Ola Strandberg is a true innovator, having redefined modern guitar-making with his .strandberg* brand. Pioneering the resurgence of headless guitars, Ola combines ergonomic innovation, sustainable materials, and cutting-edge aesthetics to create instruments that inspire musicians and luthiers worldwide.

With so much change occurring, now is a good time for those with a future forward mindset, like Ola. But being a renowned innovator comes with its own challenges.

In this episode, we talk about the different needs of emerging guitar markets, the difficulties of reaching the mainstream as a futurist, and whether there can ever be an iPhone of guitars.

.strandberg* Guitars: https://strandbergguitars.com/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

Jon “Sully” Sullivan is the founder of Sully Guitars, a brand known for blending innovation with the spirit of '80s hot rod guitar culture. But, as Sully explains in this conversation, his guitars are far more than a nod to the era he grew up in.

We talk about what it means to go beyond your influences, to build guitars out of spite and to live your life as a committed contrarian. As always, it was so much fun talking with Sully, and I hope you all enjoy this one as much as I did.

Sully Guitars: https://www.sullyguitars.com/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

What would a structural engineer bring to guitar making?

In his career as a structural engineer, Enrico Di Donato collaborated with renowned architects like Renzo Piano and Arata Isozaki. After years of exploring composite materials for seismic reinforcement and authoring publications on the subject, Enrico shifted his focus to luthiery, combining his scientific expertise with artistic craftsmanship.

His “Hasaki” electric guitar, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, has been featured at prestigious events like Art Basel, the Venice Biennale, and the Boutique Guitar Showcase at NAMM.

For Enrico, the electric guitar is not merely a tool, it’s an evolving fusion of art and science. He joined me on this week's episode of Life With Strings Attached to discuss this approach to guitar making and where his current projects are taking him.

Di Donato Guitars: https://www.didonatoguitars.it/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

Why do we make things? What is it that draws so many of us to hunker down in dusty workshops, pick up some hand tools, or devote hours to any kind of craft and creation?

We might sometimes be mystified by our own obsession or powerful draw towards making things – that feeling of a need to create. Exploring this is part of exploring what it means to be human, and I can think of no one better to discuss this with than Peter Korn.

Peter is a master craftsman, author, and the founder of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine, where he served as Executive Director from 1993 to 2021. With a career spanning decades as a furniture maker, educator, and leader, Peter’s work has been exhibited nationally and celebrated for its artistry. He is the author of Why We Make Things and Why It Matters, a profound exploration of craftsmanship’s transformative power. Peter continues to design furniture and share his knowledge through workshops, inspiring a new generation of makers.

He has so much knowledge and wisdom to share, shedding light on what it is that spurs our creative need.

Peter's work: https://peterkorn.com/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

Based in Edmonton, Canada, Dion James builds steel-string acoustic guitars known for their striking minimalism. Subtle in their looks from afar, Dion's instruments make careful use of intricate detailing without becoming ostentatious. They’re packed with innovation informed by years of building and experimentation, all brought together with a decisive, crystal-clear design vision.

As he's someone who's built a reputation for crafting such impeccable instruments, I wanted to talk with Dion about how he views creativity, where his design sensibility comes from, and the surprising power of saying "I can't".

Dion Guitars: https://dionguitars.ca/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

There might be a lot of guitars that claim to be unique, but there's only a relatively small number that achieve – without question – something new. Nicolai Schorr's instruments are undoubtedly among that select group.

From his workshop in Berlin, Nicolai handcrafts guitars and basses that are as playful and refreshing as they are bold. It's unsurprising to learn he has a background in both fine art and music, but I was curious to learn more about where his career as a guitar maker started, how his designs come together, and why he makes guitars that look so joyful.

I want to say a big thank-you to Nicolai for joining me on the podcast this week and sharing so much about his work.

Schorr Guitars: http://schorrguitars.de/

Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

If you’ve ever seen Marek Dąbek’s Stradi instruments, you’ll understand that he has a fascinating approach to building guitars and basses.

On this week’s episode of Life With Strings Attached, we talk about the origins of Marek’s instruments, the benefits of having to struggle for what you want, and why a tarantula lived in his kitchen.

Stradi Instruments: https://stradi.pl/

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar

What is the future of the NAMM Show? What direction are our instruments – and our industry – heading in? What is it that instrument makers need most right now?

There are few better people to speak to about the future of our industry than John Mlynczak. As the CEO of NAMM, he runs the world's largest trade organisation for musical instrument makers and the largest, most important trade show for us all.

He joins me to shed light on what the core goals of NAMM are, whether trade shows are dead in the post-pandemic world, and what drives him to try and serve music merchants around the world.

This is a must listen for anyone in this industry, but it's also full of insights on how to be a better leader, how to identify the purpose of your work, and what life lessons you get from being an accomplished trumpet player.

Patreon subscribers will also get access to the Business of Guitar segment, in which John dives deep into his goal-setting process as CEO.

I want to say a massive thank-you to John for joining me this week, and I hope you enjoy listening.

Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfGuitar