Versetile fuzz pedal for $300 or less?

[excane]

damn that spunk looks good close up

TWSS

This is... like.... the ultimate "You've been Chankgeeeezed" moment.

[Chankgeez]

damn that spunk looks good close up

TWSS

This is... like.... the ultimate "You've been Chankgeeeezed" moment.

[MEC]

kinda sucks that its 100 dollars shipping for me since im aus but ah well

Pro Guitar Shop does free International shipping on pedal orders over $400. Code: INTLSHIP
http://proguitarshop.com/shipping-policy

Spend another $105 on top of the Twosome's price and you could get the shipping for free.
That's essentially 3 fuzz pedals and still comes in at your original budget.

Also, they are running a $40 off orders >$249 good through Monday 2/4. Code: ICE40

[aphidinvasion]

cheers bud, i was planning on spending about 100 after reading, didnt know about the 40 dollar discount code though.

i was actually looking at some blackout pickups for my green charvel san dimas, but it seems they are out of stock :/

[huggernaut]

The seriously special twosome is truly fantastic.

If I could only have one box for dirt, it would be it.

I have that and a fuck now (again) and can cover just about everything I could ever want.

[DarkAxel]

I'd say go for the Special Twosome

now i only have experience with the old Fix'd Fuzz, but it used to be my main weapon for a LOOONG time... and from the demos i've heard, I like the Blunderbuss more than the regular Musket so if you have that kind of budget... go for it

tons of tones

[Tendollarcat]

As another Aussie continually getting shafted on international shipping, I'd say start with looking Fuzzhugger, Proguitarshop, Prymaxe and maybe even Tunnelvision music. Most pedals ship from these guys for under $20.

There are shops and builders who legitimately worry about tracking, insurance and speed of delivery. I respect that but it shits me when they then offer a flat $50-$80 fee to ship a pedal. That's $40 (because I can't be fucked offering anything but the most expensive option) + $5 insurance (despite the fact half of the fucking pedal is drowned in postage costs) + $15 (because the pedal needs a box....and like you know.....it needs to be shipped.....oh yeah and a form needs to be filled in). I call that the "miscellaneous bullshit" fee. It relies on the buyer believing that pedals within the US are shipped door to door by flying pigs.

So the $300 budget could mean $280 from a decent international seller or $220 from a bullshit artist.

I ranted a bit.... Sorry

[MEC]

As another Aussie continually getting shafted on international shipping, I'd say start with looking Fuzzhugger, Proguitarshop, Prymaxe and maybe even Tunnelvision music. Most pedals ship from these guys for under $20.

There are shops and builders who legitimately worry about tracking, insurance and speed of delivery. I respect that but it shits me when they then offer a flat $50-$80 fee to ship a pedal. That's $40 (because I can't be fucked offering anything but the most expensive option) + $5 insurance (despite the fact half of the fucking pedal is drowned in postage costs) + $15 (because the pedal needs a box....and like you know.....it needs to be shipped.....oh yeah and a form needs to be filled in). I call that the "miscellaneous bullshit" fee. It relies on the buyer believing that pedals within the US are shipped door to door by flying pigs.

So the $300 budget could mean $280 from a decent international seller or $220 from a bullshit artist.

I ranted a bit.... Sorry

The LEAST EXPENSIVE way to ship a pedal, with tracking and conformation of delivery from the US to OZ is USPS Express International and it's about $60.
If you look at it from the dealers point of view it makes a lot more sense.

For example, say you bought a $200 pedal from shop "X" and they shipped it out First Class with no tracking, delivery conformation or
insurance at a cost of $15.

Now say, that pedal gets lost by USPS or Aus Post or stolen off your porch.

What happens next?

You file a Paypal or CC claim and the shop is forced to refund you fully, leaving them out $215 AND the $132 they originally purchased the pedal for.

What makes more sense: Charging you $45 extra for proper shipping or possibly losing $347 due to a postal service error or theft?

If you want someone to blame, I'd start with the Australian shops that either can't be bothered to stock products from the US or
drastically overprice them when they do.

That same $200 pedal bought in a quantity of 10 would cost the Australian dealer $1320 plus about $100 for bulk shipping.
They would have roughly $142 invested in each pedal and their retail on them would be about $260 which is the same as you would pay
including proper shipping from the US.

If the Australian shops passed their shipping savings to the customer and did the same mark up that US shops do, they would only be charging about $215.

[Tendollarcat]

MEC - Totally fair points man. I completely agree with your comments. In particular, Aussie shops are a disgrace. The fact that pedals can be purchased inclusive of shipping costs and still be so much cheaper than the Australian price speaks volumes.

I understand the dealer perspective. But like all risk based thinking, many of these costs are applied at full whack because the international business is maybe not worth the hassle.

Here's another consumer take on it -

• Prymaxe ships pedals to Australia for $6.95.
• Many others ship for $14.95.
• The websites clearly state there is no tracking or insurance on these and that they must be purchased via other selected shipping methods if the buyer wants it.

It becomes about buyers choice and risk. If a pedal is lost, I chose the shipping method. In fact when I buy off forum members, I always state international shipping is my risk and responsibility without insurance.

Why do I take the risk? Because parcels very rarely go missing or go wrong and my average pedal purchase is $150. If one did, I've saved $45 per pedal purchase across 50-60 pedals and that's just bad luck.I accept that and I like it when shops and builders insist I accept the risk. It's like car insurance - if I hit another car and it costs me $20k because I am too stupid to have insurance, I don't go looking for a hand out. I also don't then go out and insure my car and every other car on the road in reaction. There's a sensible middle ground being missed and I think it's often because builders are too nice to set ground rules.

My argument is that some sellers get burned by not going for full disclosure up front. The response then is basically - "Look man. You buy the pedal, you cover all of my risks and I set the price. I'm not covering a penny". I respect that but believe there are better ways to keep costs reasonable. Shipping is $15. Tracking and Insurance is $45. The pedal is $129. Ask the seller to set their own coverage. For something under $200, 99% of buyers will choose straight shipping. And 99% of those will have no issues. International exchange rates are solid and more pedals will sell. The $60 take it or leave it approach suggests that the risks are way higher or more difficult to manage than they are.

[aphidinvasion]

i support locally when i can but some stores can get silly.

i recently ordered the strymon mobius mentioned in first post for $450 total locally but when i ordered a few beginner pedals a few years back they charged me about 100(not including postage) bucks for a speedbox distortion as apposed to the 30 dollars paid on musiciansfriend

[jrmy]

damn that spunk looks good close up

Dammit Ryan, I had my Gnomeratron for people to try at ILFNEM this weekend. I wish I'd have seen this post - I'd'a let you mess around with it!

Also, Spunkiez is still building - I don't know what his schedule / wat time is like, but I spoke with him last week. These rumors of his departure from fuzz are pernicious slander!

[Derelict78]

This is good to hear I miss my gnome something fearsome. Although because of selling it I was able to buy a twosome and the pedal was pretty rad I just didn't dig on the musket too much , just to smooth I think. I need to get a hold of one with a musket, and get another gnome. I think I would be able to come up with just about any fuzz flavor I would like.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I think the twosome is a wicked choice for versatility, especially the special ones where you can stack em. M
It's two crazily versatile fuzzes in one box!

[ryan summit]

damn that spunk looks good close up

Dammit Ryan, I had my Gnomeratron for people to try at ILFNEM this weekend. I wish I'd have seen this post - I'd'a let you mess around with it!

Also, Spunkiez is still building - I don't know what his schedule / wat time is like, but I spoke with him last week. These rumors of his departure from fuzz are pernicious slander!

i saw it sittin right there too
i was havin a blast just listenin
to you guys rip it up
hearin em all in action was the best
like 20 demos playing at once
or watching the blue angels
as appose to flying the plane
and crashing it into the ground in front of them

[D.o.S.]

hahahahah $300 or less

like

my god

the staggering amount of pedals you can get for that money