In this video I asked master builder Juha Ruokangas questions about the different ways to finish a guitars and their impacts on the sound.
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For the release of the his previous solo album Beyond The Shrouded Horizon in 2011 I did an audio interview with Steve Hacket. Here's a new one for his latest work with the album called Wolflight. This album is full of the epic music Steve is so good at composing.
Extracts of the album before the Steve Hackett interview
Earthshine
Loving Sea
Black Thunder
Heart Song
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In this 4th video of the Spartan Project the luthier, Mikaël Springer, continues the work on the Spanish Cedar body.
Published videos of the Spartan Project
Stay tuned for the next update on the Spartan Project!
Pierre.
PS: for more info on this project you can read the full article here about its launch.
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In 2014 I did a first interview with Nik Huber from Huber Guitars at the Musikmesse, as he is also an exhibitor at the winter NAMM show we recorded the video interview you can see below.
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I was not able to catch Alex Skolnick during the 2015 winter NAMM show so we scheduled a Skype call to do the interview. His career has not been the usual one for a Heavy Metal guitar player, he is not afraid to venture into Jazz and World music. Planetary Coalition, his latest album, is a fascinating collection of music with very different musicians.
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I use a Plextortion pedal on my pedalboard for the heavy guitar sounds so while at the NAMM I jumped on the opportunity to interview Brian Wampler the founder of Wampler Pedals.
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I was not able to catch Alex Skolnick during the 2015 winter NAMM show so we scheduled a Skype call to do the interview.
Subjects discussed in the interview
His first guitar
His training and influences
The approach he took toward Jazz
How the Planetary Coalition project was created and recorded
His next projects
His word of wisdom for musician
Enjoy,
Pierre.
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Juha Ruokangas is one of the pioneer of using thermo treated wood in instrument building. In this video of the Luthier Chronicle you will learn the whole story of this technique and how Juha uses it in his work. It's a fascinating subject.
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While visiting the Ernie Ball Music Man booth at the 2015 winter NAMM I stumbled on Country guitar legend Albert Lee. We did a quick Instagram selfie then I asked him he was willing to do a quick interview on the spot, he accepted graciously. We found a place to sit and here we went! Albert
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Right before the Freak Kitchen concert in Paris, Mattias Eklundh was at Metal Guitar for a showcase/masterclass. The full recording is available below in 3 videos.
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While I was at the NAMM show I almost did a video interview with Adrian Belew. It did not happen because of a delayed plane so we did it via phone a couple of weeks later. I hope you will enjoy this interview with this eternal brilliant experimentator.
Adrian played with so many people and bands that it's impossible to list them all.
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Kari Nieminen interview from Versoul Guitars, luthier for Ron Wood and Billy Gibbons
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Kari Nieminen is the luthier for Versoul Guitars in Finland (www.versoul.com). I discover his work while in Berlin for the Holy Grail Guitar Show. As Kari has built several guitars for one of my all time favorite guitar player, Billy F.
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In this 3rd video of the Spartan Project the luthier, Mikaël Springer, continues the work on the Spanish Cedar body.
Published videos of the Spartan Project
Stay tuned for the next update on the Spartan Project!
Pierre.
PS: for more info on this project you can read the full article here about its launch.
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It's always a pleasure to meet and interview Mattias Eklundh as he is such a nice guy and awesome musician. I dig the last album "Cooking with Pagan" he has just released with Freak Kitchen, it's shock full of cool songs with incredible guitar works.
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As it is the 3rd time I get to do an interview with Mattias, we got a little crazy during the interview.
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It's always a pleasure to meet and interview Mattias Eklundh as he is such a nice guy and awesome musician. I dig the last album "Cooking with Pagan" he has just released with Freak Kitchen, it's shock full of cool songs with incredible guitar works.
As it is the 3rd time I get to do an interview with Mattias, we got a little crazy during the interview.
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Leonardo Guitar Research Project – Interview at the 2014 Holy Grail Guitar Show
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
This interview with Brian will explain you everything you need to know about the Leonardo Guitar Research Project.
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In this third video (see extract above) of the Luthier Chronicle with master builder Juha Ruokangas, I asked him what were his favorite woods to build instrument with.
Related pics
Juha selecting a top
Some birch wood
List of chronicles with Juha
Update on the Captain Nemo guitar
Being a luthier in Finland
His favorite woods (this chronicle)
Thermo treated wood
Varnish, nitro-cellulose, etc.
Aging of thermo treated wood guitars
Pickups
Short or long tenon?
For or against CNC machine?
Enjoy,
Pierre.
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In this 2nd series of videos of the Spartan Project done with Mikaël Springer, the luthier continues with the work on the body.
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On March 2nd 2015, we did a 35min Skype video call with Zane Carney to get all the latest news. The audio interview is available for free on the podcast feed.
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Zane Carney interview full 35min video interview
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Subjects covered in the interview
Latest update from Zane
All the discoveries Zane did during the 2015 NAMM show
All the info about his collaboration with Hofner for a signature model
Demo of the Jazzica prototype guitar
What to be expected during his european tour
Upcoming news of news music to expect in 2015
Zane demoing his Hofner Jazzica
Can't wait to see Zane live in Paris, hopefully something will happen.
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Gene Baker interview from B3 Guitars at the 2015 Winter NAMM
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Gene Baker is a very famous guitar builder with a huge experience in the field. He now leads B3 Guitars his own brand within the Premier Builders Guild. He has a very rich career in the guitar building business. He worked for many guitar greats such as Robben Ford.
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Back in 2012 I had the opportunity to meet Doug Scarratt while he was in Paris to promote a Saxon best-of album.
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More than ever there is a humongous choice of picks available nowadays. I recently received a set of Dragon's Heart Guitar Picks. I admit I was intrigued by the original shape of the model which present three different edges: a sharp one, a normal one and a round one.
What I like the most
- 3 distinct sounds in one pick
- Quality of the material
- Very durable
What I like the least
- Added complexity
- Not for everyone
Conclusion
When I use a pick I tend to use thicker and thicker one. I don't know if it's because as I aged I get better at guitar playing and need more control or just a matter of my taste evolving. Anyway, I enjoyed the thickness of the Dragon's Heart picks. As for the sound, having such a variety of type of attacks on the strings is a pretty cool feature. If you are ready to deal with the fact that you need to pay attention to how you hold your pick to choose the right edge you want to use, the Dragon's Heart offer an excellent option to get different sounds right from your finger tips. Pierre.
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Dragon’s Heart Guitar Picks (@DragonHrtPicks): a triple edge pick
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
This video is part of a series of videos documenting the Spartan Project done in collaboration with luthier Mikaël Springer.
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Bill Krinard interview, Two Rock Amps tone guru at the 2015 NAMM show
Saturday, 21 February 2015
During the 2015 NAMM show I had the pleasure to meet and interview tone guru Bill Krinard who his the mastermind behind the Two-Rock amps (www.two-rock.com).
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In this second video of the Luthier Chronicle with master builder Juha Ruokangas, I asked what's different in being a luthier in a Nordic country like Finland.
Pics of the Ruokangas workshop
Until the next Luthier Chronicle, keep on playing your guitar and check-out your local luthier.
Pierre.
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Springer's name is not unknown on The Channel Guitar since I already had the opportunity to interview Mikaël Springer (in French), a luthier I admire.
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While I was in Los Angeles for the 2015 NAMM show, I met completely by chance Grover Jackson one morning in the alleys of the show even though he did not have a booth with GJ2 Guitars. He proposed me right away to come and visit their workshop in Orange County, no need to say I jumped on the opportunity.
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On the first video of the Luthier Chronicle, master luthier Juha Ruokangas gives a full update on the Captain Nemo guitar project he introduced at the 1st Holy Grail Guitar Show.
Pics of the Captain Nemo guitar
Pics of the Valve Bucker
Until the next Luthier Chronicle, keep on playing your guitar and check-out your local luthier.
Pierre.
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It is thanks to Shai Sebbag that I met with Don Alder who was visiting in Paris for a concert. I did not know at all that musician who has stunning acoustic guitar technique.
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