In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, I’m joined once again by Italian luthier Giulio Negrini. Someone who sits right at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and the changing culture of music.

Today, we’re stepping back from the bench and looking at the bigger picture: how music is evolving, what novelty means in a post–rock-era world, and why the legacy of the great musicians of the 50s through the 90s still shapes the way we think about instruments today.

We talk about the shift that’s happening right now, a shift toward new sounds, new experiences, and new expectations from players of every generation. And we explore what it means for musicians whose physical relationship with their instrument is changing, and how builders like Giulio respond to a culture that’s always moving forward.

It’s a conversation about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why the desire for something new has never been stronger.

Watch the video version on YouTube:
🔗 YouTube Channel – Life With Strings Attached

Learn more about Life With Strings Attached and Boutique Guitar Showcase:
🔗 Boutique Guitar Showcase

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Thank you for listening and supporting the ongoing conversation between music, makers, history and the future.

Today on Life With Strings Attached, I’m joined once again by master luthier Michael Greenfield. Someone whose work and thinking continue to shape the modern acoustic guitar.

In this conversation, we look at how musical inspiration evolves across generations, from the impact of cultural moments like Elvis and the Beatles to the way those sparks still influence why so many of us first picked up a guitar. And we explore how those early inspirations intersect with the changing needs of today’s aging musicians. Players who once chased volume and power but are now seeking lighter, more responsive instruments that match where their bodies and hands are today.

And then Michael shares something essential about his own journey: after decades refining his approach, the guitars he’s making today are the best he’s ever made. A lifetime of repair work, research, and obsessive problem-solving has led him to instruments that are more stable, more playable, and more expressive than anything he produced years ago.

It’s a conversation about inspiration, evolution, and the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

Watch the video version on YouTube:
🔗 YouTube Channel – Life With Strings Attached

Learn more about Life With Strings Attached and Boutique Guitar Showcase:
🔗 Boutique Guitar Showcase

Support the deeper conversations:
🔗 The Business of Guitar – Patreon

Thank you for listening and supporting the ongoing conversation between music, makers, history and the future.

This is the second part of a two-part episode with our guest George Gruhn. If you've not listened to part one, we suggest you go and do that first. Then return here for part two.

Find the first part right here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305961/episodes/18258900

Watch the video version on YouTube:
🔗 YouTube Channel – Life With Strings Attached

Learn more about Life With Strings Attached and Boutique Guitar Showcase:
🔗 Boutique Guitar Showcase

Support the deeper conversations:
🔗 The Business of Guitar – Patreon

Thank you for listening and supporting the ongoing conversation between music, makers, history and the future.