In 2026, The Guitar Channel travelled to Finland for the first time to cover ToneFest (tonefest.fi), the country’s biggest guitar show. Here is an interview with Petri Matero, organiser of this wonderful event and owner of the shop Tonefest Guitar Gallery (tonefestguitargallery.com), also located in Tuusula, just north of Helsinki. A big thank you to
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
- Published in All, Interviews
Curtis Novak (curtisnovak.com) is an American manufacturer of boutique pickups and also the organizer of the Wood Wire Volts event (woodwirevolts.com), which held its second edition in 2026 alongside NAMM. It was striking to see the expansion of this event, which doubled in number of exhibitors. Curtis Novak interview Until the next interview or gear
- Published in All, Interviews
Young American musician Taj Farrant (tajfarrant.com) was at NAMM 2026 at the Eminence booth, where he was presenting a signature speaker. Here he is in an interview just before his demo. Thanks to AMS Amplification (amsamplifiers.com) for putting us in touch with Taj. Taj Farrant interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on
- Published in All, Interviews
I am often asked how I choose the people I interview. Here is an article describing the strategy I have always used in this area. With more than 1,500 interviews under my belt, the approach is clear. The priorities The priorities regarding who I interview are simple, my choice will always be: For me, the
Sunday was the third and last day of the Paris Guitar Festival in Montrouge (parisguitarfestival.com), it was a great finale for this 2026 edition. Report for Sunday 08/03/26 Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Paris Guitar Festival
Saturday is always the big day at the Paris Guitar Festival in Montrouge (parisguitarfestival.com), it was definitely the case for the 2026 edition with a lot of visitors and plenty of good music. Report for Saturday 07/03/26 Photo album Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more
This time of year, when the Paris Guitar Festival in Montrouge (parisguitarfestival.com) returns, is always a joy! The quality of the exhibitors and the programme is always top notch. Here is a 7min video report to give you an idea of the guitar show part of the event. Report for Friday 06/03/26 Photo album Until the
The second and final day at the ToneFest (tonefest.fi) was a superb day with lots of visitors again, lots of great encounters, beautiful music and six interviews. Interviews of the day : Many thanks to Petri Matero of ToneFest Guitar Gallery (tonefestguitargallery.com), organiser of this event, who financed a large part of my travel expenses.
- Published in All, Interviews, News
The second and final day at the ToneFest (tonefest.fi) was a superb day with lots of visitors again, lots of great encounters, beautiful music and six interviews. Interviews of the day : Many thanks to Petri Matero of ToneFest Guitar Gallery (tonefestguitargallery.com), organiser of this event, who financed a large part of my travel expenses.
- Published in All, Interviews, News
Here I am! I'm at ToneFest (tonefest.fi), the guitar show held in Tuusula, 20 km north of Helsinki, Finland. Around fifty exhibitors, mainly Finnish, are present with a splendid assortment of acoustic and electric guitars from luthiers, boutique pedals, amplifiers, as well as a luthiery school, book and kit sellers, and a distributor. It was
- Published in All, Interviews, News
Here I am! I'm at ToneFest (tonefest.fi), the guitar show held in Tuusula, 20 km north of Helsinki, Finland. Around fifty exhibitors, mainly Finnish, are present with a splendid assortment of acoustic and electric guitars from luthiers, boutique pedals, amplifiers, as well as a luthiery school, book and kit sellers, and a distributor. It was
- Published in All, Interviews, News
The Finland ToneFest guitar show (tonefest.fi) doesn't start until tomorrow, Saturday, but given the flight schedule, it was easier to arrive the day before so I could be ready to go as soon as the show opened. So I arrived in Helsinki late this morning. Here's a quick video update. Hello from Helsinki Until the
One Mississippi is the title of the album of American bluesman Eric Bibb (ericbibb.com). Here he is, guitar in hand, in a Parisian hotel, talking about it in an interview. Eric Bibb interview Serge Fathom interview with Eric Bibb For those who want more, here is the interview by Serge Fattoh from Global Africa Telesud
- Published in All, Interviews
Thanks to a long-time subscriber to La Chaîne Guitare (thank you, Michel!), I was able to get in touch with Polish musician Robert Pieculewicz (Facebook page). Here he is in a Zoom interview to learn about his career and his projects. Robert Pieculewicz interview The Guitar Channel podcast The audio version of the video is
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
- Published in All, Interviews
It's always very interesting to interview Zach Broyles from creator of boutique build Mythos Pedals (mythospedals.com) and high end guitar store Highvoltage Guitars (highvoltageguitars.com) because he is a keen observer of the guitar market. Listen carefully to this entrepreneur because his vision of the industry is comprehensive. Zach Broyles interview Until the next interview or
- Published in All, Interviews
Ariel Posen (arielposen.com) was one of the musicians programmed at the Wood Wire Volts (woodwirevolts.com) event at The Colony, a few kilometers away from the NAMM Show convention center. Here is for a quick interview to talk about his 2026 projects. FYI, we will soon be recording an in-depth interview to discuss his new album, Bannatyne.
- Published in All, Interviews
Swiss luthier Egon Rauscher from SoulTool Guitars (soultool.com) recounts one of his luthier fail. Egon Rauscher interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Luthier Fail Stories
- Published in All, Interviews
Once again the amp builder Eddie Wang from Eddie Wang Instruments (eddiewanginstruments.com) was an exhibitor at the NAMM Show. He was presenting a new cab as well as his line of high end tube amp. Thanks again Eddie for letting me have an exhibitor badge for the show you rock! Eddie Wang interview Until the
- Published in All, Interviews
.Having access to a big name in the guitar industry like Andy Powers, CEO of Taylor Guitars (taylorguitars.com), is a privilege that I look forward to every year at NAMM. Here is his interview for 2026. Andy Powers interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more
- Published in All, Interviews
German luthier Rainer Tausch was exhibiting at NAMM 2026 as usual, and here he is being interviewed at his stand to present his Tausch Guitars (tausch-guitars.de). A huge thank you to Rainer, who has been a paying subscriber to The Guitar Channel for yearsand actively supports the project. Vielen Danke Rainer! Rainer Tausch interview Until
- Published in All, Interviews
British musician Chris Buck (chrisbuckguitar.shop) was at NAMM 2026 with his band Cardinal Black (thecardinalblack.com) to launch his signature RevStar model at Yamaha. Here he is being interviewed at the Line6 booth. Chris Buck Interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:NAMMChris Buck
- Published in All, Interviews
This was an interview I was particularly looking forward to doing at NAMM 2026. It's not every day you get the chance to meet a direct descendant of the founder of Martin Guitars (martinguitar.com)! So here is Chris Martin himself at the booth of the brand founded by his ancestors. Chris Martin interview Until the
- Published in All, Interviews
It's now a well-established tradition, as this is the third time I've interviewed Thomas Ripsam from Martin Guitars (martinguitar.com) at NAMM. His answers are always generous and thoughtful; he doesn't just give bland, pre-calibrated marketing spiel. Thomas Ripsam interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more
- Published in All, Interviews
David Jünger (juenger-gitarren.de) is a German guitar builder I met during the 2025 Guitar Summit. Here is in an interview on this booth to present his wonderful instruments. David Jünger interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Guitar Summit VideosLuthier
- Published in All, Interviews
Portuguese luthier Adriano Sergio of Ergon Guitars (ergonguitars.com) was one of the exhibitors at NAMM 2026. Here he is at his booth, which he shared with German luthier Rainer Tausch and American amp boutique builder Eddie Wang. A big thank you to Adriano, who has been a paying subscriber to The Guitar Channel for years.He
- Published in All, Interviews
Nathaniel Murphy aka @ZeppelinBarnatra on Instagram was at the NAMM Show for Chicago Music Exchange (chicagomusicexchange.com). Here he is for a quick video update. Nathaniel Murphy interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Nathaniel MurphyNAMM
- Published in All, Interviews
Always a pleasure to bump into the amazing musician Adam Levy (adamlevy.com)! Here is a quick interview with him recorded during the 2026 edition of the NAMM Show. Adam Levy interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Adam LevyNAMMGuitar in Hand Interviews
- Published in All, Interviews
After the ultra-noisy atmosphere of NAMM, it's a real pleasure to stroll through the aisles of the Amigo Guitar Show in Costa Mesa, 20 minutes from Anaheim! This show is dedicated to Vintage guitars and second-hand instruments. Let's start our tour with an interview with organizer Larry Briggs. Visit and interview at the Vintage guitar
- Published in All, Interviews, News
This is the video report for the third and final day of the NAMM Show 2026 edition. Interviews of the day: NAMM 2026 - Saturday Report 24/01/26 Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:NAMM Reports
- Published in All, Interviews, News
Another very busy day this Friday at NAMM 2026 with 1.5 hour of video report and 4 interviews! Interviews of the day: NAMM 2026 - Friday Report 23/01/26 Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:NAMM Reports
- Published in All, Interviews, News
