Tiny Telephone
Tiny Telephone is a privately-held analog recording studio in Oakland, CA, founded in 1997 by John Vanderslice, serving independent and indie rock musicians with a rebuilt Neve 8068 console, vintage tape machines, and rare instruments at a transparent $400/day rate.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tiny Telephone does
Tiny Telephone is a privately held, founder-owned recording studio founded in September 1997 by John Vanderslice and currently operating from a 2,700 sq. ft. facility in Oakland, California. The studio serves independent musicians and bands—primarily in the indie rock segment—with a high-fidelity recording service built around a 64-channel Neve 8068 console rebuilt by Garry Creiman, Studer 820 2-inch and ATR 102 1/2-inch tape machines, Pro Tools HD with Prism Titan conversion, and a vintage instrument collection including a Hammond B3, Moog 3c modular, Roland Jupiter 8, and a restored 1936 Mason & Hamlin grand piano. The control room is tuned by Bob Hodas and the live room designed by Manny LaCarruba, providing distinctive acoustic characteristics that have attracted artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Sleater-Kinney, St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, The Mountain Goats, and Kronos Quartet.
The business operates on a direct-to-consumer transaction model with a single, transparent $400/day studio rate (scheduled to increase to $450/day on September 1, 2026—the first rate increase in 8 years) that includes all equipment, instruments, and free 2-inch analog tape. Engineering services are billed separately at $300-$400/day, with six house engineers on staff and a roster of guest engineers including notable producers. Bookings are made directly via email or phone with the owner, and the studio is booked at least one month in advance, indicating demand exceeds current capacity. There is no institutional investment, no parent company, and no equity funding; the firm operates as a profitable single-location lifestyle business with a 9-person team. Marketing is conducted entirely through earned media (press coverage in The New Yorker, Vice, Wired, SF Weekly, and Mix Magazine) and word-of-mouth within the indie music community.
Tiny Telephone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tiny Telephone
- Legal name
- Tiny Telephone Recording
- Website
- https://tinytelephone.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tiny Telephone is a privately-held analog recording studio in Oakland, CA, founded in 1997 by John Vanderslice, serving independent and indie rock musicians with a rebuilt Neve 8068 console, vintage tape machines, and rare instruments at a transparent $400/day rate.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tiny Telephone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Recording Services
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Sound Recording Industries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile) (MPAIAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Audio & Communications Equipment Rental (MPADAFAC)
Keywords
Where Tiny Telephone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tiny Telephone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Studio Time Rental: Day rate rental of studio space including all equipment and instruments. Currently $400/day, increasing to $450/day effective September 1, 2026. Revenue is transaction-based per booking.
- Engineering Services: Additional engineer fees of $300-$400/day on top of studio rental. House engineers available for recording sessions. Outside producers welcome but require a first engineer at $300/day minimum.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Day Rate - $400/day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Engineering - $300-$400/day |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Deposit - $200/day |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Tiny Telephone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tiny Telephone is a single-location recording studio in Oakland, CA that rents out studio time at a flat $400/day rate (rising to $450/day on September 1, 2026), with all equipment included: a rebuilt 64-channel Neve 8068 console, Studer A820 2-inch tape machines, ATR 102 1/2-inch tape machines, Pro Tools HD with Prism conversion, and a vintage instrument and microphone collection. Optional in-house recording engineers are available for an additional $300-$400/day, and free 2-inch 24-track analog tape is provided to artists to encourage analog recording workflows.
Product overview
Tiny Telephone is a single-location analog and digital recording studio offering studio time rental with comprehensive equipment access. The core offering is studio time at $400/day (rising to $450 in September 2026), which includes use of the Neve 8068 console, Studer 820 and ATR 102 tape machines, Pro Tools HD system, vintage instruments (Hammond B3, Moog modular, Roland Jupiter 8, Mason & Hamlin grand piano), and all studio gear. Add-on services include professional engineering ($300-$400/day), session musicians at fixed rates, and a free 2" tape program for artists wanting to record analog. The studio is owned and managed by John Vanderslice and is located in Oakland, CA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tiny Telephone Recording Studio - Day Rate Rental Studio time rental at a flat $400/day rate (rising to $450/day on September 1, 2026) including use of the Neve 8068 console, Studer A820 2-inch and ATR 102 1/2-inch tape machines, Pro Tools HD with Prism conversion, full vintage instrument collection, and 40+ microphone collection. Available to independent musicians, bands, and labels for analog and digital recording projects.
- In-House Recording Engineering Services
- Session Musician Services
- Free 2-inch 24-Track Analog Tape Program
Quantifiable outcome
- First rate increase in 8 years as of September 2026, demonstrating long-term commitment to affordable pricing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tiny Telephone
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tiny Telephone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Tiny Telephone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ritual Coffee RoastersminorProvides coffee for the studio. Ritual Coffee is a local Bay Area specialty coffee roaster. This is a vendor relationship for studio amenities.
- Five Mountains TeaminorProvides tea selection for the studio. Vendor relationship for studio amenities.
- Bob HodascoreRenowned acoustic expert who tuned Tiny Telephone's control room. Bob Hodas is a leading authority in studio acoustic tuning. His involvement provides acoustic credibility and optimal monitoring environment.
- Manny LaCarrubacoreDesigned and tuned Tiny Telephone's live room. LaCarruba is associated with Secrets of the Pros. His acoustic design expertise contributes to the studio's recording quality.
- Garry CreimancoreTechnical genius who rebuilt and restored the Neve 8068 console over a 3-year period. His work brought the console back to original functionality, recapped, and calibrated.
- Steve BenjaminscoreRestored both the 1936 Mason & Hamlin 9-foot grand piano and 1929 Lyon and Healy upright piano. Contact information provided for piano tuning referrals.
- Round Sound CymbalsminorSupplier of all cymbals for the drum kits. Round Sound Cymbals provides quality cymbals for the studio's drum setups.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Tiny Telephone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Royal Studios: Hi-volume vintage analog studio in Memphis run by producer Boo Mitchell. Comparable boutique-scale, vintage-equipment-driven operation serving indie, soul, and rock artists - similar founder-led ethos and equipment investment profile.
- Reservoir Studios: NYC pro recording studio with vintage analog equipment and indie-friendly pricing philosophy. Comparable boutique-scale operation serving independent artists with high-end analog gear access.
- The Warehouse Studio: Vancouver-based pro analog recording studio with vintage Neve consoles and tape machines. Comparable to Tiny Telephone in equipment depth, indie/established artist clientele, and analog-first recording philosophy at premium day rates.
- Sound Emporium Studios: Nashville-based vintage analog studio with Neve consoles and a long history serving independent artists. Comparable founder-curated, vintage-equipment-driven boutique operation.
- Electrical Audio: Steve Albini's analog-focused recording studio in Chicago, founded and operated by a working musician/producer. Closest analogue to Tiny Telephone - founder-run, indie-friendly, analog-first ethos, comparable day rates and equipment philosophy (vintage consoles and tape machines).
Broad incumbents
- Ardent Studios: Memphis-based established recording studio with decades of indie and major-label credits. Comparable vintage analog equipment investment, though larger scale and broader commercial scope than Tiny Telephone's indie-focused positioning.
- FAME Studios: Historic Muscle Shoals, Alabama recording studio with deep vintage equipment and legacy artist clientele. Comparable boutique-scale analog-first operation with strong cultural brand cachet among independent and roots musicians.
- Sunset Sound: Legendary Hollywood recording studio operating since 1958 with multiple vintage Neve and API consoles. Larger, more commercially oriented than Tiny Telephone, but comparable in analog-first equipment philosophy and artist prestige.
- Blackbird Studio: Nashville-based world-class analog and digital recording studio with multiple vintage Neve consoles. Larger, multi-room commercial operation; comparable in equipment depth and analog ethos, but broader market positioning than Tiny Telephone's indie-boutique model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tiny Telephone social profiles
Digital presenceTiny Telephone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tiny Telephone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tiny Telephone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tiny Telephone M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tiny Telephone
What does Tiny Telephone do?
Tiny Telephone is a single-location recording studio in Oakland, CA that rents out studio time at a flat $400/day rate (rising to $450/day on September 1, 2026), with all equipment included: a rebuilt 64-channel Neve 8068 console, Studer A820 2-inch tape machines, ATR 102 1/2-inch tape machines, Pro Tools HD with Prism conversion, and a vintage instrument and microphone collection. Optional in-house recording engineers are available for an additional $300-$400/day, and free 2-inch 24-track analog tape is provided to artists to encourage analog recording workflows.
Is Tiny Telephone a public or private company?
Tiny Telephone is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tiny Telephone founded?
Tiny Telephone was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tiny Telephone based?
Tiny Telephone is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tiny Telephone make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Studio Time Rental is the primary driver. The others are engineering Services.
Who are Tiny Telephone's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Royal Studios, Reservoir Studios, The Warehouse Studio, Sound Emporium Studios and Electrical Audio. Broad incumbents are Ardent Studios, FAME Studios, Sunset Sound and Blackbird Studio.
Does Tiny Telephone have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tiny Telephone.
What industry is Tiny Telephone in?
Tiny Telephone's product category is Music Recording Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAHAA, Recording Studios (Commercial, Project, Mobile), with a secondary code of MPADAFAC, Audio & Communications Equipment Rental. Its NAICS code is 51224.