Bass Whammy Petition!

[JAUQO III-X]

The Tone Hammer is not the AGRO in a pedal.


Right, and as I've said before, you have to look at the scale of the business. Aguilar is a comparatively small company, and they have refused to put the AGRO in pedal form because they are afraid of the added costs of R&D and tooling, they don't believe it would be profitable for them. And they're a bass-specific smaller (more nimble) company. Digitech OTOH is a very large guitar-specific company, and their business model is based on mass-manufacturing thousands of units. If they don't think they can sell literally thousands of units, they won't invest in it. They have made bass pedals in the past, and they sold poorly. So now they're looking at a few hundred bassists on the internet who may or may not even be willing/able to back up their petition number with a few hundred dollars of actual cash; and they're looking at how unprofitable it's been for them in the past, tooling up for a new design and manufacturing several thousand units, to have only a few hundred go through the register.

There are nearly 700 signatures here. I'm going to speculate that a minimum production run for Digitech is no less than 2,000 units, planned for sales over no more than three years. If all 700 voters actually buy a New Bass Whammy at full price, Digitech will lose money on the 1,300 units that didn't sell. And come on, we already know that not everyone who put their name on this web petition actually intends (or is able) to shell out $299 or whatever even if Digitech turns around and announces a reissue.

I seriously believe the smart posts in this thread have been people offering alternate suggestions such as taking the consumer interest to companies that have already shown willingness to invest in bass effects, such as EHX. Heck, their recent run of not-very-inspiring pedals like the Blogger and the Steel Leather are doomed to commercial failure; so if we want them to not give up on the commercial viability bass effects, we need to tell them what we actually want.

Talking to Digitech about it is like asking Renault to reissue the AMC Gremlin. I bet there are 700 Gremlin fans who would sign an online petition, too.

bongomania you are so full of your self

 

[cameric]

A big +1.

I'm a big fan of EHX, a company who have shown a fab spirit of adventure and a resurgence of interest in bass-specific kit. I agree that the Blogger and some of their other such offerings won't fly, but I bet dollars to donuts that the Bass Big Muff will more than offset that loss. In fact, I reckon it'll be a big success, if the previews are any indication.

I bet that they'd be very keen on doing a whammy-esque bass synth with an expression pedal input (I'm not sure we'll be seeing a purpose-built pedal integrated any time soon). A great thing to consolidate a growing audience. These are the folks to lobby...

EDIT - that's a big +1 on Bongo's analysis & points about EHX - not him being full of himself

 

[MultiScaleMale]

bongomania you are so full of your self

I didn't say you were full of yourself, I said you come across as being full of yourself. Big distinction.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

No not at all. Just send the petition to Digitech.

Well, I officially asked and I do agree with you that the answer will probably be "no". Gotta try.

 

[bongomania]

Bongo is coming from the right place, but I'd say that he's still under cooking his figures.

Granted my numbers are speculation; what numbers would you speculate?

 

[Toasted]

I'm not really sure

 

[Guest043]

710.

 

[SpankyPants]

The Tone Hammer is not the AGRO in a pedal.

It's pretty much the equivalent, Bongo. They're more similar than they are different. No they are not exactly the same, but the point is that they buckled. And put the saturation circuit into a floor unit (which granted has less flexibility for the distortion, more for the clean signal, and a DI).

Right, and as I've said before, you have to look at the scale of the business.

I almost said something about this, but I didn't. I realize that Aguilar is a much smaller company. I'll probably be stopping by their factory in August. However, I've seen Digitech make small production batches of effects that just flopped in the end - some of which have found a cult following, some have not. I also think that it's wrong to assume that we are the only people who would prospectively buy the unit. Go to a Guitar Center and watch how some kids choose their pedals, man. Sometimes it takes a cool design to peak interest, a recommendation from a friend, the cult status, etc. I think that if they made a small run, they'd most likely sell the entire thing. Whether or not it flopped after that, I don't know. It depends on how well they make it and how high the standards have been set.

I'm not interested in buying a Bass Whammy, and I haven't signed the petition either. I might as well, though, just for the principle. I think that Digitech could more than afford it.

I do agree though, that seeking help through alternate companies is the best way to go, EHX being a mega candidate. I've always preferred EHX to Digitech, and they have the technology to pull it off. Digitech does seem to be overhauling its image, though. Think of the new genre of pedals named "extreme performance pedals," (man I can't stand when that guy talks).

Do I think that it's worth it to put in this petition to Digitech? I don't know, man. I don't really care. I wouldn't buy one anyway.

Point is that NOTHING is set in stone, whether Jauqo, Toasted, Tecx, Ste, or anyone else that generally regards their info as fact says so. I generally know not to question these guys when it comes to effects, but I also bear in mind that effects are greatly the product of opinion. But they generally tend to be very confident in whatever their saying. Usually they're right, but nothing is set in stone.

So why not? Why not sign the petition? If it goes somewhere, alright. Good for those of you who will buy a bass whammy. Otherwise, we can seek help elsewhere. No harm no foul; at least someone tried something.

 

[Toasted]

That's some good perspective, Spankypants.

 

[bongomania]

It's pretty much the equivalent, Bongo. They're more similar than they are different. No they are not exactly the same, but the point is that they buckled. And put the saturation circuit into a floor unit (which granted has less flexibility for the distortion, more for the clean signal, and a DI).

I may have missed something, and I have not tried a Tone Hammer in person yet, but the advance reviews all say the "dirt range" of the Tone Hammer is mostly in the light-overdrive category, while the AGRO goes from distorted to hella crazy distorted. Aguilar themselves said in one of the threads that it's a different circuit altogether.

 

[bongomania]

So why not? Why not sign the petition? If it goes somewhere, alright. Good for those of you who will buy a bass whammy. Otherwise, we can seek help elsewhere. No harm no foul; at least someone tried something.

Yeah, you've got a solid point there, I agree. I guess I have been so "anti" this thread because I'd like to see all this effort and interest be directed somewhere it is more likely to achieve good results (e.g. EHX). But as you say, the petition is not hurting anything and who knows, it might help.

 

[SpankyPants]

I may have missed something, and I have not tried a Tone Hammer in person yet, but the advance reviews all say the "dirt range" of the Tone Hammer is mostly in the light-overdrive category, while the AGRO goes from distorted to hella crazy distorted. Aguilar themselves said in one of the threads that it's a different circuit altogether.

Heh.... I guess that shows how long it's been. Last thing I remember hearing about it was from NAMM, when someone called it the AGRO in a stompbox....

My b.

 

[bigchiefbc]

Yeah, you've got a solid point there, I agree. I guess I have been so "anti" this thread because I'd like to see all this effort and interest be directed somewhere it is more likely to achieve good results (e.g. EHX). But as you say, the petition is not hurting anything and who knows, it might help.

well, worst case scenario, and Digitech basically laughs in our faces, couldn't we just take this petition, and give it to EHX to say, "Look how many people want a bass-centric whammy pedal. You already have the HOG, you're most of the way there!"

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I did get a response from Digitech. It was ,"Thank you for your comment about the Bass Whammy." So that could mean that it was forwarded or it was put in the bit bucket. A few days should determine the outcome. Again, I'm not optimistic, but I'm trying.

Let you know if I hear anything.

 

[rustynuts]

Go to a Guitar Center and watch how some kids choose their pedals, man. Sometimes it takes a cool design to peak interest, a recommendation from a friend, the cult status, etc.

Give this round to Spanky. A few weeks ago I was in the local Music-Go-Round and was entertained by this thirteen or fourteen year old kid dragging his dad around the store. He wanted to start a band and I guess his dad has money, so....

He wanted a blue guitar, he picked out a blue bass. I did point out that it was a bass guitar but he didn't seem to care. I'm not even sure he realized there was a difference.

He bought a smallish Marshall combo to go with it even though the sales guy tried to point out that it was a guitar amp to go with the bass guitar. He didn't care, he knew the Marshall name and wanted one.

And last but not least, he bought the English Muff'n because it had the cool British flag on it. Never plugged anything in, just bought the stuff.

 

[SpankyPants]

Thanks, nuts. I know it's hard to believe - not everyone so carefully combs through and screens out their music gear purchases like the gear nerds at TB. Those kind of people make me sick, and I judge them. Frequently.


And FWIW, I just signed. I'm number 720. I also think this is worth pointing out:

702. garry busey what's a bass whammy?

Gold star. And a silver for misspelling Gary.

 

[KarateKid25]

Thanks, nuts. I know it's hard to believe - not everyone so carefully combs through and screens out their music gear purchases like the gear nerds at TB. Those kind of people make me sick, and I judge them. Frequently.


And FWIW, I just signed. I'm number 720. I also think this is worth pointing out:



Gold star. And a silver for misspelling Gary.

Not that it really matters, but I know a couple of Garrys, one being my boss at work. Two Rs.

 

[SpankyPants]

But how does Gary Busey spell it?

I'll give ya a hint:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[rustynuts]

Damn, he be scary looking....You related Spanky?

 

[SpankyPants]

Not by blood. Unfortunately.