Latest Episode: Michael Bashkin – Building $30,000 Guitars By Hand & The Art of Luthiers | Robertson Stash Podcast | Season 6, Episode 6
Guests: Michael Bashkni
Episode Highlights:
We get into what separates a great guitar from an expensive one, why the last 2% of building a guitar is almost 20% of the work, how a fresh guitar has to "forget it was a tree" before it really comes alive, why Michael doesn't put his name on the headstock, and how his nearly 2-million-view documentary on YouTube happened almost by accident. Oh, and he's also my cousin. Kind of.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 — Intro & welcoming Michael and his guitar to the studio
00:31 — Can a guitar maker actually play guitar?
02:30 — How insurance money, a stolen laptop, and a stranger's home workshop led to a career
08:00 — From kit guitars to building from scratch — the early learning years 13:00 — What sets a Bashkin guitar apart: signature fret markers, headstock inlay & no logo 1
8:00 — Over 200 guitars built — pricing from $17K to $30K+ and what drives the cost
22:00 — The process: 100 to 240 hours per guitar, and why the last 2% is the hardest
26:00 — Why guitars need to "forget they were trees" — how new guitars evolve in sound
30:00 — Harvesting his own wood: standing dead Engelman Spruce from North Park, Colorado
34:00 — Favorite materials: Italian spruce, Lutz spruce, Brazilian rosewood, ebony
38:00 — Art vs. precision instrument — where does a Bashkin guitar fall? 42:00 — Describing the Bashkin sound: vintage low-end, contemporary highs, fingerstyle focused
47:00 — The StewMac documentary: nearly 2 million views on a 2-hour guitar build
52:00 — The Fretboard Journal Podcast: 110 episodes over 9 years
56:00 — Upcoming: Sound Messe guitar show in Osaka, Japan & guitars in progress for 2026
1:00:00 — Final Thoughts & Closing
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🔗 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL BASHKIN:
🌐 Website: https://www.bashkinguitars.com/
📸 Instagram: @bashkin_guitars
This episode is powered by WNC and Puffco. A special thanks to WNC for providing the fresh-pressed cold cure live rosin for the episode. You can get 25% off your order with code STASH25. SPONSORS:
This episode is brought to you by:
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About Matt Robertson
Matt Robertson is a visionary artist who has made a significant mark in the glass art world with his unique matte-finished caricature sculptures, each reflecting pivotal moments from his life. His playful spirit shines through in his whimsical glass animal sculptures, often depicted in humorous scenarios that embody his vibrant personality. Inspired by creatures like giraffes, Robertson is captivated by the challenges of working with glass, a delicate medium that demands intense focus and energy, which he channels into his art. Each piece captures a dynamic energy, freezing it in time and offering a glimpse into his imaginative universe. After discovering his passion for glassblowing at Sheridan College in Ontario, he honed his craft in Eugene, Oregon, before returning to Canada to co-founded the Edy Roy Glass Gallery, a pioneering space that merges high art with functional glass pipes. Now based in Evergreen, Colorado, Robertson continues to evolve as a glass artist while hosting "The Robertson Stash" podcast and showcasing his work in galleries worldwide, all while advocating for contemporary glass art and its vibrant possibilities.
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