Products of Music

Adam Wakeling
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Get the full story on what makes a great music technology product, with 1-1 conversations from leading voices and founders. Hosted by Adam Wakeling, Product Manager. 

  1. Analog Man: The Last Years of a Pedal Legend (and What Comes Next)

    FEB 3

    Analog Man: The Last Years of a Pedal Legend (and What Comes Next)

    In this episode, host Adam Wakeling speaks with Analog Mike Piera, founder of Analog.man, about his approach to product development, the infamous waitlist for the King of Tone, the state of the guitar and pedal market and what the future looks like for the company. To learn more, visit: https://www.analogman.com/ Many thanks to this episode's sponsor Chase Bliss. Check out Chase Bliss effects pedals here: https://www.chasebliss.com?utm_source=productsofmusic Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:02 Intro 02:00 Mike's founder story 03:57 Approach to product dev 10:50 Analog Man marketing 12:53 Sponsor section 13:38 Art versus science in design 15:01 Testing rigs 17:10 FX loop challenges 18:50 Pedal gain versus amp gain 20:49 Analog Man Rat pedal? 21:24 King of Tone wait list 24:25 Analog Man without Mike? 25:31 Teaching knowledge 27:06 Thoughts on digital modelers 31:04 What not to add on pedals 34:47 Chase Bliss Brothers AM 36:42 Mike's current concerns 40:32 Challenge of limited supply 42:39 What keeps Mike motivated 44:57 How the customer has changed 50:07 Mike's advice to founders 52:52 Quick-fire questions 56:38 Community questions 01:00:30 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    1h 1m
  2. How Abasi Concepts is Redefining Guitar Design (CEO Tosin Abasi & COO Ivan Chopik)

    12/09/2025

    How Abasi Concepts is Redefining Guitar Design (CEO Tosin Abasi & COO Ivan Chopik)

    In this episode, host Adam Wakeling speaks with Tosin Abasi (CEO and Founder of Abasi Concepts), as well as Ivan Chopik (Founder of Guitar Messenger and COO of Abasi Concepts) about their journeys; the state of the guitar and pedal market; and their approach to product development and innovation. To learn more about Abasi Concepts, visit: https://abasiconcepts.com/ Many thanks to this episode's sponsor Chase Bliss. Check out Chase Bliss effects pedals here: https://www.chasebliss.com?utm_source=productsofmusic Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:35 Intro 02:41 Abasi Concepts Origin Story 10:16 The First 7/8 Strings 17:00 Chase Bliss Sponsor Section 18:15 Compromises in Guitar Design 20:32 Abasi Concepts Product Development 25:16 Ideation to Production 31:30 Why Tosin Loves Analog Gear 34:40 Digital and the Young Generation 35:26 Where Abasi is Looking Next 38:32 Gibson Neck Heel Issues 39:37 Abasi Concepts Bass Guitars 40:00 Abasi Nylon String Guitars 42:05 Solving Problems for Guitarists 45:30 Leveraging Industry Collaborations 47:36 Guitar Market Concerns 50:00 Abasi Guitar Quality Issues 54:39 Entrepreneurial and Musician Advice 58:54 Quick Fire Questions 01:01:54 Reddit Community Questions 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    1h 7m
  3. How EarthQuaker Devices Changed the World of Effects Pedals (Jamie Stillman, Founder)

    11/14/2025

    How EarthQuaker Devices Changed the World of Effects Pedals (Jamie Stillman, Founder)

    Welcome to Products of Music, where you will hear inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode: In this episode host Adam Wakeling speaks with Jamie Stillman, Founder of EarthQuaker Devices about the impact of tariffs on small US businesses; why Jamie is not concerned about the current generation of digital modelers like the Quad Cortex and Helix, as well as how EarthQuaker Devices approaches product development at the company. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_O3xHoxGFw To learn more about EarthQuaker Devices, visit: https://www.earthquakerdevices.com/ Many thanks to this episode's sponsor Chase Bliss. To learn more about Chase Bliss, visit: https://www.chasebliss.com?utm_source=productsofmusic  Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:15 Intro 02:17 EarthQuaker origin story 05:00 Catalyst for scaling 05:53 Julie's impact 06:58 Product development approach 09:24 Data-driven development 10:48 Trends in the market 14:31 Chase Bliss Sponsor 15:34 Analog versus digital 18:36 Guiding product principles 22:50 Every pedal has a song in it 24:03 Inspiration for pedal ideas 27:39 Ideas thought process 29:25 More complex EarthQuaker pedals 32:50 Hedgehog concept in business 35:19 What EarthQuaker is best at 41:45 Getting pedals to be ready 47:12 Jamie's concerns for the future 49:28 Quick-fire questions 52:55 How fans can support 55:30 Customisation capabilities 56:51 Pedals close to being scrapped 59:08 Bright pedal LEDs 01:00:03 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    1h 1m
  4. The Chase Bliss Way: Emotion, Design and the Future of Pedals (Joel Korte, Founder)

    10/14/2025

    The Chase Bliss Way: Emotion, Design and the Future of Pedals (Joel Korte, Founder)

    Welcome to Products of Music, where you will hear inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode: Host Adam Wakeling speaks with Joel Korte, founder of Chase Bliss, about his founder journey, the 'chase bliss way' of product development, as well as his successes, failures and market insights. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTKX8kSsQsw To learn more about Chase Bliss, visit: https://www.chasebliss.com 00:00 Preview 01:50 Intro 03:05 Joel's founder journey 09:00 Meaning of 'Follow Your Bliss' 12:25 EOS business tools 15:00 Chase Bliss way of product dev 18:30 Definition of 'best' 20:42 Biggest success story 25:36 Pedal release timing 28:36 Why Joel discontinues pedals 33:25 What makes a pedal last? 37:45 Analog versus Digital 42:52 Future innovation 45:37 Chase Bliss midi controller? 47:24 Enamel pins 48:30 Habit design 50:09 New form factor? 50:44 State of the market 57:35 Chase Bliss budget pedals 58:30 Most painful pedal implementation 01:00:01 'Quick fire' questions 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    1h 8m
  5. The Future of Guitar Amps Looks a Lot Like the Past (Dave Friedman, Friedman Amplification)

    09/11/2025

    The Future of Guitar Amps Looks a Lot Like the Past (Dave Friedman, Friedman Amplification)

    Welcome to Products of Music, a podcast sharing inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode, host Adam Wakeling speaks with Dave Friedman, founder of Friedman Amplification, about his approach to product development at the company; the analog versus digital debate; and what the future of boutique amps looks like. View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSmHFXvpvXw To learn more about Friedman Amplification, visit: https://friedmanamplification.com/  00:00 Preview 01:24 Intro 02:25 Dave's founder journey 06:15 Developing amp building skills 08:20 The key to creating a company 13:10 Option paralysis in digital modeling 15:13 The lack of unique guitar tones today 20:23 How Dave finds new product ideas 23:16 Unsuccessful product releases 24:25 Biggest Friedman product success 29:10 The difficulty with US tariffs 33:35 Early lessons learned 38:10 Digital detoxing/experience of analog 41:45 How buyer expectations have changed 44:10 When to expand the product range 45:50 Some insights for entrepreneurs 48:40 A few quick-fire questions 51:15 Why the amp naming convention? 54:14 Friedman takes on other amps? 55:05 New Vox-style Friedman amp 56:00 How Dave adds his unique touch to vintage amps 56:55 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    58 min
  6. Adapt or Fade: How Wampler Pedals is Navigating the Digital Storm

    08/14/2025

    Adapt or Fade: How Wampler Pedals is Navigating the Digital Storm

    Welcome to Products of Music, a podcast sharing inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode host Adam Wakeling speaks with Brian Wampler, Founder of Wampler Pedals. From the humble beginnings of modding pedals in his garage to producing some of the most sought-after boutique pedals in the industry, Brian Wampler’s journey is one of passion, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of the perfect guitar tone. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C4sYXrSJY8Y To learn more about Wampler Pedals, visit: https://www.wamplerpedals.com/ Guitar Pedal Courses: https://www.guitarpedalcourse.com/  Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:03 Intro 02:07 Brian’s founder journey 05:44 Importance of networking 08:40 The Wampler product development process 12:39 Getting feedback and external data 15:40 Brian’s approach to hiring 20:10 When to release new products 24:14 The expectation of digital products 28:50 Wampler’s audience and expectations 30:38 The different USPs in guitar pedals 37:13 Diversification of revenue streams 40:27 Threat of digital modeling 48:00 Asking Reddit’s most upvoted questions 56:30 Quick-fire questions 01:03:30 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    1h 4m
  7. How Universal Audio Designs the Gear Trusted by the Pros

    06/19/2025

    How Universal Audio Designs the Gear Trusted by the Pros

    Welcome to Products of Music, a podcast sharing Inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode: Host Adam Wakeling speaks with Rodrigo J. Ibieta, Director of Product Management, Hardware Products, at Universal Audio. What to expect: 🟠 Product strategy insights for developing music hardware 🟠 Inside stories from Fender and Universal Audio 🟠 Tips on progressing in Product Management Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:00 Intro and background 06:47 Fender Acoustasonic stories 12:00 How Fender segments its customers 15:22 Product Strategy at Universal Audio 19:59 Importance of speaking with customers 20:50 Creating a product ecosystem 24:10 Ensuring product alignment 28:39 Talking Customer Lifetime Value 31:30 Defining a few terms 34:02 Process for New Business Cases 37:32 Competitor landscapes 39:30 Product feasibility process 43:03 Lessons from product disappointments 46:20 Advice to Product Managers 49:46 A few quick-fire questions 53:57 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack: https://www.productsofmusic.com 🎥 Subscribe to Adam Wakeling's personal YouTube channel:  @adamwakeling 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/products-of-music/id1683097403 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07d7lJpIRYIZ0rr31xUa5X 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    54 min
  8. How Rob Chapman turned his guitar passion into a business

    04/05/2025

    How Rob Chapman turned his guitar passion into a business

    Welcome to Products of Music, a podcast sharing inside stories and expert insights on product innovation in music technology. In this episode host Adam Wakeling speaks with Rob Chapman, Founder of Chapman Guitars. Rob is an English musician, YouTube content creator, and the founder and co-owner of Chapman Guitars. He is is known for his popular instructional YouTube channel with over 725,000 subscribers and as demonstrator of guitar equipment for Andertons Music Co.  He is a lead singer and a guitarist, previously playing for the blues/Americana band Clockwork Wolf & Co, and rock band Dorje. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnC9tEEDjNQ To learn more about Chapman Guitars, visit: https://www.chapmanguitars.com/ Rob's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RobChappers Chapters: 00:00 Preview 01:07 Intro 02:40 The birth of Chapman Guitars 05:05 The power of customer collaboration  09:49 How to make a great guitar? 10:41 Rob's skillset that helped boost the brand 13:04 Rob's values and company values 15:12 Steering the ship in difficult times 19:57 The uniqueness of the guitar product market 23:28 Finding 'vibe' in developing products 25:12 The rise of relicing guitars 26:54 Finally talking about the café 28:36 Separating business and creative sides  33:10 The issue with YouTube product demos 36:17 Agile approach to manufacturing location  42:53 Decision to release a boutique guitar amplifier 6:10 Rob's final thoughts 48:00 Outro 🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn 🌐 Follow the host on X

    49 min
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About

Get the full story on what makes a great music technology product, with 1-1 conversations from leading voices and founders. Hosted by Adam Wakeling, Product Manager. 

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Wakeling
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Products of Music
  • Show Website
    Products of Music

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