Know Your Gear Podcast – Episode 433
Main Topic: Nuno Bettencourt Leaves Washburn, Launches Nuno Guitars
Host: Phillip McKnight
Date: October 14, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of the Know Your Gear Podcast, hosted by Phillip McKnight, covers a range of listener questions on guitar gear, repair tips, and industry commentary. The central focus is the news that guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has departed from Washburn to launch his own guitar brand, "Nuno Guitars." Phil shares his thoughts on this transition, what it might mean for the future of Nuno’s signature models, and the broader implications for Washburn and their electric guitar output. The episode also includes gear recommendations, personal anecdotes, and industry insights delivered in Phil’s humorous, conversational style.
Key Topics & Discussions
1. Nuno Bettencourt Leaves Washburn (01:03:15–01:14:10)
- Announcement: Nuno Bettencourt has left Washburn and is launching his own brand, Nuno Guitars.
- Models Revealed: Three guitars unveiled:
- White Stallion: Maple top, maple fretboard.
- Dark Horse: Dark finish, potentially ash or walnut, specifics not fully revealed.
- A third, not yet discussed model.
- Design Details:
- No arm carve (flat, Tele-style body).
- Stevens cutaway retained for upper fret access.
- Uses Bill Lawrence (bridge) and Seymour Duncan 59 (neck) pickups.
- No prices or full details; preorders to be announced.
“You’ll never believe where he got the name—Nuno Guitars. I thought that was cool, right? I mean, it makes sense.”
— Phillip McKnight [01:04:05]
- Speculation on Manufacturing:
Phil theorizes that Chris Mead, long-time Washburn builder, is likely producing the new Nuno guitars, given Mead’s history as a “ghost builder” for Washburn and other brands.
“I think Chris Mead is gonna be making the new Nuno guitars. It just makes total sense.”
— Phillip McKnight [01:07:10]
- Industry Context:
- Washburn has been withdrawing from the electric market to focus on acoustics.
- Similar past experience with Ola Englund moving Solar guitars out of the Washburn stable.
- Downturn in US electric guitar production, importance of imports for brand survival.
- Impact on Imports:
“What happens to the N24s and N2s? ... If Washburn and Nuno truly separate, I just don’t see Nuno trying to import, you know, Nuno name branded N2s and N24s…”
[01:11:48] - Community Reaction:
- Largely positive excitement among fans.
- Phil stresses that, as with other artists, owning a personal brand is a growing trend.
2. Gear of the Week: New Announcements & Speculation (01:14:10–01:19:00)
- PRS News: New PRS products launching next week, including a video from Phil.
- Fender News:
- New USA-made guitar line coming soon.
- Not just a revision—new product, new price category.
“For those that have been hoping that Fender would make more Strats and Teles, your wish is coming true.”
— Phillip McKnight [01:17:42]
3. Listener Q&A Highlights
G&L Fretboard Tooling Marks & Repair Advice (00:09:00–00:19:00)
- Phil details fretboard polishing tips:
- Use quadruple-ought steel wool or a white 3M Scotch-Brite pad to remove tooling marks.
- Protect pickups and guitar body by bagging them or using tape.
- For unfinished maple, use Music Nomad F1 oil but buy small bottles as it coagulates if left too long.
"Those pads are amazing. And I can tell you that most factories I go to, that’s what they’re using." — Phillip McKnight [00:16:55]
Amp Recommendations: No Apps, Please! (00:28:00–00:36:20)
- Phil vents his frustration with hardware requiring apps, highlighting his dislike of modern gear “ecosystems.”
- Recommends Yamaha THR30 over the Spark 40 for its absence of mandatory apps and reliable operation.
- Upcoming side-by-side video review of Boss Katana Gen 3 vs. Blackstar amp is in the works.
“Yes. So I hate the effing app too. We’re kindred spirits, right?”
— Phillip McKnight [00:34:12]
Used Pickups as a Budget Strat Upgrade (01:39:10)
- Advocates buying used pickups for the best budget value.
- Recommends checking Craigslist or local markets and testing with a multimeter.
Crate Amps and Logo Pranks (01:41:10–01:48:10)
- Phil tells the story of buying multiple Crate amps in a quest to recreate his youth, only to realize most sound mediocre.
- He humorously replaces logos on quality amps with Crate logos and shares the story of his wife’s supportive reaction.
"Now my Friedmans are Crates and my other things are Crates. I just thought it was funny."
— Phillip McKnight [01:47:08]
4. US Brands, Imports, and Industry Sustainability (01:52:30–02:02:30)
- Phil discusses the tension between U.S. guitar makers' import lines and their dwindling domestic production.
- Mentions that imported models are often more lucrative than U.S.-made counterparts.
- Warns that U.S. brands could end up as just distribution warehouses if they lean too heavily into imports, referencing discussions with Jeff Kiesel.
“I told Jeff Kiesel... if Kiesel Guitars would do imports, that eventually that factory will turn more into a warehouse, and then that warehouse will eventually be importing Kiesels. And that's just what I think.”
— Phillip McKnight [02:00:09]
- Draws a distinction between companies that only build in the U.S. (e.g., Kiesel, Rickenbacker) and those that also do imports (Fender, Gibson).
5. YouTube Community & Industry Insights (02:14:00–02:23:00)
- Phil highlights the importance of social media for small brands’ visibility and sales, stating YouTube’s power has far outgrown his experiences as a physical store owner.
- Gives a shoutout to Joe Wentz Project TV (15K subscribers) as an example of quality content from smaller channels and encourages listeners to support varied creators.
- Shares insights into his own channel’s growth and how YouTube’s algorithms connect audience members across channels of different sizes.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "If you guys didn't know about the new Nuno guitars… these new ones, the Dark Horse and White Stallion, no arm carves. They're just flat like a Telly. Did you guys notice that?" — Phillip McKnight [01:06:20]
- "It could be he goes with a totally different builder and I'm totally wrong, but I just don't know. I got the impression that him and Kris have a good relationship." — Phillip McKnight on Nuno’s new builder [01:09:42]
- "The big deal to me is not that he leaves Washburn. I don't really care if a Chris Mead guitar has a Washburn logo or a Nuno logo on it, as long as the guitar is good." [01:10:15]
- "I have owned a bunch of Kiesels now…every once in a while, the neck's just too thin. I've never played a Kiesel where I thought the neck was too thick." [02:56:15]
Additional Insights & Segments
Guitar Lending Libraries? (03:06:55)
- Listener suggests a public “guitar lending library.” Phil discusses the practical issues—potential damage to instruments, responsibility, and why it’s stressful even loaning guitars for demo videos.
PRS and String-Through Body (02:26:54)
- Listener wonders why PRS doesn’t use string-through body construction; Phil speculates that every Paul Reed Smith design decision is intentional, often dictated as much by aesthetics as engineering.
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Nuno Bettencourt Leaves Washburn, Brand Breakdown: 01:03:15 – 01:14:10
- Current PRS & Fender News: 01:14:10 – 01:19:00
- G&L Repair Advice: 00:09:00 – 00:19:00
- Frustration with Required Apps, Amp Recs: 00:28:00 – 00:36:20
- Used Pickups Discussion: 01:39:10
- Crate Logo Prank Story: 01:41:10 – 01:48:10
- Imports, US Manufacturing, Kiesel Philosophy: 01:52:30 – 02:02:30
- YouTube Community, Channel Shoutout: 02:14:00 – 02:23:00
- Kiesel Neck Profiles: 02:56:15
- Guitar Lending Library Concept: 03:06:55
Closing Notes
Phil wraps up with updates on upcoming deep dives (including PRS and Ibanez content), encouragement to check out the podcast’s second channel, and appreciation for the ongoing community discussion and support.
“If you’re learning something or having a good time, don’t forget, you can subscribe for free and help this channel… Until next week, know your gear.”
— Phillip McKnight