If you have ever wanted to see how the “boutique” gear market worked in it’s earliest inception you will want to find and read “The Goose, The Middle Man, The Idol Maker, and the Gomer Pyle” It is an eye opening read that Brian and Blake try to break down and bring you the highlights. They also discuss the differences in the gear market today. You can find a copy of the original post at the website churchoftone.com Find us at: http://www.WamplerPedals.comhttp://www.Facebook.com/WamplerPedalshttp...
Oct 30, 2017•43 min
Blakes back from Fear the Riff in NYC and Brian is land locked by a local community festival. Seems like a good time to do a podcast. The Goose, The Middle Man, The Idol Maker, and the Gomer Pyle. An amazing article about the origins of what we know today as the Boutique Gear market. Brian and Blake talk about it. Brian recently went to a Garth Brooks show. That takes Blake down memory lane to his third grade talent show and makes Brian relive his first country audition. Blake talks about his mi...
Oct 16, 2017•35 min
Blake joins Brian in this week’s podcast. Common question with no common answer. “Suggested settings” to get “that” tone. Is there a baseline? Is there a true “this is that sound setting” that works for every player? The guys talk about it. Their is a gear show coming up in NYC. Who is going and what is it about? The workday is done, your significant other is off doing what they do and you find yourself alone with your guitar and your amp. How do you spend that “Golden Time”? Brian and Blake sha...
Oct 09, 2017•46 min
Our Wampler teammate, brother in arms, grumpy friend from across the pond, Jason Wilding joins Brian for this weeks tone adventure. So we here at Wampler put a lot of thought and strategy into releasing a new pedal. From social media to demos and the like, it should be a fine oiled machine. But when someone outside our control decides to release a pedal early? Brian and Jason share their frustration and how they are handling it. Jason took the new Paisley Drive Deluxe to a gig. He shares what he...
Oct 02, 2017•41 min
At the 2017 Winter NAMM we sat down withsome Amp and Pedal Builders to get their insights onthe Tone industry, it's future, and what their companies are doing to advance the pursuit of tone. We talked to - Dave Friedman - Friedman Bruce Egnater - Egnater Amplification Joe Morgan - Morgan Amplification Josh Scott - JHS Pedals Roger Smith - Source Audio Aen Hinz - Dwarfcraft Devices Brian Neunaber - Neunaber Audio Effects Frank Falbo - Falbo Guitars Joel Korte - Chase Bliss Audio Mike Matthews - e...
Sep 25, 2017•33 min
One of the most common questions we get through our website is this:"How should I set my _____ pedal to get the sound from this song ______ ?” Unfortunately, that's something that we can't really answer. It depends on a myriad of different things including but not limited to what amp you're playing, how you have it set, what guitar you're playing, how loud you're playing, and that's not even taking into account the playing style... as there is indeed alot to be said for "tone is in the fingers"....
Sep 18, 2017•19 min
Travis calls in and catches up with Brian on what he is up to lately. The Doctor is in and Brian and Travis talk about it’s origins and when Travis plans to order his. Travis is putting down the Strat picking up his Les Paul and playing some 90’s covers. He talks about how he got better tone out of his Humbuckers. Impulse response is becoming a thing, just don’t tell Travis. He still writes and records the old fashioned way. Oh, and get off his lawn. And JHS is collaborating with a big name comp...
Sep 11, 2017•25 min
Brian and Blake discuss their podcast setups and how much they enjoy listening to themselves(not) Brian is at it again. This time he gets to hang out with Warren Haynes of Govt Mule. He discusses a Wampler pedal that tries to capture that “Haynes Sound”. And more proof that tone is in the hands. And the question came up, “What is one widely loved band that you personally cannot connect with?” Brian and Blake agree on a band that might surprise a lot of listeners. Skateboarding, Brian is into pun...
Sep 05, 2017•41 min
If you had to choose just one pedal to gig with, could you do it? What would you choose? Brian and Blake discuss what they would do. We all have quirks, dislikes and odd fears. Like Brian’s fear of Pool drains or Blake’s dislike of chewing on dry towels. (Yeah, I know). And there is a new pedal that has caught Brian’s eye. It has some very cool features that the guys discuss, but it also has some “interesting” marketing. Dive in with Blake and Brian. Brian tackles Blake’s mini display pedal woes...
Aug 21, 2017•37 min
Brad Paisley was in town over the weekend and Brian was on stage with the band. He talks about the experience. Chase Bryant. Brian knew him before he was big. Brian and Blake talk about his story and how it is a great example of patience, being extremely talented, and using networking to get to where you want to be. And there is a new way to podcast that the guys are mulling over using and they would like your input. They explain the Anchor platform and how you can “weigh in” on how to use it. (...
Aug 14, 2017•44 min
Tuners are very necessary. Some use a pedal and some use a headstock tuner. But would you leave that on your guitar throughout a gig? Is it wrong to do so? Brian and Blake have strong opinions on the subject. Brian got away from it all for a few days of outdoor fun with his son. This meant he was “off the grid” for several days. Needless to say, his inbox was a bit full. Was it worth it? Brian will answer that. (And your emails…eventually) Pedal rental services. Brian points out a very useful pu...
Jul 31, 2017•37 min
Brian is back from NAMM. So is Blake, sort of. They recap the show and some of the after hours fun. What do you wanna do with your life? College is good for some, but not all. Do you really need it to chase your dream? Brian has some strong feelings about it. And the topic that nearly broke the internet this week in the tone group. Do batteries make a difference in your tone? The guys share their thoughts. Brian plays with Ira Dean, Blake is a flat earther(?)and building shred sheds. And Vince G...
Jul 24, 2017•37 min
You get a call to hire your band, but they can’t pay you but “hey, you can get some exposure.” Brian and Blake discuss this phenomenon and the exchange rates on “Exposure Bucks”. What happened to guitar solos in country music? The guys talk about it. Brian hangs out with Avenged Sevenfold who is touring with Metallica, will he replace Kirk Hammett’s Wah with a Wampler Hamm-it Wah? Ghetto Blasters, System of a Down, and how to make drums quieter, all in this week’s Chasing Tone Podcast. Find us a...
Jul 17, 2017•34 min
In this special "Tone Tips" Episode, Brian breaks down the features on the new Wampler Ethereal Reverb and delay pedal and then runs it through it's paces, letting you hear the results. Support the show
Jul 10, 2017•12 min
He ballroom dances, plays bass, and helps bring Brian’s designs to life. Wampler Engineer Jake Steffes joins Brian on this weeks episode.. Jake and Brian take on answering a listener question about gain. What is it? Does it differ according to playing style? You are a DIY’er and want to dabble some in the digital world, but how do you even get started? Do you need to be a programmer? Jake answers this.. How valuable is an electronic engineering degree to making pedals? Do they even teach analog ...
Jul 03, 2017•31 min
Three years ago Travis, Max and Brian started the Chasing Tone Podcast and to commemorate the occasion Travis pays Brian a visit. It was too much to fit in one podcast, so here is part 2. One of the perks of working in the guitar gear industry is meeting some of your guitar heroes along the way. Brian and Travis have some stories to share. Like the time Travis hit Brent Mason at a restaurant. True Story. And the guys talk about not liking guitar for a bit and how they dealt with those feelings. ...
Jun 26, 2017•47 min
Three years ago Travis, Max and Brian started the Chasing Tone Podcast and to commemorate the occasion Travis pays Brian a visit. Travis just sold his 68 Marshall for four grand, which begs the question, what piece of gear would you buy if you had $4,000.00? Travis has a new amp and has found tonal peace using a Fryette Attenuator. He explains the difference it makes in his sound. Still picking on Max, the three phases that will get you through any conversation, and Travis is done with using ped...
Jun 19, 2017•38 min
Brian and Blake talk about their favorite recorded clean tone and how Pearl Jam shaped Brian’s affinity for reverb. Do you have a portable amp in you gig bag in case of an on stage disaster? Are there alternatives? The guys take a look at it. The cliche’ that is band pictures, Blake doesn’t listen to Eric Johnson, Brian wants to start a Luke Bryan cover band, and beer can reverb? All in this weeks episode of Chasing Tone. Find us at: http://www.WamplerPedals.comhttp://www.Facebook.com/WamplerPed...
Jun 12, 2017•39 min
Are gear magazines relevant in the internet age? Brian has some thoughts. A listener question about mic’ing guitar amps in a live mix brings up a great discussion on using the EQ spectrum to broaden the mix. The new MS3 is out from Boss. Brian and Blake take a look. Blake channels George Michael and Brian has a killer Luke Bryan impersonation. And what can Brian do with all his gear magazines? All in this week’s Chasing Tone. Find us at: http://www.WamplerPedals.comhttp://www.Facebook.com/Wample...
Jun 05, 2017•47 min
Everyone knows the the mystical 4558 op-amp IC chip is responsible for the best overdrive tones right? I mean, even Stevie Ray insisted on it in his pedals, am I right? Right?! Joking aside, I dive through several popular op-amp IC chips and let you hear what each one sounds like in the context of Guitar Overdrive Pedal Circuitry. Well, not every one out there, but some popular ones... from $.20 IC chips to $10 versions of the popular Operational Amplifier Integrated Circuit chip. And just for k...
May 25, 2017•19 min
Blake and Brian look back at their starter amps and talk about some of the options available to new guitarists today. There is something to having your amp in the room and “feeling” your tone, but is there a way to translate that when you record? Brian recently made an Ebay purchase, unfortunately the pedal was D.O.A. You will be surprised by what he found when he dissected it. Zip tying your pedals to the pedalboard? Hey youtube guy! You’re doing it wrong, And Brian's new Faux Amazon Selling Co...
May 22, 2017•43 min
Blake picked up a Univox EC80 Tape Delay. He and Brian take a look at it. Tuners. A necessary evil on any board. They also bring out strong opinions as to which one is best to use. Let’s get ready to rummmmble! If you want to get good at guitar you have got to practice. But is there a point where you don’t need to? Or does practice change as you get better? The guys talk about it. Brent Mason is giving Skype lessons, what is wrong with Behringer products, and you must like what Blake likes or yo...
May 15, 2017•33 min
The guys answer a question from the Tone Group. How do you effectively set up and use delay pedals. Can you have too many? How do you relate to a non gear head guitar player? Is the quest for tone contagious? Blake talks about how tone became important to him. What is wrong with todays radio? Brian and Blake take a look at that and maybe the bigger question, do we really need radio? Brian’s NAMM memories, what if drummers were gear heads, and why does Brian need four clocks in his living room? A...
May 08, 2017•38 min
Brian talks to Blake about his progress on the new revision of his DIY book. How he is getting more relevant mods into the pages. Blake has some new-to-him pedals. Like a DOD FX75 Stereo Flanger. The guys take a look at them and Brian looks at their schematics to see what’s really cool in them. Guitars get the girls, the PC police need to chill, live streaming, and there is a reason Brian doesn’t want to do rehousings. All this and more in this week’s Chasing Tone Find us at: http://www.WamplerP...
May 02, 2017•54 min
There is a new fuzz pedal in the works. Is it a Big Muff clone? Fuzz Face? Brian talks about where the process is, and some hints about what is in his latest creation. Using DIY skills for “evil”? Brian shares how he messes with people’s minds when he gigs. Has DSP technology caught up with analog in producing tone? It may be closer than you think. Who is wearing M.C. Hammer pants? Trolling the trolls. Can Blake keep Brian on track with the conversation? All this and more in this week’s Chasing ...
Apr 20, 2017•34 min
The guys talk about their first concerts and how it influenced their guitar playing and their tone. Brian admits he had a Prince phase. Blake has issues. This week he shares his frustration with his lack of pedalboard preparedness and indecision. Can Brian help him save 30 minutes of setup at practice? Boss has a new gig rig looper. The ES8. It is full of features that has Blake eying one. Brian and Blake take a look at it Is a Wampler tuner in the works? How about a phaser? And Mr Wampler went ...
Apr 10, 2017•36 min
Fresh off the newest Wampler release, Brian and Blake talk about what is in the Psychosomatic Pedal. It is something….else. Brian get’s very honest about the “secrets of the trade” that he discovered in the creation of the Psychosomatic. We have been doing it wrong. For years. The Psychosomatic may be the pinnacle of Brian’s achievements and he ponders what profession he may pursue next. Confused? It may help you to watch this video first - https://youtu.be/kNeWy8vAiuU All this and more in this ...
Apr 03, 2017•29 min
Blake is Back! He and Brian dive into some pedal mod ideas that Brian would like to try out. Can a TS-9 do that? Brian has re-released his DIY book on Amazon until the new edition is done. But there is a poor confused soul who’s comment caused Brian to go on a rant. Blake shares how he started the Tone Mob podcast, and the story behind the first episode. And Brian rediscovers an old guitar and falls in love with it all over again. You won’t believe what guitar it is. Could the name of the podcas...
Mar 27, 2017•41 min
Brian has a special guest in the shred shed as he welcomes Victor Lee to the podcast. Victor is an up and coming guitarist who is establishing himself in the studio and on YouTube and itunes. Victor and Brian discuss creating songs and how to find the sound to fit the song, and how to dial in tones to create moods. They also take a look at the Thornbucker pickup and discuss impulse responses and why they are so ground breaking. All in this weeks podcast. Find us at: http://www.WamplerPedals.comh...
Mar 21, 2017•28 min
It’s new gear day for Blake. He finally obtained a 1981 Les Paul Custom and that sparked a discussion about the Gibson standard. Brian and Blake discuss how different parts of the guitar can affect tone, as well as what makes a "boutique" guitar different than a standard off the shelf guitar. More coffee talk. Early titles for the podcast. Waxing and tasting capacitors to get the best tone? And why feeding the trolls is bad. We find out Blake is a drummer, Brian thinks Les Paul’s are heavy and w...
Mar 15, 2017•43 min
