The Fret Files

The Fret Files

Guitar Workshop Podcast

Episodes

Ep 206 – Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars

July 15, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews Norman Harris of Norman's Rare Guitars. Norm's 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 great books and also the subject of a great Netflix documentary simply entitled "...
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Ep 205 – Listener Questions

June 16, 2025 • 36 mins
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.
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Ep 204 – Listener Questions and a book review

May 15, 2025 • 42 mins
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 ...
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Ep 203 -Guitar News and Listener Questions

April 16, 2025 • 55 mins
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.
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Ep 202 – Listener Questions and Shop Safety

March 17, 2025 • 46 mins
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.
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Ep 201 – Listener Questions and a Top Ten List

February 15, 2025 • 74 mins
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.
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Ep 200 – Listener Quiz!

January 15, 2025 • 66 mins
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!
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Ep 199-Quiz and Listener Questions

December 16, 2024 • 62 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric gives Nat a quiz - "Guitar Pickup or Indie Band?" Then, they take questions regarding wax potting pickups, heavy duty soldering, Strat pickups, spraying lacquer, identifying parts on a schematic, and shielding cavities on electric guitars.
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Ep 198 – Listener Questions

November 15, 2024 • 47 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk about being prepared and cleating cracks in acoustic guitars. They then take questions regarding removing glued in saddles, a quiet high string with an acoustic pickup install, how to know what size frets to use on a vintage guitar, vintage guitar refrets, and why Rickenbacker guitars feel different than just about every other guitar.
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Ep 197 – Listener Questions

October 15, 2024 • 47 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding Baxendale Conversions, wood dust toxicity and sensitivity, magnetizing Alnico, Bolivian Rosewood, 5 string bass setups, and more.
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Ep 196 – Listener Questions and Product Reviews

September 16, 2024 • 53 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric talks about his new endeavor in humbucker production - the "Patent Denied" humbucker pickups (available soon.) Eric does a few product reviews - the "Cleatus" guitar cleat system, the T. J. Thompson Belly Reducer, the Allparts True Tune tuners, and the vintage style Tele bridge plate from Philadelphia Luthier Tools and Supply. Then Eric answers questions about string spacing, Fender...
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Ep 195 – Listener Questions and Guitar News

August 16, 2024 • 43 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat talk guitar news with the results of a few recent guitar auctions including guitars owned by Mark Knopfler, Prince, and John Lennon. Then they took questions about pickup polarity, a Kay Barney Kessel truss rod, a lot of wiring questions about Eric's book "Solid Sound," some talk about what types of polish Eric recommends, and a tool recommendation from down under.
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Ep 194 – A Tribute to Joel Wilkens and Listener Questions

July 15, 2024 • 56 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat give a tribute to renowned guitar restoration expert Joel Wilkins who passed away this week. Then there's the questions - a question about Don Teeter's guitar repair books, a lot of wiring questions about Eric's book "Solid Sound," some intonation and bridge placement questions, and a very nice call from a satisfied owner of some of Eric's pickups.
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Ep 193 – Rhett Harris from Rhett’s Frets in Nashville

June 15, 2024 • 67 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric interviews Rhett Harris from Rhett's Frets in Nashville TN. Eric and Rhett talk fretwork, pickups, 3D printing, Eric's book, running your own business from home, and Idaho winters.
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Ep 192 – Listener Questions and Guitar News

May 15, 2024 • 63 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat review some guitar news about John Lennon's Framus Hootenany 12 string, Eric Clapton's 1974 Martin 000-28, and a guitar exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento. They then take questions regarding backward functioning truss rods, what to do with an inherited guitar collection, P-90 queries, and more about compound radius guitars. Or is it compound radii? You decide.
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Ep 191 – Listener Questions

April 15, 2024 • 59 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding ground wires on Telecasters, sheilding inside electric guitar cavities, idiot proofing jacks and pots, Desert Sand finishes, and how to set string radius when adjusting action on a guitar with a compound radius.
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Ep 190 – Listener Questions

March 15, 2024 • 62 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding pickup phase, guitar finishes with no pore filler, getting rid of pick marks on lacquer finishes, the Sorkin "bowtie" bridge, and Eric's ideal Jazzmaster wiring.
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Ep 189 – Listener Questions

February 15, 2024 • 60 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding the string wrap around Telecaster bridge pickups, coated strings, when to say no, how to treat warped bass necks, and will there be a Solid Sound Vol. 2?
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Ep 188 – Listener Questions and Celebrating 10 Years

January 15, 2024 • 58 mins
In this, the ten year anniversary episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric and Nat take questions regarding string trees, power tools, acoustic guitar neck humps, pickup specs, and stopping the clicking noise that happens with loose Fender tremolo arms.
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Ep 187 – Frank Gross from Thunder Road Guitars

December 15, 2023 • 57 mins
In this episode of the Fret Files Podcast, Eric announces the new podcast schedule for 2024, answers a few listener submitted questions, and interviews Frank Gross from Thunder Road Guitars in Seattle, Wa.
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