“I Grew up With Songs. Now, It’s the YouTube, Instagram Age Where You’ve Got All These Bedroom Mozarts”: Listen to Our Compelling ‘No Guitar Is Safe’ Podcast Featuring Dave Shul

ROTHBURY, MI - JULY 05: Guitarist Dave Shul of Michael Franti and Spearhead performs during the Rothbury Music Festival at the Double JJ Ranch on July 5, 2008 in Rothbury, Michigan.
(Image credit: C Flanigan/Getty Images)

If you like in-depth interviews with great guitar players AND you like to hear them play, then you need to listen to our No Guitar Is Safe podcast.

Presented by Guitar Player and hosted by Jude Gold, No Guitar Is Safe is free to listen to at your leisure on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

With over 160 episodes uploaded there’s plenty to get your teeth into.

Just some of the featured artists include Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, Nita Strauss, John 5, Robben Ford, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Lita Ford, Tommy Emmanuel, Zakk Wylde, Ace Frehley, Billy Duffy, Phil X, Celisse, Nile Rodgers and many, many more besides!

From his years touring, recording, and songwriting with Michael Franti & Spearhead to his runs with Billy Preston, Sly & Robbie, Ozomatli and other headliners, San Francisco guitar ace Dave Shul has been in demand for over three decades – especially by bandleaders who want some serious funk guitar in their ensemble.

Dave Shul

(Image credit: Dave Shul)

Inviting us into his San Francisco recording studio – which he shares with his good friend, the great drummer Jay Lane (Dead & Company) – Dave whips out a couple of Telecaster-style guitars for us to play and takes us on a deep exploration of what it means to throw down fat grooves on an electric guitar.

Offering his opinion on how to inspire fellow musicians as a guitarist in a live setting, Dave highlights the importance of serving the song. 

“I grew up with songs,” he tells us. “Now, it’s the YouTube, Instagram age where you’ve got all these bedroom Mozarts or whatever – technicians.

“But could these people actually play with other musicians? You never see that. They’re always in their room playing this fast, technically precise, superhuman shit.”

As a thank you for having us over, we present Dave with a G7th Performance Capo (with the title of this podcast laser-engraved into the top of it) and a pair of Straptight strap locks.

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Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as GuitaristTotal Guitar, Guitar WorldGuitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.

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