大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - The heavy metal musician turned entrepreneur who used punk rock鈥檚 do-it-yourself approach to help launch his own business

The heavy metal musician turned entrepreneur who used punk rock鈥檚 do-it-yourself approach to help launch his own business

26 September 2018

Four years ago, guitarist Grant was at a crossroads:

“The job centre suggested I go on another work programme, which wouldn’t get me anywhere, or else start my own company... I panicked and said ‘okay, I’ll start a business.’”

This snap decision led Grant to making his living through his guitar effects pedal company based in the Southside of Glasgow.

Making Your Own Guitar Pedals | Into It

This has to be the dream job for anyone who loves guitars.

It was a twist of fate that first led Grant to launch his start up.

“I had always had experiences with music electronics. When the drummer in my band broke his foot I had nothing to do for quite some time, so I started making pedals.”

The demand for Grant’s pedals snowballed when people started asking him to make stuff for them.

Grant never thought he would make a career out of music technology, but realised that he could achieve his goals if he applied the same dogged attitude to making guitar pedals as he did to learning guitar as a youngster.

“Music just seemed this insurmountable, impossible, highly academic thing. But then I discovered punk rock and the do–it–yourself ethic. I realised that if you know a few simple basics then that’s all you need to keep going.

Seeing the same parts of circuits in other circuits helped Grant to advance his knowledge of making effects pedals. Being able to use the skills he had learned to forge his career also had an unexpected bonus for Grant:

“I got to stick it to the job centre cause I’m still doing it four years later.”