The Fret Files

In this episode, Eric and Nat dive into some vintage Danelectro esoterica via a question submitted by long time friend of the show, Larry Chung. Then come the questions, questions about Gibson Marauder pickups, Stratocaster pickup era differences, questions about the vintage guitar market, alternate tunings, and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Nat dive into more “Cease & Desist” news, and then answer tech questions from listeners including stuck truss rods, what to do about the nut during the course of a refret, fingerboard oil recommendations, and a deep dive into a custom pickup Eric has built lately. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric answers tech questions from listeners including wire gauge questions, nut slot filing questions, fixing the route on a 1953 Fender Esquire, and an inquiry about “cease and desist” letters. For the second half of the show, we do a deep dive into Fender Musical Instrument Corporation’s legal history from the early days of the first solidbody designs up until modern day. Where will it all go next? We shall see. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric and Nat interview guitar amp guru Troy Angus, longtime amp tech and builder, experienced guitar player, and all ’round great guy. After living all his life in Utah, he has recently relocated to Idaho Falls, ID. Eric, Nat, & Troy talk amp philosophy, vintage and modern amps, speakers, and get into the mystique and mythology concerning tube guitar amplifiers. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode, Eric interviews Greg Boyd of Greg Boyd’s House of Fine Instruments in Missoula, Montana. Greg is always full of amazing guitar stories, and we managed to capture a few here. Check out Greg’s store online at GregBoyd.com or visit in person when you’re in Missoula. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat report a few guitar news stories including David Gilmour’s famous Black Fender Stratocaster being sold at auction this week. Then we take listener questions regarding broken truss rod repair, Tele wiring, glue recommendations, string breakage, and short scale length intonation problems. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take listener questions regarding dog ear P90 shims, Tele saddle alignment, Filter Tron pickups, waterslide headstock decals, pickup winding, and filling holes to match the surrounding finish. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks guitar news and hosts an interview with a high school student who is making a kit guitar and is interested in exploring guitar building. In guitar news, Norman’s Rare Guitars has been acquired by the same parent company of Carter Vintage Guitars. In other news, Bob Weir has passed away, and Fender Music Instrument Corporation has a new CEO. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take listener questions regarding Jaguar pickup hum, ordering pre-slotted nuts, pickup output, flipping Tele control plates, guitar humidification, and more. Also, Eric and Nat share a few samples from a recording of their latest gig, using a Pin-Up Custom guitar built by Eric. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take listener questions regarding mystery goo seeping out from under a Mustang Bass pickguard, No-caster Pickups, headstock repairs, Alnico magnets becoming demagnetized, a vintage Fender Jaguar with mysteriously low output, and the ol’ standby, “Are vintage Gibson frets in the wrong place?” To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat discuss guitar string history. It’s almost as riveting as it sounds. Then comes listener questions, including “how should I ruin my guitar”, and “I bought your book, now what?,” and the perennial favorite, “why can’t I keep my guitar in tune?” Tune in for answers to the above and more. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric gives Nat yet another guitar quiz – Common Guitar Abbreviations and Acronyms. Then come the tech questions from listeners, including questions about finishing raw fretted maple necks, 50’s Gibson wiring vs. modern wiring, rare Fender pre CBS custom colors, how to raise the “nut” on a zero-fret guitar, and gigging with guitars that have volume discrepancies. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link. Vector eps10

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat cover some guitar auction news about guitar owned by Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, and the resurfacing of Mick Taylor’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Eric and Nat then take questions from listeners about fixing dings in a guitar neck, mystery noise from an acoustic soundhole pickup, hide glue preparation, and some advice for hearing aid users who play guitar. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars. Norm’s famous shop is celebrating 50 years in the business of buying and selling rare and vintage guitars. Norm is a pioneer in the vintage guitar market, dealing in vintage guitars well before the term “vintage guitars” was even used. Norman has authored two fabulous books and his shop is the subject of a great Netflix documentary simply entitled “Norman’s Rare Guitars.” To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about what’s been going on in the shop lately, and then answers questions from listeners including how to do a proper Vintage Amber neck tint, Eric’s favorite vibrato unit, lots of offset/JM vibrato talk, treble bleed circuits, and more about that weird conductive PVC layer inside instrument cables and what it’s for. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about vintage pre-war (pre 1940) Washburns and discusses the book “Washburn Prewar Instrument Styles” by Pleijsier Hubert. Then, Eric answers questions from listener emails including how to remove superglue from a finish, how to properly cut a Fender style nut, and setup tips for those finicky Jazzmasters. Also, something of a follow up from the pictured P-Bass bridge, but it still remains a mystery. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk taxes, tarrifs, and Taylors in a session of Guitar News. Then comes the questions from listeners including questions about touching up lacquer, spraying over nitrate binding, refin color choices, hum in a humbucker, and where to get a Harmony Sovereign bridge. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric goes over some shop safety rules. Then, Eric takes questions from listeners including questions about refretting over a fingerboard extension, solidifying a soft finish, buffing advice, advice on starting a new guitar repair business, and finally – what’s the big problem with adding a Bigsby vibrato unit? Oh, let me count the ways. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, we have a top ten list for you – “The top ten things NOT to say to your guitar tech.” Next, Eric and Nat take questions from listeners including questions about a cloudy pickguard, Tele neck pickups that emulate a Strat neck pickup, bolt on neck techniques, humidification recommendations, string trees, and Eric and Nat’s top tips for guitar players to get the most out of their guitar. To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.

In this special episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat call listeners who have volunteered to play Guitar Trivia. It’s chaos and it’s fun and you should listen. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and thanks to those who participated! To participate in the show, you can leave a message with your question or comment by calling 757-774-8482. To email the show, visit Eric at EricDaw.com and click the contact link.