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Or in this case, cloned. Full disclosure- this post is pure market research. I already build Harmonic Percolator and Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz clones, which are good because not many people build them and the parts count isn't huge. So if I get 100 enclosures painted I can at least guarantee I'll sell them all, even if it takes a little while. I also build op-amp and standard muffs, which I might sell one or two a month of, due to the number of people already making muffs of all flavours. This is what I want to avoid really. I could make Tonebenders, but everyone already makes these.

So, in essence, what vintage, hard to find, out of production effect that I wouldn't be sued for cloning (ie no Maestro) would you be interested in seeing?

Good question. I think the FX market is quite saturated at the moment though, but i guess that depends on how much you're into FX. There seems to be lots of clones, or 'based on' pedals out there. I've always loved the Superfuzz, but that's covered today.
Do you have any demo examples of the pedals you already make, out of curiousity?

Ampeg Scrambler would be cool, as would a Shin-Ei Fuzz wah.

I thought Ampeg reissued the Scrambler recently.

They reissued it a few years ago but they stopped I think. I haven't been able to find them new.

Shouldn't be too hard to find the reissue 2nd hand somewhere.

I remember seeing reissue scramblers quite recently. It's a good idea though, although I'm not sure how popular the effect is.

Wattson Classic Effects make a FY-6 clone, but it's over-engineered and quite expensive. That's a possibility.

kay fuzztone

some kind of super fuzz or other octave fuzz would be great. Just because the colour of my behringer super fuzz makes my pedal board look like shit

THEGREATJONZINI wrote:kay fuzztone

This is a simplified version of the FY-6 Superfuzz. Could be an actual possibility.

couldn't you build a superfuzz where you could control the tone with an external control (when connected)? that would be a nice option, at least it would add some fun to the thing

I'll give this some more thought, but a couple of things spring to mind: firstly, a big +1 from me for an Ampeg Scrambler. I know Ampeg reissued one a few years ago, but it was in limited numbers and pricy. Secondly (and this comes from talking to Fran at Progfest and listening to Hurb play a DOD 250 clone) if here are only two component differences between a Distortion+ and a DOD 250, how about building them in one box and making it switchable between the two models. I know there would be legal issues, since they're both extant companies, but I reckon you could swing it, especially since it's only a PCB covered by patent. Will think on, though.

benecol wrote:I'll give this some more thought, but a couple of things spring to mind: firstly, a big +1 from me for an Ampeg Scrambler. I know Ampeg reissued one a few years ago, but it was in limited numbers and pricy. Secondly (and this comes from talking to Fran at Progfest and listening to Hurb play a DOD 250 clone) if here are only two component differences between a Distortion+ and a DOD 250, how about building them in one box and making it switchable between the two models. I know there would be legal issues, since they're both extant companies, but I reckon you could swing it, especially since it's only a PCB covered by patent. Will think on, though.

I like this idea! it they were footswitchable it would be even better

Ah that's an interesting idea. However looking at the schematics I can't seem anything in there that's different that'd make much audible difference. I'll have to build one and see. It'd be a good selling-point to have two in one, but I don't think it'd be worth having it foot-switchable.

Nope, I don't think it's need to be foot-switchable either. Sp3k is tripping.

the Roland Space Echo. (in the same vintage unit/enclosure. not pedal form...)

the Digitech Space Space.

Either the real deal or a solid-state version. A standard, deep tremolo could get the same flavor if you built in some sort of speed variability. What makes the original sound so interesting is that the tempo and waveform varies subtly.

Out of curiosity i'd like to try a Roland Bee Baa, Ampeg Scrambler and Univox Superfuzz.
I agree the market is saturated too. After browsing Fuzz pedals on ebay for the last 7 years it has gotten out of control, it seems any chump can knock a Fuzz pedal together, list a few buzz word components and stick a blue LED in there. I know they are low cost and fairly simple from a build point of view but if i had the skills i'd look at other effects and make them 'affordable'.
The Digitech PDS 400 Delay and its variants is one of my favorites, the Digitech Space Station, Roland Space Echo, Mutron II, Boss PS-3....

benecol wrote:Nope, I don't think it's need to be foot-switchable either. Sp3k is tripping.

haha i always think everything should be foot switchable and controlled by your feet, i probably should just get a m9 or something like that

Fran wrote:.
The Digitech PDS 400 Delay and its variants is one of my favorites, the Digitech Space Station, Roland Space Echo, Mutron II, Boss PS-3....

I might be wrong, but i think those kind of effects are really hard for one guy to build. They probably use some microprocessors and stuff that need to be programed. But i would also love to see a space station or ps3 remake.