In this sixth episode of Tone Chasers & String Benders, co-hosts Chaz Charles and Dr. Porifera Glund reach what appears to be the end of the alphabet’s first letter… and immediately discover they missed somebody.

What was supposed to be a straightforward march through the final A-list guitarists turns into a full-blown audit of the roster. Along the way, the hosts establish a new tradition: before moving on to a new letter, they stop and ask the most dangerous question in podcasting:

“Who did we miss?”

The answer leads to an unexpected addition, a legendary sideman with connections to Dickey Betts, the Allman Brothers orbit, Jimi Hendrix alumni, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s bandmates, and virtually every guitar magazine on Earth. Meanwhile, the hosts hand out the show's latest official judgment:

“Uh-Oh.”

Not every guitarist survives the court of appeals.

Featured guitarists in this episode:

Irving Ashby – Jazz-era guitarist associated with the Nat King Cole Trio and the post-war big band world. A respected player whose appearance on the list sparks one of the episode’s most spirited debates.

John Ashton – Guitarist for The Psychedelic Furs, bringing post-punk textures, new wave atmosphere, and MTV-era guitar sounds to the conversation.

Chet Atkins – The undisputed giant of the episode. “Mr. Guitar” himself. Fingerstyle pioneer, architect of the Nashville Sound, Gretsch icon, producer, innovator, and one of the most influential guitarists in American music history.

Mike Auldridge – Dobro master and bluegrass innovator whose fluid slide playing helped elevate resonator guitar from supporting instrument to featured voice.

Andy Aledort (The Missing A) – Guitar World editor, educator, session player, Allman Brothers disciple, and guitarist’s guitarist. The surprise addition whose résumé proves that sometimes the players behind the legends become legends themselves.

Featured recordings include:

• Pretty in Pink – The Psychedelic Furs with John Ashton
• Classic Nashville recordings and fingerstyle showcases – Chet Atkins
• New Grass Revival and dobro performances – Mike Auldridge
• Groove Kings performances and instructional classics – Andy Aledort

And in between?

You get a detour into Eric Clapton’s role in creating the Les Paul-through-Marshall blueprint that shaped British rock. There’s a discussion about guitarists who could create magic in the studio but struggled to reproduce it live. There’s a reminder that sometimes the most important musicians are the ones standing just outside the spotlight.

Most importantly, the hosts close the book on the A’s—at least for now.

Five more guitarists down… and if the listeners know another A we missed, they’re invited to file an appeal.

Nine hundred and seventy to go.

Hosted by Chaz Charles and Dr. Porifera Glund.

Only on the Boneless Podcasting Network.