kits and cases question

multi_s · Post by **multi_s** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:02 pm

I hope this is not too spammy but Im trying to do a bit of 'market research'...

If you were going to buy a kit for a pedal, do you prefer it to come with a case or without?

lets assume the no case option is cheaper to buy/ship, and that the kit fits easily into cases that are readily available from other sources.

Also what about generic hardware such as jacks and stomp switch?

any feedback appreciated

Gone Fission · Post by **Gone Fission** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:03 pm

Shipping is the constraining factor on DIY ordering for the unafraid. I'll place orders at Tayda, Mammoth, Small Bear, Mouser, et al. But I normally agonize about setting up big enough orders to keep shipping relatively cheap. For a one-off project, though, my sense of math is that I'd pay the shipping for kit with case and parts and even a higher price then I could get the parts from a domestic fast-ship company if it's a bit less than the cost for the bare-bones kit plus shipping from the kit vendor and the parts and shipping from the parts vendor. Yes, there is some justifiable mark-up in a full kit on that basis. Downside is more inventory for you to carry.

If you're selling a kit for beginning builders, I'd be afraid the separate parts order would be intimidating enough to discourage the sale.

mysteriousj · Post by **mysteriousj** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:06 pm

I prefer without a case, mainly because of the extra cost for international shipping.

Parts wise, I think most people when they get into diy usually stash up on generic parts themselves as it's usually the cheapest option but including oddball parts can be really helpful.

LaoWiz · Post by **LaoWiz** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:14 pm

What you puttin out?!?

Personally, I would go with a kit. Even when I started I preferred to breadboard something, perf it, and design the artwork for the enclosure myself. I always looked at pedal "making" as more of an art form. But I am sure there's a bunch of people that would want to build part of a pedal rather than going from scratch.

I think you should offer both. I never liked those Byoc kits cause they seemed really pricy for a predrilled box with no graphics. Your boxes look unique. I think that with a kit with an enclosure that is one of a kind and cool looking would be the way to go. That and a board/parts only kit.

For hardware, etc. a PDF with with a list of parts (jacks, pots, switches) for somewhere like small bear/mouser would
be better. I guess if I were a complete beginner having all the parts in a kit would be better but I think people that would buy a kit from you would have the brains to figure out where to source parts.

Seems like offering all the hardware would be a great expense on your part and easier for the buyer to outsource. I may be wrong but I would think that the kinds of people that would buy one of your sound manglers would be an advanced Diyer....

greyscales · Post by **greyscales** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:30 pm

I think if you are putting together a kit you should include a pre-drilled enclosure. The regular DIY pedal makers are going to probably just want a PCB without the parts unless it has rare parts. Maybe consider both of those options?

multi_s · Post by **multi_s** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:07 pm

mysteriousj wrote:I prefer without a case, mainly because of the extra cost for international shipping.

Parts wise, I think most people when they get into diy usually stash up on generic parts themselves as it's usually the cheapest option but including oddball parts can be really helpful.

This response sums up where at right now now so im glad that some other people think the same. Particularly because I am in Canada so it would likely be international shipping to me then to the customer for cases.

For hardware, It doesn't need anything special, but still it might be nice to get that switch and jacks with it? Basically a kit that comes with everythign but the case? Some of the electronics parts are definitely not available through the usual suspects (mammoth and the other ones mr GF mentioned) so i am partial to including all the components because well, you will need the special semis and 35 passives costs a dollar or less and i don't plan on trying to profit of that aspect.

LaoWiz wrote:What you puttin out?!?

Maybe you remember a thread a while ago maybe where i was making some bit crusher on 1 really low series PIC. Well that was all cool at shitty at the same time. I decided instead to make a little 8 bit 'dsp' system out of basic through hole parts. So i incorporated some memory as well and you have a system with a lot more potential and is just 3 small dips and about 35 passives. The plan is to make many programs and you can just swap out the processor to get a whole new pedal sort of thing. At a decent sampling rate (22kHz) there's enough for about 1.6 seconds of delay so its no even that shitty and certainly does not have to be some sonic wrecking ball (although, you know. ya. )

The smallest 'standard' case you can get the PCB into at the moment is the Hammond 125A.

LaoWiz wrote: I never liked those Byoc kits cause they seemed really pricy for a predrilled box with no graphics. Your boxes look unique. I think that with a kit with an enclosure that is one of a kind and cool looking would be the way to go. That and a board/parts only kit.

I was not going to use the big square guy for the kit anyways but ya i guess i will probably leave the case out of it EXCEPT that Jwar is going to etch me a few cases then i will stuff them myself and sell them as a kickstarter for the project or just keep them all for myself who knows.

ilf dreamteam.

thanks for your thought though everone.

Gone Fission · Post by **Gone Fission** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:01 am

If you do it without case, I'd include suggested drilling templates and how-to's for some common cases to help out newbs (or experienced kit builders who have never had to drill a box for themselves).

skullservant · Post by **skullservant** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:05 am

whatever it ends up being is going to be awesome.

As a frequent DIY'er, I'd probably just want a kit sans case, it opens up some more options for the builder and saves the vendor that extra shipping cost

multi_s · Post by **multi_s** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:58 am

Gone Fission wrote:If you do it without case, I'd include suggested drilling templates and how-to's for some common cases to help out newbs (or experienced kit builders who have never had to drill a box for themselves).

Ya thats a great idea. Maybe even make templates for a few different cases.

skullservant wrote:whatever it ends up being is going to be awesome.

thanks, we will see how it goes. I think it will be pretty neat actually. The pcb is more or less done so i will send it to fab by the end of the week. If everything is good when I get that then I should have something packaged and available by mid august.

skullservant · Post by **skullservant** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:00 pm

Nice! Looking forward to it man

Hacken · Post by **Hacken** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:26 pm

I would want to have a pre drilled enclosure with a pedal kit. Drilling is so much hassle if you dont have a drill-press. Also the box should have enough room to fit everything without problems, like a BB size for all pedals with more then two knobs.

Officer Bukowski · Post by **Officer Bukowski** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:17 pm

I'd prefer to choose and drill my own case personally. It would be cool if the hardware is included though since that's all pretty standard.

It took me a while to start drilling my own boxes and stuff though so I think you might attract more beginners if you have the option for an included drilled box.

I'm really excited for this to come out. I've always wanted a bit crusher

multi_s · Post by **multi_s** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:41 pm

ya i think to start i will go sans case.

Not to sound lazy but i would prefer to only sell 1 version of the kit. It is just easier for me to preorder parts knowing that each kit will move with all the parts instead of, oh some people might want this, and some might not want that and so how much of waht should i stock etc. if it works out and im moving a substantial numberof kits maybe that isnt such a big deal but to start...

I am hopefully acquiring a small cnc machine by teh end of august so maybe if I do offer cases i can do sort of liek what MFOS does, and if you want acase, you get the delux sexy mega case and thats it. sort of makes having to pay the extra more 'worth it' because yoe are getting a case that most likely you do not have the means to fab, even if you are an experienced diy'er.

i dunno we willsee. one step at a time for now. thanks again for all the feedback people.

Jwar · Post by **Jwar** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:54 pm

I prefer it without the case, but it all depends. My Robot Devil came with the case, and I was really happy with that one. I guess I'm not picky? Price is a bigger factor than what's in the kit sometimes. Of course if it were up to me, I'd ask for just the pcb and parts list. lol

multi_s · Post by **multi_s** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:33 pm

Ya for this particular kit i dontthink i will do jsut PCB becase it needs ic's you cannot get at tayda or mammoth and one of teh ICs needs to be programmed with firmware which i dont think i will be putting into the public domain. If this was not the case i woudl def do a straight board option as well because that is how i would prefer it too i think if i was shopping for a kit.

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