Bob Weil | Truetone Lounge | 25th Anniversary Special

To celebrate Truetone’s 25th Anniversary, we sit down with founder and president, Bob Weil, to tell both his own story and that of the company he launched in 1995. The idea to launch a business began to germinate when Weil was using an off-the-shelf volume pedal that he wished had some sort of a visual indicator. Finding that no such pedal existed, he began learning about electronics, eventually starting Visual Sound and releasing the Visual Volume pedal in 1995. In Bob and Truetone’s joint 25-year story, we get everything from their first NAMM show, bankruptcy and rebirth, to the release of the flagship products Jekyll & Hyde, Route 66, H2O, and the 1 SPOT, as well as the eventual name change from Visual Sound to Truetone, the launch of the 1 SPOT Pro series, and why Bob decided to introduce the Truetone Lounge video series. We hope that after telling other's stories for years through the Truetone Lounge, you will enjoy getting to hear ours.

[@jeffsims3790]

Thank you Bob for sharing your incredible journey with your company. I was a retail M.I. store from 1988 to 2009. We sold many of your products, and always with confidence. I now use several of your power supplies as a performing guitar player. All the best in the future to you and your family.

[@denali9643]

Congratulations Bob and the Truetone team! I was shocked to hear your story of plugging into my amp in high school - and yes, you bought my Ibanez SG! Wonderful story of perseverance, vision and talent!

[@bobweil4119]

Thanks Keith! Yes, you and your Ibanez are what got me started on this wild ride! 😃

[@PeterKeaneMusic]

Great! Fascinating story and glad to hear how/why Truetone Lounge started.

[@DAB248]

Here’s to many more from the Lounge Best Guitar show on the Tube !

[@TruetoneFX]

Very kind, Dave. Thank you. Zac

[@fritzscherz7977]

Fritz's Polka Band is a proud endorser of Truetone! We currently use the CS6 and CS12 power supplies as well as the H20 and Jeckyl & Hyde pedals. High quality and reliable are what immediately comes to mind when we think of Truetone!

[@EddyDJIMini3Pro]

Great story!!!🎉

[@davidrg1550]

What a story, much sacrifice for the company and products. Used VS/TT stuff for years, and still do, all incredible products

[@bobweil4119]

Thanks so much David! I appreciate your support!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much, David.

[@fredradical]

This was a great watch. Thank you for not having it loaded with ads. Much appreciated. All this was new to me and I've been watching this channel for a while. I'm also a 1SPOT owner. Very cool.

[@shawnvitt]

Bob, fantastic story! Thank you. Your creations are simply brilliant, and brilliantly simple. (Now, there’s a trick.) Much appreciation for your genuineness, and props for your drive. By the way: Thank God for R.G. Keane, Guardian Angel. Wow - you are blessed, deservingly so,

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much for the kind words, I will pass them on to Bob.

[@jimmy5381]

You guys are the best! I love the Truetone Lounge! What an amazing story! God is Good!

[@fivewattworld]

Love a great company history story!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks Keith! You are setting the bar for that!

[@bobbaumeister5243]

For me, Bob's pedals are not for sale. Great in sound and indestructible. Who was the good boy from Germany with the big order? At that time, many pedals were sold in Germany. Back then, Bob's products were the absolute highlight! Thank you Zacc

[@TruetoneFX]

It was Blue Guitar. You are so welcome. Zac

[@bobbaumeister5243]

Thank you very much Zac! I know this company. :-) Best Regards, Bob

[@Markhancock64]

Good to see you Bob!

[@brettpower6508]

Great watch loved it!!

[@bobweil4119]

Thanks Brett!

[@karljacobson6174]

What an amazing journey Bob! I just watched it mesmerized by the perseverance you and your wife went through to build this amazing dream company you have created. Zak is amazing in his interviewing style and the artists he has had on the Lounge. Now, for a small suggestion. I'm a bass player of over 50 years, please have some of the famous players on so Zac can get there story to all the bass players around the world. Thanks!!

[@TruetoneFX]

When all this settles down, we will do a bass player. Zac

[@gregmize01]

Love my v3 h2o and Jekyll and Hyde and of course my 1spots!

[@davidmcleavey9826]

Great story Bob. It's the stuff of movies. When all seems hopeless for Indiana Jones, a near impossible escape route appears. You got a call from Klaus in Berlin.

[@TruetoneFX]

And it saved the day!

[@Ianmcguire1993]

Loved your story very inspirational to never quit even the big dogs struggle

[@bobweil4119]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks, Ian.

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

I would totally uses a fader volume pedal

[@TruetoneFX]

We can show you how to build one, out of wood! Zac

[@ASJ1]

Great company! I got 8 Truetone/Visual Sound pedals on my board! The "Open Road" is legendary, it's almost always on!

[@rolandpei]

Such a great pedal

[@TruetoneFX]

THANK YOU!

[@paultorbert6929]

notifications on, waiting...... LOVE the Visual/Truetone product line..... heck, i even know a keyboard player with some of the old big "pointy" Visual Sound pedals !!!!!!!

[@denniskitchen]

Please keep this going Ive seen all of them and share them with my friends . I always look forward to every episode . Bless TrueTone

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you Dennis

[@rickyguitarra88]

I still use my Route 808! And power it with the cs12 :)

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you!

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

This was fantastic to watch. I will never be able to properly express how much gratitude I have for you guys for making these Truetone Lounge videos. The number of amazing players and knowledge I would have missed out on in this life, it's just unimaginable. Thank you, Bob, for making such great products, facilitating all these amazing interviews, choosing Zac to conduct them... God bless you guys.

[@TruetoneFX]

Stanley, thank you so much for the kind words. Love doing these. Zac

[@allanjcarpenter]

Great guy, great company. My Truetone H2O is my favorite pedal ever.

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you, Allan

[@grahamdeatcher8607]

Hi Zac Great to hear the back story.I have every admiration for Truetone and Visual Sound fantastic products ...and I'm still waring the shirt. !! Thanks as always... Graham

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you, Graham! Zac

[@bruceanderson8720]

Happy 25th Anniversary Truetone!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you, Bruce.

[@michaelgregory2231]

Excellent!

[@waltseale]

Thank you Bob Weil and Zac. I've only recently found the True Tone Lounge and I'm totally caught up on them all. When I watch the videos I'll often pause them and jump over to hear some music that a guest or Zac has referenced, music I'd probably never get to know without you all. It's a total guitar education. I'd love to hear from Kenny Vaughan if you could get him to sit down!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much for watching. These are a joy to do! Zac

[@jackclark1356]

Zac and Bob this was a truly inspiring story from a great company. I love all my VS/Truetone gear and this channel is one of my favorites!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much, Jack. Zac

[@grewejames1]

I always enjoy Truetone Lounge. One question you did not ask was "What"s Next" for Truetone. Thank You for the awesome content.

[@TruetoneFX]

We are working on "what's next" now. More info later.

[@delivrance3961]

happy birthday! thank you for my Jekyll & Hyde...cornerstone of my shoegaze tone!!!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad to be a part of your board!

[@deezee8508]

I've always wanted the J&H, but I never had the extra $$$ to throw down on one. The V3 is probably the most versatile drive pedal I've ever tried. Bob is the best kind of guy there is, and I want to support him in some way. For now the best I can do is subscribe and like all the videos you guys put up. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you for your support, Derek.

[@rolandpei]

Great interview! Always a huge fan of you guys and rep you everywhere I go :)

[@TruetoneFX]

Much appreciated, Roland.

[@MartinCliffe]

Fascinating story, makes me want to try one of your pedals (I love the 1 Spot Pro power supplies, I have 4 or 5 of them)

[@TruetoneFX]

Try one!