The Tone Mob Podcast

<p>The year was 2015. Show host Blake Wyland intended to start a podcast where he took a deep dive with his guests from the guitar world to explain their rigs. What happened was that, but also a whole lot more. The show quickly evolved into discussions about people's lives. Guitars, pedals, amps, etc. are the central hub of the show, but it really is more about the PEOPLE behind all of it. Both the musicians who use the gear, and the folks that create these magical tools of expression. You can expect chats about songwriting, favorite bands, family, loss, addiction, conspiracy theories, philosophy, and most of all....... food. This podcast goes all over the place. Come take a ride.</p>

Coils, Swords, and High Gain w/ Ricky Sutton of Arcana Pickups

Ricky Sutton of Arcana Pickups rolls in to talk metal, hand-wound voodoo, and why the word “influencer” sounds like something you catch at a gas-station bathroom. He grew up in rural Tennessee, moved to Portland, and in 2016 decided metal deserved its own pickup company. Now he winds coils that make your amp behave like a caffeinated raccoon and dresses his guitars like they’re headed to war. We get into the black-metal aesthetic—yes, actual armor, hoods, spikes, swords—and his band Cavisum. Every Cavisum track has Arcana pickups on it, so if you want to hear what scatterwound fury does inside a mix, that’s your field test. We also wade into the eternal “art vs content” swamp and see what we can drudge up. This is a fun, surprisingly deep, and metal filled episode. Dive on in! Find Arcana arcanapickups.com • IG/YouTube/FB: @arcanapickups RAPIER20OFF for 20% off through September 30, 2025. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-29
01:17:30

From Elvis to Extreme Metal: A Chat w/ Taylor Danley

Metal YouTuber and fellow Oregonian Taylor Danley shows up with riffs, opinions, and a tube-amp habit that could brown out a neighborhood. We trace the path from Elvis ukulele kid to extreme-metal lifer, then get into the real fight: cranked amps vs. modeling. We make the case for the Boss Tube Amp Expander (turn it up, keep your lease), why an Axe-Fx is the smartest carry-on, and how millimeters of mic placement beat a mile of copy-paste presets. We talk producers who actually make bands sound like bands (Adam D., Will Putney), the charm of leaving one or two “human” wobbles in the take, and why the Boss Katana is still the new-player cheat code. Gear heads get the goodies: Orange OR80, old Marshalls, NS-2 doing unglamorous hero work, the Metal Zone used tastefully (yes, it can be done), and the story behind Taylor’s Obsidian Audio boost plus a new preamp on the way. There’s record-store nostalgia, kids discovering Sabbath, a Corolla-vs-’69 Camaro tone analogy, and a very Portland pizza detour to land the plane. Good laughs, useful takeaways, zero gatekeeping. (Well, excpet for noisegates.) Check out the goods on the Obsidian Audio Website HERE https://www.obsidianaudiofx.com/ And Taylor's YouTube Channel HERE https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylorDanley 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-22
01:17:11

The 1-800 Number That Built Mojotone

Mojotone has been “that place that has everything” for decades—but how did a parts house become an OEM powerhouse? Blake talks with Mojotone’s Andy Turner and Michael McWhorter about the wild ride from surplus pallets and a borrowed warehouse to building cabinets and amps for the biggest names in guitar. We dig into the early Mojotone years, why turning on an old 1-800 number suddenly flooded them with Fender calls, the ZZ Top/Billy Gibbons stage builds (banana-leaf wraps, anyone?), and how amp kits evolved from one-off requests into a full product line. The guys trace their OEM leap (hello, Gibson Goldtone era), the pickup journey from undercover “Custom Wound” to Quiet Coil noiseless singles, and the three-year quest to make a soundhole acoustic pickup that doesn’t, well, suck—plus the low-mid notch that changes everything. Also on deck: tubes vs. modeling, why passion beats spreadsheets in the musical-instrument (MI) world, and the classic Tone Mob lightning round... Boss favorites and pizza opinions included. Check them out on their website HERE https://mojotone.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-15
01:09:38

How Parrotdice Guitars Became Portland’s Favorite Weird-Gear Hang

Some kids take apart toys. Jay Sasseen popped the backplate on a red Squier and never looked back. That curiosity turned into Parottdice Guitars, a Multnomah Village spotwhere weird gear and rad people hang out. We talk about the "gear flipping hustle" that became a real-deal guitar shop with a simple creed that actually works: fix things well, price things fair, remember names. Then we go treasure hunting. Melody Makers that sing, MIJ Fenders that convert haters, Firebrand oddballs, 80s Gibsons that rip, a Hondo rifle-shaped contraption with a trigger pickup selector, and Blake’s rat-rod EB-0 turned Bass VI that should not work but does. This is a very fun episode and there is something for everyone who loves the guitar, the MI industry, and weird dudes shooting the breeze. Check them out on their website HERE https://www.parrotdiceguitars.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-08
01:28:39

Matt Parker vs. The Bass VI: Strings, Mods, and Mayhem

Matt Parker plays bass like a guy who read the manual and then set it on fire for warmth. We talk the strange magic of the Bass VI: why the new Squier Classic Vibe fixes the old headaches, and which mods turn wobble into weapon. Matt rolls through rigs like a responsible maniac: Ashdown heads into a 6x10 for moving air, the LB-30 with built-in load for civilised neighbors, and a Valeton GP-200 LT fly rig that costs less than a boutique patch cable yet somehow slaps. We rant about in-ears and keeping your hearing, praise vintage instruments for having the good kind of problems, reminisce about the Metal Zone, and argue whether the Hofner looks classy or like a violin cosplaying as a lunchbox. There is also pizza. Of course there is pizza. Bass VI as desert island instrument, studio Swiss Army knife, and riff enabler. Come for the bass. Stay for the sustain. You are gonna love this one! Give Matt a follow HERE https://www.instagram.com/mattparkerbass 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-02
01:37:26

From Dead Radios to Living Tone: The Origin of R2R Electric

Chris Vincent (a.k.a. DJLavalamp) joins the podcast to tell the story of how a punk kid with a busted guitar wound up building some of the most coveted point-to-point, vintage style guitar pedals on the planet. We get into the weird alchemy of germanium transistors (spoiler: they melt if you look at them sideways), scavenging tubes out of dead reel-to-reels, and why boutique pedals sometimes feel more like contraband than consumer goods. Chris also gets into on the pedal community’s kindness, how running your own business is equal parts dream job and nervous breakdown, and why chasing tones is like chasing the world’s best slice of pizza—you’ll never stop, and that’s the point. Check out his stuff on his website HERE https://www.r2relectric.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-26
01:10:55

$36, Some Guitars, and a Federal Investigation (Mike Mitchell of The Kingsmen)

This week we’re dusting off a true gem from the Tone Mob archives! My 2019 conversation with Mike Mitchell of The Kingsmen. Recorded live in a Portland cigar bar, this one dives into the chaotic birth of garage rock and the most famous three chords in history: Louie Louie. Mike tells the story of how the band cut the track in a one-hour, $36 recording session — and then somehow wound up under FBI investigation because nobody could understand the freakin' lyrics. (Imagine J. Edgar Hoover, in a suit and sensible heels, spending taxpayer money trying to figure out if a bunch of teenagers were singing about naughty, naughty things. You can’t make this stuff up.) We also get into the invention of Sunn Amps, how their pants-blowing stage volume influenced Hendrix, The Who, and the Stones, and why some folks consider The Kingsmen the accidental godfathers of punk. The Kingsmen's FBI story has been making the rounds on the internet lately, and I thought it fitting to have folks hear it from the man himself. It’s a reminder that rock ’n’ roll has always been loud, messy, a little stupid, and that’s exactly why it’s beautiful. So crank this one up, blow your hair back, and enjoy some history from the loudest living room in America. RIP Mike Mitchell. 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

08-18
42:20

Morgoth Beatz: Heavy Riffs, Studio Secrets, and Touring with the Titans

Hold on to your hats folks! Morgoth Beatz is back, and yet again, he's got a whole lot more than just a cool name. After a couple of years off, the man behind Seven Hours After Violet talks about going from studio wizardry to touring the globe with the likes of Korn, Slipknot, and Avenged Sevenfold. What started as a small project with Shavo from System of a Down has exploded into one of metal's newest heavyweights, and Morgoth's here to spill the beans. They get into the gritty details of how this all came together, the weird evolution of the band’s name, and the musical blend that’s heavier than your grandmother's 1979 Cadillac. But hey, if you're looking for just the music, this episode's not for you. We're talking pedals, production hacks, and why a bass six might just be the best thing since sliced bread. And, as always, we finish strong with a deep dive into the important things in life: smash burgers. Lets get into it! 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

08-11
01:08:38

Pizza, Pickups & Pastrami: Ian Galbraith of Carlson Block

What do world-class pizza and handbuilt guitars have in common? More than you'd think! On this episode of The Tone Mob Podcast, Blake sits down with Ian Galbraith, owner of Carlson Block—an incredible pizzeria tucked in the tiny town of Wilkeson, Washington. Ian shares the story of how he left photography behind to restore a 1910 building, build a life in a town of 500, and create pizza that people will drive hours for. But that’s just half the pie. The other half? Guitars. Lots of them. Ian talks about falling in love with the instrument, assembling his own custom builds, and his obsession with working on guitars just as much as playing them. There’s gear talk, shoutouts to boutique pickup winders (like Sunday Handwound), Boss pedals, and a heartfelt conversation about balancing passion and burnout. Also: brisket, pastrami, what makes a perfect New York slice, and the emotional power of nostalgic pizza joints. Check out all the deets on Ian's website HERE https://www.carlsonblock.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-04
01:14:46

Kemper Regrets, Milkman Magic & That One Perfect Les Paul (Andrew Patrick of The Carolyn)

Andrew Patrick of The Carolyn joins Blake to talk tone, songwriting, and the joys (and occasional heartbreak) of Les Pauls that refuse to stay in tune. They get into the band’s humble beginnings, Andrew’s early love for whiny punk-pop, and why their latest record Pyramid Scheme of Grief nearly didn’t sound the way it was supposed to (spoiler: the Kemper got benched). Also covered: • The Milkman Amp that saved Andrew’s rig • Embracing “the suck” as a guitarist • Internet trolls and why none of them are Steve Vai • The difference between a good tone and a good mix • Tube screamers, Blues Drivers, and the underrated OD-1 • Why music doesn't have to be your job to matter Plus: gear chat, writing dynamics, keeping your amp happy with a Brown Box, and a shared appreciation for greasy New York pizza that borders on insanity. 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

07-28
01:07:43

This Guitar Tech Hates Pizza. And Loves Floyd Roses?

Nate Wood of Stahman Guitars joins Blake to talk about guitars, burnout, mindset, surviving the hustle, and why building your dream job might accidentally turn into a nightmare if you’re not careful. It’s part Lutherie, part therapy, part field guide to doing creative work without losing your mind. They get into everything from learning piano in Utah, to falling in love with Floyd Rose setups, to setting realistic expectations for customers who treat their guitars like holy relics. There’s also honest talk about running a business, pricing your work, letting go of perfectionism, and why sometimes… it’s okay to say “no.” Also: mushroom dust, pin routers, crusty old dudes yelling about tone, and the first ever guest in Tone Mob history to not like pizza. You’ve been warned. Check out Nate on his website HERE https://www.eugeneguitarrepair.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-22
01:11:06

How Rich Renken Accidentally Helped Shape Modern Guitar Tone

What do Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Line 6's Spider amps, and some of the wildest custom guitars on earth have in common? Rich Renken. In this episode, Rich walks Blake through decades in the gear trenches—starting as a bassist in church bands, engineering records with 90s rock royalty, helping invent products that changed the amp game, and now running the show at James Tyler Guitars. He tells the origin story of the legendary “lead/rhythm” switch, what it was like helping develop Line 6's Spider Valve, M13, and Variax guitars, and how he accidentally dissed Jim Tyler’s headstock to his face. Oh, and did we mention he played a part in shaping the tone on Thriller? From Norm’s Rare Guitars to dodging corporate spam calls mid-interview, Rich’s journey is a masterclass in gear, hustle, and absurd luck. Put your headphones on. This one's basically a time machine for tone nerds. Check out the awesomeness on the James Tyler website HERE: https://www.tylerguitars.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-14
01:28:37

Inside the Pedal Lab with Relient K’s Matt Hoopes

Matt Hoopes is back on the show! Blake and Matt catch up on all things Relient K—from packed DIY shows at Brown’s Diner to opening for Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan. They dive into what it means to be a touring musician as a grown-up, the joys of building a “new boat” for the band, and why some of the most meaningful shows don’t happen on giant festival stages. They also nerd out on pedal design, with Matt revealing the evolution behind 1981 Inventions' DRV and LVL circuits (spoiler: the new stuff is weird in the best way), plus boost pedal obsessions, collabs with Big Ear and EAE, and that legendary Tele Deluxe of his. If you're a fan of Relient K, boutique pedals, or Nashville pizza (yes, that too), this one's for you. 🎧 Topics include: Relient K’s return to touring The magic of Brown’s Diner shows The secret sauce of the LVL pedal Why boost pedals rule Nashville’s best pizza spots CBGBs, The Gorge, and other iconic venues Check out all things 1981 Inventions at Matt's website HERE https://1981inventions.com/ and all things Relient K on their website HERE https://www.relientk.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-07
01:14:30

Springsteen’s Movie Had a Problem. JD Simo Fixed It.

What happens when a guitar wizard stumbles face-first into Hollywood? JD Simo is back, and this time he’s not just laying down licks. He’s coaching movie stars, babysitting vintage synths, and fixing million-dollar screwups the prop department didn’t even notice. He walks us through how a phone call from producer Dave Cobb turned into a full-blown creative rescue mission on two major films: the Elvis biopic and the upcoming Bruce Springsteen flick. Along the way, JD accidentally invents a job, teaches Jeremy Allen White to fingerpick from zero, and nearly loses his mind syncing fake guitar playing with Dolby Atmos perfection. We’re talking full-set nerdery. Telling Oscar winners their mic stands are in the wrong place. Sneaking into “video village” and somehow not getting kicked out. And yes, it all started because this man cares about the details. If you’ve ever screamed at the TV because the guitarist’s amp wasn’t even plugged in, this one’s for you. Check out all things JD on his website HERE https://simo.fm/ 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

06-30
01:12:14

Joel Korte, Chase Bliss, and Vintage Blake

Way back in the sepia-toned past of podcasting (circa 2016), I sat down with Joel Korte of Chase Bliss Audio — before the blinking lights took over the world and before I fully understood how microphones work. Can you believe that this episode is almost a decade old? What a wild ride it's been! This episode has it all: – Engineering nerdery – Emotional whiplash – Mild Midwestern awkwardness – And at least one questionable Paul Reed Smith tangent – Strollerblading! Joel shares how a stint at a major guitar company, and one very big life detour somehow led to building some of the most innovative pedals on the planet. And I mostly just try not to say anything too stupid. It’s clunky. It’s charming. It’s full of chaotic origin-story goodness. Basically: if you’ve ever wanted to hear a future pedal wizard in larval form, this is the one. Check out everything Chase Bliss on their website HERE https://www.chasebliss.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

06-23
01:10:41

Jay Leonard J: Fuzz, Ghosts & Speedos—A Guitarist’s Midlife Crisis (Kinda)

Jay Leonard J turned 40 and decided to do everything all at once. Theater? Check. NAMM emcee? Check. Launching a new Yamaha Pacifica? Sure, why not. Recording a full-length album in the middle of a life tornado? Of course. In this episode, Blake catches up with his longtime pal and one of the internet’s finest tone freaks to talk about the wildest year of Jay’s life. It involves getting choked onstage in Cambodian Rock Band, haunted guitars that randomly drop into drop D, wig malfunctions, high-pressure NAMM gigs, surprise birthday parties, and an album born in the middle of absolute chaos. Also covered: Fuzz pedals and spring reverb in musical theater Why robots can’t replace sweaty humans with bad wireless units Sneaky old-school NAMM tactics and “my buddy Scott” espionage Vitamin D megadosing: the unsanctioned NAMM survival strategy Jay’s new album Aw Man and why his kids named it (literally) This one’s equal parts gear talk, therapy session, and backstage musical mayhem. Buckle up. Check out the first single off of Jay's new record Aww Man HERE https://open.spotify.com/album/6piMmwA3qauXbHo70CwhOn?si=hIg10vwtQy60_4lkzy2WsA and make sure to grab the whole thing when it drops on June 20th! 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

06-16
01:08:50

From TikTok to Travis Tritt’s Living Room (with Dillon Weldon)

From anonymous attic guitars to Travis Tritt’s guest room, Dillon Weldon’s story is a country song in the making. Blake sits down with the host of The Drifting Cowboy Podcast to talk about how a kid with no industry connections, a busted Taylor, and a Johnny Paycheck cassette somehow wound up at the heart of Nashville's old-school revival. They cover everything: going viral on TikTok (by accident), how a single prayer led to a million views, and what it’s like when country legends like Gary Gentry, Bobby Braddock, and even Travis Tritt start calling you. This one’s about persistence, storytelling, songwriting, and chasing something real—whether you’re holding a Telecaster or telling stories on TikTok. Also: Nashville hot chicken, and why aging punk rockers inevitably fall in love with country music. Whether you’re a guitar nerd, country fan, or just someone trying to make something happen… this one’s for you. 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

06-09
01:14:01

Mary Gauthier Wasn’t ‘Supposed’ to Make It — But She Did It Anyway

In this episode, Blake sits down with legendary singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier for a deep, honest, and surprisingly gear-heavy chat. Mary didn’t pick up songwriting seriously until her mid-thirties—after years as a Boston-based chef, restaurant owner, and, as she puts it, a total mess. But once she got sober and started hitting open mics, everything changed. They talk about her early love for Taylor guitars, her eventual obsession with the low-end growl of vintage Gibsons, and how she’s more about tone that serves the song than flashy technique. Mary shares the story behind her breakout song “I Drink,” explains why emotion always trumps complexity, and offers a masterclass in the art of getting doors to open in Nashville—even if you have to sneak in through a window. You’ll also hear: The connection between fear and fog (and how to burn both off) What it's like to share a stage with John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams Why you should never underestimate the power of a good crust (yes, pizza crust) A crash course in humility, persistence, and the power of being kind This one’s a gem. If you're a songwriter, storyteller, or just trying to figure out your path—hit play. 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

06-02
01:01:43

Zephyr Avalon on Touring with Zach Bryan, Bass Gear & Surviving the Grind

This week on The Tone Mob, Blake hangs with bassist Zephyr Avalon—a man whose musical journey started with jazz camp and ended up on stadium stages... with a few detours through punk bands, upright bass trauma, and a destroyed childhood guitar along the way. They cover Zephyr’s early years surrounded by classical music, gigging through college, touring with Haley Reinhart, and stumbling into the rocket ship that is Zach Bryan’s rise. There's gear talk (OC-2 forever), rig rundowns, custom basses, and why upright bass and stage monitors are natural enemies. Also: pizza philosophies, Instagram hustle, and why the music industry is a lot like bad sushi—if you’re drowning it in sauce, something’s probably wrong. 🎧 Plug in and prepare to nod, laugh, and maybe question your pedalboard choices. Lets go! 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

05-27
01:30:32

Oneder Boy Forever: Nick Diener on Pedals, Punk, and Parenting

Blake is joined once again by Nick Diener—founder of Oneder Effects and guitarist/vocalist for The Swellers—for a wide-ranging chat that hits everything from vintage SGs and Freebird lore to dad life, Discord burnout, and the existential dread of messy workspaces. Nick shares stories of playing Gary Rossington’s actual guitars, visiting Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, building pedals in cluttered chaos, and trying to stay creative in a post-pandemic industry hit hard by tariffs and uncertainty. They also dive into martial arts, musician mental health, content fatigue, the pros and cons of podcast video, and why dog-related GoFundMes might just bankrupt us all. Whether you're here for the gear, the laughs, or some philosophical dad-core, this episode’s got a little something for everybody—especially disorganized pedal nerds with too many unfinished projects. Check out Nick's work HERE https://www.onedereffects.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

05-19
01:16:29

Punkfake

Blake, have misha back on! I felt like this could have been 4 hours and still interesting. Misha is so open and honest, not to mention smart and savvy. Good stuff.

08-31 Reply

Punkfake

Man the Thrice guys are all just too humble to be very interesting. I've listened to, watched and read so many boring things from them over the years, lol. Their music is so good and they are all monster players but just hate talking about themselves so much that I never feel like I learn what I'm hoping to from them.

02-05 Reply

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