Home of Tone Blog
Home of Tone at The Guitar Show 2024
It's approaching that time of year where prep has well and truly begun for this year's Guitar Show. This is a superb show, no doubt in my mind that it's the biggest and best show in the UK and I'll proudly be there again! Right in front of the main public entrance to the main hall, you'll see me! I'll be bringing along a great selection of all of my stocked brands, and you'll of course have chance to check out the gear in person, see some of the current guitar stock, try out pedals and more. Look forward to seeing you there!
THE GUITAR SHOW | MARCH 2ND & 3RD 2024 | CRANMORE PARK | B90 4LE
New harness to the Signature Series range - '54-'78 Strat 3 and 5 way wiring
Strats have long since been a major part of my harness range, with a great choice of specs to choice from to suit your needs. Many of them being modern takes or vintage modified style specs, so it was about time that I offered a more 'true to vintage' inspired spec and option. So here I introduce my new '54-77' style kits!
'Customer Service Excellence' award finalist for the 2022 Nachural Business awards!
I had a bit of a unique experience in June, by being selected as a finalist in the 'Customer Service Excellence' award by Nachural Business Awards. I was put forward by my local council, and had to chat a bit about what my business is and aspects of it that mean a lot to me. Their panel of judges selected me for this category which was really cool to be honest as it has been a very important thing for the Home of Tone from day 1.
The awards evening itself was held on 8th July where me and Emma attended, we sadly didn't win the category but that doesn't matter, it was just great to be chosen for an aspect of my business that means so much to me and that is you all! I am 100% certain that I was chosen after they saw the amazing amount of reviews so many of you have left on my Trustpilot, google, facebook etc review platforms so for that, a huge thank you.
The awards evening itself was held on 8th July where me and Emma attended, we sadly didn't win the category but that doesn't matter, it was just great to be chosen for an aspect of my business that means so much to me and that is you all! I am 100% certain that I was chosen after they saw the amazing amount of reviews so many of you have left on my Trustpilot, google, facebook etc review platforms so for that, a huge thank you.
Introducing my new Home of Tone exclusive Loaded For Bear cables!
I've been stocking Loaded For Bear Audio instrument cables for some time now, the customer response is always great, I've been really happy with the consistent quality and unique visual design aspects of the cable range. But I must admit, I did always wonder what we could do for a Home of Tone edition/exclusive and thankfully, Jon at Loaded For Bear Audio has been kind enough to work with me on this idea too!
A totally surreal moment, but I have been interviewed by Guitar Magazine!
Guitar.com / Magazine have been insanely kind and featured me in an interview! Very humbled by this and I’m not quite sure I fully deserve it yet 🤦🏻♂️ but man, so grateful for the chance to talk about my love of guitar, the business from early on to now and more. Thanks so much Guitar Magazine for the support from day one, means the world to a humble business like mine to see the name alongside the brands I admire.
You can read the interview HERE!
You can read the interview HERE!
5 Years of the Home of Tone!
It has been 5 years since I started James' Home of Tone, which feels amazing to say! Some of you reading may have been following since the beginning, whilst some of you may be totally new to what I do here so I thought the 5 year anniversary of beginning this venture would be as good a time as any to share a little about my story! A great deal has happened over the past 5 years, to say the least, so I'll try not to bore you with every detail! But I thought it would be healthy to touch on some of the things that helped shape the Home of Tone and moments that continue to mean a lot to me and this journey. Plus it's nice to be open about the story behind a business!
The Guitar Show 2020 Charity Raffle Guitar final reveal!
Well, you've waiting patiently enough. Seeing as it's sounding, playing and looking great, it's time to reveal what it all looks like and the work that Jason at The Guitar Show, Rob Williams Guitars, Oil City Pickups, Grainger Guitars, Crimson Guitars, Williams Guitars have all put into this instrument which I'm sure will help raise a great amount for the Prostate Cancer charity chosen for the raffle. I do believe that the lucky winner will also receive an amp courtesy of Laney Amplification too, pretty cool indeed! For more information on all of this, do please check out The Guitar Show's social media and get yourself to the show, enter the raffle and perhaps wind up walking away after winning this cool build! Thanks to Jason for letting me be a small part of it, been good fun seeing it come together first hand and really looking forward to it being taken home by the lucky winner.
Anyway, onto the final photos! Enjoy
Anyway, onto the final photos! Enjoy
The Guitar Show 2020 Charity Raffle Guitar Part II
Follow on from part 1, it was time to get the freshly assembled guitar set-up! Willams Guitars had made the neck, and had installed a neatly fitted bone nut blank in there ready for slotting. So it was there where I started the set-up work.
The Guitar Show 2020 Charity Raffle Guitar
There's often prizes and competitions offered at Guitar Shows, but not many that I can recall to this high standard I must say. For this year's Guitar Show, the organiser had the idea of bringing together a group of UK based guitar makers and brands to build an instrument that would be raffled at the show and go home with a lucky visitor. The specs of the guitar have been chosen by the followers of the Guitar Show's facebook page, so body shape, to colour, to pickup specs and it has resulted in a very high spec guitar indeed! For the final stage of the build, the guitar has made it's way to my office so I thought I'd put together a few blog posts about the build as well as a reminder of what this is all for. Below is the post from Jason (Guitar Show organiser) about what charity the raffle ticket sales will be donated too. Well worth a read, and makes it more special for me to be a part of this great project -
Podcast with Tom Sands!
Tom Sands not only is one of the worlds finest luthiers, he also (among many other things) runs a regular guitar based podcast alongside his apprentice, Daisy Tempest. The Podcast has featured some inspiring guests since it's beginnings, and it's one I've enjoyed as a listener for some time now. Well, somehow I have found myself now featured on the podcast as a guest! Tom & Daisy traveled down from Yorkshire for my Coffee & Guitars charity event, and were kind enough to hang around and record this podcast with me along with making a fantastic video here inside the Home of Tone too.
It was such good fun, I find both Tom & Daisy very inspiring in my journey and am grateful for their support and friendship, so it was a genuine honour to record this with them. Hope you enjoy listening to a little about my story!
It was such good fun, I find both Tom & Daisy very inspiring in my journey and am grateful for their support and friendship, so it was a genuine honour to record this with them. Hope you enjoy listening to a little about my story!
Coffee.Guitars - The Home of Tone 2019 Mind Charity fundraiser
Each year I have tried to organise a fundraiser, for Mind Charity, a cause which has proved to mean as much to my customers as it has to myself. This year I wanted to organise a relaxed get-together and what better way to do that than over some coffee. So I'm going to be your barista for the day, apologies though, my 'latte art' leaves a lot to be desired, but it should taste good! (Other warm and cold drinks will be available of course, as well as some nibbles of which I'll do my best to ensure a mixture of foods to cater for a variety of dietary requirements).
London International Guitar Show!
It's felt like a long time since our last guitar show, so we're making up for it with a trip down to the big smoke for the London International Guitar Show 2018!
This is a brilliant show organised by Pete and Gail of Northern Guitar Shows, who always provide a great atmosphere and diverse range of exhibitors. My favourite shows due to the relaxed nature of the events, perfect for guitarists to indulge in some geekery. This is my first time at the London show, and myself and Emma are looking forward to heading there in October! If you're local to this show, be sure to come along and come and say hello!
This is a brilliant show organised by Pete and Gail of Northern Guitar Shows, who always provide a great atmosphere and diverse range of exhibitors. My favourite shows due to the relaxed nature of the events, perfect for guitarists to indulge in some geekery. This is my first time at the London show, and myself and Emma are looking forward to heading there in October! If you're local to this show, be sure to come along and come and say hello!