The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

The Fretboard Journal... Book Club? Today, guitarmaking legend Richard Hoover of the Santa Cruz Guitar Company joins us for a unique conversation about reading, reflection and empathy. He shares the two books he's reading now and invites listeners to submit questions, thoughts or reflections on the pair. We also learn about Richard's reading habits in general, his upbringing in California, how SCGC weathered COVID, the impact the scientific method had on his builds, and much more. It's a unique glimpse into the mind of one of the great acoustic guitarmakers of the modern era. The books Richard is currently reading: W.E.B Du Bois' 'The Soul of Black Folk' (Amazon link) 'The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi' (Amazon link)

https://santacruzguitar.com

If you have a comment on this show, reach out to us via [email protected]. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, too.

This episode is sponsored by Mono Cases, Folkway Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars. Extra thanks to Calton Cases and Martin Guitars for sponsoring all that we do.

For the last several years, Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter has served as a touring guitarist for Dijon, Ryan Beatty, Lizzy McAlpine and others. Years ago, he was also one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest employees. Ryan recently released his first solo project - a fascinating one-track, 20-minute long album called "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" - and on this week's podcast, we hear all about it.

Ryan tells us about how this multifaceted composition came to be (with a little help from a rolling capo ad on social media), the gear that he used on it, his touring rig with Ryan Beatty, the LA guitar scene today, working with Mason Stoops, the perils of hot vocal mics, and so much more. "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" is a beautiful and unique debut project and we hope you'll check it out. Ryan's album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3K291dCwsQ9OJeCyv0VK4u?si=3e18abbab2ab4d32

Pre-Order the Vinyl: https://rrmerch.shop/products/ryan-richter-as-good-a-place-as-any-vinyl

Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration: https://fretboardsummit.org Watch Ryan walk through his Dijon gear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF47JR6R4M

Listen to Ryan host our G. Weller episode from 2023: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcasts/podcast-406-the-mystery-of-g-weller/

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal

Austin's Matt the Electrician joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'The Ocean Knocked Me Down.' He also gives us a mini master class on being a productive songwriter.

We also talk about John Allison Guitars, the Austin music scene today, the weekly songwriting group helmed by Bob Schneider and so much more.

https://matttheelectrician.bandcamp.com

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our new 53rd issue featuring Ben Harper, Joanna Sternberg, Robbie Basho, and Kate Wolf's guitar: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

Registration is now open to attend our 2024 Fretboard Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org/

If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and consider joining the Fretboard Journal's new Patreon page.

Thank you to our sponsors: Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); and Stringjoy Strings (get 10% off your order with the FRETBOARD discount code). This episode is also sponsored by iZotope. Use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off of your Izotope order.

Toronto's William "Grit" Laskin has been building acoustic instruments since 1971.

Best known as one of the world's foremost inlay artists, Grit painstakingly crafts wildly ornate fingerboard and headstock creations that serve as one-of-a-kind tributes to his clients and their passions.

When he's not building, Grit has also run a record label, performed around North America as a folk artist, and even invented an engraving filler used by fellow luthiers worldwide. In 2012, he was named to the Order Of Canada (C.M.)., Canada’s highest civilian honor. As if that weren't enough, Grit has just penned a novel. 'The Stradivari Formula' is a thriller filled with intrigue, mystery and even a guitar-related plot. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we hear all about it, the research that went into it, and more.

The Fretboard Journal's Fretboard Summit takes place August 23-25, 2024 at Chicago's Old Town School. This year's Summit features 80 luthiers and exhibitors, including Collings, Martin, Jason Kostal, Frank Bros., Michael Greenfield, and others. Performers include Colin Hay, Blake Mills, and Joe Henry. Register to attend this unforgettable guitar weekend: https://fretboardsummit.org

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) 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). Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal

Scott Ballew is an Austin, Texas-based filmmaker and musician. For years, he’s directed unforgettable videos and documentaries for Yeti and others. In 2020, he decided to take up songwriting and recorded his first album just a year later.

This week, Ballew releases his third album, Rio Bravo. It’s an exceptional work that somehow combines Ballew’s affinity for Townes Van Zandt and other Austin legends with his love for reverb-drenched Ennio Morricone soundtracks. We love it.

During our chat, Scott tells us about his unlikely journey from football star to director to songwriter and about how filmmaking has shaped his music output. We also talk about the making of Rio Bravo, Scott’s growing guitar collection, the time he spent with Townes Van Zandt’s Gibson, and how – thanks to Pearl Jam – he ended up playing football for the University of Washington.

Scott's site: https://www.leisurerodeo.com

Recommended viewing:

Can You Hear Me Smiling: A short doc on Scott Ballew’s songwriting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEkWxtLjD-4&t=1s

My Old Man | No. 4 - Anchor Point: Scott’s Yeti doc featuring JT Van Zandt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KadKx5k6XoY

Leisure Rodeo: A Short Film by Scott Ballew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65vd-PjEBnY&t=2s

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/ This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a new Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal