Clone pedal builder rant

meltedbuzzbox

Am I the only one that feels a huge disappointment when I look at a clone pedal and it has no labeling or graphics on it?

A fair amount of effort goes into sourcing and making these things and then they are let down by looking like any old metal case with knobs on them. Show some pride and show off your work. At least put your brand on the damn things!

I look at Juan solo and 4114 effects and I wonder why the rest cant do this. 

I will go back in my box now. As you were. 

ICBM

I tend to feel more disappointed when I open one up and find that "hand made" looks as if the hands belonged to a drunken chimpanzee... who had previously been sober enough to order the cheapest possible parts.

Branshen

How else would I be able to conceal my secret weapons?

frankus

I've got to the point with DIY stuff that I look at the enclosures and think - better come back and redo this sometime...

JDE

As long as they're sparkly, i'm cool. Some "brand" builders could do well with revising or removing all of their graphics and logos - I'd rather have nothing on a box than some of the munters out there. Not that it should matter. Tbh, I find the "graphic'd top/unfinished sides and underside" thing some builders (EHX are the prime example) way more offensive. LAZY.

Don't even get me started on some of the names.

meltedbuzzbox

JDE said:

As long as they're sparkly, i'm cool. Some "brand" builders could do well with revising or removing all of their graphics and logos - I'd rather have nothing on a box than some of the munters out there. Not that it should matter. Tbh, I find the "graphic'd top/unfinished sides and underside" thing some builders (EHX are the prime example) way more offensive. LAZY.

Don't even get me started on some of the names.

I want a rant man @JDE !

Name and shame!

JDE

Haha, just off the top of my head, and i'm not bashing any of the actual pedals themselves (some of 'em I really like), but....
Keeley - makes ace pedals. His new range have some of the daftest names i've heard for a while. Red Dirt? White Sands? Stahlhammer?
EHX - pedals I like and like to slate in equal measure. Turnip Greens. Turnip. Greens.
TC - Dark Matter. FECAL MATTER, MORE LIKE. MojoMojo.
Pigtronix - stupid name.
Fuzzy Octavulator. What?
King of Tone. Barf.
Les Lius. ??????????
Stax Master. Shit Master. Also contender for ugliest pedal of 2014!

meltedbuzzbox

you rule sir!

ThorpyFX

ill chip in, i use powdercoated enclosures that are coloured but plain. I use them because they are really tough finished and don't chip as easily as hand painted enclosures. It takes me days to paint and waterside decal an enclosure. Basically this process is cost prohibitive. I'd like to use silk screening but because i don't build one type of pedal particularly it makes it difficult/expensive to silkscreen individual pedals. I certainly wouldn't be able to charge anymore as I'm not a known brand so any extra time/cost makes it not worth me building.

monquixote

Being in possession of a Thorpy pedal at the moment they look fantastic close up.

ThorpyFX

monquixote said:

Being in possession of a Thorpy pedal at the moment they look fantastic close up.

thanks! have a wisdom

samzadgan

i like cool graphics...i have to admit at the moment the whole EQD graphics vibe is my favourite out of most builders.

but in support of @thorpy6 and other similar builders, i like the simple colour (even sparkly colour) theme as well. Especially if the whole pedalboard is the same and you have different colour pedals on your board...like a pack of jellybeans  

Johnnyseven

If it's that much of an issue you could decorate them yourself.

I guess some small builders just don't have the equipment, space, time or desire to paint pedals - they'd rather stick to what they are good at.

harpo

I concur ...Thorpy = sparkly goodness

John_A

monquixote said:

Being in possession of a Thorpy pedal at the moment they look fantastic close up.

Yes they look great, are very well built,and sound fantastic. I totally understand why labelling is cost prohibitive for small builders building lots of pedal types, but agree a name or logo would be a good addition

Gassage

I agree, especially when my 'approved vendor of pedals' Pete Cornish, goes to such huge lengths to have an aesthetically pleasing range of pedals.

stickyfiddle

I put dymo labels on mine for that "just gooped" look.

mike_l

ICBM said:

I tend to feel more disappointed when I open one up and find that "hand made" looks as if the hands belonged to a drunken chimpanzee... who had previously been sober enough to order the cheapest possible parts.

Sorry.

I've given up making pedals now.

 

guitarcookie1

I want one of those turnip thingys..

But not at £160!

crunchman

ICBM said:

I tend to feel more disappointed when I open one up and find that "hand made" looks as if the hands belonged to a drunken chimpanzee... who had previously been sober enough to order the cheapest possible parts.

I'm not sure I'd want you opening up one or two of mine!

I do try and put reasonable quality parts in them though.

ICBM

crunchman said:

I'm not sure I'd want you opening up one or two of mine!

To be honest, if they're not as bad as Devi Ever they can't be all that terrible...