BIO

Hey there, thanks for stoppin’ in at The Pharm….most of my friends call me Buck. I’ve been involved in the music business in one way or another for over forty years….performer, roadie, instrument sales and repair, live and studio engineer. It’s pretty much part of my DNA, I guess. My grandfather played banjo, fiddle, and guitar….if it had strings he could make music with it. I started out as a vocalist in Jr. High, got my first harp in ’73, bought my first guitar a couple of years later as a student at Ohio University….and never looked back.

   The dapper gent holding the fiddle is my Grandfather, with his band, about 1932..hit it, Boys..

Blues harmonica has been a life-long pursuit and source of great joy for me. I spent many years as engineer at a fine little blues club in Columbus, Ohio, where I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and work with some true contemporary masters….Paul Oscher, the late Sam Meyers, Mark Hummel, to name a few. One evening after his performance I asked Mark what type of mic he used, and he told me it was a custom built..( props to Chuck Gurney)... which really intrigued me. He gave me some info and after a bit of research I decided to try my hand at it. Sold my first creation on eBay in ’04, and after that I was hooked. Ten years on and scores of satisfied customers later, I now offer them here  as TONE PHARM CLASSICS.

Tone Pharm was created primarily as a vehicle for marketing my custom harp mics, but the same haunts I frequented in pursuit of old mics to customize had me running across plenty of nice used instruments and more. With over a decade of musical instrument retail experience under my belt the decision to expand into this area was an easy one. I have a great passion for guitars in particular, developed over many years of performing, working in music stores, doing set-ups and repairs. I’m a real tinkerer at heart……have always enjoyed working with my hands, and have been incredibly fortunate to have worked with  some truly talented guitar craftsmen. I will be offering some guitars which I purchase to upgrade in one way or another, or specifically set up for slide work or alternate tuning.  Check my thoughts on why these can make great beginner and performer’s instruments by clicking on BUCK’S CUSTOMS. To best take advantage of my travels, I also decided to offer what I like to call “virtual consignment”….check the details by clicking CONSIGNMENT on the  menu….

Guitar shows, auctions & estate sales, everyday conversation and just dumb luck….I never cease to be amazed by some of the things I run across. You’ll find many of them in THE KITCHEN SINK. The other “non-instrument” category here at Tone Pharm stems from my love of stereo equipment from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s….details in the menu under VINTAGE HI-FI…..

     Probably my favorite picture of myself and Grandad….here in his early 90’s….still pickin’….

So thanks again for dropping by….keep us on your favorites list and stop back often, it’s my great hope that Tone Pharm will be growing and progressing over time with lots of new gear coming in on a regular basis, much of it unique to this site.  Please email or call us with any questions or requests for pictures, or to let us know of any items in particular you may be looking for.

S U P P O R T     L I V E     M U S I C !!