Weekly Wednesday Q&A with Juha Ruokangas

#63 - Which first: The good news... or the good news?

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:00:00 +0300

Ok… Are you ready for it? The time has finally come to reveal the big news I’ve been holding back for far too long! With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of Ruokangas Guitars, we’ve poured our passion into something new throughout 2024 - something we believe will spark your creativity and inspire you to shape your tone to new heights!

Join the YouTube live stream tomorrow, on February 5th, to be among the first to hear the good news… and some more good news!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1pbgUzEKLMqaXDALXcT7ZHGl7QpxVyeF

#62 - 2024 Wrapped: Rust, Renewal and Revelations

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0200

Wrapping up the year 2024 and wishing you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025. On this video I'll share with you some of my thoughts on the past year, reflecting on changes in our shop and what the future might bring. I hope you enjoy the podcast. This is not a live stream like the Weekly Wednesday broadcasts typically are.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1pbgUzEKLMqaXDALXcT7ZHGl7QpxVyeF

#61 - Cremona Musica 2024 - a Luthier's Pilgrimage in Stradivari's Footsteps

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Cremona is known for its history as the center of classical musical instrument making - the home of Amati, Rugeri, Stradivari, Guarneri, and many more. So, why are we exhibiting our electric guitars in such a place? Isn’t this an odd fit? Join the Weekly Wednesday Live, Episode 61, to find out the answer to this question and more!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1pbgUzEKLMqaXDALXcT7ZHGl7QpxVyeF

#60 - New Guitar Model - The Missing Link Between Acoustic And Electric?

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

We've had the tube-powered Valvebucker pickup for some years now. We've integrated it into our existing guitar and bass models, successfully inspiring players with its unique sound. But the exploration doesn't end there, does it? One path forward is to design an instrument specifically with the Valvebucker in mind. In this episode, I will reveal to you the result of one such path we've explored!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

#59 - Hasta La Vista, AI - The Arts & Crafts Strike Back!

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Today, we’re going to explore an interesting parallel between two eras that have shaped, and are shaping, our world: the Industrial Revolution and the rise of AI. This isn’t just a history lesson - it’s about understanding what’s happening right now and where we might be headed.

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

#58 - Questions & Answers - Why is Finland the happiest... and more!

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0300

A comeback stream after a year and a half hibernation? Well, that might be an overstatement, but I've been missing you people too much - I hope there's still some viewers and listeners left after all this time! This episode is simply about answering questions I've gotten from you over time. Have to admit I'm a bit nervous not having done this in a long time - wish me luck!

The two links I mentioned during the live stream:
X-Lok in Instagram: / xlokguitar
Nick Cave / Red Hand Files:
https://www.theredhandfiles.com

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

#57 - Can I shred with a nylon stringed electric..!?

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0200

First I turned down the idea of making a nylon-stringed electric guitar - but eventually I changed my mind. Why? You have to watch this stream to find out. :)

I'd like to dedicate my last Weekly Wednesday Live broadcast for this year to all You out there, who work hard in the field of making music - composing, recording & gigging - in order to bring joy, consolation and a feel of unity to people's lives. It is so very important, and often understated, in these challenging times.

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

#56 - Songs From The Wood: Ebony

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0200

Why is ebony so highly valued in the world of musical instruments? Let's discuss about tradition and sustainability - and how those two concepts conflict in the case of ebony.

Historically, ebony - this mythically exquisite wood from the dry and intermediate zones in Western Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Southern India and Indonesia - was available only to master craftsmen because of the nature of the material and its great expense. The use of it has a long history of use in cabinetwork, decorative items, crucifixes – and in a wide array of musical instruments.

In this episode of my (Weekly) Wednesday Live I'll tell how this story I heard from Bob Taylor years ago changed my thinking - and how it will change your thinking too.

https://www.taylorguitars.com/ebonypr...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

#55 - Ruben Roeh & The Art of Teaching Guitar

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0300

What is ear training about? Active listening? Biomechanical method of teaching guitar..!!? Half a year ago I had no idea - but thanks to Ruben Roeh we'll all know a lot more after watching this interview!

Ruben is a hard working musician and guitar teacher based in Hamburg, Germany. Most of you who follow us most likely have come across demos or other content involving Ruben's input. Yes, we're good friends and work together - would be fair to say that Ruben has become also one of our main test pilots for the Valvebucker invention early on. This interview focuses however more to Ruben's work as a guitarist and guitar teacher. We'll also talk a little about the freshly released album 'Trapezia' by Cosmic Latte!

Buy/stream the Cosmic Latte album 'Trapezia':
https://save-it.cc/baristasfromspace/...

Cosmic Latte 'Title Track' video:
https://youtu.be/NGPNGQ6A2Ls

Cosmic Latte social media:
https://instagram.com/baristasfromspace
https://facebook.com/baristasfromspace

Cosmic Latte on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/BaristasFro...

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch more my Weekly Wednesday streams on YouTube? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#54 - The story of Jussi Reijonen, a man making music between cultures...

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0300

Both Jussi and I grew up in Rovaniemi, a little town smacked right on the Arctic circle, next to Santa's workshop. While I remained in Finland and learned over the years to make a lot of sawdust, Jussi's path took him to Amman, Dar es Salaam, Muscat, Beirut, Helsinki, and eventually to Boston and New York where he continued building his career as a musician, recently relocating to Amsterdam. But that's just a scratch on the surface! In this episode of the Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A, Jussi and I will discuss his journey, entwining into a fascinating transcultural musical rollercoaster ride – and his new album – named Three Seconds | Kolme Toista.

Jussi Reijonen website:
https://www.jussireijonen.com

Watch/Listen to the first single release 'The Veil':
https://youtu.be/Z0dPkglP1ww

Three Seconds | Kolme Toista trailer:
https://youtu.be/shmZt37mFcM

Sign up to my newsletter here!
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

P.S. Wanna watch more my Weekly Wednesday streams on YouTube? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#53 - The most expensive guitar pickup ever made... Overpriced or what!?

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:00:00 +0300

This episode addresses many questions asked about our new Valvebucker Mk2 pickup in the aftermath of its launch 2 weeks ago. Many magazines and online medias, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Planetsixstring amongst others, chose to title their articles rather provocatively, focusing to the price of the pickup, and... this calls for addressing..!

P.S. Wanna watch more my Weekly Wednesday streams on YouTube? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#52 - Pause, Reflect & Reset

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0200

This episode of the Weekly Wednesday live is many things. It's a wrap-up of my experiences as a YouTuber since I started these live broadcasts a year and a half ago. We'll do a bit of reflecting upon the topics, the people I've interviewed and how we - you and I - have become a little tribe. We'll also talk about what's coming next - both for this YouTube channel and my company Ruokangas Guitars. This is the last episode for 2021 - hope to see you onboard!

P.S. Blogpost by Juha Javanainen (in Finnish language) I referred to in the stream:
https://www.jco.fi/miksi-aikataululla...

P.P.S. The article on Junnu's website I referred to in the stream:
https://www.junnu.fi/en/project/case-...

P.P.P.S. Wanna watch more my Weekly Wednesday streams? Here's the playlist to all them, featured in chronological order: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#51 - Can Social Media Kill Your Creativity..?

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0200

One week ago, I removed all social media apps - Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter - from my phone, and have kept notes of how it has felt and what thoughts have emerged. On this episode of the Weekly Wednesday Live I will report to you the results of this cruel human experiment - how is life like without social media in my pocket?

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#50 - Ethically Organic, Vegan Friendly & Sustainable Guitar?

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Terms such as 'sustainable', 'organic', 'ethically correct' are the trend of the modern age. We're looking for ways to calm down our conscience with the consuming choices we make & save our planet on the side. But... a vegan compatible guitar? Why!?

Today we're celebrating the 50th episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live broadcasts by closing a circle. With this video, we're going back to the very beginnings of my Guitar Love rants on YouTube. A couple of years before the Weekly Wednesday Live, I had already done a couple of videos in a similar style - the first one was 'Why Guitars Cost What They Cost?', and a sequel 'The Ethical Footprint of Guitars'. Well, today we're back, exploring that same puddle from a few different perspectives.

A link to the CITES article I mention in the stream:
https://ruokangas.com/support/cites/

A link to a vegan compatible guitar I mention in the stream:
https://ruokangas.com/spotlight/vegan...

A link to an article about Ruokangas guitars 'nut' material:
https://ruokangas.com/specifications/...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#49 - Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French exclusive LIVE interview

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0200

... I proclaimed to my mom that I didn't need a high school education and I wasn't going to return to school. My mother wasn't thrilled. "You only have two more months until graduation," she said, incredulous. "Thing is, Mom," I confessed, "I haven't been in school this entire year; I haven't been to class once." ... "So, what are you going to do?" she asked, resigning herself to my decision. "Don't worry about me. I'm going to be a rock star." - Jay Jay French (quote from the book 'Twisted Business')

When I got Jay Jay's book in my hands, I have to admit I was really nervous on behalf of my friend! Had Jay Jay succeeded (as I hoped!) in accomplishing something more than just the typical stroll down the memory lane, a drug-dripping, scandalous memoir, for the sake of 80's nostalgia...?

I bought Jay Jay's book immediately as it became available. Why? Not because he's my customer. Not to dwell in the Twisted 80's nostalgia either. No, I wanted to read the book because after all the years knowing Jay Jay as a friend, I just knew he had a lot to share! A ton of stories that are not only entertaining and provocative - but valuable information to learn from.

Well, now I've read the book and in this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A we'll put Jay Jay under interrogation! I'll also reveal to you guys what I honestly thought of it, and whether you should run out to buy it or not... 🧐

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#48 - Petteri Sariola - How Did I Become Me?

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Petteri Sariola is an internationally touring fingerstyle virtuoso singer-songwriter guitarist from Finland. What makes Petteri tick? What can we learn from Petteri's experience? Let's find out!

Last week I interviewed Mika Tyyskä and asked how does he make a living in music, in the modern age. Well, this week we'll get to hear the story of yet another man who has literally forged his own path as a musician over the past decades. How does he do it? How has the pandemic affected to Petteri's work as a musician? These questions and more will be answered in this interview - stay tuned!

A little documentary of Petteri, check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-L_K...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#47 - Mika Tyyskä - How to Make a Living in Music?

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0300

Many of us have faced this situation. You love music and you've found your instrument to express yourself with - and all you'd want to do is play! But.. how to make a living in music? Is it even a viable option in the modern world we live in? Or would it be better to work elsewhere and have music as a hobby?

There aren't obviously any single correct answer to these questions. Mika Tyyskä is, however, one of those musicians who have found a way to make a living in music, in the modern age. How did he do it? Is there something you and I could learn from his experience? Let's ask the man himself!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#46 - Juha reacting to the '5-Step-Setup' video by Paul Davids

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0300

I've been asked repeatedly to comment the very popular '5-step setup' video by the famous YouTuber Paul Davids, and... Well, after watching his video a couple of times... ok! I'd like to mention a thing or two about it. Let's see where this leads!

I admire Paul's YouTube channel greatly! He is a super talented guitarist and his videos are always very entertaining. Paul is a fantastic teacher, too - top notch ! But... how does he succeed in his tutorial showing how to do a full setup to a guitar? Watch this live broadcast to find out..!

Paul Davids is a well-known YouTuber with over 2,5 million followers. His videos range typically from guitar tutorials to music theory and from ‘Live Guitar Looping’ videos to deconstructing famous songs. His main goal is to inspire fellow guitar players all over the world and to create and play music - and in that, Paul has certainly succeeded extremely well!

Here's the link to Paul's 5-step setup video:
https://youtu.be/aAyDdbNldig

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#45 - Douglas Castro - The man behind Quad Cortex

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"I often talk about the future of guitar - future of music - future of design. Hmmm maybe not a coincidence I'm a also a big fan of science fiction literature and movies, ha! Needless to say that I'm very excited of this possibility to interview a man who seems to own a better crystal ball than most of us do."

Let's have a chat with Douglas Castro, the founder of Darkglass Electronics and Neural DSP. Why has he succeeded so remarkably well... twice!? Two companies built from ground up to market leaders in just a bit over 10 years. A rare occasion, to say the least!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#44 - Can one guitar be enough..?

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"There are many legendary guitarists who have become known of playing just one guitar - Brian May, Danny Gatton, John Schofield, Mike Stern and Larry Carlton, to name of few. It is an intriguing thought, isn't it? Just one guitar! But... is it possible? Can one guitar be the answer to all my needs as a player..!?"

Let's talk about the "Ultimate One Guitar Collection" - on my Weekly Wednesday Live episode #44. Looking forward! Thank you Manuel V. for the inspiration to make this video.

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#43 - The '59 Burst Magic... Can a new guitar have it?

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0300

Last week Erik M. asked me in the Weekly Wednesday stream chat: "Do you have a theory on what the 59 burst magic is about?". Stephan S. emailed me a day later, continuing the question: "Do you think a new guitar can not cope with a burst?". Thank you guys - you're the inspiration for this week's topic! ;)

At the time of its production, the 1958–1960 sunburst Les Paul was considered a commercial failure, with low sales. This led Gibson to discontinue the model for nearly 10 years. Today, however, the Les Paul is one of the best-known electric guitar types in the world - and the original instruments from the era in question, 1958-1960, are the most sought after electrics ever, selling for hundreds of thousands of euros/dollars. But... why..!? What is the magic? And... is it possible to have it in a new guitar..? This Wednesday I'll give my shot on the topic! Please invite all the Les Paul fanatics to join in the live broadcast!

The video diary playlist mentioned in the stream:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3...

Aaand the direct link to the 'Tonefest' episode, as mentioned in the stream:
https://youtu.be/a-ug6TN3oOw

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#42 - Can you learn a new skill by reading books?

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"Never before in the history has there been so much information easily available to us. For those of you who want to learn to make guitars - play guitar - or basically learn any new skill - there's an endless supply of content to learn from - books, videos, online courses and what not. But how to choose the good stuff..?"

Last week we talked about future guitar design, and I was asked to make a video about books that would be helpful in learning to make guitars. I had already promised to make such a video a long time ago, but never did. And now, as I started to approach the topic, I remembered why I never got it done. A very difficult topic, that I don't necessarily feel I am the best expert of. But - a promise is a promise, so let's try to tackle this!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#41 - Where is guitar design going next?

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"We've seen the Telecasters, Stratocasters and Les Pauls in an endless variety of reincarnations. We've seen the radical deviations from tradition by Steve Klein, Ned Steinberger, Ulrich Teuffel and their modern day incarnations such as Strandberg and the like. We've seen the beautiful designs by Ritter, Pagelli, Spalt, Ergon and so many more contemporary master guitar makers. But... what is next? Or have we seen it all?"

I've flirted with this topic before. A couple of years ago, on my video 'Electric Guitar... Dead?' I mused on the future of electric guitar and guitar driven music in general. On a more recent video 'I have a great idea! But how do I convince the world?' I shared my thoughts on the creative process itself, and the challenges one can face when attempting to break through with a new idea or concept. Let's continue from there, and dive in to the deep end of the world of guitar design!

To climatize yourself to the topic, I recommend you to watch the two videos mentioned above!
https://youtu.be/1eOcoEjb6bA
https://youtu.be/BTlZQeCbgB4

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#40 - Winter Is Coming! What does it do to my guitar?

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"Can something bad happen to my guitar because of winter? How should I prepare my guitar for the seasons changing?"

A lot of players keep asking me about seasonal changes - what does the shift from summer to winter do to their guitars? There are many perspectives to look at! The winter doesn't mean the same thing for all of us. A new guitar reacts to seasonal change often differently from an old guitar. The country of origin of the instrument makes a difference as well. Many variables here to address!

On this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live I'll talk about the coming winter. What does it do your guitar? How can you prepare yourself.. or can you, even? I look forward to your chat questions and comments!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#39 - Interrogation Continues...

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"Why does a guitar need a truss rod? How come fret files are so expensive? Can rosewood be replaced by thermally aged other species? How can I make my guitar strings last longer?"

These questions and much more have been waiting in my questions-to-be-answered pile. Let's continue the "interrogation" we started a few weeks ago! On this episode I'll answer as many of your old and new questions as I can..!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#38 - Under Your Interrogation...

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"How high should the pickups be adjusted? Which guitar companies are your idols? Can a heavy weight guitar sound good? What's the weirdest tool you own?"

These questions - and tons more - have poured in in the live chat, comments and private messages during the first 12 months of the Weekly Wednesday Live existence. Some questions I've answered live when they've been asked, but a lot of them we've only gathered for future addressing. I started doing the show a year ago - so it's long overdue for me to sit down "under your interrogation" and answer as many questions as possible. Another marathon of a stream..? 😉

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#37 - Does Fret Size and Material Make a Difference?

Wed, 26 May 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"Medium or Jumbo frets? Narrow or wide? Nickel silver or stainless steel? EVO gold - what the heck is that anyways..!?"

Don't fret - you're not alone if you're confused about guitar frets, considering how many choices there are available these days. On this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A I'll address what are the meaningful differences between different fret sizes and materials.

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#36 - Is it worth modding my guitar..?

Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 +0300

"I bought a guitar.. but the neck profile is not comfortable. The pickups could be hotter, too! Should I get another guitar - or have this one modded? Is it worth the money?"

Let's talk about guitar modifications! On this episode you'll find out whether it is worth modding your guitar or not? We'll discuss on the various aspects that are good to take into account next time you're pondering whether you should have the neck profile of your guitar shaved slimmer, have the pickups changed or the paint stripped off...

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#35 - Myths vs Reality: What Is The Best Neck Joint?

Wed, 12 May 2021 11:00:00 +0300

Should I go for bolt-on? Set neck? Neck-through-body? The web is full of advice - but can I trust it?

Do an internet search, and you'll find TONS of articles and videos comparing neck joints of guitars. The forums are saturated with opinions on the topic as well. So why to make yet another video about neck joints?? Well, a lot of the content available tends to repeat the same old myths: Bolt-on loses energy... set-neck has the best sustain... neck-thru is the most stable... blah blah blah.

Unfortunately, a lot of the available content on this topic is.. well, embarrassingly bad. Claims and opinions that are based on shady theories without offering a single piece of evidence. Well... is there ANY good information available? Watch the video and find out! :)

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#34 - 7 Reasons To Think Twice Before Ordering My Guitar

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +0300

As you know, I'm not typically doing these Weekly Wednesday Live about my own guitars. But.. since the broadcast IS about answering your questions and possible concerns, I thought it would be useful for you if I addressed a bunch of rather common negative associations linked to ordering a custom instrument.

Some of these points may seem valid about ordering basically any custom guitar, while others are more focused to the specific niche my instruments represent within the spectrum of "what's out there". In any case - I want to point out that these are all aspects I have personally come across repeatedly over the years, and I'm not really in a position to generalize. In other words - any resemblance to other luthiers or companies is purely coincidental. :)

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#33 - James Lascelles from Wheel - What Makes You 'Fugue'?

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0300

FUGUE /fjuːɡ/

1. In MUSIC - a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.

2. In PSYCIATRY - a state of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy.

On this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live James and I will discuss about makig music - being an artist in the world we live in - virtuosity - inspiration... and a little bit of guitars, too!

https://wheelband.net/

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#32 - We All Know What 'Quality' Means... Right..?

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0300

"Some things are better than others, that is, they have more quality. But when you try to say what the quality is, apart from the things that have it, it all goes poof!" - Robert M. Pirsig

Let's discuss quality! What is it? How can you tell something has it? Or is 'quality' one of those words that have simply degraded to one more of those endless empty marketing terms..!?

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#31 - The 4 Elements That Define Your Guitar Sound!

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0200

The Perfect Tone... Does it even exist? And if it does, why does it keep eluding me? On this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live I'll talk about the 4 key elements that define your electric guitar sound, and explain some of the reasons why we the search of that holy grail of sounds often may appear endless!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#30 - I have a great idea! But how do I convince the world?

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0200

Last week the title of my show was "How To Become The Guitarist I've Always Wanted To Be". In other words, we discussed about setting goals and how to reach those goals. But what if the world doesn't get it? What if my music is the most original ever - I feel my ideas could change the world - but nobody seems to listen!

Well, you're not alone with those questions. This Wednesday we'll continue right where we left off a week ago. Let's dig deeper into how to make the world listen to what you have to say - or play!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#29 - How to become the guitarist you've always wanted to be?

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 20:00:00 +0200

Easy, right? You become who you want to be by practising more! But... is it really that easy? Typically life steps on the way, and we don't always get to fulfill our fantasies or reach our goals. On this episode of my Weekly Wednesday Live I will teach you a method that has been very helpful for me and my company over the past years in getting us where we've wanted to go.

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#28 - Why is Japanese quality better? Or is it..?

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0200

Be it cars, electronics, kitchen knives or guitars, “Made in Japan” equals high quality. But… why? It wasn’t always that way. When it comes to industrial goods, "Made in Japan” used to be the “Made in China” back in the 1960's. The cheap option.

Let’s talk about what changed all that, and more importantly: What can we learn from the Japanese way!

This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars and basses, be it players, enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#27 - What Has The Covid-19 Crisis Done To Musicians?

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0200

Class society - the way of the western world back in medieval times. The noblemen and clergy at the top, merchants and craftsmen next, followed by the common folk - the working class. And finally, the thieves, prostitutes and beggars at the bottom of the barrel. Oh - almost forgot... under all the rest, there they are, lurking in the dark: The performing artists - the musicians - the freelancers...

How far have we progressed from the medieval class society? Let's discuss that in my last Weekly Wednesday Live episode for the very peculiar and controversial year 2020.

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#26 - Who's The Next Jimi Hendrix?

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0200

My mind has been buzzing since our company 25th Anniversary online celebration. A lot of thoughts cruising on my mind's highways - so I thought that in this episode I would try to organize my brain a little!

I've done a lot of reflecting on the past lately, and this has inevitably brought me to the troubling thought of: "What about tomorrow? What's next?". And I'm not talking about myself or my company's doings here, but more the future of guitar driven music.

Let's talk about that! Where is the next frontline? The next generation pioneers? Who is the next Jimi Hendrix?

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#25 - 10 Music Albums That Changed My Life

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +0200

During the past two week episodes I’ve reflected on my past from a couple of different perspectives. We began two weeks ago by jumping straight into the deep end. Crossroads that I feel have had a significant impact on how I have become who I am. Last week I took a bit lighter approach reflecting the past 25 years from another perspective, celebrating my love for guitars by talking about a few of my favourite European guitars and their makers. Today we will continue my 25th anniversary reflections - again from a different point of view. Let's talk about music!

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#24 - My 7 Favourite Electric Guitars Made In Europe

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Today, I will reflect another facet of my 25 years in guitar business - not as a guitar maker, but as a guitar enthusiast - a player - a fan - just like you!

My 7 favourite electric guitars made in Europe. That should be fun! I set some rules for myself to make this impossibly difficult task a bit easier - but you'll have to watch the show to find out what those rules are - and what those 7 favourites could be!

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#23 - 25 Years As A Luthier - Reflections - The Meaning of Life?

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

What a cryptic title for today’s talk, right? Many of you have noticed that we’re celebrating my company’s 25th anniversary, and, being in the middle of the preparations for our online Celebration event that I’m sure some of you have noticed already on Facebook, I was thinking - how could I share with you in a meaningful way - some reflections from my past - but not focusing to the moments of success, but rather the more essential part of life.

What has sculpted me the person I am today? Which factors contribute in me "finding myself"? And - could my story perhaps help you on your journey to find your calling - your own voice?

After all - the fundamentals for us, human beings - they're often the same, regardless the walk of life we’re on.

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#22 - The 9 Essential Tools & Accessories Every Guitarist Should Own

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Today we’re going to talk about tools and accessories that I feel every guitarist should own! The idea for this video has been brewing for quite a while, and while I have definitely mentioned many of these items on earlier videos & podcasts, I felt it’s a good idea to dedicate one whole video to this topic that is often presented in a bit haphazard way, cutting corners in the attempt to sell you something - and often enough it is something you don't really need. So let's do it better..!

A little disclaimer. This broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

This podcast was originally published as a live stream on YouTube, and the imagery of the original video is obviously missing from this audio-only version. Tune in on YouTube and search Weekly Wednesday Live Q&A with Juha, and you'll find the originals!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#21 - My Top 10 Tips for Buying a Guitar!

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Yup, I love buying guitar gear... but it is so hard to make the right choices! Let's talk about this. I got inspired from the past 7 episodes where I interviewed cool people within the guitar biz, and in addition to that I had already interviewed Henning Pauly earlier on, as well as I did the podcast about reasons why it's not always the smartest idea to order a custom guitar. On this video we'll continue from those brainstormings, and I'll summarize to you my top 10 tips - what to consider when buying a guitar?

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#20 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.7 with guest Michael Spalt

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0300

The 7th, conclusive interview in this epic series - Factory manufactured or luthier made - what's the real difference?

I'm happy to welcome Michael Spalt to the broadcast. Yet another God of Fretted Instruments and my dear brother in arms - a cofounder and the President of the European Guitar Builders association.

Michael and I have discussed a lot about this very topic over the years, among all things related to guitar - such as the ethical dilemmas and paradoxes of practising our profession in this modern age where many of the traditional materials we’ve used have become endangered. We live in a time where the term “hand made” has become a cliché - an empty word granting a higher price for any product, regardless of how it is factually crafted. We’ve discussed endlessly the different facets and effects of globalization and free market capitalism, and how does it all show in our common consuming habits. And... in one way or the other, it all ties in a variety of ways to our very topic: What is the real difference between a mass produced and a luthier built guitar?

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#19 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.6 with guest Rosie Heydenrych / Turnstone Guitars

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Factory manufactured - or luthier made? What's the real difference? And whatever it is... does it really matter to the player?

5 interviews in this epic series behind - and you know what? I have interviewed small builders - some who have worked for a factory and as as an individual luthier - and I've even dragged in Fender, the biggest corporation of them all! But... I've realized that we’re all middle aged (or older) men, including myself. Where’s the next generation? The young - the innovative - the future in the continuum of making inspirational instruments for musicians?

So - let’s fix the problem and talk to a future generation God of Fretted Instruments! Except… when I phrased it this way to my wife, Emma, her first comment was: “Why only Gods - where are all the equally important Goddesses of Fretted Instruments!?”

Ouch. Point taken! :) Let me introduce to you Rosie Heydenrych, the hard working young luthier behind Turnstone Guitars, located in Surrey, England. Rosie founded her company in 2015, and she makes steel-stringed acoustic guitars. During this relatively short period of time Turnstone guitars have gained quite a bit of attention from players around the world.

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#18 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.5 with guest Tim Shaw / Fender

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0300

Factory manufactured - or luthier made? What's the real difference? And whatever it is... does it matter to the player?

I have by now interviewed 4 experienced guitar makers for the 'factory vs luthier' series... but... something's missing, isn't it? It is indeed a bit suspicious to discuss the differences between factory and luthier made guitars without giving the big boys the microphone, too! Yes, let's up the game and change perspective!

On the 5th episode of the series, I'll be talking to Tim Shaw, who used to work for Gibson all the way from 1970's and then switched to Fender. Tim has worked since 1996 as the Chief Engineer of Fender R&D department.

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#17 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.4 with guest Tom Anderson

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0300

Factory manufactured - or luthier made? What's the real difference? And whatever it is... does it matter to the player?

On the 4th episode of this epic series I had the privilege to interview Tom Anderson - a living legend and a true pioneer of the scene that later became known as 'boutique guitars'. The first guitar made by a small builder I ever held in my hands was made by Tom Anderson Guitarworks - and in some respect it's fair to say that this was one of the crucial nudges for me, on my path to becoming a luthier myself later on.

So... does Tom have a new perspective to enlighten us with? I asked him in the interview what would his advice be for anyone looking to buy a guitar - and Tom's answer was absolutely brilliant! Listen to the podcast to find out more! ;-)

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#16 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.3 with guest Nik Huber

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0300

This week - the 3nd episode of my 'factory vs luthier' series - you'll get to meet the famous German luthier Nik Huber, whose career I have been paying close attention to for well over 20 years, and with whom I have exhibited at the same shows in Europe and North-America countless times. Heck, we've even built custom guitars for each other!

Regardless of all the fun times, this live stream is no place to stroll down the good old memory lane. Instead, I'll be interrogating my brother in arms with a tough set of questions in the hope of understanding better whether there is indeed meaningful, tangible differences between a mass-produced and luthier-built guitar!

I hope these conversations will shed light on the fundamental differences as well as similarities of factory made guitars in relation to instruments crafted by luthiers - and whether those differences make any meaningful difference to the player, or not.

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#15 - Factory vs luthier.. what's the real difference? Pt.2 with guest John Page

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Factory manufactured - or luthier made? What's the real difference? Does it matter to the player? In the previous broadcast William "Grit" Laskin and I got the wheel turning - and this week I'll continue with another living legend to explore this fascinating topic.

This week - the 2nd episode of my 'factory vs luthier' series - I'll dive in to deep end with John Page, who worked over 2 decades for Fender, 12 years of which as a co-founder and the head of the Fender Custom Shop. Fast forwarding to 2006, John Page Guitars was born. A heavy duty professional who has experienced first hand both sides of our story: the factory - and the hand made.

I hope these conversations will shed light on the fundamental differences as well as similarities of factory made guitars in relation to instruments crafted by luthiers - and whether those differences make any meaningful difference to the player, or not.

A little disclaimer - this broadcast is targeted to all of you who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#14 - Factory vs luthier, what's the real difference? Pt.1 with guest Grit Laskin

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0300

Factory manufactured - or luthier made? What's the real difference? Does it matter to the player? Let's discuss about it!

A huge and many-faceted topic, worthy of writing books about! Definitely not something that I could wrap up in one live youtube broadcast. Thus, I decided to interview various experienced professionals in the guitar business. I hope these conversations will shed light on the fundamental differences as well as similarities of factory made guitars in relation to instruments crafted by luthiers - and whether those differences make any real difference to the player, or not.

This week - the first broadcast of my 'factory vs luthier' series - I have a very special guest with me. Please give a warm welcome to William "Grit" Laskin, a dear friend and a living legend - undoubtedly an authority of highest rank in understanding the different layers of North American guitar making all the way since early 1970's up until today.

A little disclaimer - this Live Q&A broadcast is targeted to all who enjoy guitars, be it guitarists, guitar enthusiasts or collectors alike! The program is not about the guitars we make in my company Ruokangas Guitars. I'm doing this for you, who are interested in learning more about your instrument. The brand or monetary value of your guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#13 - 5 Reasons Not To Order a Custom Guitar

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0300

What..!? How could there ever be a good reason not to order a new custom guitar - some might argue. Join me on this live stream and you’ll find out the 5 most common pitfalls that you should be aware of!

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#12 - To bridge, or not to bridge - Part 2

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Let's continue where we were left off a week ago! We discussed a bunch of different whammies as well as a few T-style bridges last week, so now we'll dive in to talk about tune-o-matics, wraparounds and as an icing on the cake I'll report to you what I've learned about the Evertune bridge when we've installed those to a number of custom guitars over the past years.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#11 - To bridge, or not to bridge - Part 1

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Today we’ll talk about guitar and bass bridges. What makes a good bridge? What makes a bad bridge? A huge topic - impossible to do much more than scratch the surface in this one broadcast, but let's do our best!

I will attempt to address the main guitar bridge styles, including the classic T and S style, tune-o-matic, locking whammy, wraparound - and hopefully we have a moment to discuss about the Evertune bridge as well.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#10 - Secrets of Thermally Aged Tonewood Revealed!

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0300

As a guitar player - the wood quality of your guitar matters, whether you know it or not. Why? Because the wood materials are the very key element dictating whether any guitar has the potential – the genes – to become a decent musical instrument.

Today we'll talk talk about Thermally Aged Tonewood. If you're not familiar with the term, you still might have heard about roasted or caramelized maple. All this stuff might sound to you like esoteric mumbo jumbo that has nothing to do with rock'n'roll, after watching this live stream you might think otherwise!

I have invited a guest who knows all there is to know about thermal modification of tonewood. My teacher and mentor for many years, please give a warm welcome to the grand old master guitar maker Rauno Nieminen.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#9 - The 5 most difficult challenges in becoming a luthier

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:00:00 +0300

So you're considering the possibility of becoming a guitar maker? It is a fascinating profession, indeed - but not so easy to succeed in it!

In this live stream I'll reveal to you a few key challenges you'll face on your path to becoming a luthier. I'll also discuss about my personal experiences, having earned my living from making guitars already for 25 years.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#8 - How to come up with anything new anymore?

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0300

This week's podcast title is a bit cryptic, isn't it? I agree - and it is intentionally so. Let me explain a little.

A French author named Emmanuel Bighelli recently published a book about French guitar makers. Congrats, Emmanuel! Now he's in the middle of making another book in English - and he chose me to be one of the luthiers to be introduced in this book. Great! Emmanuel sent me a questionnaire, asking this and that - how I got started as a luthier - who have been my influences, and so on. The last question was about innovation. Emmanuel wrote: "What remains to be invented in lutherie today? Has it all been done?".

Not an easy topic! I spent the best part of yesterday writing an answer to Emmanuel's last question, and the ideas kept dwelling, growing and changing shape - until it dawned to me: "I have to talk about this stuff in my podcast!"

To conclude my mystery title, I'll ask YOU a question: "What music remains to be composed? Have all the meaningful songs already been written? How to come up with anything new!?"

You see, the way I look at things, it is all connected. Innovation - whether it is a musical instrument, or the music played with that instrument - comes from the same source. Let's talk about creativity! What is it? Where does it come from? Is it different today than it used to be?

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#7 - I need a guitar but I'm broke! What to buy!? - guest Henning Pauly

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Buying a guitar on tight budget is not easy. First off - there are so many cheap guitar brands and types available! And more importantly - how can you know if any of them are good!? Let's talk about that on my live stream!

Ok - it's not always the case of being broke when one needs to find a guitar for small money. Sometimes friends or family might ask for your help to buy a guitar. Maybe it is the first guitar for a child - or something not too valuable that you can grab along to the backseat on that road trip you're taking. One of the most common situations I've faced is when someone is intrigued by the idea of learning to play guitar, but isn't yet quite sure... and wouldn't want to spend a fortune to guitar gear to get started. On this podcast I'll do my best to help you avoid the most common mistakes when buying a cheap guitar.

I've repaired guitars since the early 1990's, and I've seen a fair bit of the potential issues cheap guitars have. I had to add, however, that I'm not exactly at the top of the game regarding all the cheap stuff available today. That's why I invited Henning Pauly / Eytschpi42 to have a serious talk with me. Henning certainly has experience on this field... but... can we trust his advice? Let's find out!

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#6 - I wanna play fast, but my fingers hurt! - special guest Mr. Fastfinger

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0300

How can I know if it's my guitar or my technique to blame when my hottest licks just keep failing me..!?

Truthfully - I felt that I'm kinda walking on thin ice with this topic... so I invited the Shaman of Shred himself to discuss all those crucial technical elements when racing through the fretboard in lightning speed - a big welcome to the Sorcerer of Soloing, Sensei Mika Tyyskä alias Mr. Fastfinger!

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#5 - Oh no - my favourite guitar has a dead spot..!

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0300

What is a dead spot? Can it be fixed?

Dead spot is a common term related to a note that decays significantly quicker than the other notes. Why does it happen - and more importantly, is there a cure? That's what we'll talk about on this episode of my podcast!

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube!

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#4 - Heavy strings, punchier sound... or not!?

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Someone asked in my earlier live stream about string gauges, and I answered something about it briefly... but the topic has been bothering me since - so let's dig deeper and find out what is the absolutely best string gauge to your guitar!

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#3 - No matter what I do... my guitar doesn't stay in tune!?

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0300

Ok… so your guitar doesn’t stay in tune? Where to look for the solution? Let’s talk about tuning issues in guitars! Can be electric or acoustic, doesn’t matter - many of the fundamentals are exactly the same.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#2 - My guitar sounds like crap... Is it the pickups?

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0300

"The sound of my guitar is too dark. It doesn't cut through in my band - something's missing! Should I get new pickups?"

Where does the electric guitar sound come from? Is it the pickups? Or the amplifier? Does the acoustic/unplugged sound matter at all in an electric guitar? In this episode we'll talk about all that. Come challenge me with your most tricky questions! I promise to do my best to help you out so your guitar would sound better.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube.

Talk to you soon,
Juha

#1 - Yesterday my guitar felt better than today... What happened!?

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0300

"Today, when I picked up my favourite guitar, it didn't feel like it did the day before. It was harder to play and even the sound felt flatter. What had happened?"

Many of you may have experienced the same. In this episode we'll talk about what makes a guitar feel good to play. I'll do my best to help you understand your instrument better, and give all tips I can how to make the most out of your guitar - so you could enjoy more making your music.

A little disclaimer - this podcast is not about the guitars we make in my company. Instead, it's simply a dialogue to help you, who are interested in learning more about your own instrument. The brand of the guitar makes no difference whatsoever.

These podcasts have been edited from my Weekly Wednesday Q&A YouTube live streams. You'll probably notice this from time to time when listening. If you feel you're missing a detail due to the lack of moving picture, you can always find the equivalent content on YouTube.

Talk to you soon,
Juha