Buildyourowntone.com
Tuesday December.15;2009
The Klon Centaur type clone circuit board will retail for US$18 each. Bulk orders or quantity pricing shall be posted after the new website is completed.
I have found a minor mistake with the silk screen legend for the Klon Centaur type clone circuit board. I know for a fact, that I had proofed this silk screen legend and had made note of this error, before it went to production. Obviously just an oversight during conversation. Also, the enclosure mounting holes were not done to the correct size on the final production circuit board. However, that should not be an issue, as there are other methods that are just as good for mounting such a small circuit board in a 1590B, or 1590BB type aluminum boutique pedal enclosure.
Well, I can only best describe my personal and business life as that of living on the edge of a volcano!
I just want to state, that because of the fragile state of my marriage the actual start of this business has been postponed or slowed down recently as you may have all noticed. I apologize to everybody, especially those good folks that have written to me wanting to reserve a Klon Centaur type clone circuit board or actual Klon Centaur type clone kit.
As you must have already figured out with my sporadic message postings, this business will only be a part time venture. It is not possible to base a whole business on one type of printed circuit board which consists of the Klon Centaur type clone circuit board. Of course, I eventually hope to have up to 12 different boutique pedal designs to offer the guitar playing community. Just give me a little more time... That is a song or a line from a classic hit from the early 70's if I am not mistaken. The group was called: "Chairman of the board."
I will do the best I can with what I have, but I will eventually be able to offer complete boutique pedal kits to all the guitar player enthusiasts that like boutique pedals and the fantastic tonal possibilities that my boutique pedal designs will offer.
Electronics is considered a geeky subject, but in my opinion and I am sure that most all of you guitar players will agree, that there is nothing geeky about boutique guitar effects pedals! Boutique guitar effects pedals have come a long way baby! My current wife does not understand this business, and thinks I am too old to be playing guitar. My wife is a classic Russian lady, and just does not understand this guitar playing culture. The Russian Federation is very aware of the boutique guitar effects pedal craze! This is especially true in Moscow.
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation has a guitar store in a Nevsky Prospect shopping mall, but it does not sell the pricey boutique guitar effects pedals, and this small store also does not sell the high-end guitars or amplifiers. I have visited this store in 2005, and in 2006. Perhaps, this store has changed its inventory line to carry higher end items, but I would doubt this. It would seem that the true concentration of new money would still be in Moscow.
Just working on the CSS style template for my new website layouts. I will just throw it up for now, and sort out the finer details in the future. It is better to get the important information out there, and not worry too much about fancy graphics and photos. I have decided that at least 2 of my many websites related to boutique pedal kits will be strictly information websites. This should help many guitar players and budding guitar players get a better idea of what all the boutique pedal buzz is about.
Is guitar boutique pedal cloning moral, ethical, legal? Read this thread from Harmony-Central:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1834305
Sunday November.15;2009
I have just been getting back up to speed with my computer programs which had to be installed again. I have found my old favourite HTML editor program from 1999 on the internet. This neat HTML editor is no longer available and I did not want to use the newer version.
I will be changing the webpages into proper, fully functional websites with a menu. I will of course post my full contact information with e-mail, physical postal address, and telephone number for distributors. I will be using a format that is very close to my future competitor "Build Your Own Clone," in which technical support is NOT given over the telephone, because you are after all building a kit. Kits are NOT covered by a warranty like a fully assembled, finished, completed boutique pedal guitar effect device.
I am not pleased about being able to only offer the Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards, but it is a start. It has been a truly difficult financial time for my small family during the last year. I used to take for granted being able to cover all of my business expenses, and major purchases when required. If I needed something, I just bought it. I used to operate my business on a true shoe string budget, as I never had all of the normal business costs and expenses associated with traditional business.
However, I have truly underestimated the actual cost necessary for all of the parts needed to offer full boutique pedal kits. I am hoping that I can offer full boutique pedal kits soon. Sooner than later.
I still plan on offering the Fulltone OCD type clone circuit boards and kits, and then the Zvex SHO or Super Hard On booster type clone circuit boards and kits. There will be many other boutique pedal clone type circuit boards and kits on offer. Again, hopefully sooner than later.
Meanwhile, I shall be working on the new proper menu driven websites.
I have taken some decent photos of the new Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards that are available for immediate purchase, and I will be posting these photos in small and very large size for your curious pleasure.
I wish to thank all of my worldwide customers who have e-mailed me in the recent past requesting information and wishing to reserve their Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards. Thank you all.
Saturday November.14;2009
The Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards are now here, in stock, and ready for delivery! My slightly modified version of the Klon Centaur type clone circuit board looks just fantastic. Absolutely fabulous, if I do say so myself ;-))
I just have to round off the actual shipping and handling fee for the majority of USA based customers.
Please note: Foreign based customers should be prepared for much larger shipping and handling fees. I will only ship products with a tracking number, unless I am paid with a Western Union money transfer, and then I can ship with 1st class mail which is much cheaper to foreign destination countries.
For example: Budapest, Hungary. The cost to ship 1st class is only $10.
Shipping with a tracking number is much more at $36. with a silly 6 week
delivery time.
Expidited delivery will deliver the same parcel for $56. with
a 6 day delivery time.
Take your pick. Considering the circuit board is only $18, the shipping and handling fee can easily eclipse the product cost.
Well, it has been more than a time for me with courting one disaster after another. First, my computer had a total hard drive failure, which required replacing the hard drive and file transfer. The difficult replacement of programs.
Second, if any of you are married or have ever been married you will understand how difficult it is to keep the marriage humming along in perfect harmony. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing to say except positive things about my beautiful wife, who actually looks like one of the very beautiful "Diamond Amplifier" girls. I was married to my new wife, long before I was aware of the Diamond Amplifier girl, that resembles my wife.
Third, and most importantly financial circumstances. My financial circumstances could and should be much better, but that will require the miracle of winning a lottery!
I have underestimated the cost of operating this very new business, because this is all new to me too. I was always successful with my other electronics businesses, and never required the bank loans or lines of credit. When I first started in business, I never even had a single credit card, because I was so young, and had no credit rating.
How times have changed.
However, all is not lost. I have over "200" Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards of the highest quality ready for immediate purchase.
I will post the Paypal buttons up on the website(s) later today.
Please note: I do NOT have "kits" available for purchase, yet...
I do NOT have kits available for purchase yet, due to my unfortunate financial circumstances. "Business is like life, stuff happens."
It will just take more time for me to be able to offer boutique pedal kits. I wish the circumstances were much different, but I am just learning this very unique business, and I have seriously underestimated my financial need to operate this boutique pedal business.
Normal life expenses drained all of my financial resources and options. I still refuse to take on a financial investor working partner or even a silent investor, because I will have to give up too much. Not an option for me.
Do not forget to read the excellent boutique pedal or stompbox article in the November 2009 issue of Premier Guitar magazine. This article is available in a FREE digital internet version. I have purchased this Premier Guitar magazine, because I am old school ;-)) Chapter's book store in Canada, just started carrying this magazine, so I was happy enough to grab a copy. It is a good issue for boutique pedals and stompboxes in general.
Thursday October.08;2009
Today, a person interested in my boutique pedal kits has asked if I will be supplying the proper wiring diagrams and parts lists for building my kits, and the answer is YES.
It is my intention to be a worthy contender in the guitar effects kit business, much like GGG and BYOC. Huge kudos should go to these guitar effects pedal kit pioneers! It is a lot more difficult than it looks to start and operate such a unique electronics business, but I feel it will be very worthwhile and fun.
Right now, I am concentrating on the Klon Centaur, because it is potentially the most difficult build and is an exciting kit to offer. Most other kits to be offered in the future will not be as difficult or complicated to build as the Klon Centaur type clone.
That being said, I have had a huge problem trying to source the discrete electronic components locally in Vancouver, Canada. I used to work for an electronics store in Vancouver, Canada and it was usually the scenario where a customer would have to special order the most needed parts. This would be a huge problem for some important customers. That being said, I can remember when I tried to source parts for my video electronic products, there was always an electronic component that could not be obtained on time. This would make the most simple discrete electronic component the most important in the world (at least to me and my waiting customers). My former late wife would laugh and call me the chip hunter, because I would always be hunting for the missing IC chip. So, now I always expect to be looking or hunting for electronic parts.
I will most likely have to source the vast majority of discrete electronic components from Digi-Key.
The photo tutorial(s) will be done a little later, but the parts layout and wiring diagram is already to be put in place. There is a huge history behind the Klon Centaur clone, and it is very interesting. It has taken a lot of time and effort to try and perfect this very unique and in-demand circuit. Much thanks and the huge kudos to the people behind this project. These people know who they are, and I applaud all of their efforts to make this Klon Centaur type clone project available to the guitar playing community and masses.
A huge thank you will be stated by me on my websites to all of the parties responsible for making this Klon Centaur type project a reality.
I am counting down the days to receive my 200 Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards.
Wednesday October.07;2009
I should mention that the Klon Centaur type clone boutique pedal circuit board will be "ROHS" compliant, as will all of my future guitar effects circuit boards. Even the simple circuit boards will be dual layer with plated thru holes, solder mask, and in most cases a silk screen legend.
I am excited about a new development that I will apply to many of my boutique pedal kits as an option. This exciting new feature will allow certain boutique pedals to shine in a whole new light. It is a tried, true and tested method used by others in the industry but in a slightly different way. I have chosen to utilize this method in my own designs, because it is a much better way to do things, and it is entirely up to each individual to choose this low cost option. More on this after the new website makes its debut.
If you would like to reserve a Klon Centuar type clone circuit board, you can send me an e-mail with the link below:
I want to reserve a Klon Centaur type clone circuit board.
I will always use postage with a tracking number, so the postage rates can be high for such a simple tiny item, but it is the safest method to prove the item has been shipped.
I am still waiting for my Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards, but the order has been placed, and the gears are in motion. This is a very popular boutique pedal, and I anticipate high demand for these high quality circuit boards.
Tuesday October.06;2009
A sneak preview of the dual layer, plated thru hole, silk screen legend circuit board for the highly anticipated Klon Centaur type clone boutique pedal. This is a graphic layout showing the layers that the circuit board shop would see and understand. I am posting it here, because it is rather like progressive artwork, enjoy. The Klon Centaur type clone circuit board has a beauty all its own, and I thought you would enjoy it too. Of course, the actual circuit board will look like a professional quality piece.
Saturday October.03;2009
Wow, I received my boutique pedal hardware and 1N34A germanium diodes required for the Klon Centaur type clone guitar effects pedal, in absolute record time! I was waiting for shipments from 2 different USA based suppliers. Restores my faith in our postal systems. I ordered prototype quantities for 3 different boutique pedal projects as follows:
Klon Centaur type clone
Fulltone OCD type clone
Zvex SHO Super Hard
On type clone converted to John Landgraff Clean Boost specs
As I have stated earlier, I will be offering up to 200 Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards, which will feature plated thru holes, dual layer, solder masked, and silk screened parts legend. These will be of the utmost highest quality and should be in high demand. I am still working on the proper much needed website(s) to replace this rather silly one page affair. I have taken a few years off from building websites, and I am seriously rusty in this area, and it shows ;-))
I will offer my completed finished Klon Centaur, and Fulltone OCD type clone boutique pedals from 1 or 2 Vancouver music guitar stores. I will probably use ebay too, as I have sold other electronic items there. Of course, I will use my websites to sell my completed finished boutique pedals. The whole purpose of the websites was to sell boutique pedal kits, and this will happen. Looking at the photos I have taken, I absolutely need to get one of those little photo studios, that have a nice lighting set-up.
I will try to convince my friends son to do some boutique pedal video demo's, as he has taken guitar lessons for a long time, and I seriously feel that he is a much more accomplished and serious guitar player, than I can ever hope to be. There is still much to be done, and the progress is slow, but I am trying to move forward with bringing the guitar community the world over the most unique and wanted boutique pedal guitar effects kits ever. Don't forget to bookmark one of my websites.
buildyourowntone.com DIY boutique pedal kits. Guitar effects pedal kits.
Overdrive and distortion guitar effects pedal kits.
buildyourowntone.com/index1.html Rare, exotic DIY boutique pedal kits. Klon Centaur,
Fulltone OCD overdrive guitar effects pedal kits.
buildyourowntone.com/news.html DIY boutique pedal kits. Guitar effects pedal kits.
Overdrive and distortion guitar effects pedal kits.
buildyourowntone.com/klontypeclonepartslayoutandwiringdiagram.html Rare, exotic DIY boutique pedal kits. Klon Centaur,
Fulltone OCD overdrive guitar effects pedal kits.
Thursday October.01;2009
Okay, I have received my final price quote for the PCB's or printed circuit boards, and it is a little more than I anticipated, because I am not ordering a massive quantity of PCB's or printed circuit boards. I have to adjust my price for the Klon Centaur type clone products. The bare, unpopulated circuit boards will now cost US$18 each and the kits will be US$90 each. The assembled finished Klon Centaur type clone guitar effects pedal will be US$200, and will be housed in a very attractive powder coated enclosure. I do not ever anticipate having a boutique guitar pedal selling for more than US$200, because they are after all clone copies of already famous boutique pedal guitar effects.
I am hoping to receive my Klon Centaur type clone circuit boards within 2 weeks. I could possibly have 8 completely assembled Klon Centaur type clone pedals available for sale, before I receive my first production batch of circuit boards. This will be a very exciting time for me, and I certainly hope that I have some very happy customers that will enjoy purchasing and owning these quite desirable treble booster/ overdrive boutique pedals.
Just finished final analysis of the Fulltone OCD circuit board layout, and noticed a missing donut hole that needs to be added to the actual production run of circuit boards. It is a very minor issue, but it is best to correct it, and have 100% satisfied customers who appreciate the attention to detail given by myself. I do not want to release a half baked design just for the sake of rushing it to market. This is not computer software, right??? Seriously, a boutique pedal is supposed to be about high quality craftsmanship, and attention to detail. The looks, the performance and the tone are what this is all about. Just think, everyone of you who purchases a boutique pedal kit from me, will actually become a boutique pedal builder. This is not just an educational electronic kit, this is your guitar tone! You can certainly be proud of your accomplishment, and you will totally want to build more than just one boutique pedal kit to be sure. So go forth, build and enjoy your killer guitar tone!
So, things are actually moving forward albeit slowly. It is always difficult to anticipate all of the subtle nuances during the initial start-up phase. Anybody that is in this type of business can tell you that there will always be some unanticipated hurdles, that will slow the business progress to a crawl. I am looking forward to the day, when all the business processes are finally in place and have been proven. The whole business should operate much more smoothly.
I have asked my colleague about using different color solder masks, and this should be easy enough to do. In the future I will offer different color special edition solder masks for my boutique pedal kits, as this will add even more mojo to your boutique pedal builds. Be unique, make it your own. Build your own tone!
Monday September.28;2009
It has been touch and go with the family health crisis. Wow, you do not realize how lucky and fortunate you are to have your health. I received my charge pump IC chips one month later, but I was just happy to receive them at all. Considering that this is a totally new electronics business for me, I have overlooked and just plain forgot to order some crucial parts needed to complete the boutique pedal kits and completed assembled boutique pedal guitar effects.
However, it has given me time to reflect and decide on a new course for the actual PCB's or printed circuit boards that I will be offering. I decided to backpedal on my earlier plans to offer PCB's without a solder mask, and a silk screen legend. There is a lot of people young and older that can truly benefit from these improvements. The PCB's will also have plated thru holes, and will all be double sided. These will be the very best boutique pedal circuit boards ever offered. I can see that these circuit boards will be very popular, so when they are finally available, it is best to get your order in early. Circuit board prices will range from US$14-US$17 each. Kit prices will range from US$49-US$89 each. Complete assembled boutique pedal guitar effects devices will range from US$99-US$199 each.
The big news is that I will be offering a kit and completed assembled boutique pedal based on a "John Landgraff" Clean Boost. These are based on the Zvex SHO Super Hard On, as most of you probably already know. What is the big deal? What is the difference, besides the pretty attractive paint jobs? If you are a dedicated guitar afficionado (Guitar Afficionado is the name of a great new magazine BTW), and pride yourself on knowing great tone, than you will appreciate the significant tonal difference an expensive Landgraff boutique pedal can give you. Of course the Landgraff boutique pedals are all hand built, and they use very expensive electronic parts. Not to be confused with the mass produced, low cost, assembled offshore by robotic assembly machines, SMD or surface mount device guitar effects pedals that are becoming more common place everyday, John Landgraff's boutique pedals are very highly regarded by the boutique pedal collector community. Landgraff guitar effects pedals use carbon composition type resistors, which are now very expensive, because they simply are not made any longer. Carbon composition resisistors are a necessary highly regarded component used in ultra high priced boutique pedals. However that being said, Zvex, and Klon do not use carbon comp resistors...Yup, that's right, these ultra expensive boutique pedal guitar effects devices DO NOT use carbon comp resistors. It is a subjective matter to boutique builders and to their customers (let the sparks fly via debate somewhere else). Viva la difference!
A very crucial absolutely necessary component that can make all the difference in a boutique pedals unique tone, is the capacitors, and John Landgraff knows this, which is why he uses very expensive audio grade capacitors in all of his boutique pedal builds. As far as I know, there are now 4 different boutique pedal guitar effects that he builds and sells. Personally, if I had a choice I would purchase a Landgraff boutique pedal guitar effects device, before I would purchase a Zvex guitar effects pedal of the same type. The majority of Zvex boutique pedals circuit boards are now manufactured offshore. It is the customers choice to purchase a Zvex guitar effects pedal, and although Zvex makes some fantastic pedals, I do not think that they are worth the high retail prices.
In my Fulltone OCD type boutique pedal kit, I will be using expensive upgraded capacitors to put your guitars tone over the top. I very much like the Fulltone OCD guitar effects pedal as it really makes a good amplifiers tone shine in a glimmering light. You will be enveloped in great tone that you have created.
Okay, I am waiting for a couple of price quotes to have my PCB's manufactured. It was a last minute decision to have the circuit boards manufactured with the dual layer plated thru holes, solder mask, and a silk screen legend. Due to extreme financial constraints, I will only offer the Klon Centaur type circuit boards and kits immediately when they are available. Other PCB's, and guitar effects kits will surely follow. My wifes health took immediate issue with my slim financial resources, and she comes first above all else.
I will make available 8 Klon Centaur clone type boutique pedals, and 10 Fulltone OCD clone type boutique pedals. I will offer these for sale in a variety of ways, perhaps even using Ebay, etc. My websites will immediately make the Klon Centaur clone type circuit boards available for US$17 each. I will have 100-200 of these Klon Centaur clone type circuit boards available for sale.
When I have all the parts necessary to make the Klon Centaur type clone kits, these will then be made available for US$89 each. The Fulltone OCD type clone kits will be made available for US$69 each.
To say the least, it has been a huge transition to convert my mindset to boutique pedal guitar effects devices from a different area of electronics. I have had to come to grips with the fact that I may not pursue my former beloved video electronics business due to many reasons. The boutque pedal kit business just seems like much more fun. I will probably have as much fun as you, the customer with rare, exotic, hard to find, vintage, and in demand guitar effects boutique pedals. It has taken longer than expected, but I only want to offer the absolute best to the guitar playing community.
Monday August.31;2009
I have finally chosen the vendor's I will be purchasing the majority of my boutique pedal hardware parts from. The choice was obvious after comparing price and the quality. In one extreme case, with no vendor names mentioned, the price of one hardware part was more than double, and was a cheap quality part. To say the least, I will only be using top quality hardware parts with my boutique pedal kits and fully assembled finished boutique pedals. I did not envision starting this business to make a quick buck, quid, or ruble. I am an honest to goodness boutique pedal enthusiast just like you.
Please note: I will NOT be including the boutique pedal or stomp box enclosure with my kits. It is simply a much better idea for everybody, if the customer purchases their own enclosure. The main reason for this is that it is not economical for me to import the enclosure from the USA, because I am located in British Columbia, Canada. Simply makes no economical sense to import them, and then to export them back to North America. I have already mentioned this earlier, but I feel it is worth mentioning again. The Hammond aluminum enclosures cost too much in Canada, even though they are actually manufactured in Ontario, Canada.
There is a huge selection of quality Hammond type enclosures, or knock off's if you will from North American vendors. These are quality powder coated enclosures available from the USA, which cost less than bare stock Hammond enclosures from Canada. So here is your chance to do your patriotic duty and "Buy American!" Of course, please purchase your boutique pedal kit from me :))
I will not sell the same old tube screamer clones, as these are readily available from many other kit vendors. No, what you can expect from me is the most sought after, desirable, and sometimes rare boutique pedal kits available nowhere else.
On another note, I am patiently waiting delivery of the IC chips, known as a "charge pump," for the highly desirable Klon Centaur boutiqe pedal copy. The Klon Centaur is probably the most desirable treble booster, overdrive boutique pedal ever made. Some consider the Klon Centaur to be the Holy Grail of boutique pedals. The tube screamer is more popular, but it is not a boutique pedal, because it is mass produced, but it is without a doubt the worlds most popular guitar effects pedal ever.
The other boutique pedal I will immediately offer along with the Klon Centaur copy, will be a copy of the very popular Fulltone OCD. I think this is a truly fantastic boutique pedal. Although, I have learned, that it is a modified copy of an older Voodoo Labs overdrive.
Perhaps, my most ambitious effort will be to offer a copy of the Analogman KOT or King of Tone version 2 boutique pedal, which I always use and can not live without. It is simply that good! Yes, I know that there are simpler versions of copies which can be made, but they are still lacking from a true knock off copy. I will only offer a true replica copy of the Analogman KOT version 2. This will include the nice feature of the dim LED's, when the boutique pedal is in bypass mode, so you will remember which channel you are using. I like this feature, and so will you.
For the good folks that live in Canada, I will offer a pedal modification service for the Boss pedal line. I myself own an MT-2 Metal Zone, which I purchased in 1992. I also own an older made in Japan, Boss DD-3, which is very nice to use with any overdrive, or distortion pedal.
So if you feel that your Boss pedal is lacking, or needs to simply sound absolutely fabulous, than I can help you achieve that! Details to follow, after I throw up a new professional looking website.
Monday August.24;2009
Please excuse me for the long delay, but life gets in the way of best laid plans of mice and men. Family health problems along with the dreaded money needed to solve them has gotten in the way of my business plans. However, I will try my absolute best to solve this crisis quickly. On a better note, I was shown a nice piece of software that should allow me to create a much better looking website, than just a static one page blog affair. This should allow me to save much needed money.
I can state that the planning that has gone into my new businesses has been fine tuned to the highest degree. However, I can state that I made a huge major mistake, because I simply forgot to write down a simple memo to myself, and this cost me dearly. It was a simple mistake that could have been avoided, but I thought it was much too simple to forget...Again, best laid plans of mice and men.
Straying from the subject completely, if you are an avid reader or not, please read the John Steinbeck novel "Of Mice and Men." I recently read last week, that a Canadian school's principal has pulled the novel "To kill a Mockingbird" from their reading list for students. Smacks of censorship to me, and a damn fine novel to boot! I feel that students and kids today, just do not have the opportunity to read fine novels and literature like we did back in the day. I am total "old school!" Play your guitar, but please read good literature and get a decent education. You will have no regrets.
The movies were fine too. "Of Mice and Men" was adapted to screen at least twice from the 2 movies I had seen. The story is an excellent slice of Americana, and God knows we need good stories like this. The story is heartfelt, but nonetheless a tragedy. However, life is like that. I digress.
I am presently waiting patiently for a crucial electronic part which is taking weeks to arrive. I have ordered a substantial number of these necessary parts, as I will need them for the boutique pedal kits and boutique pedal assmebled and finished guitar effects devices.
I will soon be offering some of the most highly desirable, sought after and sometimes controversial (depending on your point of view or opinion) boutique pedal kits and boutique pedal assembled, finsihed guitar effects devices. Highly desirable, yet controversial because they will be copies of established boutique pedal guitar effects that we all know and love. If price and availability are not an issue with you, than by all means purchase an original boutique pedal guitar effect device from the original designer-builder. However, if you would like the enjoyment of learning and building your own boutique pedal guitar effect device, than you can have a wonderful choice and selection of boutique pedal kits from my website. I intend to ship products worldwide, however in some cases Paypal will NOT be accepted due to rampant, blatant FRAUD! Fraud hurts all of us, not just businesses.
Keep watching, as I intend to soon start this fantastic fun business with the finest boutique pedal kits and boutique pedal assembled, finished guitar effect devices.
Sunday August.09;2009
Well, I am back. I will try to keep this brief, as so much has happened, but I realize this is supposed to be a business website, not a personal blog. Life and the recession has gotten in the way of my business plans for my video electronic product business. I have had to self finance the whole deal, and I am not too pleased about this, but now I get to keep all the income profit. I never had an investor for the boutique guitar effects pedal business, as I knew right from the start, that I did not want any investor or partner for this area of my business. Unless, they had a huge major contribution to add to the business, than I might be swayed.
I have finally started making deals for obtaining the necessary electronic parts needed for the boutique guitar effects pedals that I intend to manufacture as completed finished products and as boutique guitar effects pedal kits. I am realizing, that I will have much more fun with this business, than I ever could have with my video electronics product business.
While on vacation, I did manage to visit a couple of guitar stores in London, and I was most impressed with the store "Vintage & Rare Guitars." I only managed to visit the store for a very short time, as it was near closing time. However, I was very impressed with the boutique guitar effects that they had to offer. I only mentioned that I was starting this boutique guitar effects kit business, but I could not offer much more than this present web page. I had not brought any samples with me. Needless to say, I could not write this part of my trip off of my income taxes, due to the fact that it was just a mere visit to a guitar store. I wanted to visit the guitar store again for a more formal business visit, but I was in another part of Britain for another formal business deal, which yielded positive results. There just simply is not enough time for everything one wants or needs to do. Perhaps, if I become wealthy from all of my efforts, time will be managed better.
I have purchased 2 absolutely fabulous looking powder coated guitar effects pedal enclosures, that are based on the Hammond 1590B style aluminum box. One is a metallic red, and the other is a metallic purple, even though in the photos, it looks kinda metallic blue. These will be used for 2 of my prototype guitar effects pedal clones. These clones will most likely never be sold, as they will be numbered 001, and I very much would like to keep these myself.
A very reputable guitar store will showcase my boutique guitar effects pedals on the west coast. The guitar store name and location will be announced, after I am ready to launch my initial 2 boutique guitar effects pedal clone products. I feel that the finished assembled boutique guitar effects pedal products will sell better than the kits in Vancouver, Canada. Only time will prove me wrong. At least the completed assembled boutique guitar effect pedal prices will be quite reasonable for Canadian customers who shop in person. The finished assembled products will be available in a very reputable store in western Canada, and also available from me online from my websites. The prices will be very reasonable for worldwide customers. However, I should stress that shipping costs are always a huge concern for us all, but that is how it goes.
I would like to stress, that I am absolutely serious about bringing the most desirable boutique guitar effects pedal clone kits to market. The websites may not look very pretty during the start up phase, but I will later make the wesbites look fantastic for all of our benefit.
I have decided NOT to use printed circuit boards with a solder mask or a silk screen legend for the majority of my boutique guitar effect pedal offerings. The reason for this is not purely economic, as many will first think. I feel that to truly learn and hone your individual skills in electronics it is better to use a printed circuit board that does not use these features. Since the majority of the printed circuit boards are not double sided with plated thru holes, it simply is not necessary.
With decent instructions and quality photos, the build should be quite easy still, for new people to electronics. Newbies, have NO fear! These high quality boutique guitar effect pedal kits will be easy to build. I have been a reverse engineer for very high-tech video electronics and I was only successful, because I did not let the concept of electronics frighten me. It is all in the mind, and you have the strength and ability to build my high quality boutique guitar effect pedal kits. The most advanced boutique guitar effect pedal, is still easier to assemble and build than even the most simple video electronic circuit. Of course, that is my own opinion, and everybody has different idea's and ability, but rest assured, I would not make such a bold statement if I did not believe it.
The reason I feel that I will like this business more than my video electronics business, is because it does not depend upon such rigid precise video standards. I do not believe that any boutique guitar effects pedal alone can make you sound like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Brad Whitford, etc. It is the inherent unique ability of each individual guitar player to bring out the tone and sound that will please the guitar players ear, and the listening audience. I once read long ago, that a guitar journalist attended a guitar show such as NAMM, and was in a different aisle or row while listening to this heavy sound coming from the other aisle. The tune was from the band "Mountain" and the song was "Mississippi Queen," and the journalist thought the guitar player was using a huge amplifier stack, because it sounded so big and bold. The journalist saw who was playing this epic tune, and it was none other than "Leslie West" himself, playing his signature Gibson Les Paul Jr guitar through a small practice amp! I can not stress enough, that it is all in your fingers and your own unique ability to make your own tone. Leslie West can wrangle his signature epic tune from a small practice amp and make it sound bigger than life, because it is coming from his fingers, his ability, and from his heart. I personally do not believe in those sponsored rock star pedals, because it gives the false impression that the guitar player that purchases such a guitar effect pedal will instantly sound like the same rock star. Good luck with that!
After being bitten by the boutique guitar effects pedal bug, I can honestly tell you, that the guitar effect pedal can only amplify and enhance your own tone. If you are happy with your ability and your tone, than quality boutique guitar effect pedals will help you attain an enhanced version of your ideal tone. No rigid precise standards, just your own unique individual ability to produce a pleasing tone that will bring a smile to your face and your listening audience.
I absolutely have favorite boutique guitar effect pedals, because they truly enhance my sound and tone to a level, that I thought could never be attained. This is why I want to manufacture and produce quality boutique guitar effect pedal kits and finished assembled products to a worldwide audience of guitar players who would like to experiment and introduce to their guitar effect pedal boards great sounding boutique guitar effect pedals.
When I do offer my electronic boutique guitar effect pedal kits, I will NOT include the enclosure, because of the monetary cost in Canada. It is just NOT economical for me to include an enclosure. I also believe, that there are many better alternative choices for enclosures from the USA. The fine enclosures offered from USA based vendors are actually less cost, and are powder coated with a quality finish that I can not offer. Since the enclosures are thin cast aluminum, they are easy to drill. In my personal opinion, it is better to start with an unpainted enclosure, because it is easy to make a drilling mistake. When you are ready to put your finished assembled guitar effect circuit into a painted enclosure, you will feel confident, that you will do it right the first time.
I will certainly offer the best competitive prices for my electronic guitar effect pedal kits to a worldwide audience. I will most certainly offer powder coated enclosures with my finished assembled boutique guitar effect pedals.
Sunday April.26;2009
I have been busy finalizing my business deal for the initial financial investment and start-up capital for the operating costs of my video electronics business. This is an interesting business, and I must conclude part of my business in the United Kingdom, before I can start operating in Canada. I will be manufacturing a line of video products, along with my guitar effects related boutique pedal kits.
I will be making the trip there shortly, and I figure I will visit a couple of guitar stores in London, England if I am lucky, as I want to try to set up distribution of my guitar effects, boutique pedal kits in this fantastic part of the world. I have visited London 4 times, but only for an overnight stay for a connecting flight to Russia, or back to Vancouver, Canada. The Canadian Embassy is huge at Picadilly station or square. This area of London, looks a lot like St. Petersburg, Russia.
My investor friend and colleague, was as nervous as a lobster waiting to be put into a pot of boiling water! I have dealt with nervous investors before, and it is funny to watch them squirm, and wriggle like a worm on a hook, just my warped sense of humor!
I know that it is largely due to this very real worldwide recession, and I should not laugh, or even smile considering I am taking my friends money and investing it for our mutual benefit. Trust me, I am scared too, but you can only laugh or cry. My new Russian wife does not understand this logic, but she is the same age as myself, and she has lived through more turmoil than I care to relate.
On another note, all you guitar playing tone hounds that are wanting to read an interesting story about a couple of brothers in the guitar effects boutique pedal business, can read a great story in the June 2009 edition of "Vintage Guitar" magazine. I just read this story yesterday, and I am impressed, as I was aware of their neat, heavy sounding boutique pedal distortion guitar effects already through my extensive research into this unique boutique pedal kit industry. I wish them well. I only hope, that I can have the same measure of success, that they are having. It is a tough business, with a lot of competition trying to convince guitar players, that their guitar effects boutique pedals are the tone to have. Flavor or tone of the day.
These brothers have unusual, strange sounding boutique pedal guitar effects names such as:
Screaming Whore
Dirty Bitch
Gutter Slut.
The brothers business is named: metalpedals.com
This is a recent letter to a good friend of mine who I have known most all my life. His 2 younger brothers are fine musicians, and one brother is a world renowned music producer from Vancouver, British Columbia. We all were born and grew up in East Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. The other younger brother inspired me to pick up the guitar, but I really wanted to be the lead singer or front man.
I digress, but I do like to play the guitar.
Here is the letter, which looks more like a blog entry than an actual letter, but my letters turn into epic mini novels. Gotta curb that enthusiasm, into more guitar playing! See letter below:
My playing style is very unique, consisting of many different offbeat (offbeat, because I combine all of them into a nice, tasty fusion. Tone is personal. Build your own Tone) genres:
Texas style rhythm & blues, Page, Richards, BB King, Mick Box from Uriah Heep, and even a bit of late Randy Rohdes, which always leads into a blistering solo patch that seemingly never ends, and then leads into and combines with the Gibbons style of early ZZ Top.
I like dabbling with Joe Perry's "Mama Kin", which really has that boogie flavor, and that easily melds into a slow, heavy blues, that just makes your heart cry for more, because you do not want the pain to stop. That is the blues my friend, that is the blues. Gotta feel it, taste it, live it.
I am glad that I kept at it, playing guitar. I really started playing after Diane left me in 1990 to get married to that other fellow, and that is where my style started to emerge. I knew the pain of my heart being cast aside and asunder.That is where my love for the blues came from.
I picked up that guitar, and I gave it everything I had felt. The pain flowed easily through my fingers. Anger, pain, resentment, remorse, loss, it all made up my technique. Other players would remark, that my facial expressions must have been very contorted. I laugh, because I do not play with other guitar players, as I was just starting to get into my groove.
The kids would hang outside and just listen to the blistering lead, and slow, heavy blues riffs, that I would play in total darkness, to improve my fret hand technique, and aslo my heavy sweep pick playing.
However, it was quickly realized, that I liked playing lead, and rhythm was just an excuse to break into a lead solo, that just goes into infinity, as there are no limits.
Believe me, there is a very wicked competitive spirit among guitar players or musicians in general, and I was intimidated at first, by the very much younger pup in my old neighborhood.
This Spanish-Mexican dude could play, but he had no feeling, it was very mechanical. He did not live during the hey-day of 70's arena rock.
I remember playing this Gibson Explorer/ BC Rich Bass guitar with my huge Sunn amplifier at a lower volume than a guitar, because the speakers could easily blow with the Bass guitar pick-ups.
I started to play a lead line intro, I remembered from "Ted Nugent's" Gonzo double Live album, which was a blistering version of "Cat Scratch Fever", and the 2 Frank's remarked, "Did you just make that riff up?"
I played it with palm muting to stop the note from sustaining, and would give a facial expression, and then slowly and then faster continue into the heavy chorus of the song, and wow, were they seriously impressed!
Terrible Teddy's music is timeless, as many other fine rock acts of that golden era.
"Well yeah, I had it knocking about in me head for the long time ya know." "I just wanted to play it for you lads, to get some feedback."
I only wish!
Diane would say, "They never heard of the Nuge?" They never heard of the 10 fingers of Doom?" I would chime in with, "Yeah, they never heard of Terrible Teddy, the Detroit City madman!"
Diane, always wanted to be there to see their reaction to that riff being played.
These young lads never saw the likes of the Nuge, or any of the better groups during the halcyon days of their careers.
I would play Michael Schenker's heavy signature riff, "Rock Bottom", and Ritchie Blackmore's wicked riff, "Man on the Silver Mountain".
Of course by now, they realized that these riffs were old 70's gems.
Old school style, which was completely new to these young lads ears.
April.22-23;2009
Raymond here, excuse me for the long delay in updating this makeshift blog about the start of my boutique pedal guitar effects business. Life can easily get in the way of making essential progress with anything. That being said, I feel that I am back on track to getting things done. I have been looking seriously at the Vancouver, British Columbia Canada guitar effects boutique pedal scene, and I feel, that there is a tidy little guitar and bass guitar musician market that can be well served with both boutique pedal kits, and fully assembled finished boutique guitar effects pedals.
I have been busy with my other mainstream DVD and video electronics business, and much progress has been made with this unique business. However, much is still left to be done. I have on tap, 2 electronic guitar boutique pedal effects kits nearly ready to roll out the door, with a third well on the way. I decided to purchase a Zvex Box of Rock after hearing a Vexter version of this at a local guitar shop. I purchased a painted version, which suits me fine. It is a great straight ahead rock pedal, which would make a great kit for the guitar playing masses. I also have a Zvex Octane III, which is fun to play once in awhile, and yes, it does pick up intermodulated radio stations, but you can dial this out with your volume, in between chugs. It is an unusual hard distortion on its own.
As shown in the photo at the start of this makeshift blog, I have purchased a 1 of 1 2009 NAMM edition Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1 booster. For those of you that do not know what this boutique guitar effects pedal is, it is simply 2 Zvex Super Hard On (SHO) booster circuits combined in a cascaded effect with a master volume. It does work quite well for the seriously hardcore crowd, that absolutely need or want that totally over the edge, balls to the wall type boosted sound or tone. Combined with an overdrive pedal or distortion pedal it is just plain sick and completely insane! Not that there is anything wrong with that.
I have decided to copy (later) this Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1 Super Hard On (SHO), as it is just so simple. However, just so everybody knows, Pro-Tone sells (or sold) variations of the Super Hard On (SHO) booster boutique pedal, and the Super Duper 2 in 1 booster boutique pedal. Pro-Tone sells their boutique pedal booster versions for much lower cost than a Zvex pedal. I only learned recently about these Pro-Tone variations of the Super Hard On (SHO) and Super Duper 2 in 1. I will sell my original Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1 booster circuit enclosed in a new Hammond aluminum enclosure, as I will keep the original 1 of 1 2009 NAMM edition hand painted Zvex enclosure.
I do not know if Pro-Tone has discontinued their versions of the Zvex booster circuits, but that is a moot issue, as they have sold them in the past. After careful inspection of the Zvex twin booster circuit, it is really quite simple and straight forward. View the 2 photos below:
On another note concerning Zvex, Zachary owns at least 4 internet domain names related to boutique pedal kits, as follows:
pedalkit.com
pedalkits.com
stompboxkit.com
stompboxkits.com
This only shows, that Zachary realizes that the boutique guitar effects pedal business is only going to grow ever larger, especially during this very real recession we are experiencing around the world. I am aware of at least 3 of these internet domain names will land on a Flash splash page for Zvex effects. Now, I have nothing against Zachary, as I feel he is one of the finest boutique pedal builders in the business. Zachary is a marketing guru or a marketing genius, in the same vein as Lovepedal. These guys should write business books on how to create a successful business with just hard work, and lots of determination. However, the marketing is where you are a success or a failure. The rock group KISS, with the venerable Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are excellent examples of marketing geniuses.
I can remember an old Wendy's hamburger commercial with an older American gent, that boldy states, "I like to see the Japanese, make one of these!" This older gent, was in a James Bond movie with Roger Moore as James Bond, but I can't remember which movie. Not important, but the point I am trying to make, is that copying or duplicating of products has been going on for longer than I have been alive. The Japanese, after WWII became an electronics powerhouse, because they mastered reverse engineering, much like the Russians. It is the way of the world, always will be. Ibanez, Maxon, and Dunlop-MXR, just to name a few are still producing "their" classic tone circuits, but online internet kit retailers are making a very good income or living off of these companies early and "reissue" tone circuits. Obviously there is nothing wrong with duplicating guitar effects pedals, or all hell would break loose! That is my personal humble opinion, and take on the situation, so everybody knows where I stand on this subject, which can get into heated debate over nothing. Cheers to all readers.
April.13-14;2009
Raymond here, with a boutique pedal guitar effects PCB progress report. The initial PCB prototype run is done. I have received 10 PCB's of the smaller of the 2 boutique pedal guitar effects, and 8 PCB's of the larger size boutique pedal guitar effects projects. I am sure there will be quite a few, who will recognize the layouts of the printed circuit boards straight away. These are 2 truly in very high demand, and very highly popular boutique guitar effects pedal clones. These 2 boutique guitar effects pedals are well known around the world. I just feel that they would make excellent boutique pedal kits, for all the rabid guitar pedal kit builders around the world. Something new, something fresh. I will offer in time, an improved clone variation of the ProCo Rat, of course with the LM308 IC (what else ;-). I am still working on the Aramat Effects Green Machine overdrive clone, which IMHO is a super, stellar boutique guitar effects pedal of the venerable Ibanez TS-808, TS-9 with a JRC4558, or whatever your favorite dual opamp is, that you care to place in the 8 pin DIP socket.
All in all, I am finally getting closer to offering boutique pedal kits to the worldwide tone hungry masses. Of course, if you have no interest in building one of my fine guitar effects boutique pedal kits, I will also offer completely assembled and finished boutique pedal guitar effects clones of my projects.
This is truly a fascinating and interesting hobby, that will allow you to learn guitar audio electronics at your own pace, and enjoyment. You will feel a sense of accomplishment, and build your self confidence with slinging a soldering iron. It may look easy to some, but watching and doing are 2 very different things. All you need is a lot of patience (like JOB), and some learned skill, which you will aquire in time. I suggest trying to build a couple of very simple electronic kits or projects, as you will hone your skill, and style. I am an old school fellow, and have been professionally handling a soldering iron since 1981, so I have honed my soldering skill to a literal science. I have been called the good doctor, because I treat my PCB's with such delicate care and attention to detail.
I have always used sockets in video electronics, because I learned (on my own), that certain "digital" IC chips or even brands of digital IC chips can have different timing propagation delays which can mess things up with a video signal. I also learned (on my own), that certain brands or compatible IC chips of linear "analog" dual opamps used in my video circuits had problems too.
Now, I am going to use the exact same linear "analog" dual opamp 8 pin DIP IC chips that I have used all along (in my old school video circuits) for boutique pedal kits and assembled boutique pedal clones.
I was discussing with my learned colleague how it never ceases to amaze us how some people get so frustrated and use literal brute force techniques with electronics, and this is just the wrong way to do it. I can not stress this enough to all the new electronics kit builders, "Please have a little or a lot of patience, depending on your individual skill level." Do NOT even try to build a boutique pedal kit, as your 1st electronics project, as you will be very frustrated and angry if you toast it.
By all means, there are a huge number of electronics kit companies on the internet that can sell you an easy to build electronic kit for your 1st electronic projects. It can be fun, so make it fun to build. Remember to just have fun!
April.09-10;2009
Raymond here, with good news. The prototype runs of my 2 boutique guitar effects pedals clone kit PCB's is nearly completed, as my board technician, colleague and friend is completing the drilling process of the prototype PCB's. You will obviously notice, that I am very guarded about the actual announcement of what these 2 boutique guitar pedal effects kits are clones of. The wait will be more than worthwhile, you can be rest assured :-))
On another note, due to an unfortunate last minute financial snafu, I missed the "Lamb of God", and "Children of Bodom" concert in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada last evening April.08;2009. I have known about these 2 groups for a great number of years, but have never seen them in concert. I felt perhaps this would have been an interesting concert to see, as I have grown up with hard rock, and then heavy metal, as the music business likes to label things as such. To me, it is all just good, heavy, hard rock. I certainly like the loud, aggressive guitar tones, and my 1st wife would literally leave the house when I strapped on the variance machine!
I have a feeling that these boutique guitar pedal effects kits are going to be hugely popular. Electronic kits have always been popular, but this unique area of boutique guitar effects pedal clone electronic kits are going to sell faster than a laser in a vacuum!
Always remember to have infinite patience or the patience of JOB, because building electronic kits is sometimes frustrating, especially if you are new to guitar boutique pedal kit building. I will always offer my guitar boutique pedal kits in completed, assembled form for a reasonable cost. You can be rest assured of my professional skill and ability in the electronics field. I have worked with custom built spy cams for my Private Investigator friend, and colleague, before I actually received my own Private Investigator (PI under supervision) licence from our British Columbia, Canada Attorney General. However, this is no longer a field I want to specialize or participate in. I am an electronics geek 1st, and I want to always do what I love 1st. If you love what you are doing for a living, it makes life that much easier. Cheers to all. Have a fantastic Easter long weekend.
April.08;2009
Hi Raymond here. The online store for highly popular guitar effects boutique pedal kits, and fully assembled completed stompboxes will be open for business soon. I have just proofed 2 PCB designs after 5 revisions. The 2 stompbox designs are very highly popular clones of boutique guitar effects pedals we all know and love. The 2 designs range from simple to difficult, but that is a subjective opinion, because the kit build can be easy or difficult depending on individual skill, training, education, and electronics background. All of my kits can be completed by nearly anybody with patience, and a grade 8 electronics education, so please, do not feel intimidated by these absolutely fabulous electronic guitar kits.
I have recently purchased a wonderful Canadian boutique guitar effects pedal clone of the highly infamous ProCo Rat distortion pedal. This excellent boutique build is rather new, as it is the latest from a Canadian company called http://retro-sonic.com/ I have the "Distortion" model, as it is simply named (I have #10 :-) This Canadian boutique ProCo Rat clone guitar effects pedal of course uses the highly regarded LM308 IC chip. It has a 3 way clipping toggle, and 2 more tone controls on the inside bottom of the guitar effect pedal. It is highly versatile in this way. I have never played one of these Rat pedals before, and I was pleasantly surprised. I have always played through my Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, due to the excellent parametric EQ and super heavy distortion and sustain. I have caught the boutique bug!
On a technical comparison, they are 2 highly different guitar effects distortion pedals, I like them both, but for different reasons. The Boss has an extremely compressed sound, which is good for some musical playing situations. The Rat distortion or my Rat Distortion clone from Retro-Sonic uses the LM308 IC chip, and a single transistor to achieve its over the top, yet mild distortion. It is NOT a very heavy metal, or heavy death metal sounding distortion. I once read an ebay auction description of an early ProCo Rat distortion stompbox, that sounded really sick! The description read something like this:
"The ProCo Rat distortion pedal sounds like a rabid dog trapped in a metal garbage can full of angry bees, with a 20,000 volt transformer underneath it!"
To each his own, I say. However, it does NOT sound like this ebay auction description. I am rather quite pleased with the sound it creates, and perhaps this is why it is so highly regarded today. Yes, I will be offering a boutique Rat clone of this now highly infamous guitar effects stompbox. Why not?
IMHO the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone distortion stompbox can destroy planets! I purchased this way heavy distortion stompbox when it 1st came out in 1992. I remember a neighbor friend of mine who had a very late, middle of the road Ibanez TS-9 reissue overdrive, and I thought what a pile of crap, what a load of tripe! I could not resist stacking the 2 guitar effects pedals together, and blimey, I thought my amplifier was going to blow up! I thought, I started WWIII. I turned the key, and stepped on the button and launched a nuclear missile tide. I kinda liked that for all of 10 seconds...It was pure noise!
The Boss MT-2 does NOT need stacking with any other overdrive or distortion. The Boss Metal Zone uses a wicked cascaded 2 gain stage, 4 SIP (single inline package) IC chip arrangement. It absolutely costs much more to produce a Boss Metal Zone MT-2, than an Ibanez TS-808, TS-9, or a ProCo Rat guitar effects pedal to be sure, but Boss manages to make a profit through economies of scale production techniques.
April.06;2009
My name is Raymond, and I have been around guitar effects or guitar effects pedals since the middle 1970's. I can remember when my guitar playing friend, who is classically trained had purchased a fine used MXR-100 phase shifter, and for him that was a big deal, because these MXR-100 phase shifter's were expensive when you are just a kid. I was taking electronics in school, and I realized that there could not be too much worth of electronics in these cool devices. My friend was a serious musician, and I wanted to be a lead singer, well you know how that goes. I am now near middle age, and my dreams of becoming a lead singer faded away quickly, as real life responsibility takes center stage.
I only seriously learned about the emerging new guitar effects pedals in September of 1992, as "Guitar Player" magazine did a wicked, way excellent cover story on distortion in their October edition. I immediately purchased a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone guitar effects pedal, as this was the most reputable distortion pedal of the day. Needless to say, they were right! This pedal had no serious competition. Of course, I was much younger then :-) However, this extreme distortion guitar effects pedal is still used by the 2 guitar players of one very heavy death metal group ("Lamb of God", or "Children of Bodom")?
Please excuse me for not knowing all the details of the new wave of death metal, as I grew up with "NWOBHM" groups such as Venom, Angelwitch, Motorhead, Fastway, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Accept, Judas Priest, etc. With the exception of the German HM group "Accept", most all great HM came from Britain. Angelwitch burned out too quickly, but made a huge impression with their self titled song, as we never heard such heavy sounds in our young lives! Truly groundbreaking take on HM. Venom, quickly became a self parody after their 1st 2 fantastic albums, with the exception of the song "Die Hard," which IMHO, was their supreme best effort as the original Venom lineup.
We in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, had our own local metal scene, but the 2 best HM groups did not get record deals, because of bad promotion and just plain bad luck. Sadly missed. The Seattle, WA USA HM group called "Queensryche" had visited our local metal band "Shock", and this news travelled fast. Just to mention, I have seen Metallica in Vancouver during their wild and wicked "Ride the Lightning" tour in 1985 at a small theater venue, called the New York Theater. I was so close to the stage, I probably scared them! However, this was Metallica, and that would take a lot ;-)
There was a huge roster of HM groups that played the little New York Theater that week in 1985. I still have the concert promotional poster for that Metallica concert. Saxon actually played that same small theater, and that was a downturn for them, as they were a headlining stadium act. The music business is a difficult one.
I grew up with heavy rock, acid rock, glitter rock, glam rock, or whatever label it was given by the rock fanzines of the day, like Creem, Circus, Rock Scene, etc. I saw my 1st real rock concert in June 1975, and it was Alice Cooper with his "Welcome to my Nightmare" show. Poor chap, was too drunk, and fell off the stage, and had to cut the show short, but he tried to carry on, but was in too much pain. This made me feel very bitter, because this was my 1st concert. However, Suzi Quattro was a sexy little vixen on the same concert bill , that rocked out plenty hard, and got me plenty hard, just thinking about her! I wondered if girl rock stars had male groupies?
I have seen an early incarnation of British hard rock group "Nazareth", and that was a show, that I can never forget, because Manny Charlton did a fantastic extended guitar solo (as they were in those days, because they were socially acceptable :-) They used the fog machine, and Manny Charlton had a huge stompbox that was like this huge red button, and he asked the audience if he should step on it? If he actually asked the audience is a matter for debate, because I can't remember (my mind is foggy) it was so long ago. Needless to say, that was an experience in guitar solo showmanship. Long live guitar solo's!
AC/DC was backup for Aerosmith's Draw the Line tour. My friend commented that AC/DC came to blow away the competition, and blow the place down with sonic splendor! They succeeded indeed.
Truly my biggest regret was that I never saw Led Zeppelin during their (last great) tour in 1977, and only learned about it from a guitar playing friend in junior high, who was in a high school rock group. I have a DVD from Russia, that is a Led Zeppelin show from Seattle, WA during 1977, and I can tell you, that Led Zeppelin was the group that deserved the high acclaim, they were that good.
I was very happy to see Page & Plant, and my late wife and I had purchased decent reserved floor seats, and Jimmy was playing as if it was the last time he would be onstage! He played with a renewed sense of himself, and he really enjoyed being in front of that audience. Play on Jimmy, play on.
My history and why I have started this boutique guitar effects pedal kit business and website, http://buildyourowntone.com/ I have worked with electronics all my life starting in 1981. I started off working on loss prevention alarm systems for a very brief time. I had finished junior high-school, but I took 2 years off to find myself, (that sounds so cliche :-), and I realized that without a decent education, I could not really expect to make the big bucks. So please, if you are a younger person, take my advice and stay in school, because you will NOT regret it. In 1981, I was only being paid a paltry hourly wage of $3.65, and this was our Canadian British Columbia provincial minimum wage. Tough times back then, as it is now in the worst recession I have yet to live through.
I went back to regular senior high-school, and I decided to get my diploma. Still, I could not decide what I really wanted to do. What to do? Now, the year is 1985, and in North America, there was a strange technology called MDS, and MMDS, which was used for wireless cable-TV, but more importantly pay-TV (HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and The Movie Channel). I remember watching a news broadcast on this subject, as US citizens had discovered that these wireless antenna's which could look like a strange large swizzle stick, or a traditional Chinese wok, could pick up these movie channels for FREE. I watched this news broadcast while I was still in senior high-school, and I thought that is way cool. Of course, in Canada we did not have this TV technology, as regular cable TV, was quite established. I quickly learned all I could about this fascinating technology, because of a quirk in the Canadian radio and television broadcasting laws, an American chap, was exploiting a gaping loophole, that allowed him to sell these low cost antenna's for a huge profit to steal or pirate the American based pay-TV channel Selec-TV from Washington state. Quite the intelligent chap, and I started selling these antenna's too, as quickly did others. They were easy to MFR, and I built many prototypes, just to prove that I could do it. I felt a total sense of confidence and accomplishment.
However, this was too good to last, and Selec-TV sued the bright, intelligent chap from the USA. I tried to sell these antenna's in the USA, via the popular electronics magazine: "Radio-Electronics", which was later called: "Electronics Now." That failed miserably too, as a very tough scrambling or encryption scheme was being utilized by the local TV stations to thwart TV signal pirates. I thought, perhaps electronics is NOT for me? I just can not find the suitable product to market.
I received a telephone call from a retired chap in MN, USA, and this older chap changed my life forever with just one question: "What do you all use for a cable-TV descrambler or cable-TV decoder?" I had a good memory, as my wealthy girlfriend from senior high-school, had just installed this new technology at her home in the Panorama Ridge of Surrey, British Columbia Canada. I told this decent old chap, that we used a Zenith brand descrambler or decoder, and he told me that I could purchase 12 of these devices at a time for a very low US$250. I was a cable hacker geek.
Fast forward to late 2006, after establishing myself as a DVD hardware specialist for a good number of years, I became totally burnt out from video electronics. I found a regular job with a local Burnaby-Vancouver, British Columbia electronics parts store. Students were building guitar effects pedals, and I was amazed at how this whole market evolved with the help of the internet. I later read an excellent article about Mike of Analogman.com in Vintage Guitar magazine. I thought this is an excellent niche market for some people. I think, I can not remember, if I read an article about Lovepedal.com and his COT or Eternity pedal, or that I had read an article about the highly acclaimed Klon Centaur pedal, but I kept thinking these guys are onto something...How can I get involved? The thought passed slowly, as I was satisfied with a regular income.
I was given my walking papers through a store reorganization Friday December 07; 2007. My new wife, (I am a widower from February 2004) and I had in just the last week, had an early Christmas dinner with the store staff. There is no mercy in the cruel job world to be sure! I then obtained and later quit a perfectly good job with a decent motorsports shop, that sold motorcycles, (which I really dig) to become a licenced in British Columbia, Canada "Private Investigator", PI (under supervision).
This was in June 2008, and I had actually turned down a 3rd interview with "The Sony Store," for which I eternally regret. I was hired as an undercover operative or a planted mole for a very large company, but the client had cancelled my assignment, because I could not be placed in time due to a wildcat labor strike. Silly circumstances, beyond my control. There was no guarantee of full time work, so I was looking for work all over again.
Electronics is my life, and I figured I better get back into the field I am an expert in, which is video electronics. I have had to secure an investor-partner, as I like many others in this terrible recession need the extra financing.
I was recently reading "Nuts & Volts" magazine, which was the bible for electronics geeks and hackers long before this thing called the internet. We would carefully guard our secret publications or trade journals, as they were our sources of electronics intelligence. Point being, I saw an advert for http://generalguitargadgets.com/ and thought I should take a look. I later saw a cover of "Guitar Player" magazine, which mentioned an article about overdrives and distortion, and decided to read the article. I saw an advert for http://buildyourownclone.com and thought that looks cute, and visited the website, and I am awfully glad I did, because that visit changed my life again!
There was an article in the November 2008 edition of "Premier Guitar" magazine, which is available as a digital online format, for which I am eternally grateful. I gleened so much useful information from that wonderful article about the WA, USA based company, http://buildyourownclone.com/
It was like a lightbulb went off in my head, and I knew my destiny would be changed forever. I later read a fine short article about the fellow who operated his own boutique effects pedal company called "Way Huge Electronics", in a British guitar magazine. I think the magazine is simply called "Guitar", and it was the January 2009 edition, as we get them later in Canada. "Guitar World" magazine has a fine article about "Death by Audio", another boutique guitar effects pedal builder in the May 2009 edition. This magazine has a CD-Rom, which you can play in your computer and includes the good folks of "Death by Audio" demonstrating their wild boutique guitar effects pedals.
A new business is born in the form of http://buildyourowntone.com/ the new boutique guitar effects pedal MFR, which will produce many different boutique guitar effects pedal kits, completely assembled effects pedals, and semi-finished effects pedals without enclosure, for those that do not feel comfortable with doing the discrete soldering of delicate discrete electronics components and PCB's on their own.
Very much like http://DIY-stompbox.com/, I will be offering clones of the very popular Zvex boutique guitar effects pedals, not all of them, but some clones of their fine products. I will also be offering clones of many different very popular brands in the future. I will soon be offering a smaller sized clone of the now sadly, forever "discontinued" Amarat Effects Green Machine overdrive (an Ibanez TS-808 tube screamer clone, but simply much better, way better). For those in the know concerning guitar effects pedal or stompbox enclosures, I am changing the Hammond aluminum enclosure from the orignal 1590BB to a new 1590B, which is considerably smaller and more pedal board friendly. This Amarat Effects Green Machine overdrive boutique guitar effects pedal is simply wonderful, as it simply lives up to all the hype and more, way more. The Aramat Effects Green Machine has been compared to the Klon Centaur, and that is worthy praise indeed. I have used it stacked before an Analogman KOT (King of Tone version 2) boutique guitar effects pedal and the rich, silky, creamy smooth harmonic overtones, and sweet stellar sustain were simply unbelievable. I am a believer in both the Analogman KOT, and this Aramat Effects Green Machine overdrive boutique pedal, used separately or indeed, used together for the most incredible sweet, silky smooth as double churned cream, way huge tone.
I am sad, because I have had to take this wonderful pedal apart in order to "reverse-engineer" this Amarat Effects Green Machine boutique guitar effects pedal. I can honestly say, that I will be making huge improvements to the PCB, as the original was done at the original designers home shop, and its quality control limitations are clearly evident. I am surprised, that my Green Machine boutique guitar effects pedal from Amarat Effects was able to work at all? The PCB under a strong light was clearly plagued with the over etched swiss cheese syndrome, not a pretty sight, and certainly made me gasp!
However, that being said, I think it is a wonderful boutique guitar effect pedal, which has more soul and sweet tone, than many other guitar effects pedals ever could hope to have. However, tone is a subjective thing, and everybody has their own idea of what the perfect tone is to them, or what it should be for themselves and everybody else. Build your own tone and feel confident, with a sense of accomplishment that is not easily matched, except for perhaps learning a complicated guitar passage that you have been trying to nail for so long. I quote the late great "Frank Zappa:" "Shut up and play your guitar!"
April.04;2009
Boutique pedal kits are coming soon. Boutique pedal kits, fully assembled, or partially assembled boutique pedals will be offered at great prices. Products will be announced shortly. 2 highly desirable, in demand overdrive, mild, warm distortion stompbox products are nearly in the bag ready for release.
You have a great guitar and amplifier, but you feel that your tone is just missing that something special. Build your own tone, and capture that elusive sound you have in your head, make your sound dreams come true! All of our kits are using top quality PCB's, parts, connectors, and of course are true bypass.
