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PODCAST

The High Gain

Ed Peterson and John Kieltyka

Hosts Ed Peterson and John Kieltyka tell barely credible stories about guitars, randomly describing the people, places and events surrounding the birth of each instrument.

music music history

All Episodes

23:06

Episode 330 - Rivolta Combinata

The High Gain ·

2024/09/04

When guitar builder Dennis Fano was looking to expand the reach of his designs, he partnered up with Eastwood Guitars to create Rivolta. Incorporating design elements from vintage guitars, these overseas guitars are still distinctly Fano, somehow. We got our hands on a Combinata, and found it to be a pleasure to play. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com

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26:10

Episode 329 - Motander SM65 Ardweirdo

The High Gain ·

2024/08/28

Justin Motander Jones is making some wonderfully inventive guitars down there in San Diego, CA. He’s been experimenting with creating effects by controlling the pickups themselves, as opposed to simply feeding their output through an effect. He calls this idea the Ardweirdo, since the brain behind all of this is the Arduino open-source electronics platform. The guitar we got to play around on was kindly loaded with every kind of tremolo sound you could want. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these

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22:23

Episode 328 - Gibson J-50

The High Gain ·

2024/08/21

Gibson introduced both the J-45 and J-50 acoustic guitars in 1942. Wood was scarce, and production in Kalamazoo was severely curtailed in favor of war-related endeavors. A few “banner” J-45s were made, but the J-50 would not be reintroduced until 1947. At that time, the J-50 was little more than a J-45 without the paint job. Our example is from 1968, after many of the design “improvements” had been rolled back. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon ||

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26:03

Episode 327 - Danocaster Offset

The High Gain ·

2024/08/14

Fortunately for all of us, impeccable, handmade boutique guitars are easy to find; no one is wanting for choice. We are truly in an instrument-building renaissance. Dan Strain of Danocaster Guitars is one such builder, and his focus is all about having a guitar feel like it’s been yours for years, even if you’ve only just picked it up. We were fortunate enough to pick up an Offset and give it a whirl. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon ||

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23:41

Episode 326 - Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster

The High Gain ·

2024/08/07

We are torn here at High Gain HQ about the Starcaster that Fender released in 1976. All these years later, it has experienced a rehabilitation of sorts in the indie crowd. Now that the Tom DeLonge Starcaster has been introduced, will those on either side of the great Starcaster debate find common ground? If so, we smell a Nobel Peace Prize for Tom Delonge. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web ||

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27:21

Episode 325 - Silvertone 1438 Bass

The High Gain ·

2024/07/31

In the immediate aftermath of WWII, the founders of Teisco would get their guitar bodies from a milkman who built instruments on the side. By the 1960s they were responsible for a large chunk of the Japanese import market, coming up with wilder designs as they went along. They mostly built for third parties; case in point this Silvertone bass, made for Sears. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram ||

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25:06

Episode 324 - Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars

The High Gain ·

2024/07/24

It’s been 5 years since we met Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars, and he’s been very busy making top-shelf instruments. It seems like more and more we’re seeing Justin’s guitars in the hands of brilliant musicians. And there’s a reason for that. Like the Sonic Baroness baritone we enjoyed while catching up with Justin. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com

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22:05

Episode 323 - Millimetric MGS3

The High Gain ·

2024/07/17

It’s been quite a while since we had the pleasure of talking to Florian at Millimetric Instruments. He’s one of the most thoughtful designers out there, and his guitars reflect the care he puts into everything he does. We’ve been fortunate enough to play several Millimetrics, and have loved every one of them. And now, Ed has his own! We took it for a spin, and allowed ourselves to ogle all over it. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon ||

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23:56

Episode 322 - Gibson Les Paul Lite

The High Gain ·

2024/07/10

Recently, Gibson added a new Les Paul to its lineup. It’s got hot pickups and slim neck, and sports a simpler, no-frills design. And, it’s very light! Is all this enough to convince Ed? Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com

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22:38

Episode 231 - Squier Katana

The High Gain ·

2024/07/03

In the early 1980s Fender briefly found itself without a factory. The company had been bought from CBS by a consortium, and the factory wasn’t included in the deal. So, they set up shop in Japan. At the same time, the Hair Metal Onslaught™ was in full bloom. What’s an instrument manufacturer to do? Make a guitar shaped like a samurai sword, that’s what. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web ||

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25:35

Episode 320 - Fender Mustang

The High Gain ·

2024/06/26

Ed has recently acquired one of the most uniquely beat up Fender Mustangs we’ve ever seen. Made in the year the model was released, every last sticker, scrape and scratch on it is perfect; character like this comes along rarely. So , naturally, we thought it best to do a review of what makes the Mustang the rock machine it is to this day.Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web ||

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32:05

Episode 319 - Author Nick Corasaniti

The High Gain ·

2024/06/19

Nick Corasaniti is a domestic correspondent covering national politics for the New York Times. He has covered four presidential cycles, along with countless congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral races in more than 15 years at the Times. He was once the Times’s Jersey correspondent, tracking the politics, policy, people, trains, beaches, and eccentricities that give the Garden State its charm. He is a born and raised—and exceptionally proud—New Jerseyan, who splits his time between Asbury Park and

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27:32

Episode 318 - Supro Kingston

The High Gain ·

2024/06/12

Thanks to people like Jack White and Dan Auerbach, budget line catalog guitars remain fondly in our conscience as the vibe-laden machines they are. Supro was/is no exception, having crafted some amazing instruments out of little more than a pickup and some fiberglass. Among them was the Kingston, with its buff sand color and swoopy good looks. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web ||

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27:11

Episode 317 - Airline Upbeat Stereo

The High Gain ·

2024/06/05

Montgomery Ward produced one of the largest mail order catalogs in the US, starting way back in the 1870s. By the time the 1950s rolled around, they were including electric guitars, like the Upbeat. Our example is a stereo version, and left us scratching our heads more than we thought it would. But it sounds good, and plays well, as most budget instruments built by the Chicago Boys did in the day. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon ||

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27:50

Episode 316 - Ernie Ball Music Man Armada

The High Gain ·

2024/05/27

like, well, cool things that drop out of stuff. The Armada was the company’s first guitar designed with a neck-through. The result is every bit as sonorous as you might imagine. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com

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23:30

Episode 315 - Fender Jaguar Thinline

The High Gain ·

2024/05/15

In 2012, Fender celebrated the 50th anniversary of one its greatest instruments, the Jaguar. In the US reissues were designed to evoke the look of those original guitars. In Japan, production took a wider turn that saw a double bound thinline model hit the market. We’re divided as to how successful it was at the time, or what we think of it now, but come along - we’ll fill you in. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram

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25:13

Episode 314 - Harmony Rebel

The High Gain ·

2024/05/08

Starting in the 60s, and up into the 1970s, the world was awash in earth-toned appliances; refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, you name it. Autumn Harvest and Avocado Green were at the top of the heap. No wonder, then, that Harmony would create a version of its Rebel guitar to match. Because nothing says modern convenience like the color of guacamole. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web ||

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24:38

Episode 313 - Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Inspired by Gibson...

The High Gain ·

2024/05/01

Epiphone started life as a primarily jazz-tinged manufacturer, making some of the finest hollowbodies there were. Eventually, Gibson bought the company, and eventually moved production overseas, where the brand would be relegated to mostly budget guitars. Now, though, Gibson is ramping up the build quality of these instruments - using US-made components. So, are these “Inspired by Gibson Custom” guitars worth a look? We think so. Enjoy!Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon

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25:19

Episode 312 - Knaggs Kenai-J

The High Gain ·

2024/04/24

Joe Knaggs spent many years at PRS, contributing guitar designs that came to be classics. So, of course, when he left those hallowed halls, Joe fired up his own shop and hung his shingle on a whole new family of instruments, this time bearing the name Knaggs Guitars. These are elegant, next-level machines. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com

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25:22

Episode 311 - Gibson Map Guitar

The High Gain ·

2024/04/17

In the early 1980s, Gibson undertook an ad campaign, the slogan for which was “American made, world played”. It featured a photograph of a guitar cut into the shape of the continental United States. Visibility of that ad increased curiosity about the guitar itself, and Gibson were soon making it available for purchase. It underwent various refinements, changes in appointments, and finishes; it was even re-released a time or two in subsequent years. But it was never really outlived that initial

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46 results

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