Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin

For episode 116, we're joined by Spanish guitarmaker Paco Chorobo from Úbeda, Spain.
 
Paco shares his journey from telecommunications engineer to full-time luthier and discusses his approach to building both classical and flamenco guitars while blending traditional hand craftsmanship with modern technology. We also explore the cultural roots of flamenco guitars, the construction differences between flamenco and classical instruments, and his philosophy of building guitars around the individual player.
 
Link to Paco's work: https://chorobo.com/home/


Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

For Episode 115 of the podcast, we're joined by classical guitarmaker Marco Bortolozzo.
In our conversation, Marco tells us about the mentorship that launched his career, and the story behind his signature Olympic ring rosette, which was inspired by a 19th-century Spanish guitar. We also discuss his neck joint design, his unique use of shellac records in guitar finishes and much more.
https://www.marcobortolozzo.com/

Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

Working out of his solo shop in Quebec, Thierry André is a builder of truly one-of-a-kind instruments.
For episode 114 of the podcast, Thierry dives into his design process and explains why he believes every instrument should include an element of danger and surprise. We also talk about his formative time apprenticing with Fred Carlson and much more.

GoFundMe to help Thierry Andre beat cancer: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-thierry-andre-beat-cancer
 
Links: https://www.thierryandre.com
https://www.instagram.com/thierryandre.studio/
 
Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

For episode 113 of Luthier on Luthier, I'm joined by guitarist and educator Sean McGowan. 
 
We focus on his recent Archtop Foundation recording project, featuring 20 tracks across nine exceptional Blue series archtop guitars, and dig into his detailed approach to capturing their unique voices in the studio. Sean also shares highlights from his musical journey, his work as an educator at the University of Colorado in Denver, and the realities of making a living as a modern musician. 
 
Link: https://seanmcgowanguitar.com/
 
Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

For episode 112 of the podcast, I'm talking with Otto D'Ambrosio.

Otto wears two hats—as a solo luthier and Chief Designer at Eastman Guitars—and he walks us through his journey from working with legends like Flip Scipio, John Monteleone, and Carl Thompson to his role today, bridging the gap between hands-on building and production design.
 
We talk about how the pandemic pushed him into 3D CAD, changing the way he collaborates with Eastman's workshops, and dive into some of his design work—including the Fullertone neck system, his boutique archtop builds, and an upcoming project comparing domestic and European tonewoods.

Links:
https://dambrosioguitars.com/
Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.
Michael Bashkin's Hub of Acoustics 2026 US Academy: https://hubofacoustics.com/en/#Colorado_Academy