Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Yay, disagreement! My favoriteSo much more interesting than talking to an echo chamber.
Alright, so I think it's a healthy to think of it as a game, though I will point out no other effects pedal company or product in my life operates this way. You can find it fun, but surely you can also admit it is nonstandard approach to business?
Yes, it is non-standard...and therefore refreshing, IMHO.
We live in a world where everything can be obtained within several seconds by few clicks on a screen: groceries, insurance, TV, car, theater tickets, etc. I find it pleasing that there are still items that require additional effort.
After all, none of the Broughton Audio products is a life neccessity. We all will survive if we don't score in the next batch...
If I had to guess, Josh isnt in the position to over build drops, or takes the safer approach so future builds can make it to the cue. Ive seen one misjudged drop really hurt these smaller builders. Predicting what people will like initially, how many people will invest, and how to even fortel quantity down the road, are talents all buisness owners strive for, but let's be honest in this day and age, never happen. Im a firm believer that quantity can reflect re sale value, obviously, but Ive rarely purchased something because I thought it would be a lesser amount available (if anything it adds an extra variable of stress on drop day)
If I catch myself getting sour (or salty..) on drop day, I just remember how it was back when dates/models just dropped out of nowhere lol - there was no time to think, just buy buy buy. I cant count the amount of sms I got "wth did I just get?! Lol"
Ive sat many out this year, but thats almost all to do with the financial variable. Having upcoming models posted has allowed me to decide easier, where to apply what $ I do have.
If I catch myself getting sour (or salty..) on drop day, I just remember how it was back when dates/models just dropped out of nowhere lol - there was no time to think, just buy buy buy. I cant count the amount of sms I got "wth did I just get?! Lol"
Ive sat many out this year, but thats almost all to do with the financial variable. Having upcoming models posted has allowed me to decide easier, where to apply what $ I do have.
I agree with your sentiment, but I would not extend it to effect pedals. Despite the ease of ordering groceries and theatre tickets online, there are plenty of things in my life that require genuine effort--music, relationships, professional accomplishments, fitness, etc.--and I would much rather my energy went to those. Purchasing effect pedals need not be one of them. (Using said pedals definitely is!)
Yes, it is non-standard...and therefore refreshing, IMHO.
We live in a world where everything can be obtained within several seconds by few clicks on a screen: groceries, insurance, TV, car, theater tickets, etc. I find it pleasing that there are still items that require additional effort.
After all, none of the Broughton Audio products is a life neccessity. We all will survive if we don't score in the next batch...
I share this suspicion because Broughton is a very small business all things considered. But this in no way means the time and size of an upcoming batch cannot be made known. It's also an argument for pre-orders because they eliminate the need to predict, minimizing uncertainty for buyer and builder alike. (Though again, I am not making that argument.)
I've never gotten sour or salty on a drop day. (Never had too, thankfully: every pedal I've seriously tried for I have managed to purchase.) Again, my primary point is to give customers their time back by giving them as much information as possible.
Yeah, I too have appreciated upcoming models postings (such as they are) because, like you, they have allowed me to make informed decisions as to where my money goes. For example, I sat out the Royal MK and Wavering Radiant because they did not seem like effects I needed, but I absolutely purchased the Sonoran because I want to compare it to the combination of Quicksilver into Super Watt. A tube preamp with drive is a use case I have.
Last edited:
I think the lack of knowledge can sometimes be easier on the builder, in regards to people that miss out. A semi popular build of 10 can sell out in the same time a very popular drop of 100 can. People start mathing and building spreadsheets, and then the emails never stop..
I also have a theory about these "posted amounts" as well. Tin hat theories, but never the less, those can be easily manipulated to reflect whatever you want
The only reason I even envolve myself in these discussions, is Ive always found this market very interesting, what makes it tick ect. But Im far beyond content at this stage of music gear honestly (and I have much less than I used to)
I also have a theory about these "posted amounts" as well. Tin hat theories, but never the less, those can be easily manipulated to reflect whatever you want
The only reason I even envolve myself in these discussions, is Ive always found this market very interesting, what makes it tick ect. But Im far beyond content at this stage of music gear honestly (and I have much less than I used to)
Can't rule out simple FOMO as a major driving force. At least Josh doesn't pull horse 
like 'surge' pricing. Bottom line for me is that I always feel like Josh is fair and he's definitely helped people out on the back end with repairs and modifications (thanks again the ohm change on my big boy Messenger).
like 'surge' pricing. Bottom line for me is that I always feel like Josh is fair and he's definitely helped people out on the back end with repairs and modifications (thanks again the ohm change on my big boy Messenger).
The possibility exists that announced drops-i.e. product X will be available at 7 am July 20th will simply give flippers with a degree of sophistication a clear edge. Witness some of the past 3Leaf drops of 300+ units that sold out before consumers could fill necessary fields- gone in less than 60 seconds, only to be listed later here and on the Verb at inflated pricing. This happened.
The present marketing strategy- you pretty much know ~ when the drop will occur, but it isn’t definitive combats this in that buyers have to F5.
If i missed a drop here, it was on me. No one else. No real mystery- we pretty much know to be logged in in most cases between 6:45 Eastern to 7:30 at the latest. I’m ok with this, and i feel like this should continue. Everyone has an opportunity, apologies to those in Pacific time, those who have to get up @4 in the morning, but that would likely be the case if Mr. B announces his drops at a time that is comfortable for him, regardless.
Unless it is noon drop, something that a lot of manufacturers choose to do, someone somewhere will be inconvenienced.
The present marketing strategy- you pretty much know ~ when the drop will occur, but it isn’t definitive combats this in that buyers have to F5.
If i missed a drop here, it was on me. No one else. No real mystery- we pretty much know to be logged in in most cases between 6:45 Eastern to 7:30 at the latest. I’m ok with this, and i feel like this should continue. Everyone has an opportunity, apologies to those in Pacific time, those who have to get up @4 in the morning, but that would likely be the case if Mr. B announces his drops at a time that is comfortable for him, regardless.
Unless it is noon drop, something that a lot of manufacturers choose to do, someone somewhere will be inconvenienced.
Have we not grown past these discussions at this point?
Nobody owes you anything.
Nobody owes you anything.
Last edited:
FWIW, I like Josh’s current approach to drops. To my mind there is no “one size fits all” approach. His current approach is not totally perfect for me by any means, but I’ve come to terms with it. I presume it meets his needs, and there are many happy customers on this forum (me included). His products are top drawer, as is his customer service.
Re the S300 preorder. This is a big build and not something where one would want to take up time or money "guessing" at the demand for a drop. Given it's cost, it's also not something I would personally want to deal with from a communication perspective, as I'm sure there are a number of tire-kickers that don't end up committing. Setting it up as a preestablished preorder alleviates a significant amount of opportunity cost and allows those who are actually interested to easily commit while reducing email inquiries. It's a unique and pricy item with a complex and long build time. Seems like a very efficient way of managing it. I don't see this as any form of "change in the market" rather, just smart operations management.
It’s a change for Josh’s market…rather, approach or philosophy.
Realistically, to even remotely have a chance, I have to start F5ing at 3:30/3:40 a.m.. It's fine, I get to live in a beautiful part of the world that, by and large, has far less weather effery and other problems. These are luxury items.
Nothing better to do than wait for the mailman at this point.
Next will be how inefficient the post office is..
And maybe, if we're lucky, some tracking discussions
I in no way discount the USPS for their excellent job in delivering my parcels
Well there's some merit behind that discussion, but I'm pretty sure talking politics is still taboo here so best not to get into that either.
FWIW- there are 23 of these in the wild. I liked mine so much that I commissioned an amp build JUST for the S300. For a time at least two of them were later available here. I liked it so much that it necessitated altering my playing style as i found it to be almost clinically revealing under circumstance. The interplay between the Gain and Master allows you to enjoy some breakup or not depending on what it is you seek.
Or someone who's good with the oven or the grill could post food pictures...
Maybe... but right now, it's just the S300, which is a uniquely different device and a uniquely different price point than the pedals that are typically released. The market for an S300 is not at all the same market as any other given pedal he produces. If this is going to be the way for all drops going forward (which it doesn't seem to be yet), then yes it's a different approach/philosophy. But as of right now, I don't see this as anything but smart production management for an ultra-premium niche device with a very specific market. If "flippers" want to try to flip a US$1,450 piece of gear in this market , when anyone can simply click the preorder button direct, all the power to them. Otherwise, Josh can focus on design and production of his pedals and only work on S300's when someone actually commits to buying one. Either way, there's only one person who knows for sure... and the rest is just us speculating.
