The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

This week, we're joined by Mike Nelson, Martin Guitars' VP of Global Marketing.    Mike has a coveted job: He gets to tell the story of one of the world's most loved guitar brands.   We talk about the challenges Mike faces in his role, the yearslong planning process for new Martin models, where he sees growth in the industry, the Martin Custom Shop, NAMM, and more.    It's a unique take on the business of guitar.    Martin: https://www.martinguitar.com Martin's Custom Shop: https://www.martinguitar.com/about-martin-custom-shop.html?srsltid=AfmBOor0gH2rquaP_2ZQOYJxOALmzB6uprJCvpqFqfrSVMrSDGHo5qEz   2025 LA Fire Relief:  Musicares Fire Relief: https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirerelief LA Mutual Fire Aid Resources: https://www.fireaid.info/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZX8rVNnTmxCs5y7FxfKVC7MPMztRiLJp_fWMzLcKsihzK82aF1mC8-DRI_aem_GS0GIyZN5hSAMVs8OdVRbw LA Wildfires Help List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10Q387T4udLBFSEj5MJs16E8OwZNZHU9RemS39ZhSyt8/htmlview Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe 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). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

Singer-songwriter and Fretboard Journal contributor Sofia Wolfson recently joined our editorial staff. As we close out 2024, we decided to check in with her to get her recap of the guitar scene in NYC, her favorite records, artists to watch, the gear she loved and more. It's a deep dive full of new discoveries!    https://sofiawolfson.bandcamp.com/album/imposing-on-a-hometown   The Fretboard Journal is proud to present two PNW shows with Sofia:  On Friday, January 10, 2025, Sofia will be performing at one of our favorite guitar stores, Strum in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are available here. On Saturday, January 11, 2025, she’ll play in Seattle at the Rabbit Box Theater. Get tickets to see Sofia in Seattle here.  Some of the stuff mentioned during this podcast:  Albums:    Woodland - Gillian Welch and David Rawlings: https://open.spotify.com/album/7zZI8ki72x4CYVJ1H2JgUA?si=T1_5XCIUTJCdLowDWFXBqg   Manning Firewords - MJ Lenderman: https://open.spotify.com/album/1bKiiYGt1fzm9YMlTnUqpN?si=pkefrVjxS8qap3NVCN2-Iw   Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Y8WS7iDIZkvzB5GUeLvku?si=SnJjef1NRiq4YH4I_eVyZg   Two Star & The Dream Police - Mk.gee: https://open.spotify.com/album/6DlLdXBGCsSDPOV8R2pCl7?si=3dw8Yv-iQAOJF5brnmeIbA   Inside the Marble - Margaux: https://open.spotify.com/album/6Tifn26BUT16VlQ3WG2khN?si=WBfItl_JSG6rencd1XCNrA   Blue Raspberry - Katy Kirby: https://open.spotify.com/album/0fVXraFe5B7rZLnGjTVZWy?si=vRq8BA-HRzWeu5TsLuQiAw   Close Your Eyes - Blue Ranger: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ekbSIvcRXFgoucz2HRSq0?si=SdlOWu0mQEe7WDjwfXJoTg   See You at the Maypole - Half Waif: https://open.spotify.com/album/42IiJqXh1ICEPJjwqG5D1B?si=GCLOCqKdT2m14e5zC7MPnA     Other Odds & Ends:    Gemini Pickups: https://www.geminipickups.com/#/   Gunk: https://gunkyard.substack.com/   No Hassle Castle: https://www.instagram.com/nohasslenyc/   Union Pool: https://www.union-pool.com/   Baby’s All Right: https://babysallright.com/   Public Records: https://publicrecords.nyc/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 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). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/

We first met Spokane, Washington-based luthier Tyson Soth at our annual Fretboard Summit. We loved his guitars and the story of how he fell into guitar making.    On this week's podcast, we share Tyson's story. He talks about learning from guitar maker Joel Stehr, the personal challenges that made him focus on guitars as a career, the financial perils of lutherie, why he doesn't hoard rare tonewoods, and so much more.    https://sothguitars.com   Follow Tyson Soth on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tyson.soth.guitars/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 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).

Singer-songwriter/storyteller Jason Walsmith (The Nadas) joins us this week to talk about the life of an enterprising troubadour. In addition to performing in a variety of settings across the country, Jason is the founder of Guitar Satchel, a gig bag company inspired by heritage wax canvas clothing brands. We hear all about it.    We also talk about life on the road, van life for singer-songwriters, house concerts, corporate gigs, Bedell Guitars, the Fretboard Summit, and so much more. It's a great chat with one of our community members.    https://guitarsatchel.com https://jasonwalsmithstoryteller.com/home Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal: http://fretboardjournal.com/subscribe Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans, and it is loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 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). Collings: Check out their new Hill Country series of guitars: https://collingsguitars.com/hill-country-series/