Podcast 107: Luthier Jason Kostal

Published: May 26, 2016, 2:37 a.m.

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Even though his guitars command top dollar and his wait list is several years long, luthier Jason Kostal isn\\u2019t done learning his craft. In fact, as we hear on today\\u2019s Fretboard Journal Podcast, Kostal just flew to Europe to attend an inlay master class with Grit Laskin. We\\xa0talk to Kostal about\\xa0the course, Laskin\\u2019s approach to teaching and whether he\\u2019ll use his newfound inlay skills on his own guitar creations.

Beyond describing his class with Laskin, Kostal also tells us a bit about his build philosophy, how his business is doing and the state of boutique guitarmaking in general.

Kostal is a tireless learner and easily\\xa0one of the most fascinating builders around: Before becoming a full-time luthier, he graduated from West Point, served in the Army, earned an MBA from Emory and did his time working for a Fortune 500 company. Eventually, he found himself at Roberto-Venn in Phoenix, apprenticing for Ervin Somagyi (who will be featured in issue 36\\xa0of the Journal) and starting his own guitar company.\\xa0\\xa0

This episode is sponsored by D\\u2019Addario\\u2019s new Nickel Bronze Wound strings: \\xa0nickelbronze.daddario.com

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal magazine here:\\xa0
www.fretboardjournal.com.\\xa0

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