The Earnest Tube - Be Your Own Big Bang!
Live Direct-to-Lacquer Recording Studio in Bristol, VA

The Earnest Tube is a recording studio in Bristol, Virginia, which specializes in recording artists live and direct-to-lacquer (AKA: direct-to-disc). Inspired by the 1927 RCA-Victor Bristol recording sessions, also known as the “Big Bang” of country music, engineers Clint Holley and Dave Polster have perfected the craft of live pre-World War II recording. Typically utilizing a minimalist amount of microphones, the Tube records artists similarly to how Alan Lomax or the 1927 RCA-Victor staff might have recorded famed musicians such as the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

After the session, the musician walks out with a playable 12” disc recording. The crew at the Tube will also digitize your lacquer recordings into high-resolution files on the spot, so when all is said and done, you have an easy way to share your unique recordings with the world online! We are currently booking by appointment only, so to get the wheels turning on your latest project, drop us a line!

For more information or to book your session today, please email Clint Holley or call (276) 494-0141. Thank you!

- We appreciate every collector that bought the latest @waxmagerecords release. THANK YOU!
- We appreciate every collector that bought the latest @waxmagerecords release. THANK YOU!
- Wax Mage day is here! Link from The Earnest Tube mailing list will be sent out at 1pm eastern time today (Saturday). Here’s our guidelines: 1. These items are priced in a way to discourage flipping. This is a special variant and we want real
- Wax Mage day is here! Link from The Earnest Tube mailing list will be sent out at 1pm eastern time today (Saturday). Here’s our guidelines: 1. These items are priced in a way to discourage flipping. This is a special variant and we want real fans to get one. 2. If a buyer places an order for more than one copy, the entire order will be cancelled. 3. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - please checkout as normal and you will be contacted for exact shipping amount. Records will be shipped after shipping is paid for. We want to thank the entire @waxmagerecords crew for knocking this one out of the park and Tricia from @heartsgonesouth for letting us handle this sale. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #gottagroove #vinyl #vinyls #vinylrecord #handmade #handmadevariant #records
- Sign up for our mailing list in order to receive a link to purchase these amazing Wax Mage variants on May 20th (1pm eastern time). Link in bio. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #artpressing #vinylvariant #heartsgonesouth
- Sign up for our mailing list in order to receive a link to purchase these amazing Wax Mage variants on May 20th (1pm eastern time). Link in bio. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #artpressing #vinylvariant #heartsgonesouth
Wax Mage drop. Saturday, May 20th at 1pm eastern. Sign up for The Earnest Tube mailing list to receive the exclusive link to purchase these amazing records.
Another @heartsgonesouth Wax Mage variant with denim inlay. Thanks @vylumi for the great lighting! Join our mailing list to receive a link when we announce these for sale. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #heartsgonesouth #vinyls #vinylrecords #mastered
Another @heartsgonesouth Wax Mage variant with denim inlay. Thanks @vylumi for the great lighting! Join our mailing list to receive a link when we announce these for sale. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #heartsgonesouth #vinyls #vinylrecords #masteredforvintl
- Another @heartsgonesouth “Canadian Tuxedo” variant with DENIM inlaid into the record! Join The Earnest Tube mailing list to receive a link so you are able to purchase these amazing one of a kind records! LINK IN BIO. . . #waxmagerecord
- Another @heartsgonesouth “Canadian Tuxedo” variant with DENIM inlaid into the record! Join The Earnest Tube mailing list to receive a link so you are able to purchase these amazing one of a kind records! LINK IN BIO. . . #waxmagerecords #waxmage #vinyls #artpressing #canadiantuxedo #vinylrecords
@little.nb and @oldtimey_kate recording at The Earnest Tube was quite a thrill. Vinyl being pressed at @thirdmanrecords
- @news5wcyb building. Bristol, Virginia. . . #artinthepark #wcyb #bristolvirginia #pedestrianplaza
- @news5wcyb building. Bristol, Virginia. . . #artinthepark #wcyb #bristolvirginia #pedestrianplaza
- Bristol in the morning light. Photo taken in Pedestrian Plaza across from The Tube! . . #sunrise #morning #pedestrianplaza #bristolva #bristolsign #early
- Bristol in the morning light. Photo taken in Pedestrian Plaza across from The Tube! . . #sunrise #morning #pedestrianplaza #bristolva #bristolsign #early
- The Tiny Art Throw Down in Kingsport was a lot of fun. Thanks to @createappalachia for organizing and hoping an event like this can come to Bristol in the future! . . #art #artthrowdown #tinyart #tinyartthrowdown #kingsport #kingsporttn #appalachia
- The Tiny Art Throw Down in Kingsport was a lot of fun. Thanks to @createappalachia for organizing and hoping an event like this can come to Bristol in the future! . . #art #artthrowdown #tinyart #tinyartthrowdown #kingsport #kingsporttn #appalachianart #goatfestival
- We appreciate every collector that bought the latest @waxmagerecords release. THANK YOU! - Wax Mage day is here! Link from The Earnest Tube mailing list will be sent out at 1pm eastern time today (Saturday). Here’s our guidelines: 1. These items are priced in a way to discourage flipping. This is a special variant and we want real - Sign up for our mailing list in order to receive a link to purchase these amazing Wax Mage variants on May 20th (1pm eastern time). Link in bio. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #artpressing #vinylvariant #heartsgonesouth
Wax Mage drop. Saturday, May 20th at 1pm eastern. Sign up for The Earnest Tube mailing list to receive the exclusive link to purchase these amazing records.
Another @heartsgonesouth Wax Mage variant with denim inlay. Thanks @vylumi for the great lighting! Join our mailing list to receive a link when we announce these for sale. . . #waxmage #waxmagerecords #heartsgonesouth #vinyls #vinylrecords #mastered - Another @heartsgonesouth “Canadian Tuxedo” variant with DENIM inlaid into the record! Join The Earnest Tube mailing list to receive a link so you are able to purchase these amazing one of a kind records! LINK IN BIO. . . #waxmagerecord
@little.nb and @oldtimey_kate recording at The Earnest Tube was quite a thrill. Vinyl being pressed at @thirdmanrecords
- @news5wcyb building. Bristol, Virginia. . . #artinthepark #wcyb #bristolvirginia #pedestrianplaza - Bristol in the morning light. Photo taken in Pedestrian Plaza across from The Tube! . . #sunrise #morning #pedestrianplaza #bristolva #bristolsign #early - The Tiny Art Throw Down in Kingsport was a lot of fun. Thanks to @createappalachia for organizing and hoping an event like this can come to Bristol in the future! . . #art #artthrowdown #tinyart #tinyartthrowdown #kingsport #kingsporttn #appalachia

The Earnest Tube is Located at:
152 Lee St.
Bristol, VA, 24201
Right in the Heart of Downtown Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee!