Tom Scholz: Sound Machine

Tom Scholz takes us behind the scenes for a one-of-a-kind tour of his studio and his life.
Tom Scholz is an MIT-trained engineer and inventor who also happens to be the mastermind, songwriter and lead guitarist of the band Boston. Boston has sold something like a bajillion albums and Tom continues to record, tour and invent equipment for himself and other musicians.
Like Tom Scholz's profile? Visit "The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers" online and on Facebook.
Web: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/secretlife/
Facebook: / novasecretlife
"The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers" is an Emmy-nominated web video series and site from the makers of the acclaimed science series, PBS's NOVA. Each episode profiles one of today's leading scientists, and shows what happens when the lab coats come off. Secret Life is produced by Seftel Productions, Inc.

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

This is great, but it’s criminally short. I could watch a 2 hour documentary on Tom.

[@Vinnybrain]

I agree with that....an absolutely fascinating genius!

[@msr1116]

I watched this interview last evening. Turn on closed captions for English subtitles. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6Ooq6KXbpJ8bsk&start_radio=1&t=8

[@sjp35productions6]

Only 2 hours?

[@billsteinfeld559]

I totally agree! I want to see a full length comprehensive interview!

[@gregorymccasland2874]

Yeah, I could watch and listen to him and his band all day...every day.

[@ClearAdventure]

I didn't live in the time of Tesla, but I am thankful to have lived in the time of Tom Scholz.🤘😊🇺🇸❤️

[@1stCorinthians2_14]

Scott Keenan You went on to work in a studio or Tom?

[@Terrysoddy]

Me too my friend, me too

[@jhneilson]

What a nice, normal, and brilliant guy

[@carlostejada1479]

he is faraway from normal

[@guyparris4871]

We are all lucky to be on this planet with this genius.

[@DavidThomasScorbal]

"It's nice to be appreciated ... not so nice to be appreciated for something other than who you are." Thank you, Nova, for including this 10 seconds. I think it taught me more about Tom Scholz than any video, concert, or piece of gear ever could.

[@twinsmm1]

Easily the most talented yet underrated man in the world.

[@Malcolm6627]

Ditto.

[@superbionicbatman]

Yep.

[@brakemcgaughey5724]

I wouldn't say the most talented, but he is a genius in both music and technology. He is definitely underrated too?

[@Burps___]

twinsmm1 Talented musically, not talented at band personnel management.

[@marc8828]

@@Burps___ It's pretty obvious he meant talented "musically" over talented at anything else lol.

[@ShutupAndPlayGuitarTutorials]

When Boston's first album came out all I wanted was to get my guitar to sound like that, it completely blew me away, still does.

[@vincegedeon6583]

Yeah that's a monster of an amazing album

[@SuperReallyNice]

The sustain is incredible!

[@Vinnybrain]

Everything about that album was and still is innovative, especially the guitar work and Tom's organ solos on Smokin-- truly are Smokin! Dayam what a talent! Brad Delp's voice- un-be-freekin-believeable!! Sub's Drumming....every member of the band-- Top Shelf!

[@bearray57]

@@Vinnybrain I used a 1961 Fender Jaguar, a Fender tube amp and a LPB 1 distortion booster.. I am 63 now and it's much easier with the new amps!

[@jimgodofbiscuits]

I love this Rick Beato breakdown of More Than a Feeling....I never knew that was Brad's voice and not a guitar at one point..he isolates everything in the video. And beyond Scholz's engineering genius, his songs are so brilliantly written and mixed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5-pf6dqqcx1gJI Was in more awe than before....than when I saw them as a teen on the DLB tour....after watching Rick's video

[@jeffa6834]

Life without Boston's music would not be as sweet.

[@rdmkeytohwy]

If he had only written "More Than A Feeling" it would have been enough. That is how good that song is. But that whole first album Boston put out was solid gold all the way thru. There isn't a bad song on it. Tom Scholz is a genius and Brad Delp's voice was superhuman. Gone too soon. Boston's records are timeless and darn near perfect. Love it more every time i listen to it.

[@Madmun357]

Man, I agree with you 99%. The only thing I disagree with you is that the album wasn't nearly perfect...it IS perfect. I don't think anything could be done to make it better.

[@rdmkeytohwy]

@@Madmun357i stand corrected. I listened to the album again recently and i think you are right. He couldn't have done anything else to make that album better. I feel confident in saying that Boston's debut album is in the top 5 debuts of all time, possibly number one. Bands were often great live but not that great on record. Boston is an obvious exception. All of their records are tremendous and timeless.

[@Madmun357]

@@rdmkeytohwy, and even now FORTY THREE YEARS later it's still perfect. I think top 5 not just in debut albums, but any album.

[@robbiefrentz9427]

rdmkeytohwy your right the whole first album was awesome

[@dynjarren7523]

Brad Delp’s vocals are at least half the success of Boston. Without him, it wouldn’t have worked. RIP

[@icosahedron7726]

*""THE MAN WHO COMPOSED AND WROTE AND PERFORMED AND PRODUCED *""PEACE OF MIND""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

[@rickharris4513]

Could that song been his version of a resignation letter to Polaroid?

[@jamesjewkiller1630]

Imagine rock music without Tom, I can't either!

[@RA-uj3nm]

...... thought his music wasn't as good as what was on the radio...... amazing how people can perceive themselves..... awesome guy. Boston = rock 101

[@cprservices2484]

We probably would never see a total genius coupled with one of the best rock voices in history ever again! Over 40 years old and the music of Boston still sounds great and certainly not dated. Its timeless.

[@eduardoallo8786]

Tom´s rockman is the most beautiful driven guitar sound ever made. That "cryin´guitar sound", you know...actually it´s an essential part of many records, songs, and players style. So much for his engineer work as for his musicianship, Tom is a very important guy in the rock history

[@RKDriver]

I remember when it came out in the 80's and a friend got one. That thing was amazing and back then it was hard to get a beautiful, overdriven, compressed guitar tone from the equipment of the day. Maybe if you had a Marshall stack cranked to 11 you could get a great tone, but that wasn't an option for must of us. That Rockman allowed everyone to have a professional sounding guitar tone in a bedroom environment. Something we take for granted now with all the digital/software and amp-modeling available.

[@eduardoallo8786]

@@RKDriver yes man...I remember how difficult was in the old days....and those horrible sounds of the cheap solid state amps and pedals...as you say, today things are very very very different

[@cazgerald9471]

Polaroid started their long downward slide after Tom left the company. Coincidence?

[@t.sewell1513]

Caz Gerald lol

[@brrjohnson8131]

Imagine Polaroid behind the Rockman.

[@brooklynboy1000]

Didn't he help invent the SX70 camera

[@philf4086]

He's a tinkerer, much like Les Paul and Leo Fender. And on par with them in my estimation.

[@pillepalle3614]

P Frank way beyond.

[@fullclipaudio]

@@pillepalle3614 and Bruce Haack crushes all of 'em :)

[@rick6833]

I was in 5th grade and my girlfriend gave me the Boston Album. It was way ahead of it's Time. Actually it Changed Time instantaneously.

[@dandubejr5010]

Tom is a treasure He is the reason why I play today. Back in 76 I heard Boston on 8 track with head phones and since then I have never heard anything like it. For me it was an out of body experience

[@Terrysoddy]

Yea I can definetly relate to that

[@catonthemoon2084]

Boston has always been my favorite from the very 1st note of More than a Feeling. Tom you're right about not sounding as good as other bands...you're 10x better!

[@Bikewithlove]

Bought a Rockman unit used for $35 in 2004, and got the rack adapter for it on ebay. Never had so much fun, thought of it as a toy, until I recorded some of my best songs with it on the 'clean' setting, which is a beautiful crystaline sound. Wonderful to be a part of it, thank you Tom!

[@arjunkaul]

Thats awesome. Im scouring ebay for one. great sound.

[@michaellinton2990]

Arjun Kaul Don't get the rockman ace's,they suck!.Look for the soloist or the x100.much better sounding.

[@Stevie.C]

I want those toys. I want that space hyper thingy for the cosmic pick slides.

[@jimmyjameson8705]

One word comes to mind : GENIUS

[@mathewreichardt3832]

30 years later the story we wanted to hear finally comes out. Thanks for sharing Tom.

[@Pimp-Master]

I could watch hours of this. I must be some kind of geeky nerd.

[@SkipGroove]

I've listened to the Boston album nearly every day for the last several years. I never get tired of it. I listen to it so much, that I even hear it when I'm not listening to it. It's the background music of my life.

[@Halenrocks5150]

Tom Scholtz was the ultimate musician because he wrote songs that you could sing along with and had technical guitar, bass, drum and vocals that didn’t make you bored. It’s the best of both worlds! Every one of his riffs, solos and fills are pure ear candy!!!

[@Bsquared1972]

Awesome stuff...always a fan...RIP, Bradley.

[@MeiZu0606]

I love Boston forever, thanks to all the band for their genius talent and Mr. Tom Scholz thanks a lot for your talent and for create Boston the best band ever existed!!!

[@leestundra]

I owned one of those Rockman Headphone amps, loved that sound!

[@johnnynails166]

Had a Rockmsn and then the rock module. Used it on my studio recordings. Awesome sound. Thanks Tom!

[@dewycatt2112]

So cool getting to watch Tom jam in his own house. Inspiring! Cant beat that!

[@pg1171]

Didn't realize he had already invented his 'special' electronics before the first album. No wonder it had so many fantastic, futuristic sounds on it! Genius! Thank you for posting!

[@steelman774]

There are a few known geniuses in rock like Tom Morello, Dr. Brian May, Dr. Dexter Holland and others that have lofty degrees and have influenced generations of musicians to form unfathomable legacies, but I feel that Tom Scholz is the one musician that has personally given the most back to the music world.

[@neechee5150]

Les Paul eclipses all of the names that you mentioned and it is not even close. Les Paul is a giant among all of those names

[@steelman774]

@@neechee5150 not necessarily. He made a guitar as many have done before and since. Of the guitarists that are know to play LPs, many have played several styles of guitars through their careers and most have custom guitars made for them as they went or custom rigged their own. Plus, most of their hero’s that inspired them to play were not Les himself but rather his contemporaries. Les himself was a wonderful guitar player, and deserves to be mentioned with the greats, but though my main guitar is a LesPaul, it’s not my only guitar… and, if I didn’t have it, I would still play and create music. In fact, as far as crafting music goes, I don’t usually write on my LP either.

[@starjunkie5328]

Tom Scholz has got to be one of the most intelligent and intellectual guitar players still around. I remember when Their self-entitled debut album Boston dropped. I had it on an 8-track cassette (in 1976), and I quite literally wore the damn thing out. I had to purchase another one, but this time on vinyl. I still have both of them to this day and believe it or not. I installed an ancient 8-track in my 74' Chevy Nova. I fixed the 8-track a few years ago. Can't belive the sound still sound pretty good! I'm 1,000.000 % Old School 70s. I even know the fades out and in on the 8-track. I always use my gold top Gibson as well for Boston and Zeppelin music. What a wonderful sound and and an even better time we lived in. When I die I wanna' be in Tom Scholz's Boston.

[@admtech69]

The Einstein of Rock and Roll

[@bacohen8]

I remember hearing "More Than A Feeling" while lying in bed at 11:00PM on the New Music Show Sunday night WMMR Phila. I used to tape it and listen to the show later. I could not sleep after I hear this. I think I stalked the record store for days till it arrived.

[@michaelprosperity3420]

Watching this made me think of a guy inside a giant computer. Looking at all the electronics was mind blowing. A true genius.

[@jimih7811]

"It's nice to be appreciated ... not so nice to be appreciated for something other than who you are" But still you are more than a feeling Mr. Scholz

[@Crabbadabba]

Good quote.

[@bradh6185]

When he hits those chords at 5:29. That's the magic that Tom contributed to music.

[@remifalasido2903]

Looking at Tom, playing guitar and organ seems so simple ! But it's not. And what a great composer !

[@hooflungpoo275]

To say Tom Scholz is a genius would be an understatement.

[@aldonova4082]

This dude is the true definition of "musical genius".

[@biodot88]

I walked to the record store as a kid, laid down my lawn cutting money and bought my first Boston album and cherished it. Tom, stop being so humble and enjoy that you were a rock star.

[@darkvaper2010]

Holy God what a fucking genius!!!!!!

[@charliegolmon5430]

Some things just change and transform a life and mold and shape people to what they will become. I was a young teen and heard Boston for the first time and was transformed at the first note! The tone and soaring guitars. ... never had there been anything before like it. I just HAD to get that album and a guitar! From that moment on those two things have been faithful friends in all my ups and downs. . BOSTON and my guitars. Thanks Tom Scholz... you will never know the times in my life when it seemed so hopeless... then out of somewhere that familiar song would play. Life is about love and hope. ... I've lost and gained both many times and God has been gracious to us all to allow us to have the same moments on earth with which your music has inspired some to find more. Thanks Boston and my greatest compliments to you Mr. Scholz!

[@fukhue8226]

I saw Boston live at their peak. They sounded better than any band I ever heard in concert. Sammy Hagar had just left Montrose to start his solo career and opened for Boston. When Tom's keyboard failed suddenly after his Organ Solo, Sammy loaned them their keyboard so they could continue the show. Sammy is a great guy and Tom is a genius.

[@richardacevedo4095]

Thank you Barry Goudreau 🎶 🎸

[@rodneygreen9258]

Changed the way music sounded forever.

[@glenspringle7337]

More than a feeling was my first 45 (Long time on the back side). I went through electronics engineering in the late 80s. DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) were just happening and were fixed point. Some floating point DSPs were starting to come to market. Processing speeds of 40MHz....and Tom was doing all of this in the 70s with analog! Brilliant!

[@johntilson2535]

A unique sound in the 70s. A unique sound today. An added bonus? (stop reading if you've never 'experimented' with hallucinogenics) Boston's debut album absolutely RULES on acid! lol

[@jamesha175]

it has now been 40+ years since the Boston album. imagine how many more albums he could have recorded in that time.

[@timprescott4634]

jamesha175 Five

[@jamesha175]

@@timprescott4634 has boston really released 5 albums? the last one i remember had the song Amanda

[@timprescott4634]

jamesha175 Six total. Five after the first one...

[@ia5662]

What a tone master. I love Tom Scholz.

[@icosahedron7726]

*""TOM SCHOLZ A MUSICAL MASTERPIECE HIMSELF""!!!!!!!!!!!*

[@CuttinEJ]

What I wouldn't give to hang out with him for a day and just watch and listen...

[@Frankincensedjb123]

My dad's an electrical engineer who never told me to stay away from music. I guess that's how it works in reverse. lol I bought Scholz's chorus and sustain effects racks. Best purchases I've ever made.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Tom Scholz is a rock legend! He made rock sound so melodic, lyrical, and full-bodied, and always kept things interesting with the sound effects and embellishments! I don't know if Tom ever reads the comments here, but i'll never forget something that happened to me back in the late 70's. My dad is from Greece, so we used to fly Olympic Airways there every summer from NYC. I was in high school, and as an electronics tinkerer and Ham Radio operator myself, I got a license to operate my Amateur Radio station in Greece for 2 months. While in Athens, my radio transceiver broke. I hunted down an electronics repair shop, since I needed a transformer for my radio gear. As I walk into this electronics store, I see 2 guys repairing circuit boards and blasting the first Boston album! We instantly bonded and talked rock music for a while. As it turns out, I had brought 3 new copies of the new Boston album 'Dont Look Back' to Greece with me (back at the hotel), to give as gifts to my various cousins there that were rock music fans. Long story short, I traded the new Boston album for a transformer and labor costs at the electronics shop, which would have amounted to about $220 dollars (in Drachmas, of course). When it was time to pick up my repaired Amateur Radio rig, I stayed and hung out for a few hours with those cool techs, and we drank wine and rocked out to the new Boston record! A bacchanalian Boston moment to be exact!

[@joe6096]

My first time with a girl was to the genius of Tom, that voice of heaven from Brad, and that magnificent debut Boston album. I was 17 and she was 22 in 1995. We worked together. She came over on a night my parents were out of town. We were on the couch all night and talked but nothing really happened. She got up to use the restroom, I ran to my bedroom to get the CD and bring it down to my parents stereo. She came out right as that intro to MTAF faded in. We embraced, danced, and made history that night. Our lives took different paths over the last 27 years but we still keep in touch and we both will always share that night forever. Thank you Tom, your music will last forever with me.

[@marksalot655]

The mastermind. I’ll NEVER forget the first time I heard the first Boston album. Nothing like it. Pure mastery. 💕👍😎

[@SharpByCoop]

After this: How many viewers go right to Search and type: 'Boston More than a Feeling'.... Yah. Me too!

[@magneto7930]

Genius, that's all.

[@craighindman8475]

I was thinking of when the first Boston record was being recorded,the proximity of upstate NY. If Todd rundgren and Tom Shultz had gotten together at that time, imagine the music they would have made together. Both great engineers, very inovative.

[@jonravenwulf7788]

Humble genius.

[@8028rsj]

Pure genius.

[@pinkdaisywigsboutique4717]

😊 Tom seems like a sweet humble man🎉 and you know God loves us unconditionally❤🎉

[@70stunes71]

Tom , what brilliance touches some minds....glad i was driving, listening, & playing my own music through the years. You & Boston, one of the greatest sounds & band to come out of the 70s. Sure miss those old days &....still playin😀

[@judycolson6047]

in concert!....wow....go if you get the chance....unbelievable sound live!

[@nbenning25]

Intro lead to Long Time is my all time fav ... from one engineer to another ... Thanks Tom!

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

Old footage of him and this... same smile when he plays !!!! Love of notes and gear !

[@stefp1006]

Tom Scholz is never replaceable.

[@commonsensehill372]

Creativity and skill and talent + Tom Scholz = A true artist. He is passionate about how the music sounds and that's what makes him a genuine artist.

[@troywest]

I never get tired of listening to Boston, still have3 of their albums on my current playlist ... really liking Walk On !!!!

[@dang1861]

Great songwriter, great guitarist, great engineer

[@KOLDBLU3ST33L]

Great inspiration. Thanks for BOSTON!

[@suzycatipiller821]

Tom is a national treasure. He followed his dream and makes what he does like so easy but it isnt. More Than a Feeling is one of my favorite songs and Bosten is one of few bands I crank up the volume for. He made a difference just by being true to himself.

[@waqqodonkey]

I love Boston , thank you Tom!!!

[@babyblue1153]

I truly love seeing this video, as a musician seeing what goes on behind the closed doors of a studio and watching what makes a song a complete is always rewarding. I've always been a fan of Boston and Tom Scholz. This was a treat for me!

[@williambagley5415]

This album came out during the latter part of my high school years.... Great band!

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

One of the very best sounds i ever had as a guitarist was when i ran a ROCKMAN X100 through a marshall mono block power amp into two celestion loaded 4x12 cabs. that chorus is still my favorite chorusing effect.

[@joeserin9593]

Still amazing. My first record and a huge influence.

[@jackblevel8296]

How amazing is Tom Scholz!!! He actually used to receive the warranty cards for his gear! Jeff Beck had 2 Rockmans , what a story, amazing.

[@spencergrant8976]

Tom, you are a legend! Such a genuine person. This was so fun to watch.

[@jackmehoff2961]

Great video, Thank You for uploading !

[@norrispg6085]

Ten people, each possessing one of his skills, would have been incredibly accomplished individually, and yet all of those skills are encompassed by one person...THAT is amazing

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Brilliant guy...admired him since 18 years old. A LONG time ago.

[@davidstewart4310]

Met Tom after the show in Boston in 2016....a lovely guy!! And he signed a couple Cds for me :-)

[@davidleeroth805]

Thank you, Sir!

[@OddTimeMan]

Boston's debut album was my very first vinyl LP. I was 13 years old when I got it back in 1976. I still have it to this day!

[@brooklynboy1000]

Awesome! Brings back the memories of a great song, s brilliant man. I remember when the Rockman unit came out.

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

I still have one of my all-time favorite guitar effects - an original Rockman with the rack mount. It sounds perfect for all those late 70s through the 80s rock guitar tones whenever I want to hear them.

[@Yellowrose8]

What an awesome guy....God I always love/loved Bostons sound. He's a pure genius.

[@MrJingres]

My life changed after hearing this wonderful thing called 'Foreplay/Longtime' on '45 in my 3rd-grade classroom. Thank you, Tom!

[@brentalanadamlandgrave7635]

Wow...a genius and a gentleman. Thank you, sir.

[@fredrickm4436]

Tom Scholz is a great man.

[@jeffreyschmoldt7798]

Tom is a genius. Love his effects

[@Edlver1]

I wasn't a huge Boston fan - was still in middle school but damn this video impresses the hell out of me and gives me so much huge respect for them. This is what music really is

[@christopherthode3668]

Guitar genius, astronomical engineer! Thanks for sharing your talent 😳

[@pcfriese4570]

What a great guy! So real, so humble, so talented!!!

[@kdunger7895]

you have been a hugh part of my life as a musician and made my heart sing..thank you Tom..p.s..Canada loves you..Danny

[@arieln8203]

truly an engineer, salute....

[@jacksonholenc]

YES IT IS TOM....MORE THAN A FEELING ......