The Show About Guitar Tone and The People Behind It
Once in a while the Patrons of this podcast tell me that one of the bonus episodes NEEDS to be released publicly, and when Phil McKnight came on late last year that happened again! I received a bunch of messages telling me that this bonus episode should NOT be behind closed doors, and if the Patrons ask I need to deliver.
If you aren't familiar with Phil, he is one of the most successful guitar gear content creators of our time, and has a wealth of knowledge about many aspects of this weird industry. You should definitely listen to his first appearance on the podcast. Just scroll back in your feed a bit, and it'll be there!
So here is the Patreon bonus episode with Phil, and we get down to business on this one. The business of guitar stores, the business of guitar YouTube, the business of guitar brands. You are going to dig it!
Make sure you check out Phil over on his YouTube channel HERE https://www.youtube.com/c/PhillipMcKnight
Support The Show And Connect!
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Are bass players actually more important than guitarists? Do we need to thin out our guitar sound? Do thru-hole pedals sound better than SMT based guitar effect technology? Can you play music using a saw blade?
On this episode Blake and Mr Glyn discuss their current projects and collaborations. We also into the world of guitar pickups, exploring topics such as different core types, the impact of string materials on tone, and the importance of context in shaping a guitar's sound.
We also touch on the psychology of playing expensive guitars and the role of experimentation in finding the right instrument. In this conversation, Mr Glyn discusses his love for guitars, his move to New Zealand, and his experience as a guitar repairer. He shares his passion for different types of pickups and the importance of the magnetic field in shaping the sound.
Oh yeah, and DOOM METAL. We get into that too.
Check out Glyn's work on his website HERE: https://mrglynspickups.com/
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Current Projects
10:49
The Role of Context in Shaping a Guitar's Sound
39:28
The Influence of Pickups and the Magnetic Field
45:53
Exploring the Genre of Doom Metal
54:55
From the UK to New Zealand: A Guitar Journey
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
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I imagine that you have probably heard a song called Youth Of A Nation? Well Marcos definitely gets into the story around that song!
We start off with a HEAVY dose of nostalgia with Blake telling the story of "P.O.D. on the Pepsi. box" and Marcos diving into some San Diego bands.
Marcos discusses the music scene and the diverse range of genres that have emerged from the city. He talks about the importance of creating a unique sound and vibe as a musician, drawing inspiration from bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Soundgarden. Marcos also emphasizes the need for musicians to be open-minded and experimental in their approach to music, and expresses his hope for a resurgence of originality in heavy music.
Marcos emphasizes the need for artists to take risks and follow their own vision, rather than simply imitating what is popular. But ALSO the blessing/curse combination that comes with having an original sound.
DJing, tube amps, songwriting, the role of producers, staying true to yourself, and a WHOLE lot more on this episode!
Check out Marcos' DJ Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/mark3yt05/?igsh=d2xpZDJkc3Rwb2Jw
Check out Marcos' personal Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/officialmarcoscuriel?igsh=YXU0MmRvYjkyYW15
P.O.D. Website HERE: https://payableondeath.com/
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
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In this conversation, Blake interviews Jon Deiley from Northlane about his journey in music. They discuss topics such as starting a band, the challenges of pursuing a career in music, and the evolution of their gear and recording techniques. Jon shares his experiences with different studios, amps, and effects pedals, highlighting the importance of finding the right sound for their music. They also touch on the rise of digital modeling and the convenience it offers in terms of portability and versatility. In this conversation, Blake and Jon discuss the benefits of recording a DI (direct input) signal when tracking guitars. They highlight how a DI signal allows for flexibility in reamping and experimenting with different tones later on. The conversation takes a turn as they share personal experiences with eye injuries and the importance of protecting one's hearing.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
07:57
Starting a Band and Gear Evolution
24:55
The Rise of Digital Modeling
28:53
Balancing Creativity and the Business Side of Music
30:57
The Importance of Recording a DI
32:13
Recording a DI Signal for Flexibility
33:39
The Importance of Hard Drive Space
39:13
Protecting Your Eyes and Ears
54:49
Favorite Boss Pedals and Pizza Preferences
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
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In this conversation, Blake and Matt Eich discuss the growth of Mule Resonator Guitars and the development of the Mavis guitar. (The first wooden Mule guitar build!) We explore the importance of unique sounds and the balance between innovation and expression in instrument design.
We also discuss the unique experience of building musical instruments and the emotional impact they have on people. They explore the feeling of creating something that becomes a tool for artistic expression and the responsibility that comes with it. They also delve into their shared interests outside of music, such as jujitsu and fly fishing, and the similarities in the flow state experienced in these activities. They emphasize the importance of being present and fully engaged in whatever they are doing. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the benefits and challenges of pursuing a passion full-time.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction
03:22
The Development of the Mavis Guitar
08:32
The Importance of Unique Sounds
13:48
Balancing Innovation and Expression in Instrument Design
28:19
The Emotional Impact of Building Musical Instruments
35:13
The Flow State in Jujitsu, Fly Fishing, and Instrument Building
39:31
The Responsibility of Being a Tool Maker for Musicians
45:06
The Benefits and Challenges of Pursuing a Passion Full-Time
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Tone Mob Podcast, host Blake Wyland interviews David Greeves from Great Eastern FX. David shares his background as a music journalist and how he fell into writing about equipment from the gear world. He also discusses his journey into pedal design and the challenges he faced along the way. The conversation covers the inspiration behind the name Great Eastern FX and the launch of the company.
Also in this episode, we get a sneak peek at the XO Variable Crossover pedal and Blake shares a short demo. (A first on this podcast!)
David and Blake discuss the versatility and educational potential of the crossover pedal. Including creating complex effects chains and splitting the signal for different amps. David shares the origin of the pedal and how it evolved from a harmonic tremolo concept. They also discuss the importance of using your ears and understanding frequency ranges in music. The conversation concludes with David's favorite Boss pedal, the TR2 Tremolo, and his favorite kind of pizza.
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
01:09
Getting Started in Music and Pedal Design
15:19
Launching Great Eastern Effects
24:04
Introducing the XO Variable Crossover Pedal
27:48
Blake's Experience with the XO Variable Crossover Pedal
30:41
Exploring Different Ways to Use the Pedal
32:21
The Versatility of the Crossover Pedal
33:01
Excitement for Bass Players
34:08
Educational Potential of the Pedal
36:31
The Origin of the Pedal
39:56
The Importance of Using Your Ears
43:24
The Impact of Frequency Ranges
46:37
The Complexity of Sound in a Band Context
49:02
Designing Pedals for Different Guitarists
50:29
The Innovation of Rock and Roll Sound
52:59
Favorite Boss Pedal: TR2 Tremolo
54:12
Favorite Kind of Pizza: Italian with Artichokes, Ham, and Mushrooms
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
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Markus Reeves from Reeves Electro returns to the podcast! On this episode we discuss how business has changed since he first started, and how his daughter is now building pedals full time as well! We also dig into some rather exciting new adventures that are happening with the progress of Reeves Electro Shop 2.0 on the horizon.
Paypal whoas, and how he approaches his work with a "Rick Rubin" mindset, the big lightbulb moment, balance, bad gigs... All of this and more on this week's edition of The Tone Mob Podcast!
If you aren't familiar with Markus's work I highly suggest that you head listen to his first appearance on the podcast. (I'm sure is you type "Markus Reeves Tone Mob" into the search bar of your podcast player it'll pop right up!)
You can also find his website with all of the details HERE > https://reeveselectro.co.uk/
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Catching Up
01:05
Reeves Electro Expansion
03:10
Growing Instagram Presence
04:09
Need for Bigger Workshop
05:08
Moving Workshop and House
06:37
Crowdfunding for Workshop
07:34
Build-a-Pedal Days
08:01
Perks for Crowdfunding
09:07
Moving Challenges
10:11
Intensive Process of Moving
11:48
Crowdfunding Date and Details
13:01
Discussion on Moving Production
14:14
Parking Challenges
15:53
Conversation about Cars
19:29
Maintaining Aesthetics in Different Builds
21:23
Exploring Modulation Effects
22:26
Drive and Fuzz as Red Wines
23:14
Interest in Maestro FZ1B Circuit
24:05
The Squelch Control
27:40
How Markus' Daughter Got Interested in Building Pedals
28:03
Testing Transistors
29:02
Testing Other Components
29:54
Building Her First Pedal
31:19
The Joy of Seeing His Daughter Succeed
34:08
Finding Fulfillment in Doing What You Love
36:20
The Impact of the Pandemic on Markus' Business
38:46
Dealing with PayPal Issues
43:06
Expanding the Business and Hiring
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Blake interviews Marty Schwartz, a renowned guitar teacher and one of the first music instructors on YouTube.
Marty shares his journey of becoming a successful guitar teacher and the early adoption of YouTube for teaching guitar lessons. He discusses the impact of Guitar Hero on teaching classic rock songs and the benefits of video lessons for students. We also get into using YouTube to enhance private lessons, and the challenges he faced during the 2008 economic crash.
We also get into his experience creating lesson courses and DVDs and how he started working with music brands. He discusses the process of getting a signature guitar and building relationships with brands like D'Addario and Gibson. Marty also mentions his involvement in Gibson's G3 mentorship program and his collaborations with the brand.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and The False Episode 500 Celebration
01:16
Marty's Journey as a Guitar Teacher
03:15
Timing and Preparation for YouTube Success
04:14
The Impact of Guitar Hero on Teaching Classic Rock Songs
05:10
Benefits of Video Lessons for Students
06:08
Transitioning to Full-Time YouTube Guitar Teacher
07:12
Teaching Music at an Elementary School
08:11
Using YouTube to Enhance Private Guitar Lessons
09:08
The Impact of the 2008 Economic Crash
10:07
Focusing on YouTube Videos During Challenging Times
11:06
The Evolution of Marty's YouTube Channel
12:19
Discovering the Importance of SEO for Video Titles
13:14
Creating Videos for Specific Songs
15:16
Teaching Classic Rock Songs to Kids
18:28
Doubling Down on YouTube as a Referral Tool
19:05
The Early Days of YouTube and Monetization
20:01
Using YouTube as a Marketing Tool
22:29
Learning from Other Music YouTubers
23:23
Transitioning from Private Lessons to YouTube
25:26
Creating Lesson Courses and DVDs
27:21
Working with Music Brands
29:16
Getting a Signature Guitar
31:57
Building Relationships with Brands
34:00
Working with D'Addario
35:25
Participating in Gibson's G3 Mentorship Program
39:44
Collaborating with Gibson
00:00
Introduction and Signature Guitar
02:58
The Reality of Touring
06:03
The Connection with Fans
08:58
The Realities of Touring
13:01
Dealing with Scams and Fake Videos
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this conversation, Blake interviews Chris and Matt from Driftwood Guitars. This is an EXTREMELY YouTube driven episode. (Thanks Rhett Shull!)
As the Driftwood Guitars channel has grown, so has the guitar building business and we talk about their approach, how to balance the guitar building side with the video side, negative troll comments, mental health, and a whole lot more!
Head over to the Driftwood Guitars website HERE! https://www.driftwoodguitars.com/
And their YouTube HERE https://www.youtube.com/@DriftwoodGuitars
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
01:58
Getting Started in Guitar Building
03:01
Transition to YouTube
06:02
The Impact of YouTube on the Business
08:08
The Evolution of YouTube and its Influence
09:31
The Growth of Guitar Podcasts
12:21
The Shift in YouTube's Perception
15:36
The Journey into YouTube
19:46
The Early Days of YouTube
20:45
Creating Quality Content
21:14
Finding Your Voice on YouTube
22:09
Listening to the Audience
23:08
The Power of Momentum
24:18
Discovering Your Niche
25:14
Analyzing Video Performance
26:09
The Importance of Thumbnails and Titles
27:11
The Viewer's Perspective
28:05
The Unpredictability of Video Success
29:24
Balancing Passion and Views
30:27
The Impact on Business
31:09
Expanding Reach and Sales
32:08
Direct Connection with Customers
33:09
Competition and Quality
34:27
The Power of YouTube Algorithms
35:51
The Work Behind the Scenes
38:47
The Balance Between YouTube and Guitar Building
41:27
The Path to Success
44:03
The Role of Luck and Algorithms
45:53
The Power of YouTube Collaborations
46:35
The Importance of YouTube for Creators
47:03
The Evolving Landscape of YouTube
47:55
Balancing YouTube and Guitar Building
48:23
YouTube as a Tool for Business Growth
50:15
Dealing with Negative Comments on YouTube
51:13
Developing Resilience through Online Criticism
52:47
Appreciation for the Online Creator Community
53:32
Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
56:26
Favorite Boss Pedals
59:06
Favorite Kind of Pizza
01:04:02
Closing Remarks
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tye Tyler (Shock The Fox)shares his journey from the corporate world slinging cell phones to becoming a full time guitar builder. He discusses his background in woodworking and how he got into building guitars. We also go over the importance of sharing the process of guitar building and engaging with folks in a genuine way. He also talks about the joy of opening a guitar and the satisfaction of building for others.
This is a banger of an episode, and you really should check out Tye's work on his webiste HERE: https://shockthefox.com/
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Technical difficulties
01:00
Introduction and background
03:02
From Oil City to the corporate world
04:22
Transition to woodworking and guitar building
05:46
Bartering for guitars
07:15
Transition from corporate world to guitar building
08:14
Building guitars and the quest for expertise
09:37
Sharing the process of guitar building
11:25
The joy of opening a guitar
20:05
The satisfaction of building for others
22:24
Telling the story of the build
23:21
The fascination with the guitar building process
25:38
The importance of engagement and storytelling
27:07
The excitement of receiving a custom guitar
29:17
Trusting the builder's decisions
30:48
The uniqueness of Tye Tyler's guitar building
36:17
Innovative approaches in guitar building
37:24
Attention to detail in guitar building
37:54
Attention to Detail in Guitar Building
39:00
Neck Resets and Guitar Modifications
42:29
Customizing Guitars and Personal Projects
44:06
Critiquing Traditional Guitar Building Methods
46:21
The Importance of Reinforcement in Guitar Design
50:31
Finding Fulfillment in Guitar Building
57:54
The Balance Between Creativity and Efficiency in Business
01:01:31
Favorite Boss Pedal
01:02:46
Favorite Kind of Pizza
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Blake interviews Scott Strange from Templo Audio Devices. They discuss Scott's traveling lifestyle and the challenges of running a business while constantly on the move. Scott shares his approach to finding the right balance and bringing in help to scale his company. They also talk about the importance of specialized skills in business and the human element that is absolutely essential in companies. Finally, Scott introduces some of the new pedals he has been working on and his design process. We also get into the process of translating vintage preamps into pedal form and the importance of embracing imperfections in sound. We also dive into some of Scott's favorite cuisines that are in the town he current resides in.
Check out Scott's wares at his website HERE https://templodevices.com/
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Living in Mexico
01:40
Scott's Traveling Lifestyle
03:06
Challenges of Running a Business While Traveling
06:41
Finding the Right Balance and Bringing in Help
10:09
The Importance of Specialized Skills in Business
13:06
Managing Growth and Maintaining the Vision
15:49
The Human Element in Companies
20:41
New Pedals and Design Process
28:55
Translating Pedals
30:03
The Outer Limit
32:12
Adding Functionality
34:09
The Real Deal Studio
36:35
Embracing Imperfections
39:00
Vintage Preamps
41:07
The Appeal of Imperfection
43:59
The 2-Track Pedal
47:08
Scaling Production
54:21
Upcoming Products
57:42
The Pocket Studio Comp
Support The Show And Connect!
The Text Chat is back! Hit me up at (503) 751-8577
You can also help out with your gear buying habits by purchasing stuff from Tonemob.com/reverb Tonemob.com/sweetwater or grabbing your guitar/bass strings from Tonemob.com/stringjoy
Release your music via DistroKid and save 30% by going to Tonemob.com/distrokid
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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