On this special edition of the podcast, we have one more "Gift Swap" episode with my "other show", The Chasing Tone Podcast! Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to interview Gabe Dalporto, the current CEO of Guitar Center. As the head of the worlds largest music retail store he has probably seen more amazing string, valve, and transistor based toys than most of us can dream of. Gabe's story about his musical family roots, his rather excellent first guitar, and his passion for music is a gr...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 437
Brent Mason is an absolute legend in the guitar world. Not only for his chameleon like ability to adapt to any song, but also for his technical precision and speed. He is also one of the most prolific guitarists on the planet having played on basically any 1990s country song that matters, and a whole bunch of songs you never would have expected. On top of all of that, he's a heck of a nice guy and hilarious! You are in for a real treat of an episode! One quick note: This episode was pulled from ...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 436
Have you heard of Warm Audio? If you've been around the audio world for the last decade or so then I'm sure that answer is "Yes!" But what do you know about Warm Audio? Who is behind the company? How did they come to own a piece of the rack real estate inside almost every major studio? And they are making pedals now? What's up with that? Today I get into the Warm Audio story with the folks behind the brand. Bryce Young is the founder and CEO of the company. He tells the story of a young engineer...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 435
On this episode I am sitting down and chewing the fat with Mike Poorman aka Woodshop Mike. I met Mike during a dinner with the StewMac folks at NAMM, and he had a different story than many other "guitar youtuber" friends of mine. So I knew I wanted to get him on the show to share his rather unique tale with all of you. Mike is a content creator who got his start in woodworking by building a neck-through, five-string, fretless bass while in high school. This eventually lead Mike to a career in cu...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 434
On today's episode I'm chatting with renowned guitarist Tim Pierce. (This is wildly exciting for me!) Some of the artists that Tim has worked with include Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, The Goo Goo Dolls, Celine Dion, and many, many more. We discuss Tim's extensive career in the music industry, his early inspirations, the evolution of gear, the challenges of being a session musician today, the rise of online education through platforms like YouTube, and the importance of hearing hea...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 433
Here we go folks! On this episode I sat down with Craig William, of Many Eyes and Tzarina! We get Craig's early influences in music, his journey through various genres, and how he got involved in these projects. The conversation gets into into the challenges of touring, the creative process behind songwriting, and the evolution of gear from traditional tube amps to digital solutions like the Quad Cortex. Craig shares his experiences on stage, the importance of being present while performing, and...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 432
On this very special episode of the podcast, I'm talking to Sean Mackowski of Tallon Electric! Tallon Electric is a relatively new guitar pedal company, but they EXPLODED onto the scene via some extremely special and truly awesome collaborations with some successful bands. (Bilmuri, Plea For Purging, Alpha Wolf and August Burns Red). We dive into Sean's musical journey from childhood to his experiences in various bands, including My Ticket Home and Attack! Attack!, and his eventual transition in...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 431
On this episode, I am chatting with John Demaio of Voltic Electronic Devices. John shares his experiences in the Army band, his transition from bass to guitar, and the various musical influences that have shaped his career. The conversation also delves into the challenges of starting a business in the music industry, common issues faced in amp repair, and a bunch of other rad stuff like: What the heck CAN you play on a Jazz Bass? Being the first in your region can be beneficial John's current li...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 430
In this episode of the Tone Mob Podcast, host Blake Wyland and partner Scott Marquart get into some GEAR STUFF! But first we must engage in a lively discussion that begins with Halloween costumes because we recorded this on Halloween proper. What's start's off as a commentary on Scott's cowboy outfit moves into a SHOCKING REVELATION about your host's teenage years. After that, we dive into some gear releases, including: the Keeley OctaPsi, , The new Clean Compressor from Chase Bliss The Keeley O...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 429
This week I have my dude Zach from Mythos Pedals, the Dipped In Tone Podcast, and most recently High Voltage Guitars on the show this week. Zach has been on the podcast a few different times, but he has had so much new stuff happening that I had to have him back on for another round. Specifically, we get into the how and why behind him starting Nashville's newest guitar retail shop, High Voltage Guitars. In a place with great shops seemingly everywhere, why did Zach start this store? What's the ...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 428
Shermy Freeman is a fantastic surfy guitarist from the incredible band, The Surfrajettes. We of course dive into gear including her collaboration with our mutual friends at SolidgoldFx, her custom FOLDING pedalboard, single control Fender amps, Creston electric guitars and more! Shermy also shares her experiences with social media, the challenges of starting a band, and the evolution of her instruments and sound. The conversation gets into the impact of viral success on their music career and th...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 427
Today I am talking to Federico Mondelli from Italian Power Metal Sensations Frozen Crown! Oh yeah! We take a journey through his guitars and Federico discusses his story in the music industry, highlighting the challenges faced in the Italian music scene, his transition to a solo career in Japan, and the formation of his band Frozen Crown. He shares insights on the importance of live performances, the impact of online presence, and the challenges of touring. The conversation also touches on his c...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 426
On today's episode of the podcast, I sit down with Jason Gano and Ian Harrold of Musical Instrument Reclamation Corporation. MIRC is a truly fascinating and unique company based in Music City that has saved untold thousands of guitars from ending up in landfills. MIRC partners with musical instrument brands, retailers, and individuals all around the world. They take guitars that get damaged in shipping, have factory flaws, or some other factor that would make them unsellable as "A" stock, and ru...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 425
On this episode of The Tone Mob Podcast, I am reunited with Joe Branton of Guitar Nerds for a lively discussion about our latest guitar and bass acquisitions, the nuances of said purchases, and the cultural significance of Fender and Gibson guitars. We also explore the resurgence of 70s guitars, the evolution of modern gear, and the intricacies of using wah pedals. This is the most GUITAR GEAR focused (yet rambling) chat of the Tone Mob in quite some time, so I'm sure you will get a kick out of ...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 424
Don't worry. Don't compare. Don't expect too fast. Be kind to yourself. These are just a few of bits of "Guitar Wisdom" that Berklee College of Music Instructor Tomo Fujita has been known for. Between his classes at the famous college, and his own online lesson platform, Tomo has helped literally thousands of people not only be able to better express themselves on their guitars, but he's also been a huge inspiration for some of the most popular guitarists of our generation. (John Mayer anyone?) ...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 423
This is a very special episode of the show! Today I am talking with Jack Hetherington and Nick Conte who are key people in Guitar Center's Vintage department. We talk about their stories and how they came to be some of they key "point people" in the vintage guitar world. Topics include: Jack's journey from history major to vintage guitar expert. Nick's early exposure to vintage guitars through his father. The significance of stories behind vintage instruments. Being open to different eras of gui...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 423
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFx has returned to the podcast! On this episode of the show we get into some rather "heavy" methods that both Adrian and myself use to attempt to keep ourselves from going insane. (It might be a little weird, but it works!) We also discuss: The NAMM Show. Is Adrian attending? Is Blake? The strange struggle of finding time to PLAY the guitar while working in the guitar industry The importance (and unimportance) of ongoing instruction Are gear demos honest? Can someone be TO...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 422
As you have determined, on this episode I'm talking to Karl Sanders from the legendary band Nile! And we go places baby. We. Go. Places. We discuss the band's early days, and Karl's view on the evolving acceptance of extreme metal over the years. We, of course, talk about Karl's rig and why he says he'll never give up the tube amps. (It's a very good reason.) Karl and I also talk about the inspiration behind Nile's ancient Egyptian theme and how Karl's songwriting process is somewhat inverted fr...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 421
This a story you probably haven't heard before! Derek Kimball from Kimball Hardwoods shares his journey into the guitar industry and supplying high quality, and specific wood for high-end guitars. We discuss the importance of passion and perseverance in starting a business and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. Derek emphasizes the need for quality and excellent customer service in the industry, as well as the importance of communication and transparency. The conversation also t...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 420
This is one KILLER and super nerdy episode of the podcast! Today I am chatting with Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance and Jamesbowman of Bowman Audio Endeavors/ Against Me! The fellas came on to discuss the new pedal that BAE is producing for Frank, and we got really nerdy with it! We talk about a ton of different stuff including: The PULL that vintage guitars have. Why Frank plays so many different guitars James' signature Gibson that almost/kind of happened Frank's fling with digital amps (D...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 419
On this episode of the Tone Mob Podcast, Blake and Scott discuss their shared love for Les Paul guitars. We talk about their personal experiences with Les Pauls, including the different models they own and the modifications they've made. We also discuss the ergonomics of Les Pauls and the pros and cons of having a pickguard. The conversation touches on the history of Epiphone and Gibson's acquisition of the brand. In this part of the conversation, Scott and Blake discuss the challenges of creati...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 418
Gear, gear and MOAR GEAR talk on this episode. Mike and I dive into his journey from a biomedical professional to full time musician in popular rock act, Boston Manor. It's a more sudden change in fields than I would have expected! After that we dive immediately into the pedalboard, why he believes he'll always play genuine tube amplifiers (though we do touch on the digital modeling world as well). Marshall, Gibson, Fender, Meris, Ibanez 7 series, and of course BOSS are all gushed about on this ...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 417
As I'm sure you have heard, I was recently in Nashville again. While there, I figured doing some LIVE IN PERSON PODCASTING was in order. So I took a little drive to my buddy Robert Baker's studio and we got into a a conversation about... conversations! We talked about: His interview with Vince Gill, Brent Mason, and other guitar greats. His current favorite telecaster (it probably isn't what you think) Vintage Firebird pickups His move to Nashville Indian food And a whole lot more! Give Robert a...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 416
We've got another heavy hitter for you on this episode! Today I'm talking with Yohan Reinholdz of the band Dark Tranquility (and formerly of Andromeda). We talk gear, the evolution of his process, the Swedish music scene, his daily routine, inspirations, and a whole lot more. You are going to dig this one for sure! Check out Dark Tranquility on their website HERE https://www.darktranquillity.com/ Give Yohan a follow on his Instagram HERE https://www.instagram.com/johan_reinholdz Support The Show...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 416
On this very special episode of The Tone Mob Podcast I sat down with my new buddy Travis Stever of Coheed & Cambria and L.S. Dunes! It turned out absolutely wonderful and Travis even let me share some of his music with you that most people have not heard! We had an absolute blast nerding out on all things music and we covered things like: Travis's deep love for Les Pauls, and the influence of Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Tony Iommi and more. Travis shares his perspective on collaboration and the ...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 415
Jayce Levi is the owner of The "World Famous" Repairland down in Indio California. His videos have absolutely exploded in the last few years and it's not hard to see why. He is an extremely skilled repair tech, but his videos also showcase his comedic sensibilities and wholesome approach to life. I wanted to get him on the show to tell his story, and he DID NOT disappoint! From repairing a guitar owned by Jerry Garcia (that was brought in by a Hells Angel), to a ukulele with a flying bridge, we ...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 414
"It's very painful for my wallet to be a musician and not a lawyer." - Dante Frisiello This conversation is very much based around finding whatever it is that you love. Dante delivers a very, very empowering message about this on this episode and you do not want to miss it! But this isn't just a self help episode, we get into his love for both modeling and tube amps, his love for flashy guitars, mic placement, Impulse Responses, hybrid rigs, structuring your creative space and a whole lot more! ...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 413
We have got a good one for you this week! Clark and Cassandra from AmpRx (the makers of BrownBox) share the story of how they met on stage in Nashville as professional musicians, and eventually how they came to run the company. It is definitely not a traditional route to owning a music gear company! (You are going to like this.) We discuss the clean/dirty power, what problems their products address, troubleshooting noise issues, ELECTRIC VIOLIN, power conditioners, MYSTERY NOISES, favorite pedal...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 412
On today's episode I'm talking to Jack Brunson, the founder and owner of one the country's raddest guitar stores in the country, Jack's Guitarcheology. We dive right into his story and Jack shares his journey from growing up in rural Kentucky, to working at Mario Guitars and eventually starting his own guitar store. We chat talk about their eclectic tastes in guitars and the joy of finding unique and unusual gear. Jack also reflects on the challenges and rewards of running a guitar business and ...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 411
This week I have a long overdue episode out for you with my dude Phillip Carter from The 40 Watt Podcast. Phillip and I have recorded on numerous occasions on both his show, and as guests on The Guitar Nerds. So I actually knew Phillip's personality pretty well, but what I didn't know was his story, so we dive right into that on this episode! The conversation covers the topics of self-perception as a musician, redefining success, finding passion, and the art of podcasting. We get into into the m...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 410
