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Based in Edmonton, Canada, Dion James builds steel-string acoustic guitars known for their striking minimalism. Subtle in their looks from afar, Dion's instruments make careful use of intricate detailing without becoming ostentatious. They’re packed with innovation informed by years of building and experimentation, all brought together with a decisive, crystal-clear design vision. As he's someone who's built a reputation for crafting such impeccable instruments, I wanted to talk with Dion about how he views creativity, where his design sensibility comes from, and the surprising power of saying "I can't".

There might be a lot of guitars that claim to be unique, but there's only a relatively small number that achieves – without question – something new. Nicolai Schorr's instruments are undoubtedly among that select group. From his workshop in Berlin, Nicolai handcrafts guitars and basses that are as playful and refreshing as they are bold. It's unsurprising to learn he has a background in both fine art and music, but I was curious to learn more about where his career as a guitar maker started, how his designs come together, and why he makes guitars that look so joyful. I want to thank Nicolai for joining me on the podcast this week and sharing so much about his work.

Discover the inspiring journey of Adam Buchwald, a Vermont-based entrepreneur and craftsman who has built a remarkable career spanning every facet of the guitar-making world. From sourcing premium woods and tools to designing and building instruments for multiple brands—and even opening a retail space—Adam’s business reflects a holistic approach to the craft and commerce of guitars.

Adam's extensive career includes playing professionally on guitar, banjo, and mandolin, restoring priceless instruments at Retrofret in Brooklyn, NY, and teaching guitar construction at Vermont Instruments. His multifaceted experience offers unparalleled insights into the guitar-making industry.

In this episode, we delve into Adam's philosophy behind Iris Guitars, how he assesses value, and the motivations behind creating a comprehensive, all-inclusive business model. Whether you’re an aspiring guitar maker, a seasoned luthier, or simply a music enthusiast, Adam’s story is a must hear for anyone looking to build a life in the world of guitars.

This week on the podcast, English guitar maker Rosie Heydenrych talks about how she started Turnstone Guitars, why she's drawn to using non-traditional woods, and what fuels her curiosity as she continues to grow her business. As well as crafting beautiful and refreshing instruments, Rosie has created a family business that prioritises what's most important and motivating for her, so it's well worth hearing her perspective on building a successful brand in the guitar world.

This week, I'm joined by Finnish master guitar maker Juha Ruokangas to talk about the future of guitars, music and his own business. With over three decades of experience in the game, building some of the finest quality instruments available on Earth, Juha certainly has an interesting perspective on the changing world of the guitar. It was fascinating to hear his thoughts on the culture and business of the guitar and where we're heading, and I hope you enjoy listening. Patreon members will also get exclusive access to our extended conversation about how to run a successful guitar business, where we discuss the advantages of Juha's unique workshop structure.

Renowned Guitar Maker Jason Kostal Featured on Life With Strings Attached Podcast

Life With Strings Attached proudly presents an inspiring new episode featuring Jason Kostal, a master luthier whose journey into guitar building is as remarkable as his craftsmanship.

After serving over a decade in the U.S. Army, earning an MBA, and excelling as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, Jason embarked on a new path that has seen him rise to prominence in the world of guitar making. His diverse background lends a unique perspective to the art of luthiery, blending precision, business acumen, and a relentless commitment to excellence.

In this episode, Jason shares invaluable insights on leadership, realizing creative visions, and thriving as an artisan entrepreneur. He also reflects on his transformative experiences studying with renowned mentors Kent Everett, the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, and the legendary Ervin Somogyi.

Listeners will gain a rare glimpse into the process behind Jason’s stunning guitars, celebrated for their craftsmanship and tonal brilliance.

Tune in to Life With Strings Attached for an enriching conversation that explores artistry, ambition, and the pursuit of excellence.

Randy Parsons shares some incredible stories on this week’s episode of Life With Strings Attached, including working with Jack White, using a cattle skull for the bracing of a guitar he made for Jimmy Page, how he came up with the 50,000-piece Red Queen in a single moment of spontaneity, how he moved his workshop from a former Hell Angels hideout to a century-old church in rural Kansas – and lots more. Whether you’re interested in guitar making or not, this is well worth a listen to hear from someone who has led a fascinating life and – through sometimes bizarre and scarcely believable moments – built an amazing career as a guitar maker. Speaking with Randy provides so many insights on the nature of risk, the value of self-belief, the magic of hard work, and the strange force of serendipity. I’m always thankful to get a chance to catch up with Randy, and I hope you’ll all enjoy listening

I’m very pleased to have Legendary instrument designer Ned Steinberger as our special guest on this week’s episode of Life With Strings Attached. With a remarkable 40-year legacy, Ned Steinberger has been at the forefront of innovation, with instruments that have revolutionized the industry and set new standards for performance and ergonomic comfort. Those instruments have been adopted by an impressive list of artists, including Sting, Laurie Anderson, Les Claypool, David Darling, Tony Levin, Rob Wasserman, Eddie Van Halen and many others. Arguably Ned’s most famous and lasting contribution to guitar history has been the pioneering of headless graphite instruments to worldwide acclaim; the Steinberger Bass received numerous accolades, including the coveted Design of the Decade award from the Industrial Designer Society of America. His TransTrem™ – a unique transposing vibrato unit that allows strings to remain in tune with each other rather than detune randomly – has been adopted by other notable guitar makers, such as Steve Klein and Ulrich Teuffel. As if this wasn’t enough, Ned’s other designs include electronic tuners, tuning hardware, structural systems and accessories for companies such as D’Addario, David Gage and The Martin Guitar Company. And finally, Ned’s NS Design company is one of the few companies to have gained success in the ultra-conservative bowed instrument market, with patents on double basses and violins. There are few people who can boast of such wide spread influence across musical instruments and genres as Ned Steinberger can, and as always, it was a pleasure to get to speak with him. I hope you enjoy listening along, and I’m certain there’ll be something valuable to take away from Ned’s insights.

This week, I welcome Murray Kuun to Life With Strings Attached!

Murray’s journey into instrument-making began with a transformative trip to Italy in the 1990s. A visit to Michelangelo’s David and a chance encounter with a luthier lit the spark that set him on a lifelong creative path. Armed with little more than a poorly written book, Murray crafted his first violin—an experience that marked the beginning of his prolific career.

Over time, he mastered traditional violin-making before boldly shifting to creating original designs that reflect his passion for music and innovation. Today, Murray’s body of work includes hundreds of unique guitars, violins, mandolins, ukuleles, a lute, and even a cello.

While sound quality is always paramount, Murray also prioritizes aesthetics and ergonomics, crafting instruments that are as beautiful and comfortable as they are expressive.

Through his work at #GuitarDesignLab, Murray blends tradition with modernity, crafting bespoke, art-infused instruments for musicians seeking inspiration and individuality.

Join us as we delve into Murray’s remarkable journey, his philosophy of design, and his vision for the future of instrument making. It was a privilege to hear his story, and I hope you enjoy listening to this inspiring conversation.

Robin Stummvoll of Verso Instruments was recently explaining to me how big an influence Ulrich Teuffel was for his guitar designs. And when it became clear that the two had never met – despite coming from the same region in Germany – I felt I had to change that. Luckily, they agreed, and I had the pleasure of bringing the two guitar innovators together in Uli’s workshop to discuss design, entrepreneurship and how new guitars inspire new music. It was fascinating to take on these topics with Robin and Uli, and I’d like to thank them both again for taking part.

I'm very pleased to have Omer Deutsch of OD Guitars on this week's episode of Life With Strings Attached. Originally trained as an industrial designer, Omer worked in product design for seven years before starting his guitar making business in 2016. Since then, he’s made guitars for many artists, mostly in metal genres, including players such as Roman Ibramkhalilov of Jinjer and Daniel Tompkins of Tesseract. Omer is also a true hobbyist, flying remote controlled airplanes, riding freestyle BMX and building with Lego – he was even part of a Lego commercial involving his guitars. In this episode, Omer reflects on meeting his childhood hero at the NAMM Show and how he keeps his curiosity alive by building guitars for people around the world today. I very much enjoyed our conversation, and I hope that you do too.

This week's episode of Life With Strings Attached was filmed on location in Northern Ontario, Canada – actually, in my backyard, by special request of today's guest, Mike Sankey.

Mike has been creating one-of-a-kind guitars for over 25 years in his workshop in Ottawa, Canada. While better known for organic yet futuristic electric instruments, his work has always been informed by a deep knowledge and appreciation of historical precedent. Leveraging modern techniques such as 3D printing and computer aided design has been a means to the end of making instruments that are each totally unique expressions of the luthier's art.

While enjoying a drink by the lake, we talked about the importance of curiosity, the value of stepping beyond what's comfortable, and the role of spontaneity in Mike's work.

This is part 2 of my conversation with luthier Ulrich Teuffel, filmed on location in his workshop in southern Germany. Find part 1 here:    • Ulrich Teuffel: Revolutionary Guitar ...   Since 1988, Ulrich (Uli to his friends) has been crafting electric guitars unlike any other luthier. In bringing together a unique blend of his training as an automotive mechanic and his studies in industrial design from the 1990s, he's created innovative models—Birdfish, Tesla, Niwa, and Antonio—that are radically independent, yet always follow a distinctive leitmotif. These masterpieces are found in prestigious museums and collections, as well as in the hands of legendary musicians like David Torn, Kirk Hammett, Billy Gibbons, Henry Kaiser, Ludwig Göransson, and Hans Zimmer. For Ulrich Teuffel, Leo Fender stands as the most influential guitar maker of the 20th century. In the eyes of many contemporary guitar makers, Teuffel's work exists on its own plane, elevated to a level that few can aspire to. Personally, for me, Uli has been an inspiring colleague and friend. Together, we explore concepts and ideas that stretch and challenge each other, feeding both our minds and souls. I find conversations with Uli exceptionally invigorating. I hope you will too.

Today's episode of Life with Strings Attached was filmed on location in Southern Germany, in the workshop of Ulrich Teuffel. Since 1988, Ulrich (Uli to his friends) has been crafting electric guitars unlike any other luthier. In bringing together a unique blend of his training as an automotive mechanic and his studies in industrial design from the 1990s, he's created innovative models—Birdfish, Tesla, Niwa, and Antonio—that are radically independent, yet always follow a distinctive leitmotif. These masterpieces are found in prestigious museums and collections, as well as in the hands of legendary musicians like David Torn, Kirk Hammett, Billy Gibbons, Henry Kaiser, Ludwig Göransson, and Hans Zimmer. For Ulrich Teuffel, Leo Fender stands as the most influential guitar maker of the 20th century. In the eyes of many contemporary guitar makers, Teuffel's work exists on its own plane, elevated to a level that few can aspire to. Personally, for me, Uli has been an inspiring colleague and friend. Together, we explore concepts and ideas that stretch and challenge each other, feeding both our minds and souls. I find conversations with Uli exceptionally invigorating. I hope you will too.

In this captivating episode of Life With Strings Attached, I had the privilege of visiting Giulio Negrini of GNG in his workshop in Switzerland. What began as a discussion about his extraordinary guitars soon evolved into an exploration of much more: the role of fantasy in our culture, the allure of thematically dark and morbid art, and the magical elements that bring instruments to life.

An Italian master luthier steeped in the Cremonese tradition of Stradivarius, Guarneri, and Amati, Giulio crafts each instrument with unparalleled precision and passion. While his guitars are meticulously designed to meet the needs of players, they are also visually breathtaking. Featuring intricate custom inlay work and bold finishes inspired by fantasy literature, each piece is as much a work of art as it is a musical tool.

Giulio has been a key contributor to every Boutique Guitar Showcase I’ve curated at The NAMM Show since its inception. Remarkably, his work continues to improve year after year, exceeding even the highest expectations.

This episode offers a unique opportunity to delve into the mind of a master luthier—not only to understand his craft but to explore the broader inspirations and philosophies that shape his art. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with one of the most innovative figures in modern guitar-making.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Nik Huber for many years, dating back to the early days of my journey in the guitar industry. During a catch-up over dinner at the Montreux International Guitar Show, we revisited some of the pivotal moments that have shaped his remarkable career. This episode captures the essence of that conversation—more like sharing a meal with an old friend than a traditional podcast.

Nik Huber is one of the most respected and accomplished guitar makers of our time. Coming from four generations of woodworkers, he began honing his skills as a child in his father’s woodworking shop, nestled in the basement of their family home. His passion for crafting instruments flourished, and over the past three decades, Nik has established a global reputation for creating exceptional guitars and basses.

From his hometown of Rodgau, Germany, Nik and his talented team produce around 350 instruments annually, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative design. Their creations are played by an impressive roster of artists, including members of Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, Tenacious D, Snarky Puppy, Kvelertak, and Silverstein. They’ve also made their way into the hands of musicians working with icons like Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, and The Rolling Stones, gracing studios and stages worldwide.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look into the life and work of one of the world’s leading guitar makers, told through stories, insights, and decades of shared passion.

Host Jamie Gale delves into a fascinating conversation with Sheldon Dingwall, founder and CEO of Dingwall Guitars, set against the historical backdrop of Osaka Castle in Japan.

Sheldon Dingwall has revolutionized the bass guitar world as a modern pioneer of multiscale design. His company’s roster boasts an impressive lineup of artists, including iconic players like Lee Sklar, Adam “Nolly” Getgood (Periphery), Jacob Umansky (Intervals), Jean-Michel Labadie (Gojira), and Ali Dean (Architects). His instruments have also been featured by musicians working with renowned names like Hans Zimmer, The Dave Matthews Band, Devin Townsend, and Dweezil Zappa.

What sets Dingwall Guitars apart is its unique blend of boutique craftsmanship and a streamlined, production-based approach. Sheldon’s relentless ambition and vision have driven the company to stand out as a leading force in bass design. In this episode, we explore Sheldon’s journey, the philosophy that guides his brand, and the realities of running a bass guitar company in today’s music industry.

Tune in for an inspiring and insightful conversation about innovation, passion, and the art of building a business in the world of music.

For this week's episode of Life With Strings Attached, I joined Michael Spalt at his home and workshop in Portugal, where he recently relocated from Vienna.

For decades, Michael's work has developed at the intersection of art, design and instrument making, pushing boundaries and experimenting with surprising materials. Whether in series like his Totem guitars featuring resin tops or in one-off highly decorative display pieces featuring built-in amps and inspired by literature and myth, he's been a pioneer in bringing an artist's approach and technical knowledge to the field of guitar making.

But now settled into his new life and workshop in a new country, what's next? In this conversation, we explore Michael's perspective on his career, what place art and artisanal craft have in the business of making instruments, and where he believes his work will take him next.

Jamie Gale recently visited his good friend Bruno Bacci in Tuscany, where Bruno has built an impressive career as a guitar maker.

In this episode, Bruno shares how his background in design naturally evolved into a lifelong journey in guitar making. He discusses the steps he's taken to establish a thriving guitar business and his passion for collaborating with musicians, leading to partnerships with some of the most renowned guitarists in the world.

In this week’s episode of Life With Strings Attached, host Jamie Gale sits down with Adriano Sérgio of Ergon Guitars, a master guitar maker from Portugal whose life story is as intricate as his craftsmanship.

While Adriano’s artistry in guitar-making is reason enough to spotlight him, his journey offers much more to uncover. From fleeing his homeland as a child to later serving in Portugal's elite military forces, from earning a degree in jazz performance to touring in musical theatre and working as a guitar tech for legends like Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden, Adriano’s life is one of resilience, contrasts, and passion—all of which are deeply woven into his work at Ergon Guitars.

This conversation truly embodies the mission of Life With Strings Attached: through our shared love for guitars, music, and creativity, we reveal connections that reach far beyond those realms, discovering insights into ourselves and the world around us. Tune in to hear Adriano’s remarkable story, his reflections on craftsmanship, and how his unique life experiences continue to shape the art of guitar-making.

Bryan Galloup has made a lasting impact on the guitar industry through his decades of dedication to both the preservation and innovation of musical instruments. As the President and CEO of Galloup Guitars, and the founder of the Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair, Bryan has trained over 2,500 luthiers, many of whom are now leading figures in the world of guitar making.

In this episode, Bryan shares his insights on what it truly means to build a successful business—one rooted in purpose, community, and value. We explore the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of being a businessperson in the guitar industry, and the key values that have shaped Bryan's approach to his work. Tune in for a conversation that offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a meaningful, sustainable business in the world of guitar making.

Jamie Gale sat down with Julio Martins and João Petiz, founders of Everythink—a cutting-edge design company based in Portugal known for its remarkable breadth of projects. From aircraft and medical devices to guitars (AVA One) and robotics, Everythink designs products, services, and experiences that make a positive impact on people’s lives by focusing on simplicity and joy.

During our conversation in Porto, we explore the surprising connections across disciplines, the importance of being a "generalist" in today’s world, and why designing a guitar presents unique challenges you might never have considered.

In this wide-ranging conversation between myself and renowned Canadian luthier William "Grit" Laskin, we discuss the role of the artisan in the digital age, what the physics and physiology of sound perception teach us about instrument making, and why the mysteries of the guitar may remain mysteries for centuries to come. Jamie Gale is a thought leader who rose to prominence in the guitar industry by simplifying complex concepts. In his weekly podcast "Life With Strings Attached", he engages in cross-disciplinary discussions to reveal how everything from guitar design to architecture, philosophy, physics and more can be better understood if you learn to see the universal truths that underpin our world. Because everything in life is better understood if you can learn to see the strings attached.