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bigchiefbc wrote:

Justinm1789 wrote:I wonder if an expression pedal-less reissue would be a viable idea. Cheaper to manufacture, at least. With exp input jack of course.

..Were the settings practical without the expression pedal? I can imagine that the synth swell probably wasn't.

Maybe an added control for expression sweep speed to simulate it.

Some of the modes are OK without using the treadle, but the Synth Swell modes would be useless, as would be the tape warp modes.

Which are the coolest modes

Yeah the expression pedal is key for the XP series.

One of the big question marks I have about reissuing this now would be that there are so many other ways to do similar things that didn't exist when these pedals were actually being made.

D.o.S. wrote:Yeah the expression pedal is key for the XP series.

One of the big question marks I have about reissuing this now would be that there are so many other ways to do similar things that didn't exist when these pedals were actually being made.

The Bitcrushers, ring mods, tape warp and arpeggiator stuff, agreed. But are there other pedals that can do the orchestral/strings thing? I've been out of the loop for most of the last year, so I could have easily missed it. Also, not sure I've heard another pedal that can do the "resonator" effect that the space station has, either. The only other way I've ever been able to do a similar sound is with the filter matrix on the Electric Mistress.

Um I'd have to play with one (I haven't touched one in like -- jesus -- five years or something?) again to see how I'd work around not having it. Also since 98% of my music is going through Ableton I don't typically need stompboxes to twist my basic sounds around like that anymore.

D.o.S. wrote:Um I'd have to play with one (I haven't touched one in like -- jesus -- five years or something?) again to see how I'd work around not having it. Also since 98% of my music is going through Ableton I don't typically need stompboxes to twist my basic sounds around like that anymore.

I sold my XP-1000 over a year ago, so I've had to come up with ways of getting along without it as well. Like I said, I was able to cop the Resonator tone with an Electric Mistress, but I couldn't find any other way to do the orchestral sounds. So I ended up picking up an Expression Factory, which just has the Synth Swell mode on it with 6 or 7 different intervals.

There are plenty of pedals that do the same things the Space Station does and none of it is exactly unique as far as processing technology goes, but nothing else does all the same things in one box, nor does anything sound quite the same. It's like comparing fuzz pedals, really. It's definitely not for everyone but its such an odd collection of sounds that despite having next to no tweakable parameters are just kinda magical and inspiring, i think. Since i sold mine i found that i never actually used other pedals to replicate it even remotely closely, it felt like it's own thing.

I have one and absolutely love it, but I think appealing to Digitech is probably a lost cause. The Space Station is such a weirdo pedal that I'm sure, exactly as most likely happened when they were released, that they couldn't sell enough models to make any profit on the large production runs required by a company of their size.

I think they need to pull a Polaroid, aka make their technology available for smaller manufacturers to make smaller runs, suiting the demand of a very niche market.

popvulture wrote:I have one and absolutely love it, but I think appealing to Digitech is probably a lost cause. The Space Station is such a weirdo pedal that I'm sure, exactly as most likely happened when they were released, that they couldn't sell enough models to make any profit on the large production runs required by a company of their size.

I think they need to pull a Polaroid, aka make their technology available for smaller manufacturers to make smaller runs, suiting the demand of a very niche market.

I'm not so sure that's true. Hell, they reissued the Gonkulator, you can't tell me there's a large market for that. From that interview, Digitech is a much smaller operation than any of us thought. And the Meatbox reissue is limited to 3000 units, so that's not going to be a big volume item either.

Honestly, if they reissued it in a DROP style enclosure with an exp in, that would probably be fine (even at 180). The thing is that they already have the manufacturing for the whamy style enclosures and would just need to swap the software and paint probably. Even if they did it like EHX did a limited run of the 16-sec delay (and add a premium to the price...not try to keep it at GC prices...like 250 instead of 199), people would probably be happy. If people are willing to spend 200-300 on a pog, 240 on a ravish sitar, or 200 on a superego, why wouldn't they spend 250 on a space station?

bigchiefbc wrote: Digitech is a much smaller operation than any of us thought. And the Meatbox reissue is limited to 3000 units, so that's not going to be a big volume item either.

I'm sure you're right—I think I for some reason think of Digitech as being Boss-sized.

Even still though, could they even sell 3000 Space Stations? I wonder if a run of, say, 500 would be viable. Seems more reasonable in terms of demand, but maybe I'm underestimating that.

lordgalvar wrote:The thing is that they already have the manufacturing for the whamy style enclosures and would just need to swap the software and paint probably.

That could be cool—I'd like the rotary switch better than the up/down buttons on the SS, I think. Patches somehow listed on front would be nice, too.

popvulture wrote:

bigchiefbc wrote: Digitech is a much smaller operation than any of us thought. And the Meatbox reissue is limited to 3000 units, so that's not going to be a big volume item either.

I'm sure you're right—I think I for some reason think of Digitech as being Boss-sized.

Even still though, could they even sell 3000 Space Stations? I wonder if a run of, say, 500 would be viable. Seems more reasonable in terms of demand, but maybe I'm underestimating that.

I'm not sure honestly. But he said in that interview that the petition for the Bass Whammy had about 1000 signatures, and that was enough to convince him to reissue it.

I think there's a good chance of this happening! The petition is currently at 210 signatures. I think if I got the attention of some bigger Instagram accounts and other social media groups, this could reach Tom and get something in motion! I'm sure this guy takes his time to read all the comments on the petition as well. Hell, he updated the Meatbox mainly because Juan from Pedals And Effects had told him there was a pretty strong demand for a reissue. He started following me on IG and liked the photo I posted of the current number of signatures, so I think he is intrigued.

popvulture wrote:The Space Station is such a weirdo pedal...

Say no more, I'll sign.

I love you guys. Thank you. I would be stoked to do stuff like this in the future if the dream becomes reality.