NAMM leaks, announcements, and rumors

[Chankgeez]

This was directed at jwar, lgalvar's post got in the way.

Those that forget pedal history are doomed to repeat it (or at least buy a clone of it).

[xrleroyx]

Commenting to read whole thread and listen to clips at home so I don't get fired.

[lordgalvar]

On the Spires thing: what is the consumers role in that situation?
I had never heard of a nufuzz, until that demo. Having previously had great experiences with Earthquaker stuff, I though I may buy a Spires. Is it on me to research the history of a pedal and form an opinion outside of, "man, that sounds rad?"

I dunno, I mean if they didn't say that it was, would I have even of known? Probably not...it is a little bit of a "dig your own grave" kinda thing. Like mention it, problems, don't mention it, possible problems. They could have just got Sanner in on the deal, paid him a contract to oversee the design then said "See all legit". It's a tough question haha. Or just say, look it is based off the same basic transistor data sheet schem...no mojo...but they used nufuzz in the description but don't saw it is that on the pedal...kinda like it is our design or something...it goes both ways I guess and is there really an answer...and with a pretty recent run of nufuzzes, when does it become free because of inactivity? That's why I was kinda posing it/working through it.

PV: EQD are an ILF builder, (even if they've outgrown us a little), you could maybe pop into their subform and ask about bass clips?

I've never really paid attention to the Nufuzz either, what's the deal with that?

It's kinda like a continuation of the Fuzzrite design. Sanner left Mosrite (or mosrite was closing/changing/volitile business). Rosac was kinda like an old school investment group that put money into Sanner's designs (I think they were from the construction world and wanted to get into the booming gear market). Sanner never felt like the fuzzrite was versitile enough, so he kinda maxed the fuzz and added a tone control (which actually works well). It is a bright, treble fuzz...like a wall of saw or something with some weird midsy low end...some slight intermod/ringer kinda things when hitting two notes (certain pickups bring that out more). Got more tonal range than the fuzzrite though. Cleans up weird too...but it does. Very close to the fuzzrite really as far as I can tell....

I can demo it if you want...

I agree with parts of the sentiment LG is expressing, but it really is circumstantial for me? Also, it sucks that it comes this way, for so many reasons, but economy does matter, and many times I will try to give money to the original designer if I can, but with something like a fuzz, if another one comes out, and it is cheaper, and it has more options, that feels like a thing. These days i would rather build a drive if i need it, unless it is something super specific. but there are enough 250/screamer/muff/whatever schematics out there. I guess the grey spec 250 is OOP, so it feels like less of a thing.

Yea, I know, but this one is just paired with one of their pedals (nothing that really changes it or adds options...just a budget multi-fuzz really). The ghost has more options...and I just picked it up for 125...but it sat for a while on Reverb (kept meaning to get one, but waited for some paypal funds and every time I tried to get one before Ian was sold out haha). If you build one, more power to ya, you know? You learn, do what you want with it...that's cool...I don't think the long run impact of DIYers just doing stuff because they enjoy it really going to hurt anything. DIY is a blast and can really motivate creative people to design their own things by learning what has been done. But if you want a production version....it starts to get sketchy...I dunno...they are all questions I can't really answer and I am not Sanner (and couldn't tell you if he even cares).

Like the fuzzrite has been out of production for much longer than the nufuzz and he did the work under the mosrite name (which abandoned it)...so I doubt there really is a problem there...but the nufuzz is kind of in a weird place of being more his (seeing that he was the brains behind Rosac) and more recently active. It is just a situation to think about and probably answer for yourself...I just kinda worked through it though my perspective you know?

The Sanner line of fuzzrites made in the 1990s was kind of a weird thing. Front Porch in Bakersfield just called him up and said. "Can you make me 50 one-off fuzzrites for me?" or something (this was from Arte and Ed telling me) and he sold them...how they got to musictoyz, I dunno...probably because they never sold in shop and Arte just wanted some cash...so I see that as more of a custom one-off thing for a buddy (Arte was the largest mosrite collection owner at the time). The Hallmark thing kinda seems like a buddy deal too, but there was distro. of the pedals and it was an official run...

I just find it all fascinating. haha

[D.o.S.]

Demo would be super rad.

I agree with you in regards to "letting it lie" for a bit regarding designs, but I'm not sure what an appropriate moratorium would be.

[elevenstrings]

Didn't want to bother multi-quoting - answers in red below.

Source: Been to NAMM about a dozen times.

Questions about NAMM....

is it like a comic book show where some people sell and the bigger companies just display (and direct you to their distros), no body really sells, it is up to the exhibitor to sell, or selling is discouraged?

I don't think selling is discouraged, but most booths don't sell anything or keep anything in the booth beyond what you see when you walk by. The point of the show is to announce things and drum up new business for distributors, retailers/mom n'pops. That said on the last few hours of the last day you can pick up good deals if the company wants to save money shipping stuff back. Some booths will have show specials - mostly software and small things (I picked up an eBow from the company that makes them for dirt cheap).

I used to go to the San Diego Comicon every year for a decade (but that was the late 80s, early 90s mostly)...and it was kinda like the little guys were selling like crazy and the big guys were there to get you excited for the next year...(it was still very much a trade show back then...lots of wheeling and dealing...but there was a collector aspect that I know isn't at NAMM...but what I am asking is if people bring any stock to sell?).

Not that I can afford everything I would want haha...just to pick up something here or there.

I will probably start a thread with constant updates because it sounds like fun. Are there any problems with press/photos etc? Like people throw a fit over a picture?

Ummm, should I get my wife a ticket? She might hate me spending 3 days there, or is it something that one day is enough (I used to spend 3 days in comicon and still find kinda new interesting things).

The Show is trade only - so unless you are a NAMM member or an exhibitor hooked you up with a ticket she might have a hard time getting in. It's past the deadline now, so they'll cost money to the exhibitor now (they were free before the 6th). Two days is plenty to take it all in, if you are spending the whole day there. Saturday gets a little packed as that the day when the old rock stars come out, and there's big lines for autographs. The 2nd floor gets really crowded on Saturday. Most of the smaller builders will be on the bottom floor which doesn't get too crowded and you'll find a lot of ILF stuff there (along with cheaper import stuff mooer-type companies)

Do the name badges say who you are with (like a guest of...)?

Yes. Your name, the company your with, and also a kind of badge ranking (Exhibitor, Guess, etc.) The different colors have different privileges - bringing gear in and out, being able to come in early to beat the crowds or to stay after the show closes, use the media room etc.

Should be a blast! I will at least take a notebook! haha. Excited to see Korg, Roland, what-akai-failed-at (or hopefully redeems themselves with), lightning bear, yamaha (SGV reissue...nah, wont happen haha), beigel, too many to list. Really excited!

[Invisible Man]

But then in the same coin we are scare of digital. Give me a wavefolder pedal that's not that hideous source audio monstrosity. Also the Geiger counter needs a new, better civilian issue, IMHO. my short time with it made me only want the big version more.

Yep. Both CI and regular Geiger Counters were difficult to use. There's gotta be something in between that's useful...how about 64 waveforms with an encoder, Sample Rate, Bit Depth, Volume, Gain, Tone? 6 knobs, two stomp (bypass and preset scroll, maybe?). Knob per function is a big deal, but the CI missed that boat, too.

[Invisible Man]

The only thing I have to add to the cloning/distribution side of this thread has already been put in different terms by LG: I'm all for freedom of design, but it would be a stand-up move to include original designers in "reissues"/clones. Kind of a cameo that might increase visibility in a way that doesn't feel creepy. But builders like EQD have reached distribution that few have/will--I think they're in Guitar Center now--so it's probably unreasonable to expect them to play nice and give everyone their due. They're beyond ILF's notion of "morality," most likely.

[lordgalvar]

Thanks elevenstrings. Never really paid much attention to it really until this year.

D.o.S.: Yea, I have no idea on a time frame.

Thanks for making my stupid beat-around-the-bush rant concise Invisible Man, haha. Yea, I dunno. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call though (he ain't a hard guy to find...I found him in the yellow pages). EQD's distribution is crazy big now..they were like the only music item on Jet.com when they launched which I found kinda funny. To their credit, they are keeping production here and growing business. Gotta love that.

[D.o.S.]

Baby's first weird pedal, if you will.

And since I'm sure someone's going to get crotch itch about the above: I think EQD is a fine company and I encourage the dissemination of weird sounds to everyone, no matter how tame they may be. Still want to try the Koala Orbiter

[lordgalvar]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YItWqUmAUT8[/youtube]

If anyone is curious.

[oldangelmidnight]

high powered DSP platform we have been working on for a while now

I like the sound of that.

[indianDYsummer]

Doesn't the Spires have two fuzz circuits in it? It's not like it's a dedicated clone. I think it's ok that Jaime loves them both in the same place on his pedal board as a complimentary duo and made it happen. If they released a direct small box clone, I guess I might care more. It's also unclear (see below) how much as a direct clone it is. He probably had to tweak it for modern mass manufactured components to get it to sound like his vintage unit. Furthermore, I think there's still room in the pedal market for the more small production boutique type pedal featuring fancy NOS components and whatnot.

Also maybe this will expose the nu fuzz to a larger audience and the original builder gets more business as a result. I'd never heard of a nu fuzz until now. There's a lot of gray area here with EHX and JHS etc that I don't have much beef with this.


Here's the description, not sure if it has been posted here:


Spires
Fuzz Doubler

Ship Date: February 2016
MAP: $195.00 USD

The Spires was born from my need to have my big old Rosac Nu Fuzz and our now discontinued Dream Crusher on my pedalboard without taking up all the space. The green channel features a cranked fuzz inspired by the Rosac Electronic Nu-Fuzz, which, for all the unacquainted fuzz seekers, was released in 1968- decades prior to the dreaded “nü” prefix ever being uttered. The original schematic for Rosac Nu Fuzz is somewhat of a mystery so I used my original to make a “sonic copy” that is pretty much dead on. It is full-on fuzz all the time and uses crude wide range tone control to change the character from big and warm to sizzling and blown out. The original was slightly below unity at max so I gave this one plenty of output volume while retaining the original tone. The Red channel is a silicon version of the now discontinued Dream Crusher. There's no need to mourn the loss anymore. Dreams will still be crushed with walls of classic two transistor fuzz, only this time the crushing will be much more stable and less temperature sensitive. It features a very usable, dynamic Fuzz control and tons of output volume, just like the original. Each Spires is hand made one at a time by a white gloved team of professional experts in the dirty, dusty canyon of Akron, Ohio.

[Jero]

Baby's first weird pedal, if you will.

And since I'm sure someone's going to get crotch itch about the above: I think EQD is a fine company and I encourage the dissemination of weird sounds to everyone, no matter how tame they may be. Still want to try the Koala Orbiter

Buy mine dang it!

[indianDYsummer]

Oh, and I agree about bringing in the original builder as a consultant or whatnot, especially if they're alive or still active in the industry. Seems like good mojo, for sure. But there's tons of other industries (cell phones etc) where its hard to define lines between innovation and intellectual property. Samsung and Apple are constantly tweaking their designs to steal features and designs from each other.

[Invisible Man]

Thanks for making my stupid beat-around-the-bush rant concise Invisible Man, haha. Yea, I dunno. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call though (he ain't a hard guy to find...I found him in the yellow pages). EQD's distribution is crazy big now..they were like the only music item on Jet.com when they launched which I found kinda funny. To their credit, they are keeping production here and growing business. Gotta love that.

Ha, there's no attempt to edit you here. I agree with you, and long-form posts are always welcome in my book (I get frustrated with simplistic logic applied to complex problems). This is just something that I think about a lot, too, as someone who works in education. Supposedly, the idea is that colleges/universities try to exist outside the world of finance--we 'create' new markets rather than supplying worker bees to existing markets. Clearly, that isn't the case. But the problem of shoehorning innovation and new ideas into a curriculum that isn't really designed to do new things is growing...mostly, we are custodians for existing ideas, and job-training personnel.

Anyway, the point is that knowledge/intelligence and money are like oil and water. They can exist in the same space, but they don't really make sense together. One of the goofiest things about this place (I think D.o.S (whose name is super annoying to type out) and Psychic Vampire pointed out) is that there's a kind of anarcho streak to our compulsory purchase of stuff. Which is cool; I do it, and it's not hard to decode. But there seem to be two ideas that just can't integrate one another--that design is 'in the air,' and that pedals are hotter than they've ever been, and are reeling in the dough. Some people/designers/builders are really toeing the line on that.

Side note: interviewing for a Deanship right now, and the President of the college asked me what changes I'd like to make. Like an idiot, I said "burn it down." She paused for a long time, then said "then burn it down!"

Higher ed is one of the few places where insane and incendiary politics are A OK.