The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast · The Fretboard Journal

Jamie Etherington on the Luthier's Tool Box

·49 min·4 clips

Jamie Etherington explains how a simple tool story idea exploded into a book with nearly 100 luthier contributions.

This episode features host Jason Verlinde interviewing Jamie Etherington, a Fretboard Journal contributor based in rural Australia. Etherington conceived and compiled the magazine's first hardcover book, "The Luthier's Toolbox." The project began as a proposed magazine article about luthiers and their most sentimentally significant tools, not just their most-used ones. Etherington initially reached out to about five or six prominent luthiers but quickly received enthusiastic responses from nearly a hundred builders worldwide. The book organizes contributions into categories like self-made, adapted, innovative, and unusual tools, with each luthier providing a short backstory. Contributors range from established names like Andy Powers and Kevin Ryan to younger builders like Oliver March and Eve Meister. A standout submission is from Bob Robinson, who wrote about a chisel he made from a found object he later realized was a crack pipe. Matt Eich, maker of a brass tricone guitar for Etherington, contributed a story about a Pexto circle shear he no longer uses but keeps as a touchstone for his career journey. The book was designed by Jamie Muehlhausen and printed on high-quality stock to resemble a classic, timeless volume. Etherington, who has no woodworking skill himself, describes a lifelong fascination with workshops and the tools within them. He explains that living remotely in Australia drives his need to forge connections through writing about guitar culture. His previous work includes tracking down Annie Elliott, the illustrator of Leo Kottke's iconic "6- and 12-String Guitar" album cover. The tone is conversational and reflective, focusing on personal stories and shared passions within the guitar community. Listeners who enjoy behind-the-scenes insights into luthiery and human-interest stories about craftsmanship will appreciate this episode. Those seeking technical instruction or guitar performance might find the focus on tools and personal narratives less engaging.

As heard by us

A Fretboard Journal conversation about sentimental tools and the making of a feature.

Jamie Etherington's appearance on Fretboard Journal centers on how a craft feature comes together. The conversation moves from a contributor and an editor to the luthier's sentimental tools, with chisels, gouges, and planes opening onto the workshop rather than staying stuck in…

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