French-born, Rhode Island-based luthier Rachel Rosenkrantz (Atelier Rosenkrantz) is a tireless experimenter. Inspired by her years working in industrial lighting and design, she’s embraced some truly unique, sustainable and downright wild materials. She also, of course, makes many traditional steel and nylon-string instruments out of classic tonewoods.

During this week’s Fretboard Journal Podcast, Rosenkrantz walks us through some of the eye-opening projects she’s currently working on, including a ukulele constructed out of a mushroom, pickguards fashioned out of fish skin, banjo heads from kombucha mothers, and even an ondes Martenot. We also talk about her apprenticeship with Daniel Collins, sharing a shop with archtop maker Otto D’Ambrosio, her interview on Anthony Bourdain’s Raw Craft web series and more.

Sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of the guitar world’s true mavericks and be sure to watch the video she just submitted of our shop for #FJFest below.

Follow her Instagram to see closeups of some of the projects mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/atelier_rosenkrantz/?hl=en

Above: Picture of Rosenkrantz at the Metropolitan Museum courtesy Paula Lobo.

What is #FJFest? It’s the Fretboard Journal’s way of staying connected during these difficult times: Expect to see never-before-seen shop tours from guitarmakers, unique music performances, live streamed talks with guitar experts, and a ton of beautiful instruments on a daily basis throughout March 2020 and beyond.

Like what we’re doing? We could use your support: Get a digital subscription to the FJ for just $30 and we’ll send you our two most recent issues immediately as PDFs, on the house.

See all of our #FJFest posts here.

This episode is sponsored by Carter Vintage, Martin Guitars and Gibson.

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