The Tone Mob Podcast

I know that you love guitar, but have you ever loved guitar so much that caused you to get a .9 GPA? Or were you ever voted "3rd most whipped" by your friends? (But not to a significant other, but to GUITAR?) Mike Cole suddenly fell in love with guitar seemingly out of nowhere, and when it happened, he knew he had found his life's work. That said, his story didn't shake out quite how he was imagin...

The Mighty Joe Branton has returned to The Tone Mob Podcast! It is a happy occasion indeed! On this episode, Joe and Blake talk about the evolution of their podcasts and the importance of newer creators finding a niche. (Joe drops some good wisdom on that particular point). Somehow the dudes also touch on, of all things, SPORTS. (Don't worry, that is short lived.) Joe shares his current musical in...

Mike Love shares his journey as a musician and how he got into live looping. He talks about the importance of being present and connected with the audience during performances. He also discusses the role of meditation in his music and how it helps him stay focused and centered. Michael emphasizes the power of music to bring people together and create a shared experience. In this conversation, Mich...

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 ge...

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 s...

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 im...

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...

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. The...

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 launc...

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" minds...

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 YouT...

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 D...

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 bu...

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 esse...

In this conversation, Molly Miller discusses her early start in a family band and her formal education in guitar. She shares her approach to teaching and the importance of balance in her career, which includes performing, teaching, and session work. Molly also talks about her approach to gear and pedals and the challenges of imposter syndrome in the music industry. She offers tips for traveling mu...

In this conversation, Blake and Landon discuss their experiences in making that sweet, sweet content. We also talk about our time at Gear Fest and the importance of networking and building relationships in the industry. (Its always good to have buddies!) We also discuss the evolution of YouTube and the changing landscape of the platform. Landon shares his journey from being in a band to starting h...

Summary Justyna Kelley is a "Nashville-by-way of France" recording artist, producer, songwriter, actress, and a whole bunch of other stuff! In this conversation, Justyna and Blake discuss her background in music, her work as a producer, and her love for different genres. Justyna shares her experiences growing up in Nashville and being surrounded by country music. She also talks about her journey a...

Summary In this episode, host Blake Wyland interviews John Dyer Baizley from the band Baroness. They discuss the band's touring rig and guitar setup, the importance of band chemistry, and the role of the song and audience in live performances. John also shares insights into the band's intuitive approach to songwriting and the exploration of ideas that don't fit the band's sound. Additionally, they...

Nick Loux is a musician out of Kansas City who is best known for being a HUGE part of the widely popular JHS Show on YouTube. You've seen him, you've heard him play, but do you know his story? I certainly didn't! So I figured I should get him on the podcast to find out just exactly how he became a part of one of the most popular guitar gear channels on the World Wide Web! Let's just say that Jack...

Have you ever heard of ANYONE hitting the road and visiting basically every single guitar store in the United States? Few have done it, and even fewer have done it for a guitar accessories brand. But Charlton Moore of Franklin Strap has, and his efforts were a large part of the reason that Franklin Strap & Glider Capo is carried in well over 1000 retailers across North America. (And the world at t...

Are we currently at a place where we can talk about "the old days" of The Internet? Are blogs cool again? Is Generation Y going to flock to the written word? Which Batman is the scariest Batman? My good buddy, published writer, guitarist, gear enthusiast, and YouTuber Jason Mays of Working Class Music has returned to the podcast to talk about all of this and a whole lot more! Check out Jason's new...

Klon. There are few words in the guitar world that will get guitarists clamoring, foaming at the mouth, or shouting hysterically like the word Klon. (I'll let you decide if that is a negative or a positive in your own mind.) So much so that even the best clones of the legendary circuit can send folks right into a frenzy. And if those clones are using some of the same hard-to-source components as t...

It is officially a tradition now! My dude Dewey from the Peer Pleasure Podcast is back on for our annual Year In Review. We dive right in and discuss the WEIRDEST things that happened while we were recording the podcast this year, and trust me when I say there are some really, really weird things that guests have done while recording. Squirrels, clock mechanics, "hitting them where they ain't" and...

Randall Taylor (better known as Amulets) is a Portland based musician who is well known for his very unique approach to ambient/post rock. He records to tape loops and manually manipulates the loops in real time while playing guitar. Its a fascinating process and produces textures unlike anything you've ever heard. He's also a super cool and fascinating dude! We had an excellent chat and I think y...

Phil McKnight is one of the most popular content creators in the guitar gear space. He's been spreading his knowledge of gear on YouTube for around a decade now, and yet... There is still a LOT that people don't know about Phil himself. So we dive into the Phil McKnight story pretty heavily on this episode and uncover how all of this unfolded for him. It's a pretty crazy story that not very many p...