Midnight Amplification Devices experiences?

[beef]

Okay, so I know I'm probably opening a can of worms here, but I wanted to see if anyone anything to say about the actual quality of the pedals. Is anyone using any of his pedals currently and if so, what do you think? Perhaps it's all snake oil (always a bit wary of companies that just have like 100 fuzz variations and nothing else), but they look so good I can't help but have mad gas for a lot of them. They're not cheap or easy to find here, so I don't feel comfortable taking a punt on a new one.

I know historically, his name is mud around here as he did some shady stuff last year, but I'm not interested in any of that drama. He might be a total shitter, but if the pedals are that good, I don't mind! I just want to hear about your experiences with the actual goods!

Anytime someone brings them up, you just hear about the drama, and not the pedals. So, good or bad, I'm curious. Anyone have/had any?

[resincum]

I've had a holy mountain and an old black. both ruled. dealing with the wait time/excuses didn't

[Jwar]

He destroyed his own reputation here, so I wouldn't personally ever deal with him. There are so many options for good pedals, but it's not worth the potential of getting fucked over. If he's improved his process, then he needs to come here and say something.

[UglyCasanova]

I've read some shitty things about him on here, but I follow him on IG because his circuits and aesthetics are killer. Might pick something up down the line, but I wouldn't dare buy directly from him.

[beef]

Yeah I agree, apologies can go a long way. I can understand that, but personally, if the goods were good enough then I'd happily separate the art from the artist. That's why I still listen to Rolf Harris on the regular..

I've had similar experiences with MWFX, but the pedal was worth it, despite the process and ordering experience being the worst I've ever had.

Interesting to hear Resin, the ones I'm drooling over the most are the Holy Mountain, Old Black and Giant Sound tbh. I guess they weren't keepers though.

[UglyCasanova]

Resin flips stuff all the time. The only pedal I always see on his board is a Boss looper.

[D.o.S.]

If you like the way they look maybe explore the companies that originally created the designs?

[beef]

I mean, they're beautifully designed, (I think he does the graphics himself?) but I would never buy something just because of that. It helps though...

If you're talking about the circuitry and all that, then thats beyond me. I have no idea if they're glorified clones or original designs.

[D.o.S.]

Off the top of my head, the Omen is a straight Laowiz clone aesthetically, and I don't think his amp that was just like a Science amp is up anymore but dude's a total swagger jacker as far as aesthetics go. Some of it, like the Holy Mountain, falls under ethical fair use, I guess (you can't dig someone too hard for using the classic Orange/Matamp font in 2016), but that combined with the other stuff (deleting negative comments while keeping the positive, the wait times and such) would have me looking elsewhere first, for sure.

That may or may not bother you, though. As far as circuitry, I'll quote Dunwich Amp's Nick, I think: "No guts, no glory."

[UglyCasanova]

He posts guts on IG

[beef]

I mean similar graphics is a bit lame, but nothing strikes me as a downright rip off so far. The Laowiz reminds me more of DBA stuff. I never saw his amp though. And his past behaviour would just make me want to avoid ordering directly like UC said, unfortunately there aren't even any dealers here in the UK. Most likely due to their sketchy history with orders last year. So it's pretty tough to even try one out for a reasonable price. Rarely see them second hand either.

I get the feeling that I'm being suckered in by the pretty aesthetics. There's a total lack of demos for some pedals which is the most off-putting thing. And an even bigger lack of people actually coming out and saying how good/bad they are. Hence the thread. I'm wondering whether it's like he's selling an ideology more than he is phenomenal sounding pedals. I'm sure none of them are actually really bad, but if they're not really remarkable then they're probably not worth the prices he asks.

Still, I would bloody love a GT120 or Model-T preamp style pedal though. The options are pretty slim from what I can see, and I'd rather have a Holy Mountain than that ugly as sin LWA one

[D.o.S.]

Have you considered talking to Dunwich?

Also our shark tank has a lot of really rad builders that I'm sure would love to tackle something like this.

[beef]

Haven't gotten in touch with Dunwich yet. His GT120 peds are perpetually out of stock it seems.

Good idea man!

[LaoWiz]

Off the top of my head, the Omen is a straight Laowiz clone aesthetically, "

His Omen looks a kinda like a Buzzaround I did. Didn't really bother me except that his graphics came out better!

This one I thought was maybe a little too close to a Dizzytone I did:

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Dizzy

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Nic has always sent me nice messages and generally seemed like a cool dude. The above probably could have been a little less obvious but only think he made a few so no biggie. Forget what the Science Amp thing was. The dude is def good at graphics so just a little strange....

[kevdes93]

I've had a giant sound and a sonic violence that I bought second hand that were both good pedals, well made and sounded great. Bought a Skyhorse from Chicago music exchange that showed up broken so back it went. Then I made the terrible mistake of ordering a holy mountain direct on may 15th that I have yet to receive. He disappeared in June only to reappear in early September saying how he's been sick blah blah and he said all pending orders went out even if people got their money back from PayPal, which was cool I guess. I messaged him on the 13th of September and he assured me it was sent, and it's still not here so who knows if he actually sent it. I messaged him last night asking if he could check on my order and no response so far.

So I guess if you like his designs, buy one used. When/if my holy mountain ever shows up it's going straight to reverb.