Rethinking the Electric Guitar with Two of Its Leading Historians: Jan Herbst & Steve Waksman

Few people have shaped the way we understand the electric guitar like Jan Herbst and Steve Waksman. Both have spent their careers asking deeper questions about sound, design, meaning, and the role of technology in music.

Steve is the author of Instruments of Desire, the first major academic study of the electric guitar. Jan is a leading voice in the study of music production and amplification, known for bridging theory with practice. Together, they co-edited The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar, a landmark work in the field.

In this episode, they sit down with Jamie to talk about what amplification really means, how iconic designs became cultural landmarks, and why the future of the guitar may depend on how willing we are to rethink what we’ve come to accept.

It’s a conversation about guitars, yes, but also about innovation, legacy, and how progress often starts with listening differently.

Watch the video version on YouTube:
🔗 YouTube Channel – Life With Strings Attached

Learn more about Life With Strings Attached, Boutique Guitar Showcase, and Jamie Gale's work in the guitar industry:
🔗 Boutique Guitar Showcase
🔗 Jamie Gale

Thank you for listening and supporting the ongoing conversation between music, makers, history and the future.