The Fret Files

The Fret Files episodes:

• 05.15.2024

  Ep 192 – Q&A and guitar news

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat review some guitar news about John Lennon's Framus Hootenany 12 string, Eric Clapton's 1974 Martin 000-28, and a guitar exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento. They then...

  
• 04.16.2024

  Ep 191 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding ground wires on Telecasters, sheilding inside electric guitar cavities, idiot proofing jacks and pots, Desert Sand finishes, and how to set string radius when adjusting action...

  
• 03.15.2024

  Ep 190 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding pickup phase, guitar finishes with no pore filler, getting rid of pick marks on lacquer finishes, the Sorkin "bowtie" bridge, and Eric's ideal Jazzmaster wiring.

  
• 02.15.2024

  Ep 189 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding the string wrap around Telecaster bridge pickups, coated strings, when to say no, how to treat warped bass necks, and will there be a Solid Sound...

  
• 01.16.2024

  Ep 188 – Q&A

  In this, the ten year anniversary episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding string trees, power tools, acoustic guitar neck humps, pickup specs, and stopping the clicking noise that happens with loose Fender tremolo arms.

  
• 12.15.2023

  Ep 187 – Frank Gross from Thunder Road Guitars

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric announces the new podcast schedule for 2024, answers a few listener submitted questions, and interviews Frank Gross from Thunder Road Guitars in Seattle, Wa.

  
• 12.01.2023

  Ep 186 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat do a little guitar news, and then take questions regarding softening lacquer on Rickenbackers, slotted headstock tuners, different magnets and their sonic properties in pickups, and oversized Martin bridges.

  
• 11.15.2023

  Ep 185 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about life recently, and then answers listener questions regarding tapping threads in Telecaster pickup elevator plates, finish touch up, selecting the right nut slotting files, restoring vintage Kluson tuners, finishing...

  
• 11.02.2023

  Ep 184 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Eric's website contact form malfunction, and take questions regarding wood suppliers, plastic Gibson acoustic bridges, guitar building schools, soldering methods, tapped single coil pickups, different types of...

  
• 10.16.2023

  Ep 183 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Eric's ten tips for independent luthiers. Then, they take questions regarding 5 way super switch wiring, pickup height, vintage Danelectro necks, friskets vs. silkscreening on Gibson...

  
• 10.02.2023

  Ep 182 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding proper potentiometer values for a pedal steel guitar, plastic undercoating on a Squier Stratocaster, vintage pickguard shrinkage, and a bit of an overview on winding pickups.

  
• 09.15.2023

  Ep 181 – Guitar News and Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding tremolo springs on Stratocasters, correcting the excessive belly in a 12 string, the best cleaner and polish to use on nitro lacquer, making a bowed neck behave, and...

  
• 09.01.2023

  Ep 180 – Jim Glinsky of Austin, TX

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding pickup choices and a soldering stations. Also discussed is the schematic for Andy in Deniliquin for a Tele that has the blend circuit mixed with the series circuit....

  
• 08.16.2023

  Ep 179 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding Gibson wiring, stripped pickup mounting holes, rewinding Danelectro pickups, refinishing a 90's Tele, and more hyper analysis of Eric's pronunciations and mis pronunciations.

  
• 08.01.2023

  Ep 178 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding fret ends, proper pronounciation of Yamaha, steel wool, fret levelling, guitar wiring, and installing a mini humbucker in one of Eric's custom guitars.

  
• 07.15.2023

  Ep 177 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding a warped back on an acoustic guitar, deteriorating binding, a custom wiring request, a quiet d string pole-piece on a Strat, the Payola Telecaster, and more.

  
• 07.01.2023

  Ep 176 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding warped pickguards, pinless acoustic bridges, potting pickups in lacquer vs. wax, where to get pickup parts, and whether or not you should buy Eric's book.

  
• 06.15.2023

  Ep 175 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and special guest host Lauren take questions about truss rods, fret slots, saddle shims, Epiphone guitar history, and a follow up to the question, "what makes a vintage guitar so special?"

  
• 06.01.2023

  Ep 174 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions about Luthier stress levels, lacquer checking techniques, gummy finish on a Les Paul neck, and Gibson solid body neck resets.

  
• 05.15.2023

  Ep 173 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions about finding rare tuner ferrules, wax potting pickups, guitar refinishing, amplifier maintenance, the one takeaway you should get from listening to this podcast, and more.

  
• 05.02.2023

  Ep 172 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding notched straight edges, identifying mystery fretwire, pickup winding, intonation, tuning problems, and more.

  
• 04.15.2023

  Ep 171 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding the Stephens Extended Cutaway, treble bleed circuits, Supro pickups, using a dremel in fretwork, and some Solid Sound Book talk.

  
• 04.01.2023

  Ep 170 – John Theisen of El Camino School

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews John Theisen of the El Camino School of Music, Repair, and Technology. John, founder and president of the school, is a longtime professional musician whose passion has inspired him...

  
• 03.15.2023

  Ep 169 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat answer questions regarding nitro lacquer in aerosol cans, string wear, mystery switching on an HSS Strat, a few follow ups, and more.

  
• 03.01.2023

  Ep 168 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat answer questions about roller bridges, Gibson Vibrola vibrato tailpieces, mystery pickups, a weak high E string, and more.

  
• 02.16.2023

  Ep 167 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric ponders whether removing the finish from John Lennon's Epiphone Casino really did improve the tone and answer a few questions regarding fret levelling, fret polishing, fancy strings, moving your Telecaster's switch,...

  
• 02.01.2023

  Ep 166 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat answer a few questions regarding P-90 pickups, mysterious pickups with 3 wires, how to get naphtha down under, how to loosen stiff potentiometers, and more.

  
• 01.16.2023

  Ep 165 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat answer questions regarding removing sticker residue, an archtop that won't stabilize, sloppy fitting tuner ferrules, vintage style knobs and more.

  
• 12.16.2022

  Ep 164 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat answer questions regarding Eric's book "Solid Sound," discuss out of phase guitar tone recordings, and wonder if hide glue can be made from gummy bears. To close the...

  
• 12.02.2022

  Ep 163 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat read a little bit of guitar news and then answer questions regarding acoustic guitar neck resets, crack repair, synthetic vs. bone, guitar wiring, neck shapes, and how to prep...

  
• 11.15.2022

  Ep 162 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat read a few book reviews of Eric's guitar wiring book, Solid Sound. Then the two read and answer questions regarding guitar repair costs, acoustic guitar pickups, cleaning gold...

  
• 11.01.2022

  Ep 161 – Q&A and Quiz recap

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric answers a few questions about F-stamp tuner installation problems and using wax to lubricate wood screws. Also included in this episode is a replay of some guitar related quizzes of...

  
• 10.15.2022

  Ep 160 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat field your guitar tech questions regarding soldering, the fingerboard radius of Martin Guitars, wire recommendations, installing custom made bone nuts, and there's also some Solid Sound Book reviews peppered...

  
• 10.01.2022

  Ep 159 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric goes over some of the contents of his new book, "Solid Sound." Then comes listener submitted questions, including questions about grounding volume pots, adding a volume control to a Piezo...

  
• 09.15.2022

  Ep 158 – Book Release

  In this episode, it's the book release for Eric's new guitar wiring book "Solid Sound." Get your copy at SolidSoundBook.com! Joining Eric for the book release is Dan Petrzelka, who was instrumental in getting the book looking right...

  
• 09.02.2022

  Ep 157 – Calls Only

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast - Eric hosts solo while answering all the calls that have piled up since there hasn't been a Q&A episode for a while. There's questions about Epiphone New Yorker pickups, straightening...

  
• 08.15.2022

  Ep 156 – just a few announcements

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast - just a quick few announcements concerning price increases and my soon-to-be-released book. Also, we have a quick visit with Rick Tish from Player's Gear Music about his effects pedals.

  
• 08.01.2022

  Ep 155 – Dave Staudte revisted

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews Dave Staudte, veteran luthier, longtime guitar repairman and former Taylor Guitars employee. Eric and Dave talk about guitar humidification, guitar neck resets, fretwork, CA glue, stainless steel frets, and...

  
• 07.16.2022

  Ep 154 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions about repair cauls left inside guitars, bridge plate repairs, making an electric 12 string, cutting the slots in a bone nut, restringing acoustic guitars, and widening the...

  
• 07.01.2022

  Ep 153 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat call Jeff Metz in PA for a conversation about finish touch up and Yamaha neck resets. Then they take questions about Gibson ES125s, locking tuners, lacquering over an...

  
• 06.16.2022

  Ep152 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions about fret levelling, Paulownia wood for guitar bodies, intonating acoustic guitars, and a follow up about 3 humbucker Gibsons.

  
• 06.01.2022

  Ep 151 – Q&A and Mark Tossman

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions about building a pickup winder, string breakage, standing on guitar necks, and a follow up to the dinged guitar neck from last episode. This episode also includes a...

  
• 05.15.2022

  Ep 150 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about the guitar history of the famed Stratosphere Twin double neck guitar from the 1950's made famous by Jimmy Bryant. Then comes the questions - what's the...

  
• 05.01.2022

  Ep 149 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric takes questions regarding adding a 3rd pickup to a Les Paul, how to deal with critics, what kind of glue to use for plastic binding, adding carbon fiber to strengthen necks,...

  
• 04.16.2022

  Ep 148 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Framus guitar history, and then take questions regarding amp handles, dubious bass modifications, Gibson made P-13 pickups, and reinforcing broken headstocks.

  
• 04.01.2022

  Ep 147 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about P-90 Staple pickup history, and take questions regarding adding an acoustic pickup to a Gibson J-160E, how to get an authentic look on a 'relic' finish, using...

  
• 03.15.2022

  Ep 146 – Q&A

  In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about Albert King's many flying Vee guitars, and take questions regarding how to set up a Strat trem, bass setups, home made case humidifiers, and tuning stability.

  
• 03.01.2022

  Ep 145 – Q&A

  In this episode, Eric and Nat field questions about friction in potentiometers, using super glue for refrets, fret polishing wheels, and how to drill clean holes in finished surfaces (hint, use a brad point drill bit).

  
• 02.16.2022

  Ep 144 – Q&A

  In this episode, Eric reads a segment from his forthcoming guitar schematic book, and then fields questions about guitar humidification, Fender neck heels and why they are different shapes, custom pickups, and a lengthy discussion about Jim Lill's video on...

  
• 02.01.2022

  Ep 143 – Q&A

  In this episode, Eric and Nat take questions about upgrading cheap resonators, improving an electric guitar's resonance, polishing frets, vintage Danelectro neck reinforcement, and chasing strange overtones.