would you buy a clone?

[dubkitty]

Depends very much on what it is a clone of. Would I buy a clone of an in production Dr. Scientist or Mid-Fi pedal? Absolutely not. Would I buy a clone of a Superfuzz or a Boss VB-2? For sure.

to expound slightly, it comes down to whether me buying a clone will really hurt the builder's business and/or ability to create. i would not buy, e.g., a clone of one of Devi's pedals; if i hadn't been able to buy my old Truly Beautiful Disaster back, i'd have ordered from her because it's her idea and losing one sale could leave her in the lurch. similarly, i would not buy a clone of one of Tom's pedals, or the other folks with sub-forums, because they're small businesses that need and deserve support.

i'm even a little uncomfortable with clones of large-manufacturer stuff. i don't think i'd like people ripping me off for my art any better if i was on a major label as opposed to the self-publishing which is the only way an unknown 'gazer in his 50s is going to get music out. however, once a company like E-H has gotten to version 7 of the Big Muff, it seems OK to copy v.2 which is no longer built.

the unambiguous subset where i'm comfortable with clones is when the original manufacturer no longer exists or no longer builds the item in question. no one will be harmed today by a Shin-Ei clone, the multiple PLLs that are sprouting like mushrooms, or an amp that bites the design of my Electar Tube 10; thus i see no reason for those items to be sacrosanct.

[Derelict78]

I agree although I would like to add that if behringer did not make the BSY I still wouldn't own the boss or digitech version. I tried both and did not like them. So I guess I'll bend for improvements because its not like anyone is losing my business because of it.

[dubkitty]

i should have added that improved versions are less questionable...a Rat clone with five different diode settings and a Baxandall tone stack is not a direct competitor to ProCo because the builder added his/her own ideas, skills, and art.

[sonidero]

Can this clone cook or clean or teach me Mandarin??? These are my concerns with Chinese Clonezzz...

[Jero]

i love my jero meathead
i think id rather buy a used real thing
than one of them joyos
i guess theres nothing that they clone that id want

Not the first time that's been thrown in my face

[ryan summit]

poopsmear
i didnt mean to put jero and joyo
in the same boat
i think this is where my writing format
is gonna get me in trouble someday
by real thing i was talkin bout the joyos
the meat is as fuh real as it gets baby
box full of balls is what it is

if i could do it all over:
i love my jero meathead
or
i love jero

i shoulda just kept my mouth shut
fingers shut?

[rustywire]

Would.



Also would.

And my Harmonic Percolator, SUF Green Russian are clones...

[+I, too would buy a true VB-2 clone without hesitation]

[dubkitty]

really, i can't afford it. oh, wait, i thought you said "KLON."

[Jero]

the meat is as fuh real as it gets baby
box full of balls is what it is
if i could do it all over:
i love my jero meathead
or
i love jero
i shoulda just kept my mouth shut
fingers shut?

Wasn't really upset. I got what you were trying to say, and thank you!

[kbit]

I have twice, one pretty recently. Both were "boutique" pedals. Wasn't looking for them, happened upon one and was offered the other, both good deals. I buy almost all my gear used so it's weird to bring up the "supporting the company" view of things. Sure, I always talk good about the stuff I like and that's one way to support, but I've purchased very few pedals from a builder / dealer. & I've traded for a whole lot, so that's not really me supporting the company either.

It kinda makes me feel bad but I'm frugal and like to try stuff

[dubkitty]

I buy almost all my gear used so it's weird to bring up the "supporting the company" view of things. Sure, I always talk good about the stuff I like and that's one way to support, but I've purchased very few pedals from a builder / dealer. & I've traded for a whole lot, so that's not really me supporting the company either.

this is true for me as well. but to the extent that i HAVE bought new stuff that isn't TC Electronic stuff, it's been Devi, FuzzHugger, Copilot, and EQD. if Mooer did a faux Ghost Echo or Gyroscope i would not have been interested, because i REALLY like the companies' products and thus want to support them. indeed, i wound up buying a new GE because i liked my used Tone Reaper and Sound Shank.