Esoterica Electrica

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Identity and Authenticity

October 8, 2018

Does that beautiful battle-worn axe in the window have tales to tell from stage work, or from bench work? And does it matter?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Simple Times, Simple Gear

September 11, 2018

Jol Dantzig

Today’s vast array of amps, guitars, and effects is a good thing, but so is learning to play without a net.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Pay Now or Cry Later

August 8, 2018

Jol Dantzig

Tool up to get the job done right, and save time and your sanity in the process.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Cover Bands and Clone Guitars

July 2, 2018

Jol Dantzig

If imitation is the highest form of flattery but innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower, balancing the line is an art form.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Perfect Intonation and Other Myths

June 17, 2018

Jol Dantzig

Jol Dantzig channels his inner Andy Rooney to set the record straight on a handful of guitar-related folklores.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Where the “Wild Dog” Roams

May 17, 2018

Jol Dantzig

If a guitarist plays rhythm while toggled to the treble setting on a Les Paul, does it make a sound?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Faking It

April 9, 2018

Jol Dantzig

Does this crap guitar make me look authentic?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Chasing the Inventive Dream Files, Part 1

February 26, 2018

Jol Dantzig

“Hey, have you seen anything new and cool?” is a popular conversation starter at NAMM. But there are myriad inventions that don’t make it into these conversations or onto the show floor.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: The Mighty Icebreaker

January 21, 2018

Jol Dantzig

At a party where someone is playing guitar for people in one corner and someone is playing with their phone on social media in another, which person is more social?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Zero Sum Meets Boutique Building

December 31, 2017

Jol Dantzig

The number of guitar makers these days is inspiring, but how long the market can sustain the ever-more-crowded pond of craftsmen is anybody’s guess.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: The Tone Inside Your Head

November 20, 2017

Jol Dantzig

Achieving the sound that permeates your brain is rarely an easy task, so be sure to focus on enjoying the journey.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Evolutionary Control

October 18, 2017

Jol Dantzig

If a guitar’s knob placement is random, planned, or a combination of both, does it make a difference?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Strats, Teles, and Dan Smith

September 27, 2017

Jol Dantzig

Jol Dantzig ponders just how many Stratocasters are in existence as he pays tribute to his friend and industry vet, the late Dan Smith.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Fewer Headaches, Better Guitars

August 21, 2017

Jol Dantzig

If a guitar maker tells you he or she is lazy, it might be your craftsperson is simply an efficient builder.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Why Neck Pitch Matters

July 24, 2017

Jol Dantzig

Before you start choosing those finish and hardware options for your new axe, did you make sure your guitar’s neck angle feels right?

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: The Sacred Wood

June 28, 2017

Jol Dantzig

So what’s really new? Whether it’s guitar riffs or guitar designs, makers and players borrow and steal—all the time.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Prime Time for a Classic Tool

June 5, 2017

Jol Dantzig

For those who've pondered building guitars, Jol Dantzig waxes poetic on the one classic tool he can’t live without.

Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: The Knotty World of Figured Wood

May 7, 2017

Jol Dantzig

Figured woods can command fancy prices. Here's a look at the grading system and the meaning behind some of the creative phrases used to designate them.