How Rich Renken Accidentally Helped Shape Modern Guitar Tone
What do Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Line 6's Spider amps, and some of the wildest custom guitars on earth have in common? Rich Renken. In this episode, Rich walks Blake through decades in the gear trenches—starting as a bassist in church bands, engineering records with 90s rock royalty, helping invent products that changed the amp game, and now running the show at James Tyler Guitars.
He tells the origin story of the legendary “lead/rhythm” switch, what it was like helping develop Line 6's Spider Valve, M13, and Variax guitars, and how he accidentally dissed Jim Tyler’s headstock to his face. Oh, and did we mention he played a part in shaping the tone on Thriller?
From Norm’s Rare Guitars to dodging corporate spam calls mid-interview, Rich’s journey is a masterclass in gear, hustle, and absurd luck.
Put your headphones on. This one's basically a time machine for tone nerds.
Check out the awesomeness on the James Tyler website HERE: https://www.tylerguitars.com/
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
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1:31:52
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1:31:52
Inside the Pedal Lab with Relient K’s Matt Hoopes
Matt Hoopes is back on the show! Blake and Matt catch up on all things Relient K—from packed DIY shows at Brown’s Diner to opening for Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan. They dive into what it means to be a touring musician as a grown-up, the joys of building a “new boat” for the band, and why some of the most meaningful shows don’t happen on giant festival stages.
They also nerd out on pedal design, with Matt revealing the evolution behind 1981 Inventions' DRV and LVL circuits (spoiler: the new stuff is weird in the best way), plus boost pedal obsessions, collabs with Big Ear and EAE, and that legendary Tele Deluxe of his.
If you're a fan of Relient K, boutique pedals, or Nashville pizza (yes, that too), this one's for you.
🎧 Topics include:
Relient K’s return to touring
The magic of Brown’s Diner shows
The secret sauce of the LVL pedal
Why boost pedals rule
Nashville’s best pizza spots
CBGBs, The Gorge, and other iconic venues
Check out all things 1981 Inventions at Matt's website HERE https://1981inventions.com/ and all things Relient K on their website HERE https://www.relientk.com/
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
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1:12:49
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1:12:49
Springsteen’s Movie Had a Problem. JD Simo Fixed It.
What happens when a guitar wizard stumbles face-first into Hollywood? JD Simo is back, and this time he’s not just laying down licks. He’s coaching movie stars, babysitting vintage synths, and fixing million-dollar screwups the prop department didn’t even notice.
He walks us through how a phone call from producer Dave Cobb turned into a full-blown creative rescue mission on two major films: the Elvis biopic and the upcoming Bruce Springsteen flick. Along the way, JD accidentally invents a job, teaches Jeremy Allen White to fingerpick from zero, and nearly loses his mind syncing fake guitar playing with Dolby Atmos perfection.
We’re talking full-set nerdery. Telling Oscar winners their mic stands are in the wrong place. Sneaking into “video village” and somehow not getting kicked out. And yes, it all started because this man cares about the details.
If you’ve ever screamed at the TV because the guitarist’s amp wasn’t even plugged in, this one’s for you.
Check out all things JD on his website HERE https://simo.fm/
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
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1:11:25
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1:11:25
Joel Korte, Chase Bliss, and Vintage Blake
Way back in the sepia-toned past of podcasting (circa 2016), I sat down with Joel Korte of Chase Bliss Audio — before the blinking lights took over the world and before I fully understood how microphones work.
Can you believe that this episode is almost a decade old? What a wild ride it's been!
This episode has it all:
– Engineering nerdery
– Emotional whiplash
– Mild Midwestern awkwardness
– And at least one questionable Paul Reed Smith tangent
– Strollerblading!
Joel shares how a stint at a major guitar company, and one very big life detour somehow led to building some of the most innovative pedals on the planet. And I mostly just try not to say anything too stupid.
It’s clunky. It’s charming. It’s full of chaotic origin-story goodness.
Basically: if you’ve ever wanted to hear a future pedal wizard in larval form, this is the one.
Check out everything Chase Bliss on their website HERE https://www.chasebliss.com/
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
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1:11:09
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1:11:09
Jay Leonard J: Fuzz, Ghosts & Speedos—A Guitarist’s Midlife Crisis (Kinda)
Jay Leonard J turned 40 and decided to do everything all at once. Theater? Check. NAMM emcee? Check. Launching a new Yamaha Pacifica? Sure, why not. Recording a full-length album in the middle of a life tornado? Of course.
In this episode, Blake catches up with his longtime pal and one of the internet’s finest tone freaks to talk about the wildest year of Jay’s life. It involves getting choked onstage in Cambodian Rock Band, haunted guitars that randomly drop into drop D, wig malfunctions, high-pressure NAMM gigs, surprise birthday parties, and an album born in the middle of absolute chaos.
Also covered:
Fuzz pedals and spring reverb in musical theater
Why robots can’t replace sweaty humans with bad wireless units
Sneaky old-school NAMM tactics and “my buddy Scott” espionage
Vitamin D megadosing: the unsanctioned NAMM survival strategy
Jay’s new album Aw Man and why his kids named it (literally)
This one’s equal parts gear talk, therapy session, and backstage musical mayhem. Buckle up.
Check out the first single off of Jay's new record Aww Man HERE https://open.spotify.com/album/6piMmwA3qauXbHo70CwhOn?si=hIg10vwtQy60_4lkzy2WsA and make sure to grab the whole thing when it drops on June 20th!
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
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.