::: Pedal aesthetic concerns..

[synthezatory]

Old cars, they look awesome.. now everything is compact and rounded and boring. Just like pedals, almost nothing really stand out anymore design wise. Am I the only one who think that most of the pedals in a current productions are mostly utility tools only? Almost none of them has that great aesthetic/collectible value anymore and they just play around with pretty knobs & graphics instead, which is kinda sad. I totally acknowledged that it'd cost boner high these days to keep up with the designs, but damn..

Funny but true that in some cases, we often pretentiously tolerate/ignore the fact the pedals being noisy or even problematic IF ONLY they have that mojo/look/vintage/expensive/snob approved by simply say "it's the beauty of it". With current productions, It's so easy to be parted with pedals these days since they just simply just a tool. Sell few out and try out new ones, easy.. they don't have a sentimental values anymore to me. And I just keep some of essential ones cos of their sound, that's it. That being said, I bought another DMM not too long ago after I sold my old one years back.. instantly being the one that I have to keep til I die. Weird. I mean, it's nothing rare or anything.. It's just a simple big box ehx. Aside from its beautiful sound, it was an instant (re)bond. Never happened with new ones.. well, except for ones that sounded great = utility tool.

Share with us, which modern pedals from current productions have "that" uniqueness in design? Not just same box with pretty prints. Name them & paste the image here..

[Uncle Grandfather]

I really like the MWFX aesthetic, and Dutch Kazoo. Here's the Judder

[kbit]

Graphics and knobs are a cool way to do a lot of different shit thats all really cool in a short period of time. Prime examples: smallsound / bigsound, Fuzz Hugger, Dr Scientist

But I do like Komas faux-moog-style enclosures. They look a little futuristic.

[Bellyheart]

Pay the extra for nice enclosures if you wanna. Plenty of people rehouse.

[synthezatory]

Pay the extra for nice enclosures if you wanna. Plenty of people rehouse.

I know few peeps doing badass work on this. I just genuinely wondered how many companies making great looking pedals these days cos to be honest, imo they're all mostly sounded similar anyway, especially in loud band situation.

[synthezatory]

I really like the MWFX aesthetic, and Dutch Kazoo. Here's the Judder

Good stuffs, UG!

[Iommic Pope]

You need to check out the enclosure Skully put the Dirge Multiplex I just sold in.
Pics are in his Dirge customs thread.
I wish more enclosures looked like that.
An old mu-tron shit.

So tasty.

[CyaNitrate]

You are speaking my language brother. Sounding good isn't enough..I'm an aestheticist.. it needs to look amazing too. And real magic happens when the look matches the sound, like my Screeching Owl Hydra. The Schumann PLL probably does more, but doesn't look nearly as good. And i second Tom's work..all the Fuzzhugger pedals are gorgeous. And currently I'm building a Devi Ever dual fuzz and ordered an oversized enclosure just for the sake of the graphic.

[Hyphen Nation]

Lao Wiz's artistry, Pigdog, Fairfield, Ghost, Pigeon, Midnight Amplification, ss/BS, Faustone, Moog, I could go on and on…any of the smaller builders tend to have a cool singular vision/sensibilities.

[synthezatory]

Lao Wiz's artistry, Pigdog, Fairfield, Ghost, Pigeon, Midnight Amplification, ss/BS, Faustone, Moog, I could go on and on…any of the smaller builders tend to have a cool singular vision/sensibilities.

Agreed. I'm a huge fan of LaoWiz's works, he makes the best looking arts in a regular enclosures. His etching job is so unreal. While my boner is super huge for him and some other great artists, I'm really digging deep gathering infos for companies with unusual/readily available production models, not custom job/mods.

PS: SS/BS Mini is one of my best/fave pedals ever. Great dirt tool

[tjlong]

Cool topic.

Foxrox. They look abit like the old Mutron pedals. The folded metal, that subtle slant, practical graphics, and how that little "ledge" lines up when you put them side by side.

[antennafarm]

as far as "big" companies, i've always kind of liked EHX's cheesy take on pedals. also strymon is classy lookin' but i'm not sure how i'll feel about them in a year.

small time guys are where it's at, and where you see a lot more creativity. digging recovery fx (silver, black, dogtag!), dirge (man, i have a delay from him.. i want more, love the artwork). fuzzhugger, definitely. i think my favorite overall is probably devi ever because each pedal has a million different variations on artwork and they're all different....but as a whole very cohesive, kind of reminds me of punk rock zines from yesteryear.

[cloudscapes]

always been a huge fan of 4ms' stuff, to me unique and very identifyable. they're chaotic!

if it was just the art, then they *might* not be instantly regognizable for what they are, but there's also the knob placement too. chaotic symmetry is how I'd describe it?

[The Mad Titan]

I totally get where you're coming from. A board full of nothing but perfectly shaped TC style or MXR style enclosures would be boring as hell to look at.

BUT, when it comes time to purchase pedals I don't care how ugly, plain, cute, elegant, or gorgeous the thing is. There are only two factors that decide my purchase; does it make a sound I have to have, and are there enough funds in the bank to buy it.

Actually, maybe a 3rd factor. Size. And I think in the end that's why so many makers homogenized when it comes to size. Most of them know and actually care that this will not be the only pedal you use, and that these days they will most likely be board mounted. As much as I like unique looking pedals, a whole board of them is difficult to plan, layout, wire up, and use.

In fact it straight up pisses me off when a pedal builder doesn't take into account that very important factor. Like Dunlop with the new Octavio. The bottom plate is counter sunk, so if you want to velcro the bottom, the velcro doesn't make full contact, and that's a big heavy pedal. When I got it and saw that I was kind of pissed off. I may make a velcro sandwich, but I worry it won't be strong enough. It worked on my wah, but there was more space, and I did three doubled up strips spread from the top to the bottom of the pedal. With the Octavio there's only gonna be room for a single strip.

My shit ranges from bigger than WAY-HUGE to tiny, with all different shapes, and profiles, so it's nice to have some generic shaped boxes in there to make the layout more appealing/practical.



Since that pic I've added a Twinbender fuzz (small-generic) and now the Dunlop Octavio (huge-unique), so I'm getting ready to order some new George L's ends/cable, and rewire/clean up my board to fit the new goodies on.

I'm gonna get rid of all the traditional cables I made except the leads to the board, and from the board to the amp's front end for the lower profile George L's. I've already been using George L's for over a year and a half now with no problems what so ever, so it's time to go full shaft so to speak.

That ought to clear up the room I need, because that freakin' Octavio is huge. Almost as big as my Systech, Chopper, and Crybaby. Also, the RJM Amp Gizmo is going to probably get moved to a separate homemade board with my Monster Power and power strip kept behind my amps

[Jero]

Sonic Crayon, where you at