How do some pedals get so expensive?

[soundgardener75]

PedLULZ

[Yarbicus]

Some components are genuinely expensive, but even still; the profit margins on high dollar pedals have to be obscene.

I can understand paying for build quality to a point, but some of the most indestructible pedals on the planet are $50 boss ones.

It is when you're only comparing the cost of the components to what you can purchase the components for.

add in labor costs, R&D, sourcing out rare and hard to find components, utility costs, etc and the prices start to make sense. I know Analogman travels all over the world to obtain small quantities of rare parts to build exact copies of the original pedals from the 60's/70's. Not only does he buy all quantities he can of certain transistors, but then he has to weed through the components that aren't within spec tolerances. So a lot end of getting set aside because they aren't within tolerance.

Can someone build a Fuzz Face clone off Small Bear that sounds good for $30 or less? Hell yeah.

Do they use original NOS NKT275's from the original Fuzz Face runs in the late 60's? No. Are those transistors graded to match REALLY good examples of the original fuzz faces? again, no.

Can you as the consumer tell the difference all of these crazy efforts make? that's up for you to decide.

Your posts are so much more fun when I imagine your avatar yelling them at me.

[100 watt]

buncha damn pedalphiles

[edge11]

When people become willing to pay that much for them, that is when they get that expensive

[Dickarms]

even as a convicted pedalphile myself, i have to admit that the shit only really matters on recordings anyway. and the studio should have already bought the stupid expensive gear for you to use.

[Axe]

R&D

lulz. If by R&D you mean slightly modifying a Bluesbreaker circuit, calling it the King of Tone, charging $200 and making people wait almost a year for it.

[Dave]

R&D

lulz. If by R&D you mean slightly modifying a Bluesbreaker circuit, calling it the King of Tone, charging $200 and making people wait almost a year for it.

Dual overdrive made to high standards for $230. Not too shabby. The people flipping for profit are the ones that created the huge backlog and price gouging.




Anyway, he can command the prices he does and builds a solid product. The Prince of Tone is only $130 which is half a KOT. Hell, either one is less than a comparable pedal from other boutique makers.

[Rampage]

1. Eccentric, reclusive pedal builder clones a standard pedal and makes some minor adjustments.
2. Builder does not make a website, makes the ordering process a gauntlet and has a wait list of at least 3 months.
3. Lawyer gets a hold of said pedal and posts a Youtube video of himself using it with his Sadowsky and Bludotone to play Politician.
4. ????
5. Profit!

[Elessar [Sly]]

When people become willing to pay that much for them, that is when they get that expensive

Pretty much this.

[JerkN'Chips]

There will always be doctors and lawyers.

[GAS KING]

That guy that did the Klon is smart.......No clue how it came about, or how the hype train took off, but even after the KTR (mini components inside, and already out of production)........that train still a rolling.

[KCTigerChief]

I'm siding with Ricky Bobby in here...god dammit, Chuck Nutz, whatthefuckever...

Anyway...NKT trannies can cost upwards of 15 bucks for a single transistor...Using 3 or more and it adds up quick...

Plus, you have to source those parts, and I can tell you that there is ZERO fun in doing that...and then the build time etc...

Do I think 600 bucks for a pedal is ridiculous? You bet your hairy ass I do.

300 bucks is pushing it for a regular old stomp box pedal for me...Even then it's hard to justify, but depending what it is, and if I know there are legitimately hard to find parts and shit in there, then it makes more sense to me.

[ovid9]

When people become willing to pay that much for them, that is when they get that expensive

This has already been quoted once, but I'll quote it again.

Its the only reason if nobody was paying it, they'd be less.

While I have no issues paying $100-150 for a pedal, there's a bunch of awesome pedals to be had for cheaper as well. Much over $150 and it'd better being doing something pretty unique OR it's just something I really really really want.

I can't afford pedals that cost more than any single one of my amps though.

[guitup too]

Milk sandwiches?

"You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."

Nice, , see my handle.

I think it's mostly hype, followed by supply. Limited supply + hype, increases demand. It's called Unobtanium. Tell someone they can't have something great, and they want it even more.

Same thing with bread and milk at the supermarket when it snows. When asked, folks can't even tell you why they need so much bread and milk if it snows, but sure as shit, the shelves are empty at the supermarket.

[Pedaltones]

There are some Skreddy pedals on eBay for like $699?

Same with DAM effects and the Klon?

How does this ever happen?

TGP?

[Dave]

It's worth noting most if not all the pedals discussed here are marked up to crazy prices on the used market. Most pedals are way less brand new.


Old fulltone '69 big box fuzzes were like $180 new. Then tgp started jerking off to them.

That said I have $550 set aside for when my Solasound Tonebender MkII is ready. No fucks given. I want that pedal.

[MacaroniSalad]

for $300 I can get another Laney AOR.

Much more fun than a pedal

[Jp77]

Of course there's some nos transistors that are now expensive, but that goes hand in hand with the outrageous prices of some pedals. If you see a pedal maker boldly claiming an old transistor type in his build and getting $400 for it and you sell the transistors it gives you leverage and justification to raise your price. Not to mention some builders equate rarity with tone which often isn't the case but they have to justify that price tag. So in other words, the boutique pedal craze is what helped lead to the $15 transistor. We have been programmed into thinking that $300 for a pedal is a fair price when you can pick up a used fender tube head for not much more.

[Dave]

I already have plenty of amps including old fenders.

[Jp77]

I already have plenty of amps including old fenders.

I know, it's just funny if you think about from an outside view. You can pick up a USA hand wired amp for less then a Ss box with a few components that can make your guitar buzz slightly different.

[Dave]

I already have plenty of amps including old fenders.

I know, it's just funny if you think about from an outside view. You can pick up a USA hand wired amp for less then a Ss box with a few components that can make your guitar buzz slightly different.

Especially when you play the little buzzy boxes in to old fenders.

[neilrocks25]

I guess when you get into building pedals it makes more sense, some one has to design it in the first place and some parts are not so cheap if you use quality components.

Plus it's a capitalist world, if people want to pay it let them pay it.

[BroSlinger]

FWIW, thoes $700 Skreddys never sell. They just sit there on ebay, FOREVER.

That said, my Skreddy Echo was totally worth the $250 I paid.

Some Skreddys are criminally undervalued right now.

Non-deluxe Screwdrivers, non-deluxe Lunar Modules, and Supa Tones are going for <$150.

Ernies, Zeros, Cog Dis Mk3, etc are going for <$200.

[KCTigerChief]

It's worth noting most if not all the pedals discussed here are marked up to crazy prices on the used market. Most pedals are way less brand new.


Old fulltone '69 big box fuzzes were like $180 new. Then tgp started jerking off to them.

That said I have $550 set aside for when my Solasound Tonebender MkII is ready. No fucks given. I want that pedal.

BRO...build one! Unless you just want the authenticity of having a solasound

[Dave]

It's worth noting most if not all the pedals discussed here are marked up to crazy prices on the used market. Most pedals are way less brand new.


Old fulltone '69 big box fuzzes were like $180 new. Then tgp started jerking off to them.

That said I have $550 set aside for when my Solasound Tonebender MkII is ready. No fucks given. I want that pedal.

BRO...build one! Unless you just want the authenticity of having a solasound

I do

I'm going to pick up a cheaper clone to actually use. However I will own that Solasound. Been on the list for months now.