What Chase Bliss Audio does

Chase Bliss Audio is a Minneapolis-based boutique product design company founded in 2013 by Joel Korte that designs and sells analog and digital audio effects pedals for musicians. Its product portfolio centers on the "Digital Brain Analog Heart" hybrid architecture, which pairs digital control and programmability with analog audio signal paths to deliver studio-grade effects in pedal form factor; flagship products include the Big Time Hybrid Echo, the Lossy Workshop (developed in collaboration with Goodhertz), and the CHOMPI hardware sampler, with sub-brands Small Batch Bliss and Bliss + Mortar extending the line. The company sells exclusively direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce website, supported by a community-driven marketing approach spanning YouTube artist collaborations (e.g., John Snyder, Meg Duffy), Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and a Bandcamp label (Chase Bliss Records). Revenue is generated entirely through one-time hardware sales of pedals, the CHOMPI sampler, utility products, and branded merchandise, with no public pricing disclosure and no disclosed enterprise or B2B channel. The business operates with 11-50 employees, has taken on minimal outside capital (a single ~$229K round in September 2019), and appears to be an independently held, founder-led microbrand focused on craft, sonic character, and community engagement rather than scale.

Name

Chase Bliss Audio

Website

https://chaseblissaudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chase Bliss Audio is a Minneapolis-based boutique pedal maker founded in 2013 that designs and sells direct-to-consumer hybrid analog-digital audio effects pedals — including the Big Time, Lossy, and CHOMPI sampler — for professional and serious hobbyist musicians worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Audio Effects Pedals

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC)

Keywords

• Boutique effects pedals
• Analog digital audio
• Guitar effects processors
• Audio sampling devices
• Hybrid signal processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Effects Pedals: One-time purchase of physical effects pedals (e.g., Big Time Hybrid Echo, Lossy) sold directly through their e-commerce platform
2. CHOMPI Sampler: Hardware sampler device sold as one-time purchase through direct sales channel
3. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel and accessories

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Chase Bliss Audio designs and manufactures boutique guitar and audio effects pedals that combine digital control circuitry with analog signal paths. The product portfolio includes hybrid echo pedals, lo-fi texture pedals, and a hardware sampler device, sold as one-time purchases to musicians and producers. The company also sells branded merchandise and operates sub-brands for small-batch and collaborative product lines.

Product overview

Chase Bliss Audio is a boutique audio effects pedal company offering a portfolio of analog and digital effects pedals. The product line includes core pedals like Big Time (Hybrid Echo), Lossy Workshop (collaboration with Goodhertz), and CHOMPI (sampler). Products are organized under categories including Pedals, Utility, and Merch, with sub-brands Small Batch Bliss and Bliss + Mortar. The company tagline is 'Digital Brain Analog Heart,' reflecting their hybrid approach to effects design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Small Batch Bliss: A sub-brand mentioned under the Company section on the Chase Bliss website.
• Bliss + Mortar

Products and services

• Big Time Hybrid Echo Hybrid Echo pedal combining analog and digital processing for audio effects, designed for musicians seeking deeply programmable delay/echo effects with analog warmth. Currently available for preorder.
• Lossy Workshop Audio effects pedal developed in collaboration with Goodhertz, designed for musicians exploring lo-fi texture and sound degradation effects. Featured on homepage as a workshop collaboration.
• CHOMPI Sampler Hardware sampler pedal device for audio sampling and manipulation, sold as a one-time purchase through the direct sales channel.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Empress Effects: Canadian boutique pedal manufacturer offering high-quality effects (Reverb, Echosystem, Multidrive). Comparable boutique positioning, similar price band, and overlapping customer base of professional guitarists.
• Source Audio: Massachusetts-based effects pedal maker with strong digital/hybrid architecture (Nemesis delay, Ventris reverb). Competes directly in programmable, DSP-driven pedal space.
• Strymon: Premium boutique effects pedal maker (Timeline, BigSky, El Capistan) serving the same professional and prosumer guitarist market with high-end hybrid digital-analog pedals. Closest direct competitor in positioning and target customer.
• EarthQuaker Devices: Akron, OH-based boutique pedal company producing a broad catalog of effects pedals aimed at guitarists. Comparable small-batch DTC model, similar price points, and overlapping artist-driven marketing approach.
• Walrus Audio: Oklahoma-based boutique effects pedal manufacturer (Slö, Fathom, Monument) with strong visual branding and artist-focused community marketing. Directly competes in the same premium pedal niche.
• Meris Polysynth: Boutique pedal maker known for high-end digital/hybrid effects (Polymoon, Mercury7, Enzo). Targets the same professional guitarist/studio musician segment with premium-priced, deeply programmable pedals.

Broad incumbents

• Eventide: Established professional audio company (H9, Factor pedals, rack effects) with broader studio and live-sound presence. Overlaps in hybrid digital effects for guitarists but at larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Boss / Roland: Industry incumbent in guitar effects with massive distribution, lower price points, and far broader catalog. Indirect competitor—Chase Bliss's premium boutique positioning targets the segment Boss largely vacated.
• Universal Audio: Major professional audio hardware and software company with guitar pedals (UAFX series) entering the boutique hybrid pedal market. Larger R&D and marketing budget pose long-term competitive threat.
• Electro-Harmonix: Long-established effects pedal manufacturer (Big Muff, POG, Memory Man) with a broad catalog spanning budget to boutique price points. Overlaps at the high end with hybrid digital-analog designs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chaseblissaudio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAPwhELXDP5lpUZUeCwK35Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/chaseblissaudio
• Instagraminstagram.com/chasebliss
• TikToktiktok.com/@chaseblissaudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chase Bliss Audio