Learning to mod and work on guitars comes with a ton of benefits, especially if you enjoy it as a hobby in itself – but can it save you money?

Today's music: wurldseries.bandcamp.com/album/whats-growing

It's a topic gone over a few times on this podcast, but a regular reminder helps me a lot, and I assume it might help others too. In particular, seeing great examples of music made without all the gear really reminds us to stay focused on just making what we want to make, however we can. 

youtu.be/KbqzJYml520

youtu.be/tlRcgTo5Iz4

Source Audio's new pedal, the Ultrawave, is another example of their creation-focused approach to digital guitar technology. Have fun listening to me attempt to explain what it is! 

Check out the Ultrawave: sourceaudio.net/ultrawave_multiband_processor.html

Bonamassa live stream concert: jbonamassa.com/streaming/acl/

Today's music: youtu.be/prgqUTvk2LM

A new article gives a further look into the current guitar boom and possibly some more insights into whether it will continue past the weird times of the last year. Check it out here: bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-17/musicians-are-hoarding-musical-gear-like-never-before

Today's music: youtu.be/uLjRp4vhGoA

Bringing together my thoughts from previous episodes on electro-acoustic guitars and the future of digital gear, the new addition to Fender's Acoustasonic range grabbed my attention more than I'd anticipated.

Episode on electro-acoustic guitars: guitarblahblah.podbean.com/e/solving-the-electro-acoustic-guitar-problem-a-space-odyssey/

Episode on digital gear: guitarblahblah.podbean.com/e/where-does-digital-guitar-gear-go-next/

Fender's intro to the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster: youtu.be/wpFi4dpQOoU

Today's music 1: youtu.be/RhBs8BPXWv4

Today's music 2: youtu.be/3Eg82fotizc

As a bonus, a classic example of a Dave Simpson, Frusciante-infused loop and solo: youtu.be/bjXnBrZRa84 

To keep answering the question of who plays these small-builder, luthier-made guitars, here's a beautiful performance from Lionel Loueke that showcases a new seven-string prototype from Berlin-based Schorr Guitars: 

youtu.be/9pt5YAaDGN4

This past year or so has seen massive guitar sales, and companies big and small are still struggling to keep up with demand now. Even with some supply side issues taken into consideration, that's largely been caused by record guitar sales. While this will all inevitably level off, will the guitar community continue to get (and stay) bigger? 

Today's music: youtu.be/bEkC-ew9G5o

Just speculating here, but if digital modelling-style gear (and other gear technology) moves beyond the central aim of recreating other technologies (such as tube amps), where will it go then? 

Today's music: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000szd2

While we all keep missing live music and guitar shows, live streamed sessions, concerts and events are keeping us going, and here are some more to check out over this weekend and into next week.

Pedals The Musical trailer: youtu.be/LZJ7qJFvUdA

SXSW Online line-up announcements: sxsw.com/news/2021/ximena-sarinana-iceage-the-chats-awich-and-more-second-wave-of-2021-showcasing-artists/

Today's music: youtu.be/ZrrpVFwN3Q4

Looking at the Skate Guitar Project, and looking again at yesterday's episode on Prisma, is a great way to start explaining a lot of what draws me to the work of guitar builders. 

Skate Guitars: skateguitar.com/

Today's music: youtu.be/CqWsreZl_dw