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ThroBak Guitar Lounge

ThroBak Electronics

Guitar players, sit back in the ThroBak Guitar Lounge and be part of the internet's most informative guitar hang! Fun takes on tone, guitar collecting, repair and installation tips, guitar news of the day and much more.


ThroBak Electronics owner Jon Gundry and co-host Matthew Quail draw upon decades of guitar expertise and insights from their work at ThroBak Electronics making the finest reproductions guitar pickups available today. 


Join us each week by subscribing to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast!

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  • 25 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 12 min
  • English

Episodes 25

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  • S2 · E48
    April 12 · 1 hr 8 min

    This Legendary Fender Pickup Winder Has Been Silent for Decades—Until Now

    This Legendary Fender Pickup Winder Has Been Silent for Decades—Until Now | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast Ep. 048 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome back to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast — and the story continues. After the historic unboxing in Episode #047, the legendary Fender / Charlie Davis / Jim Irsay pickup winder is now alive again. In this episode, Jon Gundry reveals the successful repair of the vintage machine after bringing the original Dayton motor back to working condition, likely for the first time in over 20 years. This isn’t just a repair — it’s the revival of a remarkable piece of guitar-making history tied to Fender’s early pickup winding legacy and Charlie Davis, Fullerton’s unsung hero. We also dive into the latest ThroBak Mailbox, including viewer reactions to the unboxing, speculation on what pickups might be made on the restored winder, and the Guitar Center new guitar story that the podcast may have scooped before anyone else. This week’s Pickups of the Week feature the ThroBak DT-102 MXV Vintage P.A.F. Humbucker Repros, followed by a live playing demo so you can hear exactly what they bring to the table. Then Jon and Matthew take on this week’s Guitargument: 🎸 Is the guitar industry entering a Q1 2026 bubble? A timely discussion on the state of the market, the boutique world, and what might be coming next. We wrap with Rorschach Riffs, amp and pedal settings, this week’s treat, Matthew’s Musical Musings on the 40th anniversary of Robert Palmer’s Riptide Tour, and even a surprising ThroBak connection to NASA’s Artemis II mission. 🔥 Episode Segments Intro The repaired Fender / Charlie Davis / Jim Irsay / ThroBak pickup winder ThroBak Mailbox Pickups of the Week – DT-102 MXV Pickup demo The Guitargument The Cool Down Rorschach Riffs with Matthew Amp Settings – 1979 Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb Pedal Settings – Nobels ODR-1 Treat of the Week 🍪 Matthew’s Musical Musings 🎶 Artemis II connection 🚀 Outro If you love vintage guitar history, pickup tone, boutique gear, and great guitar debates, make sure to like, subscribe, and join us in the Lounge. 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

  • S2 · E47
    April 9 · 57 min

    The Vintage Fender Pickup Winder Is Here… Unboxing a Piece of Guitar History | Ep. 047

    The Vintage Fender Pickup Winder Is Here… Unboxing a Piece of Guitar History | Ep. 047 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Welcome back to the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast — and this week, history arrives at the door. After the excitement of the Jim Irsay Collection auction in Episode 046, the legendary vintage Fender pickup winder is finally here. In this episode, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail carefully unbox one of the most significant pieces of electric guitar manufacturing history ever to enter the ThroBak shop. This rare machine, tied to Fender’s early pickup winding legacy and the story of Charlie Davis, represents a remarkable connection to the birth of the Stratocaster era. 📬 We kick things off with ThroBak Mailbox, featuring a satisfied customer email before diving into the long-awaited Jim Irsay Fender Pickup Winder unboxing and first impressions. ⚡ Then it’s time for Pickups of the Week, featuring the unmistakable vintage sparkle and punch of the ThroBak ’63 MXV Strat Pickups, heard through a Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-watt head with a Nobels ODR-1 pushing the front end for classic Strat tones. 🎶 Whether you’re here for vintage Fender history, killer Strat tones, boutique pickup obsession, or the usual ThroBak banter, this episode has it all. 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into vintage tone, pickups, and guitar gear. ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

  • S2 · E46
    March 28 · 57 min

    Low Output P.A.F. Pickups and a Marshall - The Best Marshall Tone Ever!?

    Low Output P.A.F. Pickups and a Marshall - The Best Marshall Tone Ever!? | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Ep. 046 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Is the best Marshall tone actually coming from low output P.A.F. pickups? In this episode of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast, Jon Gundry and Matthew put that theory to the test using ThroBak ’57 SteelHead P.A.F. repros through a Marshall SV20H. For decades, players have chased higher output pickups—but does the low output P.A.F. formula tell a different story? Could lower output be the missing link to that open, dynamic, harmonically rich Marshall tone we all hear in our heads? We plug in, turn up, and find out. 🎬 Episode Breakdown Intro Why pickup output might be the most overlooked factor in achieving authentic Marshall tone. ThroBak Mailbox 📬 – Jim Irsay Fender Pickup Winder Update An update on the historic Fender-era pickup winder acquired from the Jim Irsay collection—and why it matters for vintage-correct pickup design. Pickups of the Week 🔊 – ThroBak ’57 SteelHead P.A.F. Repros Low output, vintage-spec P.A.F. tone put under the microscope. Amp Settings ⚙️ – Marshall SV20H Studio Vintage 20-watt Amplifier Head Dialing in a classic Marshall platform to reveal what these pickups really do. Dirty Tones 🔥 Cranked Marshall tones with low output P.A.F.s—hear the clarity, punch, and harmonic bloom. Cleaner Tones ✨ Rolling it back—exploring articulation, dynamics, and touch sensitivity that hotter pickups often lose. The Guitargument ⚡ Should Guitar Center make premium guitars? Good move or bad idea? Jon vs. Matthew go head-to-head. Cool Down 🧊 Guitar Center's challenges in starting a guitar brand. Rorschach Riffs 🎶 – Electric Edition, can you guess Matthew's riffs? Matthew’s Musical Musings 📖 – Guitar Man Sam Li Review A look into the story of legendary guitar repairman Sam Li and his impact on vintage guitar history. 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into vintage tone, pickups, and guitar gear. ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

  • S2 · E45
    March 22 · 1 hr 14 min

    Jim Irsay Auction Hidden Gem...and We Got It!

    Jim Irsay Auction Hidden Gem...and We Got It! Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ In this episode of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast, we take you inside a major moment for ThroBak: winning a vintage Fender pickup winder at the Jim Irsay Collection auction at Christie’s in New York City. While most eyes were on iconic guitars, we were focused on something else entirely—the machine behind the tone. This isn’t just a piece of gear. It’s a direct link to the methods, materials, and processes that defined the golden era of Fender pickups. And now, it’s part of the ThroBak workshop. In this segment, we break down: • What this vintage Fender winder is and why it matters • Why it may have been the most important item in the entire auction • How machines like this shaped the sound of classic Fender pickups • What this means for the future of ThroBak pickup design If you care about vintage-correct tone, real manufacturing history, and what actually makes great pickups… this is the story behind it. 📬 ThroBak Mailbox – Jim Irsay Auction News We kick things off with the story behind the auction win and why this vintage Fender winder may have been one of the most important pieces in the entire collection. 📸 Vintage Fender Pickup Winder Photos A closer look at the machine itself—what makes it special, and why tools like this are key to understanding true vintage Fender pickup tone. 🔥 Pickups of the Week – ThroBak ’59 MXV Strat Pickups We shift from history to tone with a deep dive into our ’59 MXV Strat pickups, built with the same obsession for vintage accuracy. 🎛️ Amp Settings – 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb Dialing in classic Fender clean and edge-of-breakup tones. 🟢 Pedal Settings – Nobels ODR-1 A touch of drive to push the amp into sweet, dynamic territory. 🎧 Tone Demo Hear the ThroBak ’59 MXV Strat pickups in action in a Road Worn Fender Stratocaster—pure vintage-inspired single coil tone. ⚡ The Guitargument – Lightning Round Rapid-fire takes, hot opinions, and instant debate—no safe answers here. 🧊 The Cool Down We bring it back to earth and reflect on the bigger picture. 🎭 Rorschach Riffs – Matthew (Electric Edition) Matthew interprets abstract prompts through guitar—always unpredictable, always musical. 🎶 Matthew’s Musical Musings – G&L Pickups A thoughtful look at G&L pickups, their design philosophy, and how they fit into the broader pickup landscape. 👋 Outro Thanks for hanging with us in the Lounge—where tone isn’t just heard, it’s understood. 👉 Explore ThroBak Pickups: https://www.throbak.com ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, was established in 2002 to bring the best of vintage tone back to the guitar player of today.Make sure to watch the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast each Saturday on YouTube.

  • S2 · E44
    March 15 · 57 min

    Vintage Tone vs Modern Progress | Are Guitarists Stuck in the Past?

    Vintage Tone vs Modern Progress | Are Guitarists Stuck in the Past? | ThroBak Guitar Lounge Ep. 044 Upgrade your guitar with ThroBak Pickups 👉 https://www.throbak.com/ Are guitar players — and guitar makers — stuck in the past? Or is the pursuit of vintage tone still the best path to great music? 🎸 In Episode 044 of the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast, Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail dive into one of the most polarizing debates in guitar culture. From vintage pickups and classic amps to modern creativity and innovation, the question is simple: Does honoring the past inspire better playing… or does it trap guitarists in endless gear nostalgia? Along the way Jon demonstrates ThroBak pickups through a vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb, Matthew returns with another round of Rorschach Riffs, and we wrap things up with a look at some of the greatest Irish guitar players ever. ☘️🎸 Episode Breakdown 🎬 Intro Jon Gundry and Matthew Quail introduce the episode’s big question: Is the guitar world stuck in the past? From vintage pickups to legendary amps, the duo sets up the debate over whether reverence for historic tone fuels creativity or holds guitar culture back. 📬 ThroBak Mailbox Listener mail sparks discussion about guitar tone, pickups, and the ongoing fascination with vintage gear among modern players. 🔊 Pickups of the Week Jon plugs in and demonstrates this week’s featured ThroBak pickups in a real-world playing context. Amp Settings – 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb A breakdown of the amp settings used for the demo so viewers can dial in similar tones. Pedal Settings – Nobels ODR-1 Jon shows the pedal settings used to shape the sound for the pickup demonstrations. 🎸 Hear ThroBak Broadcaster A3 – Classic BC-A3 Listen to ThroBak Broadcaster A3 Telecaster-style pickups installed in a 2020 70th Anniversary Fender Broadcaster, delivering classic early Telecaster tone. 🌐 ThroBak Website A quick look at the ThroBak website and where to learn more about the pickups featured in this episode. ⚔️ The Guitargument – Are Guitar Makers Stuck in the Past? The main debate of the episode. One side argues that companies like ThroBak preserve the legendary tones of the golden era of electric guitar. The opposing view claims that focusing too much on the past can turn into gear nostalgia, distracting players from innovation and real creative progress. 🧊 The Cool Down Jon and Matthew unpack the debate and explore where vintage tradition and modern creativity might meet in the middle. 🎧 Rorschach Riffs with Matthew – Electric Edition Matthew plays mysterious guitar riffs and viewers try to guess the songs. How many can you identify? 🎶 ☘️ Matthew’s Musical Musings – Greatest Irish Guitar Players Matthew highlights some of the most influential guitarists to come out of Ireland and their impact on guitar history. 👋 Outro Jon and Matthew wrap up the show and invite viewers to weigh in on the big question: Is guitar culture stuck in the past… or is the past where the best tone lives? 🎸 Gear Featured in This Episode ThroBak Broadcaster A3 Classic (BC-A3) Pickups 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb Nobels ODR-1 Overdrive 2020 Fender 70th Anniversary Broadcaster 👍 If you enjoy the ThroBak Guitar Lounge Podcast, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment. What do you think — Vintage Tone or Modern Progress? ThroBak Electronics is a world leader in classic reproduction guitar pickups. To learn more visit.: https://www.throbak.com/p90-pickup.html https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/stratocaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/telecaster-pickups.html https://www.throbak.com/alnico-magnets.html https://www.throbak.com/pedals.html https://www.throbak.com/strings.html ThroBak Electronics, located in Grand Rapids

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