The Tone Mob Podcast The Tone Mob Podcast

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

David Greaves started his career as a journalist writing for music magazines before transitioning into pedal design.

The inspiration for the name Great Eastern FX came from the Great Eastern Railway Company and the desire to project a sense of establishment and professionalism.

The XO Variable Crossover pedal allows users to split their guitar signal into low and high frequency bands, enabling the use of different effects on each frequency range.

The XO Variable Crossover pedal offers new creative possibilities for guitarists, allowing them to experiment with different effects on specific frequency ranges.

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Reeves Electro now supports Markus and his daughter full-time.

The workshop expansion and move to a new house present logistical challenges, but Markus is determined to maintain a separate workspace.

Markus plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign to support the workshop move and is offering perks such as build-a-pedal days and personalized messages. The squelch control on a CB radio inspired Markus to explore a pedal with a squelch circuit.

Markus' daughter became interested in building pedals through her involvement in testing transistors and other components.

Seeing his daughter succeed in building pedals brings Markus great joy and fulfillment.

The pandemic had a significant impact on Markus' business, leading to a surge in orders and logistical challenges.

PayPal can freeze your account due to increased activity, highlighting the challenges small businesses can face with financial platforms.

Markus is hesitant to expand his business and prefers to maintain a personal touch in his pedal building process.

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

Marty Schwartz became a successful guitar teacher by seizing opportunities and working hard.

YouTube provided a platform for Marty to teach guitar lessons at scale and reach a wider audience.

The popularity of Guitar Hero helped introduce classic rock songs to a new generation of guitar students.

Video lessons offer students the flexibility to learn at their own pace and review material as needed.

Marty's success on YouTube was a result of timing, preparation, and embracing new technology.

Creating videos for specific songs and optimizing video titles for search engine optimization (SEO) helped Marty attract more viewers.

Marty's commitment to daily YouTube videos and using YouTube as a referral tool contributed to his success as a guitar teacher.

Learning from other music YouTubers can provide valuable insights and inspiration.


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

Building guitars was a hobby that turned into a business

YouTube played a significant role in growing their business and connecting with customers.

YouTube has revolutionized the guitar world, making it more accessible and exciting.

Balancing marketing/promotion work can be difficult, but it's necessary.

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

Sharing the process of guitar building can engage customers and create a deeper connection.

Trusting the builder's creativity and giving them freedom can lead to a more exciting and satisfying final product.

The joy of receiving a custom guitar is like experiencing Christmas morning as an adult.

Innovative approaches and attention to detail can set a guitar builder apart and create a unique product.


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