The Lipstick Pickup Podcast with Emily Vardaman Walters – Details, episodes & analysis

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In this episode I call Des Moines, Iowa to talk to Ian Williams, the man behind Nepco Guitars, a revered and respected "recreationist" of classic Danelectro design theory. The spirit of evolution is alive and well in his wild imagination and craftsmanship and here's something about his history with music, guitar collecting and building, for the record. 

More on Nepco can be found here:

https://www.nepcoguitars.com/

https://www.instagram.com/nepcoguitars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EXyqGL9_g

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/nepco-danelectro-v-style-guitar

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Emily places a call to Excello Recording of Brooklyn, New York to talk to the multi-talented guitarist/music producer Hugh Pool about his career, his studio, and his collection of notable lipstick pickup guitars. 

Hugh shares his journey as a musician and producer, highlighting the importance of community, collaboration, and the evolution of the music industry. From his early days in Pennsylvania to establishing himself in New York City's vibrant music scene, Hugh reflects on the challenges and joys of balancing family life with a music career. The discussion  touches on the impact of technology on music production, his work with various artists to explore the versatility of the baritone guitar and electric sitar, and the importance of gear in creating music. 

Learn more about Hugh by visiting his website!

"Just when you thought you knew all about the Williamsburg rock scene, here comes someone to throw a wrench in the works. For the uninitiated, this is Mr. Hugh Pool who's been sliding and fingerpicking his National through his Ibanez Tube Screamer since the first time those clothes were in style.

He has shared the stage with such luminaries as Patti Smith, Gov't Mule, Leslie West, Johnny Winter, Dave Edmunds, John Mayall, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and more. He has performed on the Emeril Lagassi Show, The Mitch Albom Show and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. His original songs have been used in network TV, movies, award-winning documenaries and an off Broadway play. When he's not playing, performing or writing you can find him twiddling the knobs on the big board at his Brooklyn studio. Excello Recording is where he's worked with talented folks like Debbie Harry, Kiki & Herb, Michael Brecker, Radio 4, Joseph Arthur, Larry Campbell, Tony Garnier, and, well, the list does go on.

So you can see that he's no one trick pony. Hugh hails from the Rust Belt, which is where he draws inspiration for his backwoods amalgam of rock, country & blues. But living in New York for the last 20 years has tweaked his sensibilities a bit. His brand of trad psyche-delta stomp comes with a bit of New York noise-damage."

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On this episode of The Lipstick Pickup Podcast, Emily calls Classic Rock historian Angie Moon in Coventry, England to talk about her new book The Crime of The Century and the subject of her blog, The Diversity of Classic Rock. She discusses her personal journey through music, the healing power of sound, and the importance of accurate music history. Angie also touches on her future writing projects, including a focus on celebrity trials, and reflects on the cultural narratives that shape our understanding of music. In this engaging conversation, they delve into the intricate connections between personal history, music, and cultural identity. They explore the legacy of Oscar Wilde, The Kinks and how The Great Migration shaped American Music. The discussion also touches on the role of storytelling in history, the influence of Sitar in music of the British Invasion, and the significance of personal style in creative expression. 

Follow Angie here:

https://www.instagram.com/angiemichellemoon

https://crazyonclassicrock.com/

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Dean Farley, a seasoned string designer, returns to The Lipstick Pickup Podcast to discuss the life and legacy of Hartley Peavey, a pivotal figure in the music industry. They explore Peavey's innovative spirit, his business acumen, and the impact he had on the music world, particularly through Peavey Electronics. The discussion highlights Peavey's unique personality, his approach to business, and the lasting influence he has had on musicians and the industry as a whole.

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In this episode of the Lipstick Pickup Podcast, Emily talks to Nashville-based, Mississippi native drummer Allen Jones. They discuss their mutual connections in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and delve into Allen's musical history, from his early influences growing up in a remote town to thriving in the vibrant Hattiesburg music scene. They discuss the importance of community in music, the challenges of touring, and the creative growth that comes from DIY collaboration and recording.  They cover the historical significance of the Pine Belt region and its impact on music, as well as his influential experience of working at the Peavey Leakesville plant, where he gained insights into guitar manufacturing and setup. We hope you enjoy this trip into Mississippi music culture and free-enterprise.

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On this episode of The Lipstick Pickup podcast, Emily gets 411 help from Nathan Daniel's son Howard about the myth of the Lipstick Pickup and the importance of getting the Danelectro record straight. Please visit https://pen4rent.com/ for more from Howard Daniel.

 "I've learned so much from you and I should have been keeping better notes, but this time we're going to have it for the record. And I hope to add this sort of approach to future episodes in my podcast where I just simply call somebody like you, 411-INFORMATION. The best approach and one of the inspirations for my podcast is the power of the telephone. I'm calling Howard to introduce him to my listeners and give some service to some great work that he's done, keeping the world informed about his father, Nat Daniel, and the world of Danelectro. They can all be found on his website, which is www.pen4, the number 4. It's pen4rent.com. which is how I met you. And then when I first started publishing the podcast, I heard from you, and we've had an occasional phone call ever since, and this one we're going to record. "

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On this episode of The Lipstick Pickup Podcast, Emily gets a primer on the career of The String King, Dean Farley of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

More on Dean from https://pyramid-saiten.de/de/direct/

"Dean Farley began his journey with guitar strings during the summer of 1970 at age 16. Little did he know at the time that this period would radically change his life’s direction. Between the months of July and August, guitar strings in America were going through a major change in their basic sound. Previously, the strings Dean played were very rich in their tone and had a much more soulful sound! That was early July. However, by a week into August, things had changed drastically. This “new” (rather foreign) sound of the sets he bought a few hours before his weekly jam session were noticeably brighter in character, yet strangely, lacked the sweet midrange and full bass response from the sets he had bought only several weeks before. Simply put, Dean couldn’t get that wonderful original sound from his Telecaster/ Fender Super Reverb amplifier combination—despite even after fooling around with the amp’s various controls for far too long. This was a very frustrating and confusing dilemma.

At this point, Dean’s curiosity completely took over and he was hell-bent to find strings that sounded “right” to his critical ears. A few years down the timeline, he had several opportunities to learn about the incredible variety of metals used in the manufacturing of silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry. In Silicon Valley, Dean was lucky he had access to extremely high tech equipment which would benefit him as a string designer in the near future. It might be noted here that Dean Farley is the only individual in the string business who actually has a solid connection to the semiconductor industry in a very real sense; his father happened to be the one who, originally, came up with the now famous nickname of “Silicon Valley” long before it finally stuck as the formal name of the Santa Clara Valley, CA area around 1971.

As the early to mid 1980s came along, Dean finally got into the string business for himself. He recognized from the start that the only way that he could make any success with this was to think in very different terms. Indeed, he literally had to pretend like he had no competitors if he was going to create anything truly special.

By the mid 90s, Dean’s string adventures had led him into a side gig as a journalist and this resulted in him starting to write monthly columns about guitar string history and design in Vintage Guitar magazine. It was right here where Dean wrote about Pyramid Strings’ history and their association with The Beatles.

Eventually, in 2006, Dean met Pyramid‘s director, Max Junger, at a trade show in Los Angeles. The two of them had an immediate connection and the rest of this story has been currently manifesting into a wonderful relationship that will leave some deep marks on the musical world. It’s great to be here at Pyramid! This is an absolute honor and pleasure to design thoughtful and unique concepts in guitar string designs that should inspire every musician of any style or background."

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The Lipstick Pickup Podcast calls former New Yorker Stu Snyder to discuss his migration to Tokyo, collectable guitar strings and his late friend session guitarist Vinnie Bell. The dialogue highlights the importance of recognizing lesser-known figures in the music industry and their impact on popular culture. In this segment, the conversation delves into the history and significance of the electric sitar, highlighting the contributions of Reggie Young and Vinnie Bell. Stu and Emily discuss the importance of oral history in preserving musical legacies, particularly in light of the passing of influential musicians. They also explore the intricacies of guitar strings, their impact on tone, and the evolution of string preferences among musicians, emphasizing the connection between string quality and sound. 

more on Stu can be found at:

https://stupendousmusic.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stupendousmusic/

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On this episode of The Lipstick Pickup Podcast, Nashville's Matthew Paige returns to talk to Emily about strings, threads, and what it means to be "Tailor-Made" in Nashville. Matthew imagines some Americana possibilities on a Jerry Jones Baby Sitar and discusses the recording of his new acoustic folk EP with Stager Microphones.  More on Matthew Paige and his upcoming European Tour:

🔥 Bobby Bare Jr. feat Matthew Paige – European Tour 2025 🔥

May 20: Medley, Malmö (SE)
May 21: Grisen & Draken, Kristianstad (SE)
May 22: Loppen, Copenhagen (DK)
May 24: Sofiehof, Jönköping (SE)
May 24: Vänna Gård, Bengtsfors (SE)
May 25: Vägs Ände, Larv (SE)
May 27: Hägerstensåsens Medborgarhus, Stockholm (SE)
May 28: Holännapaviljongen, Ljusdal (SE)
May 30: Hamnplan 1, Örebro (SE)
May 31: Folkets Park, Kramfors (SE)
June 3: Jazzköket, Östersund (SE)
June 4: Moskus, Trondheim (NO)
June 6: Pitstop Motor Week, Kongsvinger (NO)
June 7: The Bull Inn, Bø i Telemark (NO)
June 8: Dust of Daylight, Bergen (NO)
June 10: Revolver, Oslo (NO)
June 11: Nöjesfabriken, Karlstad (SE)
June 12: Monument, Gothenburg (SE)
June 14: Strandkompaniet, Löderup (SE)
June 17: The Dukes of Highgate, London (UK)
June 18: Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield (UK)
June 19: The Cluny, Newcastle  (UK)
June 20: Drygate Brewing Co, Glasgow (UK)
June 22: JT Soar, Nottingham (UK)
June 26: Hen & Chicken, Bristol (UK)
June 27: Le Pub, Newport (UK)
June 28: The Folklore Rooms, Brighton (UK)
June 29: Cowboy Up Revival, Waardamme (BE)

https://www.instagram.com/m.r.paige/
https://deeohgee.org/
https://www.instagram.com/matt.hatterr/?igsh=ZTN1M3htYTJ5azln

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This episode of The Lipstick Pickup Podcast returns to its humble origins with a flashback to a conversation from December 2023 between Emily and Bay Area guitarist (and her first "Sympathetic String") James DePrato. A longtime Bay Area resident and member of Chuck Prophet's Mission Express, James stays busy as an in-demand session player in addition to  gear development and endorsement projects. 

James, who was Emily's very first guest, discusses how he views himself as a practitioner of music rather than a collector, how he's still chasing the feeling of being scared of music, and that a song doesn't have to make sense to be great. James also shares his love and reverence for Danelectro guitars and shows off a few from his collection including a Danelectro double neck, his homemade modified electric sitar, and his 12-string Jerry Jones. The jailbreak starts right here, right now with the Lipstick Pickup Podcast!