The B-Log
Infos, Hot Takes and Science
We write about instruments the same way we build and repair them: evidence first, dogma never. Some pieces settle arguments. Some explain how things actually work. Some are just the stuff worth knowing. Four series, one rule — nothing here we can't source.
- 0 commentson What makes a modern archtop modern
- by Marin Nourry
What makes a modern archtop modern
A century after its invention, the archtop guitar is still built largely by 1930s rules. But the way players actually use the instrument has changed: studios, stages, planes, contemporary jazz contexts that demand more uniformity and less drama from the instrument. This article looks at three engineering moves boutique luthiers are making to bring the archtop into the present — and what is gained and lost when you do.
Truss Rods and Neck Relief: A Luthier’s Guide to Guitar Setup
Want your guitar to play smoother and sound better? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Truss Rods and Neck Relief—from how they work to adjusting them safely. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or just curious, this luthier-approved article covers the essentials for better tone, action, and playability.
Read moreabout Truss Rods and Neck Relief: A Luthier’s Guide to Guitar Setup
- 0 commentson Guitar Setup : What is it ? (and what it isn't)
- by Marin Nourry
Guitar Setup : What is it ? (and what it isn't)
A professional setup can make your guitar or bass feel like a whole new instrument — but there’s often confusion around what a setup actually does. This article breaks down what’s included in a setup, what improvements you can realistically expect, and where the limits lie. From action and intonation to pickup balance and tuning stability, we’ll cover how a setup works and how to communicate your preferences to get the most out of the process. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the world of lutherie, understanding this service will help you play better — and avoid disappointment.
Read moreabout Guitar Setup : What is it ? (and what it isn't)
- 0 commentson Gloss, Matte, or Satin?
- by Marin Nourry
Choosing between gloss, matte, or satin guitar finishes is more than an aesthetic decision — it shapes your experience with the instrument over time. Gloss finishes offer stunning brilliance and highlight the guitar's curves and grain, but require regular maintenance to preserve their shine. Matte finishes provide a smooth, non-sticky feel with a muted, natural look, hiding fingerprints well while developing character as they wear. Satin finishes sit comfortably between the two, offering a soft sheen and a balance of visual appeal and practical comfort.
Each finish evolves differently, with gloss gradually softening in high-contact areas, and matte and satin subtly polishing themselves through play. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your personal style, your playing habits, and the story you want your guitar to tell as it ages alongside you.
I design guitars from the perspective of a bass builder
In this exclusive interview with Fretboard Frenzy Journal, I share the journey of building Belforti Instruments, my passion for crafting premium electric guitars, and the philosophy that drives my work. From the initial inspiration to the details of the crafting process, this conversation dives deep into the artistry and precision behind every Belforti guitar. Whether you're a musician, a collector, or simply intrigued by the world of high-end lutherie, this interview offers an inside look into the dedication and innovation that go into creating instruments for the modern player.
Read moreabout I design guitars from the perspective of a bass builder
- 0 commentson Pickups Unveiled
- by Marin Nourry
This comprehensive guide delves into the intricate world of guitar and bass pickups, exploring their mechanics, history, types, and impact on the instrument's tone. From the evolution of single-coils and humbuckers to the latest in digital and modeling technologies, the article examines how different pickups shape musical expression. It also looks forward to the future of pickup technology, anticipating advancements in materials, active electronics, and sustainable designs, highlighting their role in the continuing innovation of guitar and bass sound.
- 0 commentson The Path to Becoming a Professional Luthier
- by Marin Nourry
The Path to Becoming a Professional Luthier
Lutherie is an unregulated trade: no qualification is required to practise, and no certificate guarantees a good instrument. Here are the three real routes into the craft, the schools worth knowing, and how to tell a serious maker from someone with a workbench and a website.
- 0 commentson Tone & Terminology
- by Marin Nourry
Explore the nuanced world of guitar tone through a standardized lexicon of musical terminology. This article demystifies the jargon, clarifying the impact of frequency, harmonics, and dynamics on your sound. It also examines how individual technique and equipment choices contribute to the unique tonal fingerprint of a guitarist, whether playing solo or blending in with a group.
- 0 commentson Science, Pseudoscience and Lutherie
- by Marin Nourry
Science, Pseudoscience and Lutherie
Explore the intersection of science and myth in guitar craftsmanship with "Science, Pseudoscience, and Lutherie." This article's goal is to provide a solid intellectual foundation for players, builders, and actors of the lutherie and music world to navigate myths and pseudoscientific speech
- 0 commentson The Anatomy of a Guitar
- by Marin Nourry
Explore the craftsmanship of both electric and acoustic guitars with our detailed guide that dives deep into the anatomy of these beloved instruments. From the strategic placement of the tuning pegs to the precise engineering of the truss rod, we unravel the secrets behind the components that shape their unique sounds and playability. Gain insights on how the subtle variations in parts like the bridge, pickups, and body can influence tone and performance, offering players and enthusiasts a richer understanding of their instruments.
- 0 commentson The Role of Electronics in Bass Guitars
- by Marin Nourry
The Role of Electronics in Bass Guitars
The electronics in a bass guitar are critical components that greatly influence your sound. From the type of pickups to the onboard preamp and even the internal wiring, understanding these elements is key to mastering your tone. As technology advances, bassists have an ever-growing array of options for shaping their unique sound.
- 0 commentson Man or Machine ?
- by Marin Nourry
Are we, guitar builders, going to be replaced by machines ? And if it’s the case, is it actually bad news ? Let’s find out !
Explore the enduring debate between handcrafted and machine-made guitars, examining the advantages and drawbacks of each method. From the unparalleled craftsmanship of a luthier to the precision and scalability of modern machinery, both approaches offer unique qualities that appeal to different musicians. The article aims to shed light on this topic, helping you decide which method aligns with your preferences and needs.
- 0 commentson A Pro Luthier’s Bibliography
- by Marin Nourry
Explore the science behind guitars with our carefully curated bibliography of academic papers. This resource offers in-depth insights into the acoustics, engineering, and physics that make guitars resonate. Whether you're a luthier, a musician, or just passionate about guitars, this comprehensive guide will deepen your understanding of this iconic instrument
The World of Lutherie
A tour of the trade, one place at a time. Not an argument, not an audit — a long walk through where guitars and basses actually come from, and the people who built them there.
We start with the groundwork — what a luthier is, how the guitar went around the world, what makes a school — then go continent by continent and country by country, Europe first. For each place: the history that still matters, the makers working there now, the music that pulled the instruments into existence, the wood, the money and the trade that keeps it all running. Every episode closes From the bench, with what a working luthier takes from it.
It’s written for two readers at once. If you’re new, you won’t need a dictionary open; if you’ve been building for thirty years, nobody’s going to explain a truss rod to you. Each episode ends with a reference block — dates, makers, schools, further reading — so the facts are there to check and the essay is free to have opinions.
Generous to the makers it names, specific where it can be, and long enough to be worth the coffee. Start at Vol. 1 and take the long way round — or pick a country and drop in.
I'm Right, You're Wrong
The title is the joke, and the joke is the method.
Every essay plants a flag in the most insufferable way possible — I'm right, you're wrong — then spends the next two thousand words doing the exact opposite of what that promises. Weighing the evidence. Citing the studies. Conceding what the other side gets right. Admitting, at length, that it's complicated, that the honest answer has caveats, that reasonable people land in different places. And then, having walked you through all of it: anyway, doesn't matter, I'm right, you're wrong.
That's the whole bit. The front claim is never the point — the nuance in the middle is. The series wears the face of everything we argue against: the confident hot take, the unsourced assertion, the guy who wins debates by saying it louder. Then it smuggles the antidote inside the costume. Wry, off-kilter headers over dead-serious content. Nonsensical illustrating images over carefully sourced claims. Unearned swagger, entirely on purpose, wrapped around an argument that earns every line.
The format is the parody. The sourcing is the point.
The Truth About…
The deep dives. No posturing, no fight to pick — just one subject taken apart down to the studs.
We pick a topic — tonewoods, scale length, strings, finishes, necks — and lay out the whole thing in order: what's actually been measured, what's craft tradition handed down because it works (or because everyone assumes it does), and what's marketing wearing the costume of fact. Three buckets, kept strictly separate, because most of the confusion in this trade comes from someone quietly moving a claim from one to another. When the research is solid, we tell you. When it's thin, or contradictory, or just absent, we tell you that too — "we don't fully know yet" is an answer, and a more honest one than most of what's online.
It's the series for the reader who's tired of buying guides that rank seven woods by "warmth" and call it information. Cited throughout, linked to the primary sources, written so you can go check the work and disagree with us on the merits. That's the whole point: hand you the map, mark where the roads actually go, and let you drive.
General Articles
Everything else worth writing down — the stuff that doesn't need a thesis, just an honest explanation.
How-to guides written from the bench: truss rods and neck relief, what a real setup does and doesn't fix, when swapping a pot is worth it and when it isn't. The craft and history of the trade — why Paris has built instruments for centuries, what hand-built actually means once you strip the romance off it. And the occasional look behind the curtain at how we work, what we build, and the reasoning behind the choices most shops never explain.
No affiliate links, no ranked lists, no "top ten" filler. If we wrote it down, it's because a customer asked, a repair taught us something, or we got tired of seeing the wrong answer repeated. Practical, bench-tested, and written by the person actually holding the tools.