In Episode 12, Gabe becomes a guest on his own podcast as Guitar Center Senior Manager, Content and Social Media Max Lauer-Bader interviews him about the initial 11 episodes of Inside the Noise. The two unpack what industry leaders and artists shared during the first season, including what makes companies truly great, as well as the success paths of artists such as Chad Smith, Blu DeTiger and Kenny Aronoff.

In this episode of Inside The Noise, Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto examines the incredible “hat trick” Marcus Ryle and his teams bestowed upon the music gear industry. In three revolutionary tenures at three different companies, Ryle was instrumental in the development of the Oberheim DSX, Oberheim OB-8, Oberheim DMX drum machine, Alesis ADAT, Line 6 POD and several other indispensable music-making products. 

Chris Lombardi joins the podcast to talk about how his dad, Don Lombardi, and DW cofounder John Good transformed the company from an exclusively educational enterprise to a premier drum kit and drum hardware manufacturer.

NOTE: This episode was filmed while Chris Lombardi was serving as CEO of DW. We hope you enjoy the episode, and we want to congratulate Chris on a remarkable, decades-long career at the legendary drum maker.

Martin Guitars Executive Chairman Chris Martin is the sixth-generation family member to have lead the legendary company, which was founded in 1833.

In this episode of Inside the Noise, Martin shares the challenges faced by the iconic brand in the disco, new wave and heavy metal eras of the late ’70s and early ’80s, as well as the ability to pivot under pressure that he learned from his family history. 

Blu DeTiger sits down with Gabe to share the development process with Fender on her signature bass, how she crafted her approach to playing the instrument, her engagement strategies for social platforms and how Guitar Center helped reunite her with the first bass she ever owned.

David Kalt is a serial entrepreneur who founded Reverb.com. Celebrated for designing “more fair” platforms—prior to Reverb, he disrupted the options trading business—Kalt is passionate about improving customer experiences and providing pathways to accomplishment and success.

Legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff joins Guitar Center’s Inside the Noise with Gabe Dalporto to talk purpose, perseverance and the moments that changed his life. From playing with John Mellencamp and The Rolling Stones to becoming one of the most in-demand drummers in the world, Aronoff shares the mindset behind his success.

“Our family has been traced to continuously making [musical instrument] strings all the way back to 1680,” D’Addario and Company Chairman and Director of Innovation Jim D’Addario tells Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto in the fifth episode of Inside the Noise. “The town our father’s family came from was Salle, Italy. There are four families still making strings today that came from that town—Mari, Berti, Ruffini and Dorazio, which is us.”

“My wife calls me a nerd when it comes to guitars and music,” Martin Guitar CEO Thomas Ripsam tells Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto in this episode of Inside the Noise. “And I’m pretty proud of that.”

It’s a story that resonates with a lot of players and their partners. But the tale was also a factor in Ripsam’s journey to Martin. Throughout his long career as a strategic business consultant, Ripsam always prized his relationship to music, and he reached out to the company when Chris Martin IV announced his retirement as CEO.

Our debut episode of Guitar Center’s Plugged-In with Gabe Dalporto begins with a moment nearly all guitarists share when they hang out with other guitar players—the unveiling of their prized gear.

In this instance, Dalporto shows Fender CEO Andy Mooney his first guitar—the 1964 Stratocaster his father gave him when he was 12 years old. After trading a few licks on the ’64 Strat, the two business leaders and musicians discuss the enduring legacy of Leo Fender and his “form follows function” philosophy, the critical importance of listening to the needs of players, embracing technology and more.

NOTE: This episode was filmed prior to the news that Andy Mooney was retiring as CEO of Fender after 10 years leading the company. We hope you enjoy the episode and we congratulate him on Fender’s achievements under his leadership.

Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to Inside the Noise
00:47 – Why Guitar Center Is Pulling Back the Curtain on the Music Industry
01:21 – A 1964 Fender Stratocaster: Gabe Dalporto’s First Guitar Story
02:49 – Meet Andy Mooney, CEO of Fender
03:01 – Leo Fender’s Legacy and the Birth of the Electric Guitar
04:16 – Form Follows Function: How Leo Fender Designed for Musicians
05:51 – Fender and Apple: Building Iconic Brands Through Innovation
06:35 – Every Product Is a Deposit or Withdrawal in Brand Equity
07:19 – Expanding Fender Beyond Guitars: Pedals, Acoustasonic, and More
07:52 – Reimagining the Acoustic Guitar the Leo Fender Way
09:14 – The Fender Acoustasonic: Blending Acoustic and Electric Worlds
10:30 – Inside Fender Factories: Craftsmanship Behind Every Instrument
11:03 – Fender Custom Shop Stories and One-of-a-Kind Guitars
13:27 – Why Tinkering and Experimentation Still Define Fender
13:44 – Fender’s Vision: Respecting the Past While Designing the Future
14:50 – How Modern Artists Are Shaping Fender Guitar Innovation
15:04 – Digital Amps, Silent Stages, and the Future of Live Guitar Rigs
16:18 – Fender Tone Master Pro and Designing for Simplicity
17:23 – Andy Mooney’s Favorite Guitars and Playing Styles
19:23 – Why Fender Employees Still Gig and Play Live Music
21:01 – What Fender and Guitar Center Share in Company Culture
22:13 – Optimism for the Guitar Industry and the Future of Music
23:39 – Final Takeaways: Innovation, Legacy, and the Enduring Power of Music
24:35 – Subscribe for More Inside the Noise Episodes