Talking Guitar

"It feels appropriate to me that when you’re open to other arts, other things in the world, your own creative output is going to be richer and more dimensional because of that.”

Long recognized as one of the leading builders in this new Golden Age of guitar making, Grit Laskin has a reputation that undoubtedly precedes him. Even if you're new to the world of boutique guitars, you've likely heard of the Laskin-style arm bevel or soundport, or been struck by his groundbreaking and exceedingly photogenic inlay work. But as much as he allows his creative and curious mind to use the guitar as a canvas on which to explore, this lifelong performer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist never loses sight of tone and craftsmanship. It's the reason his guitars continue to be so highly regarded among players and builders alike, while his zeal and love for connecting through the arts is what make him endearing to so many.

Watch the video chat and see photos on YouTube.

Learn more about Laskin Guitars

Featured musicians: Stuart Ryan, Lindsay Straw, Carl Miner

Earlier this summer we took a little trip down to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to chat with the wonderful David Mathis of Gallagher Guitars! Though the original founder J.W. Gallagher may have passed on, David with the help of his wife Reina and a fabulous team of builders, and the blessing and input of J.W.'s son Don and his grandson Stephen, is shepherding this legendary shop into a new era. In addition to showing us around, David shared delightful anecdotes and gave us the lowdown on new models and projects in the works.

Watch the interview on YouTube

Learn more about Gallagher Guitar Co: https://gallagherguitar.com/

Available guitars: Grand Concert Classical, G45S 2004, Steve Kaufman 2005

Follow Gallagher on YouTube and Instagram

Featured musicians: Carl Miner and Daniel Lavezzo

With a family steeped in both traditional music and violin making, Zach Lefebvre’s journey into lutherie was so natural, it almost sounds inevitable as he tells you about it! The young Canadian builder’s instruments are a perfect reflection of his unique life experiences. In addition to studying under the great luthier Sergei de Jonge, Zach draws on inspiration from his years of performing in acoustic settings, uses his aptitude for math and science, and pulls ideas for sustainability into his fabulous acoustic guitars.

Learn more about TreeHouse Guitars: https://www.treehouseguitars.com/

Available guitars: OMZ Honduran Rosewood & Moon Spruce, Ember Series Maple & Salvaged Sitka

Listen to Zach's duo "Wildwood Soul"

Follow Zach on YouTube and Instagram

Featured musicians: Lindsay Straw, Lance Allen, and Seth Plemmons

"Just joy, every day." That short sentence sums up luthier Brice Roggero's approach to life and to guitar making perfectly! We take the usual deep dive into his path into building, as he shares with us his experience as a primarily self-taught guitar maker. We talk about exploring the wide, untapped (no pun intended) world of alternative tonewoods, the build techniques he uses to achieve his tone, and the subtle importance of visual aesthetics in attracting players and inspiring them daily. See the playlist below for some of Brice's go-to listening in the shop!

Learn more about Roggero Guitars: https://www.roggeroguitars.com/

Available guitars: RGo-M, Malaysian Blackwood & Swiss Moon Spruce

Featured musician: Carl Miner

Brice's playlist:

• James Taylor

From working in the LA film industry to apprenticing with Ervin Somogyi, Mark Gaiero's story is one that blends complementary crafts and disciplines, with everything seeming to dovetail logically into the next project or pursuit. Mark told us all about his journey into guitar making, what he learned from Somogyi and John Greven, plus we dig into his unique focus on alternative tonewoods.

See photos and more here: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/blogs/news/interview-with-mark-gaiero 

Learn more about Gaiero Guitars: https://www.gaieroguitars.com/

Visit us at http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com 

We had a wonderful talk with Canadian builder Dion James, whose guitars are noticeable for the strikingly minimalist design, where the focus is on the true essential and inherent beauty of the instrument. We’ll chat about his time in Quebec learning from and building alongside Michael Kennedy and Jeremy Clark, and about his transition to Alberta where he set up shop crafting his own original guitar designs. He'll also share his experience running a cooperative for a variety of artists and artisans, and talk about balancing life as a farmer and father in addition to guitar maker.

Learn more about Dion Guitars:

http://www.dionguitars.ca 

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Qu-fVPQWXgI 

Visit us at http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com 

In this Talking Guitar interview, we chat with Swiss-born luthier Julien Sublet, who took his passion for guitars down the pragmatic route of cabinet making before pursuing the lutherie dream in Quebec City! Much like his fellow builder and shop-mate Loïc Bortot, Julien cites the Art Deco movement as an aesthetic influence, and crafts guitars geared towards adventurous modern fingerstylists. He keeps a clear focus in his acoustic models, and ventures into ukuleles as well, bringing the same attention to detail and refined style to those smaller instruments. Featured performer in this video is the one and only Carl Miner.

Learn more about Guitares Julien Sublet: https://en.guitaresjuliensublet.com/

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/4MPJYaX6bNc

Visit us at http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com 

It's a Talking Guitar mini episode! We're doing a little flashback to Mario Beauregard's visit earlier this year, when he brought us the pernambuco 00 and shared the initial plans for the now soon-to-arrive Facettes model.

Music played by Lindsay Straw.

Learn more about Beauregard Guitars: http://beauregardguitars.com/ 

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DckYCi-jq9g 

Visit us: http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com 

On this episode of TNAG's Talking Guitar, we chat with French-born luthier Loïc Bortot about his journey into guitar making in Quebec City. He shares his sources of inspiration, from fellow modern luthiers like Michael Bashkin to Matsuda, and how listening to players like Don Ross, Dustin Furlow, and Tommy Emmanuel drove him towards crafting fingerstyle-centric instruments.

Featured performers include Stuart Ryan, Bill Cooley, Lindsay Straw, and Carl Miner.

Learn more about Bouchereau Guitars: https://www.bouchereau-guitars.com/

Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTTTF7HSw74

Visit us: http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com

On this episode of TNAG's Talking Guitar, we chat with Drew Lowry of Lowry Guitars. Though he grew up in Northern Ireland—something that is immediately evident by the names of his guitars—he currently builds from his workshop in France. We had plenty to talk about, from his transition from his previous career into guitar making, his build philosophies and approach, and of course, the musical influences that inspired him in the first place.

Learn more about Drew's work: https://www.lowryguitars.com/

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/aY3ivej47Ik

Visit us at http://www.thenorthamericanguitar.com