this hum?
1:22:50 An RCA MI12155 PA head with no output; Chuck Prophet; Mosquito Coast cocktails; recommended book: ‘The Night Train to Nashville’ (Amazon link)
1:26:40 The Whole Earth Catalog; Stewart Brand (Amazon link)
1:30:30 Vacuum Tube Valley
Want amp tech Skip Simmons’ advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.
Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.
Don’t forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.
Above and below: Listener Rick’s Winston amplifier, as discussed on this episode.
The post The Truth About Vintage Amps, Ep. 157 first appeared on Fretboard Journal.
Podcast 529: John Reischman
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.
Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. https://fretboardsummit.org
Our 58th issue of the Fretboard Journal will mail later this month. Subscribe here to get it.
We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).
Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
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