The opening of Mastertone recording studio in 2026 marks the culmination of Tony Owen's extensive experience as a musician, producer, engineer, and dedication to analog audio equipment.

After years of performing as a professional musician in the Bay Area, Tony was invited by Lech Wierzynski—lead singer of the California Honeydrops—to play guitar on a session at Tiny Telephone recording studio in Oakland, California. This session resulted in songs that would contribute to the album "Call it Home," which featured legendary musicians Bonnie Raitt, Mike Finnegan (Etta James, Jimi Hendrix), and Nick Otis (brother of the iconic Shuggie Otis).

This project initiated a multi-year relationship with the Honeydrops, during which Tony served as a rhythm-guitar-sideman, session player, and engineer for several tracks on their 2022 release, "Covers from the Cave."

Tony's connection with the Honeydrops also led to a collaboration with R&B singer Quinn Deveaux. This partnership led to guitar credits on two tracks—"Take you back" and "Very Best Thing"—from Deveaux's 2024 release, "Leisure." Recorded by renowned producer and musician Kid Andersen at his infamous Greaseland recording studio in San Jose, California, these tracks highlight the potent collaboration between Quinn, members of the Honeydrops, Nick Otis, and Tony.

Tony brings decades of hands-on experience to the studio, splitting his time between recording, designing and building custom guitar amplifiers, and restoring vintage gear. This passion for analog technology led to the eventual collaboration with Nathan Shaw of Zodiac Audio. Together they designed and modified custom equipment for Mastertone recording studio, including One of a kind mic preamps, line mixers, tape machines.

Tony’s recent production credits include Prog Frog’s 2024 tape-tracked debut EP, Frog Prog (co-produced with 2200 Studio's Ryan Shaw). Most recently, he recorded, mixed, and mastered the 2026 solo EP Consolation for Prog Frog frontman Eli Carlton-Pearson—a project that showcases Tony's distinct production aesthetic and even features him on Hammond organ.