Heavy Electronics

CliftonBonney · #1 08-14-2010, 10:20 PM

I'm interested in their Red Eyes pedal. Anyone tried it or any of their pedals?

http://www.heavyelectronics.com/prods.html

jrmy · #2 08-15-2010, 09:33 AM

I've tried some of their stuff, but it was a while ago, and using someone else's rig, so I wasn't able to get a really good feel for it. There's a shop around the corner from me that carries their stuff, or did. I should go back and give it all another try. I did post about about my experiences on I Love Fuzz, and the owner/builder chimed in to clear some stuff up - he was really prompt and responsive (and also mentioned that he will do a one-time "voicing" per pedal to make it brighter or darker depending on the owner's needs):

http://www.ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.p...tronics#p38720

CliftonBonney · #3 08-15-2010, 01:13 PM

Thanks for the info and link.

All of his pedals say they are voiced for guitar, bass, or any instrument. I wonder if this is new since you tried them out or if he means you need to adjust the trim pots to get them to work with the particular instrument.

I think the Red Eyes is fairly new. I'm considering getting it, but I'm also thinking about the Nick Greer Ghetto Stomp. I'll post clips in either case.

Mad Maestro · #4 08-16-2010, 10:41 PM

I bought a brand new Radio Havana earlier this year but returned it because of various problems. That static lo-fi sound could only be heard with the Gain pass 12 and the middle Disorder knob at 3, but in this configuration, there was a major volume drop. A lot of unwanted hiss was also present when the Disorder knob was positioned from all the way counter clockwise to 12.

The pedal came with a battery, which was accessible by removing four screws and a sticker placed on the bottom, showed the builder initals and pedal birthdate. All the Heavy Elect. effects can be re-voiced for bass and I'm planning on buying another RH with this option in the furture.

CliftonBonney · #5 08-17-2010, 01:48 AM

Thanks for the info. Your experience with the Havana doesn't give me a lot of confidence in the pedals. But, you are willing to get another one. Hmmm...

Did you use the Havana with bass or guitar? Jrmy used it with bass and didn't seem to like it too much. He thought it would sound better on guitar and the builder confirmed this.

I'm still on the fence. I've sent a couple of e-mails to the builder. But, haven't heard anything yet. He must be gone or busy because the word on the street is that he is very good about getting back to you.

Mad Maestro · #6 08-17-2010, 10:03 PM

I tried the RH on a variety of different basses (w/ various pickup combinations) but the results were the same and after reading the comments from other users, I think mine had a defect. I'm leery of the quality of Heavy Elect. products after this experience but maybe the bass mod, which allows more signal into the pedal creating further distortion, is a requirement for bass players instead of the regular voiced effect. If this option can create those static sounds the only thing left to address is the massive volume drop.

CliftonBonney · #7 08-17-2010, 10:11 PM

That's a bummer about the potential poor quality of the build. I was getting pretty excited to spring for the Red Eyes. The website is nice, the builder seemed cool. I just wanted to ask him some questions. But, he still hasn't responded to any of my e-mails. I think I'll take your experience and the lack of communication as a warning sign and look elsewhere.

heavier · #8 08-24-2010, 12:22 PM

Clifton,

I apologize, I was in the Boundary Waters on a much needed vision quest when you attempted to contact me. I should have set up an email auto-respond.

To clear up the general issue here:

Pedals use Input and Output caps to block DC voltage from the signal. These capacitors determine, to large extent, the overall frequency response. We try to leave these voicings as open as possible so that the pedals will be versatile. This is opposed to manufacturers that use very tight voicings to guarantee consistency and to force players to buy "bass" pedals. This is to say, you can grab any HE pedal and rock your bass with it. It is not to say that if you let us know that a pedal is going to be used specifically with bass, that it cannot be made better for that application. We DO offer free re-voicings for just such a circumstance or obviously, we can be contacted in advance to make a specific pedal for you.

Our build quality speaks for itself. We offer a lifetime warranty. Mad Maestro could have simply sent in his errant pedal for a repair or replacement. If our build quality was in peril we would be broke from warrantee claims. I put our build-quality against anyone. Don't take my word for it. Try to find someone other than mad maestro who has had any problems whatsoever. We now move hundreds of pedals every year. I see about 6 a year on warranty. Often times while in for repair, we make mods with the customer, and the pedal works better for its application than it did before.

Hope this answers questions. Our pedals might not be perfect for everyone, but our service is unparalleled (at least when we're in town)

CliftonBonney · #9 08-24-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavier

Clifton,

I apologize, I was in the Boundary Waters on a much needed vision quest when you attempted to contact me. I should have set up an email auto-respond.

To clear up the general issue here:

Pedals use Input and Output caps to block DC voltage from the signal. These capacitors determine, to large extent, the overall frequency response. We try to leave these voicings as open as possible so that the pedals will be versatile. This is opposed to manufacturers that use very tight voicings to guarantee consistency and to force players to buy "bass" pedals. This is to say, you can grab any HE pedal and rock your bass with it. It is not to say that if you let us know that a pedal is going to be used specifically with bass, that it cannot be made better for that application. We DO offer free re-voicings for just such a circumstance or obviously, we can be contacted in advance to make a specific pedal for you.

Our build quality speaks for itself. We offer a lifetime warranty. Mad Maestro could have simply sent in his errant pedal for a repair or replacement. If our build quality was in peril we would be broke from warrantee claims. I put our build-quality against anyone. Don't take my word for it. Try to find someone other than mad maestro who has had any problems whatsoever. We now move hundreds of pedals every year. I see about 6 a year on warranty. Often times while in for repair, we make mods with the customer, and the pedal works better for its application than it did before.

Hope this answers questions. Our pedals might not be perfect for everyone, but our service is unparalleled (at least when we're in town)

Thanks for the response. Sorry for my lack of patience. I'm still interested in the Red Eyes and would like to get the mod done for bass. That's what I'd be using it for.

You don't sell direct, right? I should just buy one and send it to you? Thanks again.

Mad Maestro · #10 08-24-2010, 11:03 PM

Heavier, thanks for the clarifcation. My pedal was just a bad apple from the bushel and the next one I buy from you should sound delicious.

heavier · #11 08-25-2010, 09:17 AM

Clifton,

We are big advocates for local independent guitar shops. Not sure your location, but we likely have a dealer very near to you. We can pre-build your pedal for bass (same cost $149.00) and do the deal through a dealer. We can even ship the pedal directly to you, but we must do the financials through a dealer.

Hope to get you back in the fam' mad maestro.

Happy to answer questions.

info@heavyelectronics.com