Guitar Gavel

This is episode three with Brian leading into the April 2nd debut of his latest album, "New World Rising". We take a deep dive into the album discussing the first six tracks with regards to the song's inspiration, meaning, and a mini-version of "rig rundown". It's a special conversation hearing from Brian what the songs mean to him, while understanding how the listener is free to interpret they lyrics any way they see fit. That's the power of music! We cover the remaining six tracks in the next episode with Brian that drops on April 2nd in tandem with the release of "New World Rising". Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/ https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltz Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPR About Brian: Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994. His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few. Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

Leading up to the April 2nd debut of Brian's latest album, "New World Rising," this is the second in a three-part conversation with Brian in which we focus on the first half of his career. Brian and I discuss his early musical interests, a blend of pop, R&B, soul, blues and how the culture of New Orleans and southern Louisiana influenced his style. He tells us about his introduction to The Neville Brothers and shares memories of the near decade he spent touring and recording with the band. For the uninitiated, Brian also offers insight to the rigors of recording an album. "New World Rising" was recorded in Sweet Mix Studio in Slidell, LA which is where Brian joined the podcast from. Brian provided us with the foundation and flavor of this project and in the next episode we'll look at the album in its entirety. Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/ https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltz Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPR About Brian: Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994. His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few. Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I sit down with solo artist, faithful band member, and prominent session guitarist Brian Stoltz. This is the first of a few episodes we’re doing together leading into the debut of his newest album, “New World Rising”, out April 2nd. Like many, Brian’s interest in music began with the Beatles and a beater acoustic guitar. Before he could drive Brian was already playing country bars and juke joints in southern Louisiana. Brian met The Neville Brothers in 1981, auditioned for the guys and got the gig and five shows later they were opening for the Stones on their Tattoo You tour. He finished out the decade with the Neville’s, did his own thing for a few years, and then started a multi-decade run with the Funky Meters in 1994 His resume reads like a fairy tale, recording with Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, and Dr. John to name a few. His go-to guitar right now? A 1984/85 white MIJ Stratocaster with a scalloped neck that he bought new in Tokyo. For better or worse, I took Brian all over the place in this interview, but we had a blast! Brian is releasing one single each Friday leading up to the April 2nd record release. You can find his music on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services. Thanks to our friend Chris Kelly for the introduction (and his soon to be guest appearance)! https://www.facebook.com/brianstoltzguitar/ https://www.instagram.com/brian_stoltz Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ifyiiFYH9KXlXQsTujhPR Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I have the honor of sitting down with Falcon Eddy of the Galveston Guitar Lounge. He takes us through his guitar journey that properly began as a teenager at Gibson's department store when he bought a Teisco Del Ray, amp, and case for $29. Falcon Eddy moved up quick... next a Gibson SG and then a Gibson Dove. He even managed to trade a bass for a car! A lot of his journey revolved around the harmonica... there's too many guitar players :-) Falcon Eddy then walks us through the history of his shop, the Galveston Guitar Lounge, and it begins with driving 30 miles for a pack of guitar strings. Like many brick and mortar music store owners their lineage through the business is filled with twists and turns. But adversity makes you stronger and along came the Fowlcon Guitar Company, their own line of guitars. The next step? Elissa Guitars, guitar bodies built from the deck floor of the 1877 ELISSA, a tall sailing ship and one of only three in the world that is still in operation and based in Galveston. How did Falcon Eddy get his name? Watch and find out. Thank you Falcon Eddy for your time and friendship. For those that know you, and those that watch the show they'll get it... you are one good dude. Shop Galveston Guitar Lounge- https://galvestonguitarlounge.com/ The Guitar Lounge- https://www.facebook.com/guitarloungeGalveston/ Galveston Guitar Lounge- https://www.facebook.com/groups/162897634345446 Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/guitar.lounge/?hl=en Fowlcon Guitar Company- https://www.facebook.com/fowlconguitars/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I have the honor of sitting down with Kevin, straight from his amazing Star Wars guitar room and man cave. Kevin starts with his guitar origin story beginning with his dad's influences, his first guitars as a young kid, and the impact his brother and grandmother had on his musical interests. We talk about extensively about EVH, cracking the code on his guitar parts, the reason for his book and more EVH! And of course Kevin has an aresenal of EVH replica guitars for show and tell, plus some fancy fretwork and tips on Eddie's style. The last fifteen minutes of the show Kevin shares his own reflections on Eddie as a human, his legacy, and the personal impacts Eddie had on Kevin's life. It's a beautiful conversation and I cannot thank Kevin enough for his time and sharing Eddie's life with the world. Side note: Kevin's important parenting advice to get your kids playing the guitar- force it on them from the day they are born! :-) Please excuse the audio glitches when Kevin is playing the guitar! Buy Kevin's book- Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography https://www.amazon.com/Edward-Van-Halen-Definitive-Biography/dp/146205482X Kevin's past articles on the Van Halen News Desk- https://www.vhnd.com/author/kevin-dodds/ Allen Garber's EVH Playing Techniques Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635190633471979/ Allen Garber's definitive Eruption transcription- https://www.soundslice.com/slices/YvtMc/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this podcast I have the pleasure of hosting a conversation with artist and guitar maker Robert Randall XI, yes the eleventh. He is a fantastic guy, super passionate and articulate, and his stories and lessons make for a great show. If you are a fan of "the process" and how unique artistry intersects guitar, then you don't want to miss this episode. Robert's guitar journey began at age 10 when he started taking lessons and ended with his parents selling his guitar a couple of years later. Fortunately Robert was reintroduced to the guitar (and various other instruments at age 14. He's been tinkering, building, and playing ever since. Generally speaking, Robert's instruments are non-traditional shapes and deploy as much artistry as functionality. Yes, there is his use of locally reclaimed woods for the neck and body, plus a signature feature of trying to include some bits of blue pine, but the artistry goes well beyond the use of local resources. And that is what our conversation boils down to, Robert tries to convey an art history perspective through his instruments in addition to it being a tool. It's the story Robert manifests into his guitars, a reflection of the process from that journey, and the beauty in the final artwork. Each instrument has a piece of Robert's personality and you can totally feel it in the podcast. To learn more about Robert's instruments or inquire about purchasing one you can find Robert's work on his website and social channels: http://www.rsrandall.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@robertrandall9089 https://reverb.com/shop/roberts-boutique-1019 https://instagram.com/r.s.randall?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw== Music: https://rsrandall.bandcamp.com/album/rsrandall-xi Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

There is so much goodness in this episode with Pete Flynn that I really struggled to write a concise, yet comprehensive summary of his story. At the end of the day what I wrote did not do our conversation justice and nor was it concise, so here’s a “from the gut” synopsis: Pete is a world class nice guy, a world class guitar player (and drummer), guitar tech, and now a world class pickups builder. His stories go on for days and include a long list of household names that he's done work for, built pickups for, or played with. Recording this show with Pete on a Saturday night was the highlight of my week. If you take the time to watch or listen I promise it’s time well-spent. Quest for tone: After a 40-year mission to find the “perfect” amp was complete, Pete moved on to finding the perfect pickup. (He shares his amp setup in the show) It started with a 1950 Broadcaster Pete owned and his desire to build a clone. He finished the replica in about a year, but after experimenting with five sets of custom pickups the original Broadcaster tone remained elusive. So he decided to make his own proper set of Broadcaster pickups and managed to unlock the magic. Next up, recreating a 59’ PAF and once again, mission accomplished. Pete goes into depth on his pickup builds and how he conquered the task. The pickup business is relatively new, but Pete’s initials are PAF... enough said. I cannot thank Pete enough for being a guest. It was truly a privilege. Here’s where you can find Pete: Website- http://www.pickupsbypeteaflynn.com/ Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@peteflynnPAF/featured Youtube pickups page- https://www.youtube.com/@pickupsbypeteaflynn Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084563897669 Instagram- @peteflynnmusic Pete’s current band- www.pettyunion.com Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

David’s guitar journey began on a Behringer strat style guitar when he was 13, his foundation being metal and blues (an influence from his dad). The Behringer also became a sacrificial lamb when David decided to explore the guts of an electric guitar. From there, David started building his own guitars as a teenager furthering his home-grown knowledge, and setting the stage for becoming a professional luthier. Tinkering with pedals was a natural extension of the guitar repair business and that journey began in earnest in 2016. Overtime, David decided having his own product to offer was a welcomed challenge, plus he saw the need for a custom option to improve upon some of the pedals in his arsenal. So David introduced his first pedal a year ago, the Winter Storm, and now he’s onto his second build… the Spellbook. It’s a self-oscillating fuzz and distortion pedal, which can also be used as a stand alone synthesizer. To help fund the Spellbook, David has a Kickstarter campaign and will deliver pedals this summer, but there's still time to get the pre-production deal! Check out his YouTube channel to see David demo the Spellbook and describe the technical aspects. Thanks for being such a wonderful guest David! You are onto something big and I look forward to watching what you do next! Links: Kickstarter- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidrossmusicalinst/david-ross-musical-instruments-spellbook-guitar-pedal Company page- https://davidrossmusicalinstruments.com https://www.instagram.com/davidrossmusicalinstruments/ https://youtube.com/@davidrossmusicalinstruments https://www.facebook.com/davidrossmusicalinstruments Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this podcast I sit down with Jerry Cherry- guitarist, singer/songwriter, and guitar instructor extraordinaire. We talk about his guitar journey beginning at age 12 and how was super fortunate to be a member of an incredible band before he could drive and how that set the stage for the rest of his musical career. Key takeaways: At age 17, being one guitar lesson short of really starting to understand musical theory and playing for another 25 years before the next lesson made it all click. What struck me the most about Jerry's career is that he's a perpetual student. In some ways that's not necessarily profound, and frankly it's the way each of us should be in life. At the same time, however, how many of us can truly say that? Video Notes: Growing into his voice as a singer, being patient and comfortable in your skin, and believing in yourself. 26:00 Content creation for his social channels. 41:00 Jerry's best suggestion for learning a song, start slow! 54:00 Jerry's tools of the trade. 60:00 This episode is a little longer, but it's a beautiful conversation with so much goodness I had to publish the entire thing. This inspiring journey is a must listen no matter your skill level, from bedroom players to professional guitarists. Jerry goes live every Sunday at 12pm EST on his YouTube channel and just introduced a new YT program called, "What's The Hook?", where he explores and breaks down the hooks of your favorite songs. Connect with Jerry Cherry on Social Media: https://jerrycherry.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JerryCherryBand https://www.instagram.com/thejerrycherry/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-cherry-1ab49b1b/ https://twitter.com/jerrycherry https://www.tiktok.com/@jerrycherryband Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I have a candid conversation with singer, songwriter, guitar slinger, and guitar dealer Izzy Miller. In Izzy’s own words, “I’ll tell you exactly how I feel about anything”, and that’s exactly how this one goes. If you’ve followed Izzy on social media for any length of time you know he has a huge personality and a great sense of humor. It all shines through during the show, but most importantly, he’s a good dude. Thank you Izzy! We have a blast bouncing around beginning with Izzy’s formative years as a guitar player and musical influences from his dad, grandfather, and uncle. The flow leads us to the current state of country radio, thoughts on contemporary country music, and the vintage guitar market. Izzy’s latest record, “Izzy Miller Sings ‘Extra Bacon’ and Other Chart-Topping Hits, drops this Friday and we talk about the writing and recording process that went into it. Huge shoutout to Robert Fox of Silver Fox Sound in Harvest, AL who was originally the engineer, but ended up producing the record. Izzy shows off some of his favorite guitars including: 1959 Martin D-28 1954 Gibson J-200 1920 Gbson Style O 1908 Gibson Style U Harp Guitar 1952 Les Paul What does Izzy listen to? There’s no short answer and he could have talked for days about his playlists, but Izzy distills it down to these listening suggestions: Steve Young’s records, “Renegade Picker” and “No Place To Fall” Gary Stewart, Dave Dudley, Red Simpson, and Red Sovine. You can find Izzy anywhere there’s an internet connection- Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mK4c2XPu9vB0lxJiDU8w5 Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/IzzyMillerOfficial/ Izzy’s Vintage Guitars Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/izzysvintageguitars Reverb Shop- https://reverb.com/shop/izzys-vintage-guitars YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@IzzyMillerMusic Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theizzymiller/?hl=en Twitter- https://twitter.com/IzzyMillerMusic Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this podcast I have an amazing conversation with Frank Meyers about his fascination with vintage Japanese guitars and the resulting journey. Frank’s accolades include: Author, “The History of Japanese Electric Guitars” Monthly columnist for Premier Guitar magazine, “Wizard of Odd” Creator of the wonderful website, drowninginguitars.com with help from his friend Mike Dugan, and the @drowninginguitars YouTube channel Part of his origin story is seeing Kurt Cobain in concert in 1989 playing a Mastumoku made Mosrite copy. Inspiration also includes Teengenerate and The Mummies among other bands. Twenty-five years of curiosity eventually led to Frank getting on a plane for the first time in his life and traveling to Japan. His noble mission, to honor the Japanese craftsmen and manufacturers and tell their story. And that’s exactly what he did. Out of Frank’s passion, love and loyalty, he’s created a world-class treasure trove of information about an era of guitars that changed the trajectory of music. It was an absolute pleasure and gift to have Frank on the show and this episode is sure to deepen your appreciation of some of the best guitar makers in the world. I can’t say it enough, thank you so much Frank! Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

“How many more guitars are you going to buy?” In this episode I sit down with Michael Law, also known as Lawman Mike. Lawman Mike is the proprietor of Lawman Guitars, a wonderful vintage guitar store and probably the largest vintage Cowboy Guitar dealer in the country. A guitar player since the age of 10, we discuss Lawman’s guitar journey and how it led him to becoming a vintage dealer, recording artist, and the praise band leader at his church. Through the process of selling guitars, Lawman has created a wonderful catalog of more than 500 YouTube videos where he demo’s guitars and gives a history lesson on each one. His channel is a real gem and an amazing historical database of vintage guitars. For those that are familiar with Lawman, or have done business with him, this conversation provides great insight to the loving care he pours into each guitar he sells. And as always, we take a look at some of Mike’s personal favorite guitars! For all things Lawman Guitars, visit his website at https://www.lawmanguitars.com/ Michael Law’s music on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Ix00UvHE5fiF5dPbwyZNc?si=qhKVlhCrQ1yWsDTHINoCNQ&nd=1 Lawman Guitars YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/lawmanguitars Lawman Guitars Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LawmanVintageGuitars Lawman Guitars Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lawmanguitars/ Links to the books we discussed: The History of Japanese Electric Guitars https://drowninginguitars.com/store/book/ Cowboy Guitars https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Guitars-Ron-Middlebrook/dp/1574241028 Neptune Bound https://www.danelectro.guru/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this wonderful conversation with Adam we explore his guitar journey in which he summarizes his present day style as an “accumulation of multiple different phases” of music along the way. Those phases included a hardcore run of ACDC, Metallica, Gary Moore, and John Mayer. His growth as a guitarist, which began at age nine, has most recently led Adam to exploring original music and writing his own songs. Adam shows off his well-rounded blend of guitars including an American Professional Stratocaster, Martin HD-28, and Epiphone Les Paul Custom (plus a few more). When asked about his favorite guitar solo- Gary Moore playing “Empty Rooms” from his “Live In Stockholm” recording. That answer was quickly followed by Megadeth, David Gilmour, and John Petrucci. Clearly Adam has a very well rounded foundation! Thank you Adam for sharing your story and being such a wonderful guest! I’m looking forward to hearing more of your original music and seeing your appearances on #LOTW. A link to watch on YouTube is included in the comments or you can find the audio version on all major podcast platforms. Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this Guitar Gavel podcast episode we hear from Westone guitar enthusiast and aficionado Keiran Wynyard. A self-described hoarder, not a collector, Keiran walks us through his guitar journey and falling in love with Westone guitars. Keiran is more than just a Westone superfan, he also manages and co-manages websites, forums, and communities dedicated to the love of Westone guitars. As owner of Westone in UK, Keiran is collaborating with a number of people to restart production of Westone guitars in the near future. If you are looking for more information about the brand and guitar models please see the amazing resource of links below. Thank you Keiran for being a wonderful guest and helping spread the Westone love across the world! Websites: westone.info westoneguitars.net Forum: westone.forumotion.com Facebook Dreamraven Events: https://www.facebook.com/DreamravenEventsSupport Mogstock Music Festival: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mogstock The Mighty Matsumoku Westone guitar and bass super group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/494487874274980/ Westone Guitars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4963678788 Nova Twins: https://novatwins.co.uk/ https://www.youtube.com/c/NovaTwins https://www.facebook.com/NovaTwinsMusic Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

John Shults, guitar hunter and founder of truevintageguitar.com is this week's Guitar Gavel podcast guest. There is so much goodness in this podcast a summary just won't capture it all. We hear from John about how he got his start flipping guitars, how it evolved into a business, and what the future looks like for True Vintage Guitar. Along the way he shares some absolutely amazing stories of his successes and not so successful safari's. On top of it all John has a natural talent for storytelling and will keep you holding your breath as he unveils the twists and turns of his adventures. His encyclopedia-like knowledge of guitars is on display as he shows off a 1958 Les Paul Custom and 1960 Gibson Les Paul Special in the original TV Yellow finish. John is supper passionate and whipper-smart on top of being genuinely good guy. It's clear why he has become a go-to source in the vintage guitar community and I can't wait to see what lies ahead. Brother John, it was an absolute pleasure to have you as a guest and I look forward to Round Two! You can follow John on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/truevintageguitar/ Website: https://truevintageguitar.com/ #vintageguitar #truevintageguitar #johnshults #gibson #lespaul #lespaulcustom Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this Guitar Gavel podcast episode I have the pleasure of sitting down with Paul Kobylensky and we talk guitars, music, and his life as a copywriter in the music business. Since Paul is a storyteller for a living, he’s got some whoppers in this show :-). In addition to his behind the scenes work writing for household guitar and gear brands Paul is a writer for Premier Guitar. His latest article from September’s edition of PG was an interview with Dave Mustaine, one of his heroes. Paul could not hold back his inner fanboy and he shared a couple of funny stories about interviewing Dave. When it comes to musical tastes, Paul covers the spectrum and we talk about how his adventures moving around the U.S. are intertwined with his style and preferences. And of course we look at some really cool guitars. Paul’s absolute favorite, an Epiphone SG G-400 complete with a few modifications. Plus a rare Ibanez RG-560 with lots of artwork :-). To learn more about Paul’s work or to reach out to him about a project visit his website a thenewrockstar.net. Thank you Paul for sharing your time and wonderful insights with us! https://thenewrockstar.net/ https://www.instagram.com/kobyguitar Paul's music- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RFSGiB6y6F8WZ2JGv2fTG?si=AreymQ-_TD-dRVWrC9wWmQ YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCgQhPq7W0uHpfpBPXiJEjGw Strange Waters Strangewatersband.com https://strangewaters.bandcamp.com/album/strange-waters Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26PgmTyvNKnaRSaxStkLW5?si=Baqpvk76S6OVl1yavyspxQ Band’s YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC7KWtWeiFnMtTdR9CTZcLZA Random Change: https://randomchangeband.wixsite.com/randomchange Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dVeynTV6lx9MrcsyNPy57?si=Ajx_Z7KCSZuqEwsSRhfrKw Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I have a wonderful conversation with Laurence Carpenter of Rock Solid Investments. Laurence is a broker of high-end music memorabilia and artifacts based in Dublin, Ireland. To give you an example of the type of memorabilia that Laurence brokers some of his current offerings include: Kirk Hammett’s 1969 Fretless Wonder Les Paul used to record “The God That Failed Me”, Bono’s handwritten lyrics to U2’s “When Love Comes To Town”, and a John Lennon stage used Fender Bandstand amplifier. Laurence’s career began when he flipped a limited edition Michael Jackson print and made $3,000. The next three pieces were Michael Jackson stage worn hats that collectively netted well north of $100,000. Our conversation covers how Laurence got his start in the business, his affinity for collecting Noel Gallagher’s guitars, and the detective work he deploys to find and authenticate memorabilia. We also get to see Johnny Marr’s personal Flying V that he loaned to Noel Gallagher of Oasis. The guitar was used by Noel to record “Cigarettes And Alcohol” and “Slide Away”. Then Laurence brings out a Jimmy Page autographed and played Yamaha acoustic that he donated to a charity 20 years ago. Laurence has a wonderful YouTube channel you can find at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC17GaNM5h5Bv-Cteac4YAQ/featured For more information about Laurence and to see his current offerings visit his website at https://www.rocksolidinvestments.ie/ Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this episode I have the pleasure of hanging out with Michael Tash as he shares his guitar journey that really began at age 12 on a Montgomery Ward electric and Marlboro amp. Mike’s blues band, Bad Influence, has been playing consistently since 1989 with only a handful of changes from the original line-up. Mike share’s the secret to their longevity and highlights a few of his favorite shows which include playing with Buddy Guy and opening up for Heart. On the business side of things Mike talks about finding endorsement deals and nearly all of the gear the band members use and play is part of a sponsor arrangement. Mike’s go-to gig machine is an Epiphone Casino and Quilter Amps Micro-Pro. Of course we look at a couple of guitars too, a 1960 Strat and a Murphy Lab Les Paul. Mike is super smart, passionate, and an extremely talented player making for a great podcast conversation. Search “BadisBlues” on YouTube and Instagram for some great videos and pictures from the band. Main website- badinfluenceband.com Or check out Mike’s website michaeltash.com where you can also find links to a couple of his other bands, New Blue Soul and the Shaver-Tash Trio. Thank you Mike for your time and being such a wonderful guest! Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

This podcast is Round Two with Chris Kelly as he was gracious enough to come back and answer the numerous questions we received after the first one. Chris has a storied tenure with legacy guitar brands such as Robin, Ibanez, Peavey, Budda Amps, Trace Elliot, and Composite Acoustic. Much of our time focused on the Ibanez years as Chris was Director of Artist Relations and headed up the Custom Shop from 1985-1994. There is so much goodness in this podcast and I think it is best summarized by this statement from Chris about his career, "There hasn't been a lowest low or a highest high. It's all been one beautiful ride." Chris is full of a grateful heart and his passion, compassion, and love bleeds through our entire conversation. He shares his thoughts for emerging artists, guitar design principles, and another handful of unbelievable rock n' roll stories. Just a couple of those nuggets include the best cure for Los Angeles sized hangover, meeting with Prince to discuss designing one of his wild guitars, and the two guitars he did for Kurt Cobain. The takeaway for me from this podcast is the incredible life lessons and amazing nuggets of wisdom Chris shares. Truly, his remarks and sentiments are beautiful. What a pleasure, thank you Chris!!! Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook

In this week’s podcast I have the privilege of hanging out with Chris Kelly. I don’t usually struggle for words, but it’s hard to put into writing where to start. My jaw was on the floor for most of the conversation, listening and laughing in amazement, but Chris disperses so much great substance in the mix you’ll listen to this one a few times. Chris has a storied tenure with legacy guitar brands such as Robin, Ibanez, Peavey, and Budda Amps. Much of our time focused on the Ibanez years as Chris was Director of Artist Relations and headed up the Custom Shop from 1985-1994. The artists he worked with and his circle of friends are household names and Chris shares some amazing stories: - Being best friends with SRV and designing the double neck guitar/mando he and Jimmie played in “Pipeline” - Working with Steve Vai to develop his JEM and the infamous monkey grip - Signing Joe Satriani - Hanging out with EVH at Studio 5150 (all the time) - Rooming with Johnny Depp and Nick Cage at The Roosevelt in Hollywood - Weekly golf games with Jani Lane, Tommy Lee, and Vince Neil - Playing in 10,000 Maniacs, Ministry, and League of Blind Women Beyond the incredible rock n’ roll stories Chris drops some eye-opening life lessons that led to his success working in the industry and helping design amazing guitars. Given his experiences I had to ask Chris about the single best piece of advice he’s ever received and here’s what he said: “Meeting Bob Hope on the 9th hole at a golf course in Burbank, CA”. The exchange went like this from Chris to Bob, “can you give me any advice?”. Bob said, “I guess I was in the right place at the right time, but I knew enough to take myself there”. Thank you Chris for sharing your candor and heartfelt rock n’ roll journey, much love! Video for all podcasts available on our YouTube channel Visit guitargavel.com for hundreds of cool guitar stories Find us on Twitter and Facebook