The American luthier Jason Kostal was one of the exhibitors of the Salon de la Belle Guitare of the Guitares au Beffroi 2017 festival. He was present in Montrouge with Michael Watts, a British professional guitarist who made the demos of Jason's guitars.

Guitar Review - Soul Renegade from luthier Benoît Guilbert

A nice shred machine in video review with this Soul Renegade built by the French luthier Benoît Guilbert.
Soul Renegade video review

Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre.

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Gijs de Wit luthier interview - Guitares au Beffroi 2017

Gijs de Wit (www.dewitguitars.com) was one of the foreign luthiers exhibiting at the 2017 edition of the Guitares au Beffroi guitar show in Montrouge (right next to Paris). Gijs De Wit luthier interview Gijs de Wit luthier photo album Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre.

Kurt Rosenwinkel in Paris for the promotion of his splendid new album Caipi answered the questions of The Guitar Channel the day after an exciting masterclass organized by the American School of Modern Music and Guitare Xtreme.

In today's Jazz, Kurt Rosenwinkel is a figurehead that traces a singular way in Jazz bringing a freshness that does not fail to upset the establishment of the traditional Jazz guitar.
Topics covered in the interview

His career as a musician
His methods of composition
His approach to tunings
The link between the piano and the guitar
Why he worked 10 years

Heike Matthiesen and Sebastian Pecznik interview - 2017 Musikmesse

Here's a double interview recorded with two Classcal musicians Heike Matthiesen and Sebastian Pecznik during the 2017 edition of the Musikmesse. Heike Matthiesen and Sebastian Pecznik interview Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.

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Heike Matthiesen interview – 2017 Musikmesse

Heike Matthiesen interview recorded during the 2017 edition of the Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany. Heike Matthiesen interview Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.

Paul Roberts interview - Instructor at the Musician Institute Guitar Craft

The Musician Institute is a well-known music school in Los Angeles, but it does not only train musicians, there is also a section dedicated to the training of instrument makers and workers in this industry.

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Interviews done during the 2017 Musikmesse

Despite the absence of many big brands that do not drain anymore in their wakes the artists to make demos on the booths, there were nevertheless many interesting people to meet on this 2017 Musikmesse.

Lowden Guitars - Interview at the 2017 Guitares au Beffroi festival

Lowden Guitars was one of the major builders present at the 2017 edition of the Guitares au Beffroi festival. Here's an interview in video with Alastair who was there for the brand. Lowden Guitars - Interview Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre.

Maneli Jamal interview - Musikmesse 2017
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Maneli Jamal interview – Musikmesse 2017

Interview of the Fingerstyle guitar player Maneli Jamal during the 2017 Musikmesse guitar show. Maneli Jamal interview Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.

Eric Bibb is a very prolific musician who is now releasing Migration Blues, a magnificent album about a theme which is very tragically present in the news. Supported by the French harp player Jean-Jacques Milteau and by Michael Jerome Browne for a multitude of stringed instruments (guitars, mandolin, banjo, etc.), Eric delivers here a masterly work that is a treat to listen to.

The Guitar Channel introduces you to the world of guitar manufacturing with this visit to the Alhambra (www.alhambrasl.com) production site, which has been producing its nylon and steel string guitars for over 50 years in Muro de Alcoy, 70km from Allicante in Spain. Alhambra is a well-known brand of nylon string guitar players, whether for classical music, flamenco or pop.

Video visit of the Alhambra Guitars manufacture

Manufacture photo album
The factory with a total area of 14,000 m2 employs 120 people.

Kathy Wingert luthier interview in her Los Angeles workshop

Thanks to luthier Isaac Jang who worked 10 years has an apprentice in her workshop, I was able to do this interview with one of the rare female luthier Kathy Wingert (www.wingertguitars.com) in her workshop.

Kathy Wingert luthier interview

Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre.

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Mojo Classic Ruokangas Guitars review: a Telecaster coming from Finland

Juha Ruokangas is a Finnish luthier well known on The Guitar Channel since he has been the subject of several interviews and has also animated a series of luthier chronicles. Juha (pronounced Yu-A) manufactures with a small team of luthiers instruments of very high quality entirely by hand, without the help of CNC (ie without Computer Numeric Control machine).

Peter Holmsröm interview, guitar player from the Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols were in Paris for a concert, a perfect opportunity to record this video interview with their guitar player Peter Holmström.

Mark Lettieri interview during during 2017 NAMM X-Jamm concert

During the Winter NAMM 2017 the traditional X-Jamm concert organized by BMP Promotion took place. Mark Lettieri from Snarky Puppy was there to play with his trio some great tracks. Mark Lettieri interview Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.

Taylor Guitars is one of the biggest guitar manufacturers in the world, as such this company has an important responsibility in terms of environment. For a long time the San Diego firm has a responsible policy to ensure its supply of wood for its production of instruments. Taylor Guitars has even hired Scott Paul as

Riverside Strymon overdrive pedal review - Powerhouse tone machine

Until now Strymon proposed mainly pedals in the delay and modulation field, with the Riverside they are now getting in the overdrive business.

Colt Westbrook interview from Walrus Audio during NAMM 2017

During the 2017 NAMM, The Guitar Channel had the opportunity to meet Colt Westbrook, CEO of Walrus Audio, American maker of boutique pedals.

"The Burst" is a guitar made by the luthier Mikaël Springer as a tribute to the mythical Les Paul Standard 1959 by Gibson.

Guitar factory tour with Andy Powers - Taylor Guitars facility (Tecate, Mexico)

It is always a rare event to visit a guitar factory. First because there are not that many of them around the world and then because it is rare to be able to access those facilities easily. After visiting Taylor Guitars on the American side in California in El Cajon near San Diego, The Guitar

Andy Timmons interview: Theme From A Perfect World, his new album

During the 2017 NAMM there was no time to record an interview with the one and only Andy Timmons even though we met during the great X-Jamm concert so a couple of weeks later we organized this Skype interview to catch up.

Paul Reed Smith (@prsguitars) interview guitar in hand - 2017 Winter NAMM

The Guitar Channel is a fan of the PRS brand, period. I know it's a brand that's less fashionable than it used to be. It is true that the trend of ultra-flamed tables is not so strong. Nevertheless I think it is a brand that tries to renew itself without stopping. I hope they will find the second wind they deserve. It should not be forgotten that when PRS started, the American electric guitar industry had reached a truly calamitous level of quality and that Paul reversed the trend almost by himself.

Guitar D'Angelico model EX-SS: an elegant lady to play Jazz

Finally a Jazz guitar reviewed on The Guitar Channel! Yes, everything happens. Here is the D'Angelico model EX-SS in a very standard configuration: archtop type guitar with two humbuckers.

D'Angelico EX-SS video review

Audio version of the video available in the podcast:

Photo album

What I enjoyed the most

The sounds
The built quality
The confort of playing

What I enjoyed the least

Too much gold hardware!

Conclusion
For a budget of around $1,500, the EX-SS offers a very good guitar that should delight the fans of Jazz and Blues.

2017 X-Jamm: interviews with Kumpel, Allen, Gales, Lettieri and concert images

During the NAMM 2017, Blue Mouth Promotions (www.bluemouthpromotions.com) hosted on Saturday January 21st 2017 a concert called the X-Jamm with a wonderful program:

Mark Lettieri (guitarist of Snarky Puppy who played with his trio)
Travis Larson
Cameron Allen
Teddy Kumpel
Andy Timmons
Mike Keneally
Tony Macalpine
Andy West

What a bunch of six string greats! A great opportunity for The Guitar Channel to do interviews right out of the stage.

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Mike Keneally interview – NAMM 2017

Mike Keneally is a unique musician who plays with Joe Satriani and who accompanied Steve Vai and Frank Zappa. He was visiting Winter NAMM 2017, here he is in an interview. Interview Mike Keneally Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.

Tomo Fujita interview
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Tomo Fujita interview – NAMM 2017

Tomo Fujita was really one of the musician The Guitar Channel was anxious to meet during the 2017 Winter NAMM.

2016 Winter NAMM - The Guitar Channel

Here're the interviews done during day 1 of the NAMM:

Justin (Elixir Strings)
Andy Powers (Taylor Guitars)
Scott Paul (Taylor Guitars)
Dave Brons

Thursday - Friday - Week-end

NAMM 2017 - Week-end interviews

Justin (Elixir Strings):

Andy Powers (Taylor Guitars):

Scott Paul (Taylor Guitars):

Dave Brons:

Justin from Elixir Strings:

Andy Powers (Taylor Guitars):

Scott Paul (Taylor Guitars):

Dave Brons:

Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre.

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2016 Winter NAMM - The Guitar Channel

Here're the interviews done during day 1 of the NAMM:

Colt Westbrook (Walrus Audio)
Kevin Drost (Reverb.com)
Jake Shimabukuro
Mike Keneally
Rob Balducci

Thursday - Friday - Week-end

NAMM 2017 - Interviews day 2

Colt Westbrook (Walrus Audio):

Kevin Drost (Reverb.com):

Jake Shimabukuro:

Mike Keneally:

Rob Balducci:

Colt Westbrook (Walrus Audio):

Kevin Drost (Reverb.com):

Jake Shimabukuro:

Mike Keneally:

Rob Balducci:

Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre.

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2016 Winter NAMM - The Guitar Channel
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NAMM 2017 – Interviews day 1: Fujita, Wampler, PRS

Here're the interviews done during day 1 of the NAMM:

Tomo Fujita
Brian Wampler
Paul Reed Smith

Thursday - Friday- Week-end

NAMM 2017 - Interviews day 1
Note: sorry for the not up to par sound quality due to an accidental change of a setting on my H2.
This was corrected for all the other interviews.

Tomo Fujita:

Brian Wampler:

Paul Reed Smith:

Tomo Fujita:

Brian Wampler:

Paul Reed Smith:

Until the next interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre.

You want to watch the full video guitar magazine?
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