Mike Piera, better known as “Analog Man,” is a titan in the world of guitar effects. For over 25 years, his company has set the gold standard for vintage-correct tones, with the King of Tone overdrive becoming perhaps the most coveted (and waitlisted) pedal in history.
In a revealing 2026 interview on the Products of Music podcast, Mike opens up about the future of his company, the crushing reality of supply chain tariffs, and whether Analog Man can survive without him. Here are the key takeaways from this must-watch conversation.
The King of Tone Waitlist: Will It Ever End?
Is the Analog Man era coming to an end? Dive into Mike Piera’s 2026 interview on the future of the King of Tone waitlist, the struggle to source rare vintage parts, and whether the legendary pedal brand can survive without its founder.
The elephant in the room for any Analog Man interview is the King of Tone (KoT) waitlist. In 2026, the situation remains as elusive as ever. Mike confirms that the waitlist is still growing and that he has no plans to scale production in a way that would compromise quality or his work-life balance.
“New orders may never be actually fulfilled,” Mike admits candidly. He explains that he doesn’t want to manage a massive team of 30 builders just to churn out pedals. He prefers a small, manageable operation where quality control is paramount. If you’re on the list, hang tight—but don’t expect a flood of new units anytime soon.
The Struggle for Vintage Parts in 2026
One of the most pressing challenges Mike highlights is the scarcity of New Old Stock (NOS) components. Analog Man built its reputation on using specific, often discontinued, transistors and capacitors to recreate authentic vintage sounds.
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Tariffs & Costs: Rising global tariffs (specifically mentioned as a major issue in 2025/2026) have skyrocketed the cost of imported parts, sometimes by 50%.
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The “OG1” Project: Mike details his recent project, the OG1, a faithful recreation of the original Boss OD-1. It took him 25 years to find enough of the correct chips (RC3403ADB) to justify a run.
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The End of Through-Hole: The industry’s shift toward Surface Mount Technology (SMT) is making it nearly impossible to source the traditional “through-hole” parts that boutique builders prefer.
Analog Soul in a Digital World
As digital modeling tech like the Quad Cortex and Kemper becomes the industry standard for touring pros, where does Analog Man fit in? Mike remains an unapologetic purist.
While acknowledging that digital units sound “amazing” in a mix, he argues they often lack the visceral “feel” and sustain that comes from the interaction between a loud guitar amp and an instrument.
“I want to play my guitar. I want it to go through real pedals and real amps… It sounds fake [otherwise].”
However, he notes an interesting trend: top-tier guitarists using real analog drive pedals (like the King of Tone) in front of their digital modelers to inject some organic “glitchiness” and warmth back into the signal chain.
Can Analog Man Exist Without Mike Piera?
The interview takes a reflective turn when discussing succession. Can the company outlive its founder?
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The King of Tone: Mike believes this side of the business could continue without him. The recipe is known, and his team is highly skilled at building them.
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The Germanium Fuzzes: This is where it gets tricky. Pedals like the Sun Face require Mike’s personal ear to test and bias individual germanium transistors—a skill he describes as “impossible to teach” because it relies on intuition and decades of experience spotting fakes.
Our Thoughts
Mike Piera is currently 65 and enjoying a life that balances pedal building with racing vintage cars and playing tennis. While he has no immediate plans to shut down, the “sunset” of the golden era of boutique pedals seems to be on the horizon, driven by part scarcity and changing global economics.
If you have the chance to snag an Analog Man pedal today—especially one with rare NOS parts—hold onto it. We may be witnessing the final chapter of a legendary run.
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#Analog Man #Mike Piera #King of Tone
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