About Play for Keeps: Stories for the Custom Curious
Play for Keeps is an interview series by MachMachines Musical Instruments. Each episode features a musician who has commissioned a custom instrument as they chat with Dave and Jen, cofounders of MachMachines, about the sound, style, and story behind their build.
MachMachines is an independent maker of guitars, basses, ukuleles, and instrument accessories. Rooted in craft and the Chicago music community, we believe that a favorite instrument is more than a prized possession — it’s a lifelong relationship.
Founded by David Showalter and Jennifer Vianello — a luthier and a strategist, a maker and a storyteller —MachMachines is where instruments are made, not manufactured, built for fit and feel, and played for keeps.
We make sound that stays.
www.machmachinesmusic.com (http://www.machmachinesmusic.com)
Occasional Albini barber & former restaurateur on his matching ukuleles
Greg Ellis — multi-instrumentalist, former fine-dining chef, and barber for dozens of musicians — is a two-time MachMachines custom player with matching concert and baritone ukuleles. He chats with David Mach Showalter and Jennifer Vianello about finding MachMachines during COVID, the custom instrument process, a multifaceted career meeting some of Chicago's most storied musical and culinary artists, and the joys of sharing both music and food with his daughter.
Play for Keeps playlist picks: For the companion Play for Keeps collaborative playlist, Greg recommends Shellac, PUP, Dolly Parton, Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Masayoshi Takanaka, Hermanos Gutierrez, Vandoliers, and Ween. Find the playlist at machmachinesmusic.com/listening-material.
Play for Keeps features the custom instrument clients of MachMachines — a Chicago-based independent builder of guitars, basses, and ukuleles. Every MachMachines commission begins with a conversation and ends with an instrument fine-tuned to the player's sound, style, and story. Play for Keeps aims to continue the conversations and share the stories.
#guitar #ukulele #luthier #music #machmachinesmusic
1 Aug 2026
Harvey Doo-Wop on his custom T-style short scale guitar
Harvey Doo-Wop, former guitarist and bassist in Black Math and Le Tour, chats with old friends David Mach Showalter and Jennifer Vianello. Harvey is a two-time MachMachines custom player with a short-scale T-style electric guitar and a MachMachines Cuyler Model hollow-body electric guitar. He talks about the custom instrument process, changing careers, reconnecting with music, and his obscure hobby photographing portapotties.
Play for Keeps features the custom instrument clients of MachMachines — a Chicago-based independent builder of guitars, basses, and ukuleles. Every MachMachines commission begins with a conversation and ends with an instrument fine-tuned to the player's sound, style, and story. Play for Keeps aims to continue the conversations and share the stories.
#guitar #luthier #music #machmachinesmusic
17 Jun 2026
The Grooveliner guitarist on his multilaminate neckthrough guitar
In this first episode, Matt Vianello - guitarist, attorney, pilot, taxi commissioner, and marathoner - sits with his sister, Jen, and Dave for a surprisingly raucous chat. From his first MachMachines guitar to his current acoustic in-progress, the St. Louis Blues to Pablo Escobar, this inaugural podcast episode is worth listening through until the end. Warning: NSFW. Matt has a potty mouth.
Play for Keeps features the custom instrument clients of MachMachines — a Chicago-based independent builder of guitars, basses, and ukuleles. Every MachMachines commission begins with a conversation and ends with an instrument fine-tuned to the player's sound, style, and story. Play for Keeps aims to continue the conversations and share the stories.
#guitar #luthier #music #machmachinesmusic
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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3 ratings
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