Dear All, how time flies! It took some desktop archaeology to confirm that the very first Toobs with serial numbers were taken to a friendly neighborhood guitar shop in Kauniainen, Finland, exactly five years ago. They managed to sell one...
Counting prototypes, over 500 Toobs and Metros have been made, to customers in 30 countries. Pro musicians and active giggers constitute a disproportionate share of the users. It all started with my admittedly one-sided love affair with the jazz guitar; today these cabs are used for all music genres from classical to punk and rap, and for a broad range of acoustic and electric instruments.
The project started in 2007, when I was newly retired and between orthopedic operations - four in all. The need for lighter gear was obvious, but the project remained a part-time hobby until decent Class D micro-amps for guitar started pouring to the market around 2016 - a decade behind their bass cousins.
Well, I'm 75 now and still making and shipping them cabs alone. Can't think of getting through the next five years this way, especially with the double/triple-digit growth that started a year ago. Various succession scenarios are under consideration. What transpires is that Finland with its small home market, remote location plus high cost & tax level is not an ideal place for scaling up. USA is my main market despite lack of dealer interest. The plastic pipe used for the shells is ubiquitous and made to an international standard, so manufacturing/assembly could well take place closer to major market. In Europe, for example, Germany offers a central location, strong home market, low VAT and superior logistics. In Italy, great speakers grow on trees and there's something special in the way Italians combine an artisanal touch to an industrial scale.
The unique TOOB construction also enables various licensing/franchising schemes, i.e. the sourcing of special parts (rims, grills, wooden components) from us and generally available stuff (shells, speakers, wire harnesses, hardware) locally. If you are interested or know somebody who might be, do send me a PM!
I thank this Forum for support from the start and for not being hysterical about messages with a slight commercial twist. I have also learned immensely about jazz guitar and many other relevant subjects.
It would be fitting to celebrate the 5th Anniversary with a lavish offer to Members. The plain truth is, my speaker inventory is dwindling and next major shipment from Italy is due in July-August. The standard 15% discount to members applies, of course, but unless an interim solution is found, no Metro 6.5GP+ or BG models are available for months. The situation with 10" and 12" Toobs is better.
The attached photos shows the first Toob prototype from 2007. We've come a long way!
Congrats on the Anniversary! It says a lot that a new company, selling an "unusual" product to a niche market, made it through two years of covid insanity, and is still pushing ahead! Keep going!
[I was invited to a jam this afternoon with a bunch of local school music teachers; I'll be bringing my Toob 10S, and I'm excited to hear it in action!]
Posted By Raymond (10 replies)
Yesterday, 03:06 PM in For Sale
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Got some picking exercises?
Today, 01:17 PM in Guitar Technique