Podcast 511: Northfield Instruments’ Adrian Bagale
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
“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 about so much more. For nearly 20 years, Northfield has built superb instruments both in the US and China. We discuss Northfield’s unique business model, how they are navigating...
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Podcast 510: Dave Hill
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
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 so many different facets to his career. It's a great chat with a brilliant and funny artist. See Dave at the Fretboard Summit on Friday night: The Fretboard Summit is our three-day festival...
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Podcast 509: James Kee (East Nash Grass)
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
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 always have an Intellitouch tuner on-hand, and so much more. Stringjoy Strings: (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: Peghead...
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Podcast 508: Summer School Electronics' Mark Turley
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
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 limited, but you'll go home with the ultimate Summit souvenir...a new pedal that you created! Register for our Summit: (August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago!) To RSVP for Mark's pedal build...
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Podcast 507: Skip Heller
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
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 knowledge when it comes to music. You may just want to take notes. We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's...
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Podcast 506: Emma Harner
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
Meet Emma Harner, an incredibly talented artist from Nebraska who, unbelievably, has only been playing guitar since the pandemic. Emma's complex playing, a mix of math rock and acoustic fingerpicking, and arresting vocals have earned her over 200,000 followers on Instagram and accolades from numerous guitar heroes. During our chat, we talk about her guitar journey, including her time at Berklee, working at Guitar Center, her favorite tuning, her love for Radiohead, why she won't be covering Nick Drake or Adrianne Lenker any time soon, her new single, and so much more. It's a great...
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Podcast 505: Adam Levy Returns
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
Acclaimed guitarist, educator, songwriter, and all-around-great-human Adam Levy is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast! We talk about his new instrumental album, 'Household.' We discuss the concept behind this record, his desire to expand his band beyond the trio format; the unorthodox recording process he used to make the album; drummer Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) and so much more. It's a fun chat with one of our favorite musicians. Watch the FJ's new documentary with Ben Harper here: We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: (Use the code FRETBOARD to...
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Podcast 504: Jacob Jolliff
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
Jason is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast to interview mandolin great Jacob Jolliff. Over the years, Jolliff has worked with a variety of bands, including Joy Kills Sorry, Yonder Mountain String Band, and his own Jacob Jolliff Band. We talk about his time at Berklee, performing in mandolin competitions, his go-to mandolins (and microphone!) and so much more. A great chat with a player who should be on your radar. Jolliff’s Mandolin Mysteries, Instrumentals Vol. 2 is a must-listen. Check it out. We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10%...
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Podcast 503: Hank Heaven
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
To rebel against musician parents, a young Hank Heaven wanted to be a French chef. But after a serendipitous moment of discovery, they became a Django Reinhardt expert. On Episode #503 of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson interviews Hank about their solo project, touring as a sideman, gypsy jazz, being in a broadway musical, and more. Hank’s latest record, Loaded Dice: We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: Peghead Nation: (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription...
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Podcast 502: Dan Reeder
The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast
Today on the podcast, FJ assistant editor Sofia Wolfson interviews legendary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist Dan Reeder. Born in Louisiana, raised in California, and now based in Nuremberg, Germany, Reeder has released several albums of self-recorded music using instruments he’s built himself. On this episode, we talk about working with John Prine and Oh Boy Records, the intersection between visual art and music, instruments he has built, and much more. Be sure to give his latest record, Smithereens, a spin! We are brought to you by: Stringjoy Strings: (Use the...
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Our next Fretboard Summit takes place August 21-23, 2025 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. Register today: https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2025/08-21-2025-fretboard-summit-2025/
This week's show is sponsored by: Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com
(Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order)
Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com
Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
(Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).