Tosin Abasi X Music Man: Kaizen & Engineering the Evolution of Guitar

It may surprise you to learn that Tosin Abasi is, by his own admission, a largely self-taught guitarist. With his only prior musical experiences being elementary school clarinet and an impulsive decision to strum away on a friend’s guitar, he ultimately expanded his knowledge by renting ’80s hair-metal guitar-tutorial tapes. This would solidify the sonic foundation that allowed him to build Animals as Leaders, the solo project that, after more than a decade at the helm, would see him emerge among the vanguard of next-gen virtuoso players. The same spirit of curiosity that enabled him to intuitively craft riffs with zero previous experience fueled a desire to answer the question that’s plagued guitarists for years: where does the guitar go next? With the help of Music Man’s multifaceted expertise and meticulous commitment to R&D, the Kaizen collection of guitars would emerge in 2022. With no flat surfaces, a 3D-printed rear plate, a multi-scale tremolo, and Music Man’s proprietary “Infinity Radius” fretboard, Abasi and Music Man just may have found their answer. During Namm 2024, Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher caught up with Tosin Abasi at Music Man’s “eagle’s nest” booth to talk all things gear, growth, and innovation. Check it out!