some time would pass that people
would get over attacking me personally
and want the product again. It took a bit
longer than those five years to go full
circle, but he was right. By the end of
2015 it was clear to me that people
really did want the line back. There were
some disappointments and hard knocks
trying to get Frantone back into
production, but crowdfunding is one of
the greatest things to come about in
recent years, and a hugely successful
Kickstarter campaign in February
brought Frantone back in earnest
this year.
TR: You are one of the only women in
the pedal-building industry, which in
24
INTERVIEW //
my opinion is very commendable. Do
you find that you are treated
differently because of it? And how do
you feel your gender affects your
business if at all?
FB: I can only speak for myself, so
truthfully I have no way of knowing if
others are treated any differently, but it
is and has always been a boys’ club. So,
in that sense, if everyone is treated
equally, then inclusion means having to
be another one of the guys. Any guitar
forum will show that this is not a culture
that women would create or really ever
desire to be a part of, which is a major
obstacle to diversity right at the front
gate—it’s perfectly tuned for attracting
The Return of Real Boutique: A Chat with Fran Blanche of Frantone