# Fran Blanche Version 3

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-04-18
- Length: 1h 13m
- Episode: 586
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/586-fran-blanche-version-3/

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Fran Lab and EEVblog's Dave Jones discuss the realities of building and selling physical products, including Gammell's experience manufacturing guitar pedals with Frantone and the logistical nightmares of the kit business. They explore the challenges of sourcing components like Bakelite knobs from Davies Molding, the durability of Switchcraft jacks, and the hidden costs of customer service for DIY electronics. The conversation also covers Gammell's attempt to write a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the impact of eBay on component pricing, and a speculative discussion on how hardware entrepreneurship would have evolved without the internet.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=0) Introduction and Fran Lab's Business Model
- [8:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=521) Frantone Pedal Manufacturing and Design
- [13:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=832) Component Sourcing and Quality Control
- [17:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=1040) Hardware Durability and Connector Issues
- [20:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=1241) The Kit Business and Customer Service
- [29:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=1756) Publishing and the Philadelphia Inquirer
- [44:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=2656) eBay, Collectibles, and Packing Nightmares
- [58:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3#t=3535) Alternate History: Hardware Without the Internet

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fran Lab (company)
- Frantone (company)
- Hepcat (product)
- Davies Molding (company)
- Switchcraft (company)
- Colin Mitchell (other)
- Talking Electronics (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Philadelphia Inquirer (company)
- Substack (company)
- eBay (company)
- PayPal (company)
- Stripe (company)
- EEVblog (company)
- Patreon (company)
- Vigilantron (product)
- The Hives (company)
- Karlstrom (company)
- RadioShack (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [432: The Windowlicker Room](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-03-01-432-the-windowlicker-room) (Making It)
- [19: Smushed by the Gears of Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-29-19-smushed-by-the-gears-of-industry) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [354: The trade off](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-05-13-354-the-trade-off) (Making It)
- [408: If You Build It… Some people might come.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-08-18-408-if-you-build-it-some-people-might-come) (Making It)
- [36: Drive the Boat with a Wii Mote](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-22-36-drive-the-boat-with-a-wii-mote) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-18-fran-blanche-version-3. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.