Today, Chase Bliss has announced the acquisition of CHOMPI Club, the creators of the fun and innovative CHOMPI sampler. This merger brings together two beloved brands in the audio equipment space, promising exciting possibilities for both companies and their users.
The Announcement
Joel Korte, founder of Chase Bliss, shared the news in a video featuring Chelsea and Tobias, the founders of CHOMPI Club, along with their adorable pups Jimmy Changa and Gus Gus. The announcement, while significant, feels like a natural progression for both companies, given their previous collaborations and shared vision for accessible, high-quality music technology.
Who is CHOMPI Club?
CHOMPI Club, founded by Chelsea and Tobias, emerged from their experience running music education programs in Washington state. Recognizing the need for an easier entry point into sound design, they created the CHOMPI sampler. This intuitive device allows users to create music with simple steps: turn it on, flip a switch, and make a sound. The CHOMPI sampler’s simplicity belies its depth, encouraging users to explore and stack sounds, making it an ideal tool for both beginners and experienced musicians.
The Path to Acquisition
The relationship between Chase Bliss and CHOMPI Club began when CHOMPI’s Kickstarter campaign caught the attention of the audio community, including Joel Korte. Their initial meeting at the NAMM show led to a collaboration at Superbooth, where they created the “Treasure Island” CHOMPI, a special colorway that bridged the two brands. This partnership highlighted the natural synergy between Chase Bliss pedals and the CHOMPI sampler, setting the stage for a deeper integration.
What This Means for Users
For current CHOMPI owners and fans, the acquisition brings several benefits:
- Continuity of Service: Existing customer support and Discord community will remain unchanged in the immediate future.
- Improved Support: In the coming months, CHOMPI support and repairs will transition to the Chase Bliss ecosystem, known for its excellent customer service.
- New Production Run: A new batch of CHOMPI samplers is currently in production, addressing recent availability issues.
- Firmware Updates: The CHOMPI team is working on new firmware features, which will be available as free updates for existing users.
- Potential for Innovation: The combined expertise of both teams suggests exciting possibilities for future product development – crazy synths, more otherworldly pedals, who knows?
While many details are still being worked out, the CHOMPI team is relocating to Minneapolis to work closely with Chase Bliss. This move promises to foster collaboration and accelerate the development of new ideas and products.
The acquisition of CHOMPI Club by Chase Bliss represents a significant moment in the music technology industry. It brings together two innovative forces, each known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in audio equipment and indie crafts. For musicians and sound designers, this union holds the promise of even more creative tools and possibilities in the future.
As both companies integrate their operations and share their expertise, the audio community can look forward to seeing how this collaboration will shape the future of music technology. With Chase Bliss’s reputation for high-quality, innovative pedals (see our Generation Loss Mk2 review) and CHOMPI’s user-friendly approach to sampling, the potential for groundbreaking new products is immense.
Stay tuned for more updates from this exciting new chapter in the world of music technology.
