About us

  • MONO CASE
  • GIG EFFECTS
Daniel Kushner

MONO was founded by Daniel Kushner in the spring of 2006, on the ferry boat between Sausalito and San Francisco, to be exact. A self-taught drummer of over 15 years and a professional industrial designer, Daniel launched MONO to merge his love for music and design with a vision of creating innovative products for a new generation of modernist musicians.

Recyclable furniture

Having grown up in suburban Pennsylvania playing in several funk, hip hop and rock bands, Daniel went on to study design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design. There he was awarded the Industrial Designer Society of America (IDSA) Student Merit award for his thesis project, Fibrid, creating recyclable furniture from waste paper.

examples of design

In 2002 Daniel relocated to San Francisco with his wife, Lauren, where he joined internationally acclaimed design firm IDEO. There he served as Lead Designer for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, Proctor & Gamble and Bank of America. During his 4 years with IDEO Daniel had the opportunity to create award-winning designs that are now experienced by millions of people every day.

monocase products

In 2006 Daniel put his vision for MONO into action, spending over a year designing, prototyping and refining the first line products that would launch the company. The M80 Series of hybrid cases for guitar and percussion instruments emerged, marking Daniel’s commitment to innovative design and setting the bar for the MONO brand.

musician with cymbal bag

The company’s official launch at the 2007 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim California was met with overwhelming success in the form of international distribution, artist endorsements and grassroots support from the music community. Thanks to all the players who continue to provide feedback and support as we get the word out. If you’d like to help spread the word as well, link to us on your site, blog or myspace! Go play.

visit www.monocase.com for source.
 

 

gig-fx ethos statement:

-To design and manu facture light-weight, road-worthy products to the highest standard of reliability. We use cast aircraft aluminum shells and optical circuitry for example
- To create different and exciting products that fill niches in the market and add entertainment value

- To aim at the professional and working musician by maintaining high standards of signal integrity, low noise-circuits and seamless, transparent pedal by-passes

- To strive to remain in the analog realm. We are not fans of scrolling through patches on stage

Who is gig-fx?

Jeff Purchon, founder and CEO of gig-fx, started playing guitar at age 11. He was influenced by Clapton, Hendrix, Peter Green, Paul Kossoff, Alvin Lee, and other guitar greats at the time.  Mick Ronson (Bowie) was his school friend and local band mate.  From age 13 he was playing in high schools, social clubs, army bases and bars in the North of England.  At age 17 he was playing as a warm up band in 5000 capacity venues for Black Sabbath, Free, Genesis, Deep Purple, Robert Palmer and other major acts.  Jeff signed with EMI records at age 17 but his band declined to move to London to cash in at that time. 

Jeff moved to London to become professional at age 21. He toured with Noel Redding (ex Jimi Hendrix), Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) and in his career has jammed / gigged with Robert Palmer, Ginger Baker, Buddy Miles, Steve Holly (Wings) and many others.

Jeff has recorded in major studios including Abbey Road, Sun Studios (London), De Lane Lea, Roundhouse, Trident, Air London etc.  In the 80’s in the US he founded and toured with Memphis Train, a Boston-based blues band playing at the Crossroads music festival in Nashville, House of Blues and other prestigious gigs.

These days Jeff still jams in three continents with various bands depending where he is.  At the last Austin NAMM show in 2007, Jeff played with Buddy Miles and Vernon Reid of Living Color.

Jeff’s partners in gig-fx are two distinguished analog design engineers who have a life-time experience of analog design and playing music.  Bruce Ritz, co-founder of gig-fx, has no less than 30 years’ experience of analog circuit design and is an accomplished keyboard player who also played with Jeff in Memphis Train.

The Shenzhen-based China team for gig-fx are long-term friends and associates of gig-fx.  Dong Qi and Jean Yang have been partners with Jeff in various successful electronic enterprises. They are well-versed in analog electronic manufacturing and logistics and are familiar with the highest level of quality manufacturing routines.

visit www.gig-fx.com for source.