This week we're joined by Mike Ball of Seattle's Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar.  We go deep into their history, how they grew from a garage operation to a beautiful storefront in Seattle, and so much more. Mike walks us through the daunting world of Japanese-market Fenders, explains why Epiphone Casinos are hard to keep in stock, and talks about how they find their vintage inventory.  It's a fascinating behind-the-scenes chat with one of the coolest independent guitar stores around.  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal and get our new 53rd issue with Ben Harper, Joanna Sternberg and much more:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription Registration is now open to attend our 2024 Fretboard Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org/ If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and consider joining the Fretboard Journal's new Patreon page. Thank you to our sponsors: Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, Peghead Nation (use the promo code FRETBOARD and get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription); and Stringjoy Strings (get 10% off your order with the FRETBOARD discount code). This episode is also sponsored by iZotope. Use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off of your Izotope order. 

Podcast 444: Mike Ball of Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar

The Fretboard Journal magazine's weekly podcast, where we interview legendary guitarists, luthiers, and much more.

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Music Interviews

On this week's show, we have a candid chat with Seattle indie rock musician-turned-podcaster (Roderick on the Line, Omnibus) John Roderick. The Long Winters frontman was an early Fretboard Journal subject and guest on our podcast. This time around, we talk about John's break from music-making, the new songs he's been writing, the perils of pedal collecting and so much more. We also reminisce about the PNW indie rock community of the late '90s when John often shared a bill with Death Cab for Cutie, discuss the challenges of getting the band together when you're all in your 50s, and learn about the hacks that may (or may not) overcome writer's block.  We also talk gear. John is a gearhead and former employee of Emerald City Guitars. He has a unique perspective on guitars, amps, and pedal collecting and has been a friend of the Fretboard Journal since its inception. I think you'll love it.  Follow John here: http://www.johnroderick.com/ Must-listen: John on Song Exploder talking about "The Commander Thinks Aloud": https://songexploder.net/the-long-winters   John performing in our 2012 12 Days of Fretboard project:  https://www.fretboardjournal.com/video/twelve-days-fretboard-john-roderick/ Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 460: John Roderick

For the last several years, Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter has served as a touring guitarist for Dijon, Ryan Beatty, Lizzy McAlpine and others. Years ago, he was also one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest employees.   Ryan recently released his first solo project - a fascinating one-track, 20-minute long album called "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" - and on this week's podcast, we hear all about it. Ryan tells us about how this multifaceted composition came to be (with a little help from a rolling capo ad on social media), the gear that he used on it, his touring rig with Ryan Beatty, the LA guitar scene today, working with Mason Stoops, the perils of hot vocal mics, and so much more.   "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" is a beautiful and unique debut project and we hope you'll check it out.   Ryan's album on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/track/3K291dCwsQ9OJeCyv0VK4u?si=3e18abbab2ab4d32 Pre-Order the Vinyl:  https://rrmerch.shop/products/ryan-richter-as-good-a-place-as-any-vinyl Fretboard Summit 2024 Registration:  https://fretboardsummit.org  Watch Ryan walk through his Dijon gear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF47JR6R4M Listen to Ryan host our G. Weller episode from 2023:   https://www.fretboardjournal.com/podcasts/podcast-406-the-mystery-of-g-weller/ Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal 

Podcast 459: Ryan Richter

This week, JHS founder Josh Scott joins Jason to talk about guitar media, following your passion, marketing, work/life balance and so much more. We talk about how JHS was founded, the JHS Show on YouTube (and the work that goes into it), guitar media, printed matter in 2024, events, social media, the enduring power of Facebook (and paper books!), marketing advice, and more. We also talk about JHS's participation in the Mid South gravel bike festival. (Rumor has it, we'll be teaming up with JHS and Mid South for a fun bike ride at the 2024 Chicago Fretboard Summit 2024. Inquire within.) Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Collings Guitars & Mandolins: https://www.collingsguitars.com  Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal   

Podcast 458: Josh Scott (JHS Pedals)

Singer-songwriter John Smith joins us this week to talk about his moving new Joe Henry-produced album, 'The Living Kind.'   We hear about the British folk scene and John's time with John Renbourn and others; his guitar collection (including a rather unusual custom Fylde, his Mule guitars and others); the making of the new album; his thoughts on streaming; his love for pedals and the Quad Cortex and so much more.   John Smith Walks Us Through DADGAD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBahk8LBy58&t;=175s   John Smith on That Pedal Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATYio-WoCvk  PS: Joe Henry will be appearing at our 2024 Fretboard Summit alongside Blake Mills, Valerie June, Colin Hay and dozens of other Fretboard Journal favorites. Register here: https://fretboardsummit.org/  Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription   This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Collings Guitars & Mandolins: https://www.collingsguitars.com  Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal   

Podcast 457: John Smith

Scott Ballew is an Austin, Texas-based filmmaker and musician. For years, he’s directed unforgettable videos and documentaries for Yeti and others. In 2020, he decided to take up songwriting and recorded his first album just a year later. This week, Ballew releases his third album, Rio Bravo. It’s an exceptional work that somehow combines Ballew’s affinity for Townes Van Zandt and other Austin legends with his love for reverb-drenched Ennio Morricone soundtracks. We love it.  During our chat, Scott tells us about his unlikely journey from football star to director to songwriter and about how filmmaking has shaped his music output. We also talk about the making of Rio Bravo, Scott’s growing guitar collection, the time he spent with Townes Van Zandt’s Gibson, and how – thanks to Pearl Jam – he ended up playing football for the University of Washington.   Scott's site: https://www.leisurerodeo.com Recommended viewing: Can You Hear Me Smiling: A short doc on Scott Ballew’s songwriting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEkWxtLjD-4&t;=1s My Old Man | No. 4 - Anchor Point: Scott’s Yeti doc featuring JT Van Zandt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KadKx5k6XoY Leisure Rodeo: A Short Film by Scott Ballew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65vd-PjEBnY&t;=2s Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal print edition and reserve your copy of Fretboard Journal 54:   https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription   Register for our 2024 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (Aug 23-25): https://fretboardsummit.org/   This week's show is sponsored by: StewMac: https://stewmac.sjv.io/R5jvRR (Affiliate link) Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Izotope: https://www.izotope.com (Use the code FRET10 to save 10%) Stringjoy Strings: https://stringjoy.com (Use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first order) Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).  Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a new Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal  

Podcast 444: Mike Ball of Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar

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