449 episodes

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.

The Tone Mob Podcast The Tone Mob Podcast

    • Music
    • 4.8 • 199 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Not An Alvarez! w/ Driftwood Guitars

    Not An Alvarez! w/ Driftwood Guitars

    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

    • 1 hr 11 min
    SHOCK THE FOX!!!

    SHOCK THE FOX!!!

    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

    • 1 hr 17 min
    Scott Strange Returns! (Templo Audio Devices)

    Scott Strange Returns! (Templo Audio Devices)

    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 essential in companies. Finally, Scott introduces some of the new pedals he has been working on and his design process. We also get into the process of translating vintage preamps into pedal form and the importance of embracing imperfections in sound. We also dive into some of Scott's favorite cuisines that are in the town he current resides in.

    Check out Scott's wares at his website HERE https://templodevices.com/
    Takeaways

    Running a business while traveling requires finding the right balance and bringing in help.

    Specialized skills are essential for the growth and success of a company.

    Maintaining the vision and the human element in a company is crucial for its long-term success.

    Scott has been working on new pedals and has been focusing on simplifying the design while still offering flexibility. Translating vintage preamps into pedal form requires creativity and experimentation.

    Embracing imperfections in sound can lead to unique and interesting tones.



    Chapters
    00:00
    Introduction and Living in Mexico
    01:40
    Scott's Traveling Lifestyle
    03:06
    Challenges of Running a Business While Traveling
    06:41
    Finding the Right Balance and Bringing in Help
    10:09
    The Importance of Specialized Skills in Business
    13:06
    Managing Growth and Maintaining the Vision
    15:49
    The Human Element in Companies
    20:41
    New Pedals and Design Process
    28:55
    Translating Pedals
    30:03
    The Outer Limit
    32:12
    Adding Functionality
    34:09
    The Real Deal Studio
    36:35
    Embracing Imperfections
    39:00
    Vintage Preamps
    41:07
    The Appeal of Imperfection
    43:59
    The 2-Track Pedal
    47:08
    Scaling Production
    54:21
    Upcoming Products
    57:42
    The Pocket Studio Comp
    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

    • 1 hr 8 min
    "I Didn't Fall In Love With Guitar To Teach" w/ Dr. Molly Miller

    "I Didn't Fall In Love With Guitar To Teach" w/ Dr. Molly Miller

    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 musicians and emphasizes the importance of self-care and staying centered while on tour. In this conversation, We also get into the benefits of limitations in creativity, and the all important element of gratitude.
    Molly's website is HERE: https://www.mollymillermusic.com/

    Takeaways

    Molly is intensely focused on guitar, specifically.

    Balancing exercise with travel can be challenging, but planning and flexibility can help.

    Finding the right gear and equipment is a personal process, and it's important to have setups that work well for individual preferences and situations.

    Limitations can foster creativity and lead to new discoveries in music-making.

    Gratitude for the opportunities in life and the ability to pursue passions is important for personal fulfillment.

    The Molly Miller Trio has an upcoming record release and tours planned for the future.


    Chapters
    00:00
    Introduction and Background
    01:23
    Early Musical Journey
    03:02
    Formal Education and Academic Approach
    06:36
    Balancing Different Musical Paths
    10:10
    Career Goals and Evolution
    16:18
    Love for Gear and Pedals
    19:06
    Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt
    26:06
    Famine Mentality in the Music Industry
    30:05
    Tips for Traveling Musicians
    32:44
    Maintaining Balance and Centeredness on Tour
    33:49
    Self-Care and Exercise
    34:35
    Balancing Exercise and Travel
    35:28
    Love for Nashville
    36:16
    Stability During the Pandemic
    37:23
    The Changing Landscape of Nashville
    37:49
    Gear and Equipment
    38:55
    Finding the Right Gear
    39:19
    Molly's Touring Rig
    40:13
    Favorite Pedals and Amps
    41:13
    Favorite Pedal Brands
    42:22
    The Challenge of Reconfiguring Pedal Boards
    43:09
    Blake's Vertical Pedal Board Setup
    43:33
    The Benefits of a Hybrid Digital and Analog Setup
    44:38
    The Ever-Changing Nature of Pedalboards
    45:53
    The Importance of Limitations in Creativity
    46:38
    Making Music for the Love of It
    48:16
    Reflecting on Childhood Dreams
    49:30
    Gratitude for the Opportunities in Life
    50:11
    The Wonder of Everyday Life
    51:38
    The Humility of Being a Musician
    52:41
    Upcoming Record Release and Tours
    53:29
    Favorite Boss Pedal
    54:05
    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

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Is Clickbait OK? w/ Landon Bailey

    Is Clickbait OK? w/ Landon Bailey

    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 his YouTube channel and how he found his niche. (We also get into the unpredictability of the platform, and the difficulties of explaining their work to others and the perception of being a YouTuber/podcaster.)
    Landon and I also get into the topic of soundproofing and how we built out our studios for content creation SECOND and loud amps FIRST. We also discuss the misconceptions surrounding soundproofing and the importance of using the right materials.
    Finally, they discuss the weird side of doing this for a living and the impact it can have on mental health. In this portion of the chat, Landon and Blake discuss a range of topics, from dark thoughts and serial killers to the permanence of the internet.
    We get real weird with it!
    Takeaways

    Networking and building relationships in the industry is crucial for content creators.

    Finding your niche and creating content that resonates with your audience is key to success.

    Soundproofing and building a dedicated studio space can greatly improve the quality of your content.

    Incorporating and understanding the business side of content creation is important for long-term success.

    Many people have misconceptions about soundproofing and believe that certain products or techniques are effective when they are not.

    Soundproofing projects can be challenging and require a lot of time, effort, and research.

    Soundproofing in apartments can be difficult due to limitations on modifications.

    Exploring new technology in music gear can enhance the creation process.

    Being a content creator comes with its own set of challenges, including the unpredictability of YouTube algorithms and the outside perception of being a YouTuber or Podcaster.

    Subscriber engagement and success on YouTube can be inconsistent and difficult to predict.

    A large online presence can have a dark side and impact mental health. The internet never forgets, and everything you say or do online can be permanent.

    Having fun should be a priority, even in professional pursuits like music.


    Chapters
    00:00
    Introduction and Gear Fest
    07:15
    Getting Started in Content Creation
    17:33
    Transitioning to Full-Time Content Creation
    23:16
    Finding Your Niche and What Works
    26:11
    Soundproofing and Building a Studio
    29:37
    The Importance of Incorporating and Business Side of Content Creation
    31:26
    Acoustic Caulk and Soundproofing
    32:09
    Misconceptions about Soundproofing
    35:01
    The Uncertainty of First Time Soundproofing Projects
    36:15
    Challenges of Soundproofing in Apartments
    37:21
    Exploring New Technology in Music Gear
    39:37
    Future Projects and Collaborations
    43:30
    Navigating the Perception of Being a YouTuber
    45:11
    The Difficulty of Explaining What You Do
    49:18
    The Challenges of Being a Content Creator
    53:11
    The Unpredictability of YouTube Success
    56:06
    The Mystery of YouTube Algorithms
    59:35
    The Inconsistency of Subscriber Engagement
    01:01:11
    The Dark Side of Fame and Online Presence
    01:02:10
    Dark Thoughts and Serial Killers
    01:03:00
    The Forgetfulness of Live Streams
    01:03:47
    The Permanence of the Internet
    01:04:15
    Landon's Channel and Having Fun
    01:05:15
    Favorite Boss Pedal
    01:06:20
    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

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Dreaming Up Songs. Literally. w/ Justyna Kelley & Eddie Gore

    Dreaming Up Songs. Literally. w/ Justyna Kelley & Eddie Gore

    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 as a musician and how she ended up living in Paris.
    Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of putting oneself out there and finding your people. She also shares stories about her guitars.
    Later in the conversation, Eddie joins the chat to discuss Steve Cropper's guitars, how Justyna and himself work together, and a whole lot more! including writing from titles and finding sources of inspiration. They also share their experiences with song ideas coming from dreams and the importance of using the mighty voice memo app!
    You are going to like this one!
    Check out Justyna's website HERE: https://www.justynakelley.com/
    Give her a follow on Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/justynakelley
    If you'd like to work with Eddie and Justyna check out their website HERE: https://www.eddieandjusty.com/
    Takeaways

    Writing from titles can be a methodical approach to songwriting.

    Song ideas coming from dreams

    Having a simple rig and a few versatile electric guitars can be effective for live performances.

    Working in TV and film can involve writing music specifically tailored to the project.

    Sometimes a change of scenery is what you need.

    Cheese pizza and bacon cheeseburger pizza. We'll leave it at that.

    Chapters
    00:00
    Introduction and Background
    07:25
    Working in the Studio
    11:19
    Understanding the Role of a Producer
    13:46
    The Joy of Collaborative Music Making
    15:11
    Early Musical Influences
    22:26
    Exploring Different Genres
    25:37
    Living in Paris and the Influence of Travel
    30:16
    Favorite Guitars and Songwriting
    33:25
    The Significance of Instruments
    34:12
    Tom Waits Story
    35:16
    Personal Writing Process
    36:39
    Writing from Titles
    37:12
    Methodical Approach to Songwriting
    37:25
    Finding Inspiration
    38:11
    Song Ideas in Dreams
    39:33
    Using Voice Memos
    40:28
    The Importance of The Voice Memo App
    44:46
    Justyna's Personal Rig
    45:45
    Electric Guitars
    52:26
    Working in TV and Film
    57:03
    Justyna's Music and Album
    58:54
    Favorite Boss Pedal
    01:00:46
    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

    • 1 hr 10 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
199 Ratings

199 Ratings

Gitarzz ,

Lots of fascinating stuff.

I’m not really a fan of interview shows so I didn’t expect I’d like this as much as I do. I heard Blake on the Chasing Tone podcast that he also cohosts and he talked about some of the people he interviewed. The one that got me really interested was Tom Cram of Digitech pedals. Once I listened to that episode I kind of got a little hooked. He doesn’t just have musicians on that are trying to climb their way up to whatever is considered the top these days. He talks to a lot of people who do are variety of things. Design and build pedals, build professional studios, people who do research and write books, amp builders and of course boring old musicians who sometimes turn out not be so boring. I liked it enough that I signed on to Patreon to get the extra stuff. I wanted to be one of the cool kids. Give it a chance and you will too.

avleaf ,

Informative, funny, inspiring interviews!

The Tonemob Podcast has been getting good answers out of people for awhile now, and I look forward to finding out where the good pizza is, what’s the favorite Boss pedal every week. Keep up the good work!

Rypline ,

A must listen every week.

Blake has a ton of amazing artists, creators, and stars on each week and the content never fails to entertain. The patreon episodes get even crazier. He even has been known to do giveaways from time to time and my wife won one. First time we’ve ever legit won anything from a show. So that was awesome. Can’t say enough good things!

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