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 Francisco Cresp, co-founder and CPO at Neural DSP, about his founder journey, how the company approaches product development and inside stories from one of the leading names in digital modeling for guitar and other instruments.

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

01:15 Intro

02:36 Francisco's founder story

09:00 Working with Doug Castro

11:00 Neural DSP's product development

16:03 Chase Bliss sponsor section

16:47 User feedback mechanisms

19:05 John Mayer X development

23:02 Plugin compatibility challenges

26:10 How Neural DSP prioritises

27:42 Why a vocal plugin?

31:30 Quad Cortex for vocals

33:10 Analog versus digital debate

34:48 Tom Morello JCM800 differences

37:40 Love of analog synths

38:52 Synth in the Quad Cortex

39:08 Neural DSP as a target

40:36 Latest research projects

41:21 Gen AI in the Quad Cortex?

42:50 Challenges of capturing fuzz

46:06 Noise floors in capture tech

47:33 Quick-fire questions

51:30 FX captures?

53:52 When PCOM for Petrucci?

55:22 Interface gain at 0?

58:24 Software for Nano Cortex?

59:04 Outro

🌐 Subscribe for free on Substack

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
🎧 Listen on Spotify

🌐 Follow the host on LinkedIn
🌐 Follow the host on X

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

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

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

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

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

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

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