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Hey guys! So, I was curious here and builders, please feel free to jump in and school me. How do suppose builders determine who to endorse or make signature pedals for. Signature pedals seem to have been on the rise in the last couple of years and I know they've always existed in some way, but more non enormous brands are doing it too now.

My question. What makes you choose the band or people you do this for? Is it a personal preference thing of what type of music you dig? Is it a marketing gimmick based on how super popular they are?

I named Ryan Adams because he's fresh on everyones mind with the allegations that have recently come to light and it makes me think, fuck was that worth it? JHS made a pedal, Walrus, EQD (I think Westwood but I could be wrong on EQD), Benson amps, Fender...etc.



There are obviously a ton of brands that do this and it's not just for him but what happened with him makes me wonder. Is the risk worth it? Does it hurt the business after the dust settles? Do people place blame on builders for picking these artists even if they had no clue about the stuff going on?

It occurs to me that in this day and age it could be extremely risky to put your brand name behind almost anyone because you just don't know. How can you? Even if they seem like awesome people, they could be a complete POS. So, it must be a calculated risk? Right?

I'm not trying to start any big fights or anything. I just want to dialogue and see what others think. Do you care if a pedal is good and it has some shit heads name on it? Would you toss the pedal in the bin knowing it was made with those people in mind or would you scratch the name out??

Multiple part question. I guess.

I saw JHS is actually offering to rehouse their VHS pedal for 35 bucks and is changing the artwork/name. I actually think that's some good ass quality control there. At 35 bucks, it's a no brainer IMO.

Thoughts?

Too uncomfortable of a subject or just meh?

Jwar wrote:meh

^

Quite the opposite - if anything I’m more reluctant to use a pedal if someone’s name is tied to it, unless I specifically want THEIR sound (ex: Tech21’s Geddy Lee preamp and the EBS Billy Sheehan line)

Yeah. Generally I see signature stuff as a turn off so I don't really care about any of it. Obviously would make an exception for anything that was perfect for me but happened to have someone's name on it.

On the specific topic, if I owned something and the attached name got caught doing something particularly shitty, I'd spend a hell of a lot less than $35 on some black paint. Or spend more and get a cool etch.

Jwar wrote:Too uncomfortable of a subject or just meh?

To jump off of this point.. what about someone wanting you to build them a 'signature' pedal with a naked picture of their gf on it? Yes, this happened to me.

fucking hell, but that's gross.

i generally don't go for signature models because most of them are for artists i don't care about. after hearing it live i would totally buy the Bob Mould Sunshine Rock fuzz, though. sometimes they're OK even if i don't care about the artist, e.g. the Jerry Cantrell wah is the best one i've ever heard.

lol, while I don't think it's a good idea, the picture itself (to be professionally printed on) is not graphic at all.

I'm not such a fan of any musician that I care about signature gear, just seems kinda inevitable that it exists.

The why seems pretty obvious - sales. Before he was outed (and realistically, probably still), tying something to Ryan Adams's name gives you an immediate in to a demographic with some excess spending money.

I ordered a Reuss Roland S Howard pedal (less signature than homage, I guess) this week - I was looking for a D+ anyway and this gets a Blue Box too and the RSH connection is pretty cool.

All press is good press, I suppose. But as an enterprise, it's all about attention, yeah?

Some notable exceptions can be had (i.e. the beautifully voiced Cantrell wah), despite all my rage





These would actually make for a ridiculous but effective rig (probably with that Lee Ranaldo ZT Amp, a Petrucci pick & Billy Gibbons Rev.Willy Mexican Lottery strings), and one of those terrible Vox coily cables (not endorsed by Brian May, but let's pretend)

Jwar wrote:
I saw JHS is actually offering to rehouse their VHS pedal for 35 bucks and is changing the artwork/name. I actually think that's some good ass quality control there. At 35 bucks, it's a no brainer IMO.

Thoughts?

can they rehouse it but also put a better builder's guts in there?

coupleonapkins wrote:

I have one of these. I bought it because I didn't have a strat in my collection, and it matched my American flag sneakers. I like the MC5, but not to the point where I would want to buy something they endorsed.

I agree with others that I am less likely to buy something that is a signature model or endorsed by someone as I know part of that money is going just for the name, which means they probably cut corners on more important stuff.

JWAR, why haven't you been responding to any of these posts?

yeah is it suddenly an uncomfortable subject for you? It's been a whole 5 minutes.

I would buy a Kramer Strat in a heartbeat if it wasn't reliced - I don't really have anything against good ones but the mass produced Fender relics never look right to me.

I do love the MC5 but it's more about that sweet paint job + pickups.

i was rather disappointed with the Kramer Strat cos the stars on the original were decidedly DIY. those printed stars are just too clean 'n' neat.