ATTACK OF THE CLONES

AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S OUT THERE

Hello Children!!!

Ok....lets get to the point
there are hundreds of pedals out there
....the old boys like MXR and Dunlop, Electro Harmonix and Boss etc.
...a few more middle aged types like Digitech and TC Electronic
....then of course we have the 'Gourmet' crowd that are spreading like a virus.
....the plastic cheapies like Danelectro and Behringer
....last but not least....the chinese clone boys
 THE WINNER IS?
So the point is to get a great pedal for a cheap price.
The best deals are usually the Chinese jobbies. Clones or not!

AND THE WINNER IS ???

Lets get the clone argument over...ARE THESE GUYS THIEVES ???
                                     
Well first...they would be out of business if 90% of the much revered classics still had a patent.
The law does not see them as thieves in any country.
The truth is unless the copy is a blatant rip off of something new...forget it. The Klon is not new
it starts with the idea of a better Tube Screamer.
Keeleys precious 4 knob 'Gourmet' compressor is a state of the art souped up Ross compressor which is a revamped Dyna Comp.
In context...many of the clones are very,very close in sounding like the originals BUT...put them side by side with a very careful listen and ...NOPE!
Ibanez just released a micro Tube Screamer they say sounds like the ts808...IT DOESN'T
If you make something just a tiny bit different then the original....you can hear it!
When the first 'Fuzz Face' was manufactured they put in whatever transistors or other parts were on sale...sometimes a pedal made on Friday sounded totally different then the one on Monday.
so which one is the original?

....ok I could go on further but its pointless.

Chinese workers are as competent as workers in every country...in fact they have the edge on skilled workers because for every skilled worker in the West...they have a few thousand to choose from.
It all gets down to the quality of the parts and materials.

What about the the quality ???

Lets start with the chinese musicians...they are no different than the Western musicians.

Well almost..... There were 2 guitarists in the room...one was an American and one was Chinese.
What was the difference???   ............. Their Strats were different colours. LOL

Chinese musicians still buy most of the output from the chinese pedal manufacturers. They are knowledgeable about what's good and what's cool as anyone,

                                                                                    

In short they know what's good...and the manufacturers supply it.

Take apart a chinese pedal.  First it's case is strong and well made and....my oh my...what do I see
here....Japanese and German parts...just like the Gourmet guys.  LOL

I have 2 chinese pedals that are totally original designs...both are total mindblowers!

New boss pedals are no longer made in Japan.....neither are TC electronic made in Denmark

some of the new Russian pedals are both original and
mindblowers.

OK...OK... am I saying all their stuff is great.
NO! But the time has come to be indifferent to the country that makes or designs a pedal.

We would all be screwed if we could only try a pedal blindfolded. We could find that are choices are all over the map. The market people have turned us into slaves.We all read too much
and listen too little.
There is always a box that is noticably better
and usually expensive.If I think it 'blows away them all' I will recommend it.

The most read site on this Blog are the Overdrives...I do not care if the very best ones
cost need a bank robbed to pay for them..
You will read about them here.

Some units like the 'Auto Wah' (envelope filter follower) have a smaller market ...and cost more to make. The only one made in China is Mooer's
and it is a total piece of crap!!! I bought one and I thought was malfunctioning. Iit sounded like the worlds worse chorus pedal. It is supposed to make a defined wah sound.That's why it is called an Auto Wah.

Now...it's your turn. Let me know what you think...and give me a heads up on what stuff you have found

.

TODAY'S DIGRESSION

 A final note... nothing to do with pedals. I have had a chance to check out some Korean made guitars.

Whoa!!!!! Korea is fast becoming the 'New Japan'....I tried one and no they are not Les Paul clones.....and there was not a Strat to be seen.
This one is sold by Eastwood Guitars....who acquired the Airline name and make replica guitars....with updates on anything that would not cut it with a modern musician
like adjustable truss rods and better fitting in the neck joints etc.


THE BLINDFOLD TEST

simple...I put the same bridge PU in the Airline as the Les Paul. I then had a friend play both thru the same amp with the same settings. I could not hear any noticeable difference, I then played both myself.
The Les Paul had a bit more 'snarl' to it ...but the Airline was fatter and the notes had more definition when playing a chord. All these were subtle differences. The only noticeable difference was that the Airline had more sustain.                                                                                  

                                                                                                                Airline H44  DLX 1954 repro

The blindfold test?   Results...Equal..  the sustain was noticeably better in the Airline but the Les Paul had a tad more punch.

 As for fit and finish...better then my Les Paul...and not quite equal to my Custom Shop Strat....       
With a rosewood finger board...fitted maple neck...ash body.
With.the same Duncan pickup in it as my Les Paul
they are equal.  
.  Price $499.00 US.  
LOOK OUT WORLD!!!



The first Fuzz pedal commercially available
             and ....MY FIRST PEDAL

a Gibson Maestro Fuzz Tone
     - introduced in 1962 -




OK... Next topic will be...a Pro pedal for less then $20.00