The infamous "Gonkulators" from Ali Express

[Zork]

Hi. Most of us have probably heard about the Gonkulators on Ali Express that seem to come from the exact same factory than the originals from DOD. I just noticed there are other pedals under the same brand "Ginean" that have the same enclosure but some additional controls or different control layout than the DOD pedals:

Now, apart from the ethical point of view, what does it mean? Is it an attempt to avoid copyright problems or is the general assumption these are exactly the same as the originals wrong? Has anyone ordered one of those and has compared to DOD? What are these?

[Tall Walls]

I'm not aware of a DOD Klon, so is the Divine Knight a 250 with an added Freble knob? And what happens when I crank up the Preset on my Hairy Show?

[01010111]

I love the artwork on these. If they're made in the same factory as the og DODs, does that mean these are as ethical as the OG DODs?

[Tall Walls]

So, obviously the Modulator is a Gonkulator. The only three-knob distortion in the recent DOD lineup is the Chthonic, which has knobs in the orientation of the Divine Knight here--someone would be in for a surprise if they were expecting a Klon and got a dark fuzz instead. The Hairy Show is clearly a Carcosa--the toggle is even still labeled "Demhe" and "Hali," which is kind of wild. The only four-knob distortion is the Gunslinger, so that's probably what the Excitation is. The Preamp Boost is the BiFet Boost. The "Customize Overdrive" doesn't match up with anything in the DOD catalog that I can think of, but it seems like Ginean makes more than DOD copies. I'm partial to the artwork on this phaser:



Poking around a bit, it looks like they also have the Massive distortion, which is clearly a Boneshaker--and costs more than the actual Boneshaker that I got when DOD was blowing them out!

[Chankgeez]

I picked up one of the Modulator RINGMODs (because ring mod, natch, and I love the deer graphic). Sounds just like I remember a Gonkulator to sound.

I asked Tom Cram about it. He said it seems they're built on pilfered actual Gonkulator pcbs.

Don't know anything about the other pedals.

[Gone Fission]

I think it's funny that they have a Boneshaker clone for $38.47 when I got a bunch of DODs for $40 a pop.

Still, the $35 Carcosa clone is interesting. Diode mods are on my back burner for one of my two.

[coupleonapkins]

And what happens when I crank up the Preset on my Hairy Show?

Yu cee gott

I think it's funny that they have a Boneshaker clone for $38.47 when I got a bunch of DODs for $40 a pop.

Still, the $35 Carcosa clone is interesting. Diode mods are on my back burner for one of my two.

All of these peddles should pay ME for lookin' at their honkin' graphix I mean GEEEZ

[Zork]

And what happens when I crank up the Preset on my Hairy Show?

Yu cee gott

Uh oh, that doesn't look too good. See also the yt comment section.

All of these peddles should pay ME for lookin' at their honkin' graphix I mean GEEEZ

The "Modulator" and "Preamp Boost"graphics are cute imo. But the rest looks a lot like 90s funfair rollercoasters.

[alexsga]

is one of them the Meatbox?

[coupleonapkins]

is one of them the Meatbox?

I do knot beliebe sew, but only s'cuz the DOD Meatbox (both versionnes) had a component that was both significant and of a limited supply, pilfered board or not.

Also, I cannot imagine how it'd be marketed in an appealing way on the knockoff tiership, as to mine ears it was always a sub-freaking exciter that could blow yer speakers out with regular usage, and that might seem like a huge problem for a fly-by-night outfit that just wants to cash in with as little fanfare or speedbump as possible, but I'm sure sombuddy tried 2 du it! Prove me wrong, internette!