Once again this year, I was at the Montreux International Guitar Show with sound-recording equipment for impromptu demos of some of the luthier's electric guitars exhibited at the show and selected by yours truly. Test setup: Electric guitar demos in Montreux Instruments tested in order of appearance in the video: Until the next interview or
The Puteaux Guitar Festival will hold its 6th edition at the Jean-Baptiste Lully music academy in the city of Puteaux (right next to Paris, France) from Friday 10h to Sunday 12th October 2025. A great program of concerts is the heart of the festival as well as the guitar show. The fifth previous editions were
Chris Buck, guitarist with the band Cardinal Black, was in Italy for Guitar Show Italy to make demos for Yamaha and host two masterclasses. It was a great opportunity to do an interview on the eve of the release of the band's new album. As a bonus, at the end of the video there's footage
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Marco Ferrari is the Italian builder of boutique tube guitar amps under his Dreamaker brand (dreamakeramps.com). He was an exhibitor at Guitar Show Italy, with a renowned demonstrator in the person of Phil Palmer. Marco Ferrari Interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Guitar Show
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Phil Palmer (philpalmer.com) is a session and live musician who has played for the likes of Eric Clapton and Dire Straits. Suffice to say, he's a great pro. I met him at Guitar Show Italy in Bologna, where he gave a masterclass and presented his signature PPX2 amp from Dreamaker. To find out everything you
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Alberto Arcangeli is the Italian boutique builder behind Dreamsongs Pickups (dreamsongspickups.com). He was presenting at the Bologna Guitar Show a new model, a new version of his Charlie Christian floating pickup. Interview Alberto Arcangeli Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Guitar Show ReportsPadova Archives
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The Guitar Show Italy, previously held in Padova next to Venice, has now moved to Bologna, where it was held for the first time for this 2025 edition of the Italian show. Here's the full report and interviews of the day. Of particular note was a meeting with Phil Palmer, who has played with Eric
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The second day of the Montreux International Guitar Show is a big day. Big crowds and lots of great music. Here's today's report. 04/05/25 MIGS Report Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:MIGS ArchivesGuitar Show Reports
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The second day of the Montreux International Guitar Show is a big day. Big crowds and lots of great music. Here's today's report and interviews. Interviews of the day 03/05/25 MIGS Report Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:MIGS ArchivesGuitar Show Reports
The 4th edition of the Montreux International Guitar Show opened on an almost summery day in terms of weather. The venue is as magical as ever, and the show as friendly as ever. Here is today's report. 02/05/25 MIGS Report Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For
The Clean pedal by Chase Bliss (chasebliss.eu) is able to do many things. The core function is to be a creative compressor but it is actually possible to have some modulation with it to have some cool tremolo effects. Check out the video below! Clean Chase Bliss modulation demo Until the next interview or gear
The Clean pedal by Chase Bliss (chasebliss.eu) is able to do many things. The core function is to be a creative compressor. In the video below you will hear some extreme compression settings with just a guitar plugged into the pedal then to the mixing console. Headphones ou external monitors are advised to enjoy the
One of the hallmarks of the Paris Guitar Festival guitar show in Montrouge, France is the presence of major brands alongside boutique guitar builders. Australian brand Cole Clark (coleclarkguitars.com) was present, along with Miles Jackson, the company's CEO. Here he is in interview to present the philosophy of this atypical manufacturer and show the True
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It's always a great pleasure and an impressive moment for me to interview Classical guitarists. Indeed, they have a phenomenal technique and manage to play fabulous music with a “simple” nylon-string guitar. Here's a guitar-in-hand interview with Berta Rojas (bertarojas.com), a concert artist from Paraguay who plays all over the world and teaches at Berklee
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Allen Hinds (allenhinds.com) is a Los Angeles musician in more ways than one: he lives, teaches, records and plays here. After meeting him at his home several times, we recorded this interview at NAMM 2025. Allen Hinds interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Allen
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Last year I had the pleasure to record a couple of videos with the American studio musician Tom Strahle (tomstrahle.com) at this home. In 2025, we saw each other at the NAMM Show where he was coming as a visitor. Here is the latest news about his musician who played the famous guitar part on
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American musician Yvette Young (@yvetteyoung on Instagram) was at NAMM on the Walrus Audio both to talk about her signature QI pedal. A perfect opportunity to do an express interview with this fascinating guitarist. Yvette Young interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Woman InterviewsNAMM
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Danny Songhurst is the builder behind The Rock Slide (therockslide.com). I discovered his products through Dylan Adams. Danny was exhibiting at the 2025 NAMM Show. Here is in an interview on the show floor. Danny Songhurst interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:NAMM Archives
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David Dennis is the surfboard manufacturer behind Ventana Surfboards (ventanasurfboards.com). At NAMM 2025, on the stand of the prestigious American acoustic guitar brand Santa Cruz (santacruzguitar.com), he presented a set consisting of a guitar and a board. He tells us all about it in an interview. David Dennis interview Until the next interview or gear
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Christos Ntaifotis is the founder of the Greek pedal brand Crazy Tube Circuits (crazytubecircuits.com), and we interviewed him at NAMM 2025 to present the latest products on his stand. As a complement, check out the in-depth interview with Christos from the previous NAMM. Christos Ntaifotis interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on
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It was in the aisles of the NAMM 2025 edition that I inevitably bumped into Phil X (@philx1111 on Instagram), a long-time resident of Los Angeles. Here's an express interview I conducted with him amidst the ultra-noisy atmosphere of the guitar sector of the American show. Phil X interview Until the next interview or gear
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That's the magic of NAMM: you're strolling through the show's aisles and you come across Darryl Jones (darryljones.com), the bassist of the Rolling Stones, at his Jones Musical Instruments booth (jonesmusicalinstruments.com)! Here's an interview with this legendary bassist, who's been playing with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and now the Stones for years. Darryl
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Mary Spender (maryspender.com) is an artist who fully embraces what it means to be a musician these days. She's very active on YouTube, she produces quality content, she makes music that she finances thanks to her community, she produces her own tours, etc. Her album Super Sexy Heartbreak was one of the albums I listened
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The Swiss boutique guitar builder Egon Rauscher from Soultool Guitars (soultool.com) was exhibiting at the 2025 NAMM Show in the Boutique Guitar Showcase area. Here is presenting his new creations he brought to America. Egon Rauscher interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Luthier InterviewsNAMM
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Portuguese luthier Adriano Sergio of Ergon Guitars (ergonguitars.com) was at NAMM exhibiting his ever original and elegant creations. Here he is interviewed on the booth he shared with Michael Spalt, Michihiro Matsuda and Matt Proctor. Adriano Sergio interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Adriano
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American boutique pickup builder Curtis Novak (curtisnovak.com) was one of the exhibitors at the Wood Wire Volts 2025 event, which he organized. Curtis reputation as a boutique pickup manufacturer is well established, so here's an interview with him to find out all about it. Curtis Novak interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep
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Demetrio Scopelliti is the man behind the Inspiria Guitars brand (inspiriaguitars.com). Here he is in interview to talk about the instruments he presented at NAMM 2025. Demetrio Scopelliti interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:NAMM Archives
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Jon Sullivan also known as Sully from Sully Guitars (sullyguitars.com) was exhibiting again at NAMM as part of the Boutique Guitar Showcase. Here he is in an interview in front of his table to walk us through his gorgeous creations. Thanks a ton Sully for being a continuing paying support of the show. Sully interview
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During this 2025 edition of NAMM, there was another show a few miles from the Convention Center on Thursday and Friday: Wood Wire Volts (woodwirevolts.com). Here's an on-site report that will give you an idea of the atmosphere, and probably make you want to go next time. 2025 Wood Wire Volts report Photo album Curtis
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Wood Wire Volts event during NAMM: Curtis Novak interview
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
During this 2025 edition of NAMM, there was another guitar show a few miles from the Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, the Wood Wire Volts (woodwirevolts.com). Having heard about it via Zach Broyles of Mythos Pedals, I went along for the ride. Here's an interview with Curtis Novak, mic manufacturer and event organizer. Curtis
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