The Fretboard Journal is a guitar magazine for grownups. Comes out 4x a year. You can find it at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Guitar Centers and guitar stores... but,as a reader-supported publication, we encourage you to subscribe.
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- Founded:
- 2005
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2 of 8 albumsSee All
Rotting PlasticCreated on Wednesday
Beatle BooksCreated about a week ago
4 of 12 fan photosSee All
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- RIP Stephen Bruton 10:57am May 12|1 Comment
- Neko Case on her tenor guitar collection: Fretboard Journal #2 cover story (Summer 2006) 8:50am Mar 17|6 Comments
- Five NAMM 2009 Highlights 3:57pm Jan 19


The Fretboard Journal Jason's been posting links to his snapshots of the Montreal Guitar Festival over at his Twitter feed. Check 'em out at http://twitter.com/fbjournal
Source: twitter.com
Jason Verlinde, publisher of Fretboard Journal, guitar lover. FJ news, music and random musings


The Fretboard Journal Just a quick note to let you know that yesterday's Blog Talk Radio interview with Geoff Muldaur is now up on iTunes. Just search the podcasts section for Fretboard Journal. Geoff and I talked about his signature model Martin guitar, how his version of the song Brazil inspired Terry Gilliam's movie of the same name, how, when he and Joe Boyd were teenagers, hired Lonnie Johnson to play for a party and lots more stuff.
Fretboard Journal Episode 12 Singer-Songwriter Geoff Muldaur 7/3/2009 - Fretboard Journal on Blog Ta
Source: www.blogtalkradio.com
This week on Fretboard Journal Talk Radio An interview with folk music legend and Fretboard Journal 13 subject Geoff Muldaur. Editor Michael John Simmons talks to Muldaur about his unique music career and his famed collection of Martin guitars. Call or write us with questions. Jul 03 2009


The Fretboard Journal Happy 4th of July everyone!
Source: www.youtube.com
Jake opens for Jimmy Buffet playing the Star Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field


The Fretboard Journal Chet Atkins and Stars and Stripes Forever. Man, he was such a good guitar player.


The Fretboard Journal Today's guest on the Fretboard Journal Blog Talk Radio show is Geoff Muldaur. The show is on at 1PM PST. If you miss the live broadcast you can stream the show at immediately after it runs or download the podcast of it from iTunes a few hours afterwards.
Fretboard Journal Talk Radio Singer-Songwriter Geoff Muldaur 7/3/2009 - Fretboard Journal on Blog Ta
Source: www.blogtalkradio.com
This week on Fretboard Journal Talk Radio An interview with folk music legend and Fretboard Journal 13 subject Geoff Muldaur. Editor Michael John Simmons talks to Muldaur about his unique music career and his famed collection of Martin guitars. Call or write us with questions. Jul 03 2009


The Fretboard Journal In honor of Independence Day, here's Orrin Star playing Stars and Stripes Forever on the mandola. You know, I just don't recall hearing many solo mandola players. I think more folks should take it up.
Source: www.youtube.com
Orrin Star plays Sousa his Old Wave mandola. Filmed at Jalopy Music Hall, Brooklyn, NY, Thanksgiving 2008. http://orrinstar.com


The Fretboard Journal (Jason here) Fretboard Journal Facebook fans deserve the same deal we're offering attendees of the Montreal Guitar Show. So here goes: subscribe or renew to your Fretboard Journal subscription (via fretboardjounal.com) between now and Monday, put the word "Facebook" in the comments section when you check out and we'll tack an extra issue onto your subscription (5 issues for the year rate, 9 for the 2-year). Join us!


The Fretboard Journal This is for all you uke players out there. Independence day is a couple of days away. I'm sure if you get cracking you can all work out this arrangement of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by Saturday.
Source: www.youtube.com
I got a new Sony Minicam and wanted to try it out so I did a quick video of Stars & Stripes. Tabs are on my website at Dominator Ukulele Tabs http://www.dominator.ukeland.com


The Fretboard Journal Hmm. Maybe all those banjo jokes weren't such a good idea after all. (Thanks to Scott Nygaard for the link.)


The Fretboard Journal Here's a scary article about the lack of stability of various plastics. If you've spent any time around vintage instruments you've seen decomposing pickguards and rotting binding. According to this article, it's just going to get worse as the materials continue to age. Yikes!
Source: www.slate.com
In the early 1960s, curators at the Philadelphia Museum of Art noticed something funny about one of their modern-art sculptures: It smelled like vinegar. Worse, the once-clear plastic sculpture had begun browning like an apple, and cracks had appeared on i
Gary at 1:24pm July 1
I shudder to think what might become of clown barf in the future...
The Fretboard Journal at 2:11pm July 1
My guess is that as clown barf plastic decomposes, it will look like clown barf plastic.


The Fretboard Journal I really hope Telstar, the new movie about Joe Meek, makes it to the US.


The Fretboard Journal We don't usually post eBay listings here at the FJ, but you really need to read the description of this sale for a Les Paul Flametop Reissue that was hit by lightning. Great photos, too.
GIBSON LES PAUL REISSUE FLAMETOP 85 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING - eBay (item 280364274949 end time Jul-07-09
Source: cgi.ebay.com
eBay: Find GIBSON LES PAUL REISSUE FLAMETOP 85 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING in the Musical Instruments , Guitar , Electric , Right-Handed , Gibson , Other category on eBay.


Rajiv at 10:12pm June 30
Which could have been louder: the owner's scream or the guitar's note when struck?


Rajiv at 10:12pm June 30
A Real Hum Bucker.


The Fretboard Journal Here's the perfect gift for the rich chess-playing tube amp geek in your life.
Source: www.allvisualarts.org
All Visual Arts LLP, 22 Warren Street, London W1T 5LU, United KingdomTelephone+44 (0)207 2095670 Fax+44 (0)207 2095673 Email info@allvisualarts.org


The Fretboard Journal Montreal Guitar Show is this weekend. Will we be seeing any of you there?
Sandy at 8:13pm June 29
Oh sure... Canadian guitars, lousy food, cloudy all the time, no sense of humor. It's just for me!


Martin at 5:59am June 30
I'll be there Saturday afternoon.
I live in Montreal, born and bred, so I will not miss the event.
My 17 y.o. brother-in-law will be with me. He thinks Ibanez has awesome guitars. He's in for a treat.... Read More
Looking forward to meet you guys,
I live in Montreal, born and bred, so I will not miss the event.
My 17 y.o. brother-in-law will be with me. He thinks Ibanez has awesome guitars. He's in for a treat.... Read More
Looking forward to meet you guys,


The Fretboard Journal Here's an inspiring/depressing way to start the week. Inspiring because Stochelo Rosenberg is one the finest guitarists around and it's always a treat to see him play. Depressing because even though his hands are always in view, like a good magician, you still can't figure out how he does it.
Source: www.youtube.com
Rythme futur de Django Reinhardt interprété par Stochelo Rosenberg pour le n°9 de guitariste acoustique. Ca dépote!!


Rajiv at 3:50pm June 29
Bass lines are looped, however you look at it, no doubt. He's playing upper 4 strings and the bass riff continues although neither hand goes to lower two strings - proof of looping. But brilliant playing. Also, he did keep his middle finger away from the strings to mimic Django's missing first joint due to his accident. Very cool.


Brian at 5:20am June 30
There could well be looping, but there is definitely a second guitar involved. You can hear it on the ascending chords and when the key changes.


The Fretboard Journal This is for Keith Boyd. I hope a disco song about Moscow sung in German by a band led by a dancing Genghis Khan impersonator will keep him happy for a while.
Source: www.youtube.com
This is a original video, download for the web and rebuild with new audio by Victor Mendoza. This is the best and a COMPLETE video of presentation of Dschinghis Khan on Disco 1979. The full Xvid video ...


The Fretboard Journal Okay, there are no frets in this one from 1967 but I thought some of you might want to see this video from very early in David Bowie's career, the obscure period when he sported an unfortunate moustache.
Source: www.youtube.com
Rubber Band was a single by David Bowie. The single was released in 1966, and marked the start of Bowie's recording contract with Deram which would include his first album, 1967's David Bowie.


The Fretboard Journal Here's a lovely bit of playing from John Williams. Just perfect for a lazy Sunday.
Source: www.youtube.com
El Ultimo Tremolo(A.Barrios Mangore) guitar : John Williams Live at Waldbuhne, Berlin, Germany June 21, 1998


The Fretboard Journal It's Friday night and time for dancing. But please, whatever you do, don't dance like these people.


The Fretboard Journal Here at the FJ offices we've been getting all kinds of pitches related to the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. I'm still waiting for someone to pitch a story on Sha Na Na's appearance at the festival. Not that we'd run the story, I'd just like to read the pitch.
Source: www.youtube.com
Live at the Woodstock 17.8.1969 3days of Peace&Music!


The Fretboard Journal Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice singing "More Pretty Girls Than One." This is from the album "Skaggs and Rice" where they sing the songs of the Monroe Brothers. This is one of my all-time favorite records and well worth tracking down. It's just two musicians picking and singing some of their favorite songs. Simple but brilliant.
Source: www.youtube.com
Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice


The Fretboard Journal Play the banjo and live forever. Wade Mainer was born in 1907 and is still going strong. Here's a clip of Wade with his wife Julia from a few years ago. Towards the end of the clip lets loose with a series of banjo tricks that are worth seeing.
Source: www.youtube.com
David Holt introduces Julia and Wade Mainer and they play three pieces. First, "Little Log Cabin in the Lane". Then "Sit Down" followed by "Shout Little Loulie Shout, Shout." Wade demonstrates some amazing tricks with the banjo durint the last tune.
Michael at 12:22pm June 26
FB should do a story on, or by, David Holt. The guy has played with so many people & is a great story teller.
The Fretboard Journal at 12:29pm June 26
I met Dave at MerleFest and we talked about him doing something. He's pretty bust this summer doing festivals but I should check back with him and see if has any ideas.
Fred at 12:45pm June 26
My fave has always been Run Mountain. Great clip--thanks!


The Fretboard Journal Here's a lovely clip of Stephane Grappelli and Julian Bream playing "Nuages." I never knew they played together and now I wished that they had played together more.
Source: www.youtube.com
Nuages ; Django Reinhardt
The Fretboard Journal at 5:19pm June 26
Doesn't Janet Klein sing Nuages?


Rajiv at 10:27pm June 27
Bream sounds like... Bream, not Reinhardt but it's a treat to watch Grappelli play with Bream. It's Reinhardt's missing Maccaferri compared to the clasical Bream plays here I think.


The Fretboard Journal Today at 1pm PST, the FJ Talk Radio show podcast will feature contributor Nate Nakdate and Eric Danheim of Big Tex guitars. The pair will talk about the Houston music scene, tales of guitar collecting and more. http://tinyurl.com/nl628a


The Fretboard Journal Play a uke and live forever. Here's Bill Tapia performing at his 100th birthday celebration.
Source: www.youtube.com
Bill Tapia Group performs "Young At Heart" at the Warner Grand Theater for his 100th Birthday Celebration & Show in San Pedro, CA. November 18, 2007. Video by M. Melendres. Bill Tapia (ukulele/vocals) Earl Allen (guitar) Kristin Korb (bass) Frank Devito (drums)


The Fretboard Journal The world's oldest musical instrument has been found. I was pretty sure it was going to be a ukulele but it turns out to be a flute.
Source: cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com
Daniel Maurer / AP Click for audio: The University of Tubingen's Nicholas Conard holds an ancient bone flute during a news conference. Click on the image to hear music played on a reconstructed flute, courtesy of Wulf Hein and the University


The Fretboard Journal Another version of Apache, this by the Danish performer Tommy Seebach. This one just gets weirder the more it goes on.
Source: www.youtube.com
crazy Danish ppl trying to be cool and the kicker is that they ar serious !
Phil at 10:33am June 25
Gawd. "Weird" ain't the word! I mean, my brain cracked when those Aryan "squaws" entered. Never mind the gravelly "narration," spoken over Seebach's disco dance with the squaws. I think I need some disinfectant.
Fred at 10:45am June 25
I believe I now know why the Little Mermaid statue goes missing routinely...payback for this.
Ron at 5:15pm June 25
i, somehow, feel so "dirty" after this.


The Fretboard Journal Hank Marvin and the Shadows perform "Apache" in 2004. I love the fact they still do the little dance steps after all these years. (The song was a hit for the Shadows in 1960.) From what I understand, Hank is playing Gypsy jazz these days.
Source: www.youtube.com
The Shadows long and influential career has spanned 6 decades, with hit singles or albums in every one of them. Hank Marvins guitar playing has been an inspiration to hordes of wannabes down the years, including the likes of Brian May, Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. ...


The Fretboard Journal Just in time for your summer party, guitar shaped ice cubes> I love the swizzle stick neck.
Source: www.calliopeboutique.com
Freeze, stir and chill. 1 tray creates three 3x2x1/4 inch ice cubes with sticks.It’s time to kick back and chill and here’s a cool way to do it! Drop one of these groovy guitars into your drink, and give it a stir. Just the thing for jazzing up your favorite beverage. $8.00


The Fretboard Journal
Today is jazz guitar legend Johnny Smith's 87th birthday! Raise a glass for him. And read this interview that the Colorado Springs Independent just did with him! http://www.csindy.com/colorado/the-balla d-of-johnny-smith/Content?oid=1376413
Source: www.csindy.com
"Jazz was my first love, but I was involved with all kinds of music when I was doing studio work in New York. I'd have to play everything."
James at 11:37am June 25
How old where George Gobel and Mel Bay when they passed away?
The Fretboard Journal at 11:56am June 25
George Gobel was 72, but the so-called Geoge Gobel model, a shalllow-bodied L-5, was never an official Gibson signature edition which is probably why he only lived to be 72. Mel Bay was 84 when he died but he was a D"Angelico guy. His guitar is still pictured on the covers of lots of Mel Bay books. http://www.melbay.com/prod uct.asp?ProductID=93396

























































Thanks for the pics.
It was great meeting you, hope to see you next year!