Counterfeit effects?

[champbassist]

Has anybody here come across any 'counterfeit' effect pedals? Is there even such a thing?

Here's why I ask: a small music store near my home apparently stocks Line6 and Digitech effect pedals, while none of the bigger shops I've been to in my city deals in anything except Boss (at best, I can get a Line6 multi such as a POD; sad but true). The store is pretty small and inconspicuous and I've never heard of it from any of my musician pals. For such a place to deal in pedals that aren't found in bigger shops seems slightly fishy to me.

Any ideas/experiences?

 

[Dazonbass]

I will be optomistic here for a moment... maybe you found a store owner ahead of the curve, someone actually realised something was missing in your area. After all that is what a good business person is.

I would have thought that boutique pedals would be easier to counterfit and generate a greater profit.

 

[Unrepresented]

To compete with larger retailers (who typically have more efficient profit margins), smaller retailers will have to provide different products. Instead of getting beaten trying to sell Boss pedals for a higher price to cover costs, perhaps they've become an authorized retailer for competing brands.

If you're particularly concerned about it, you should be able to find out if they're an authorized retailer by checking the manufacturers' websites or emailing them.

 

[Laurent]

I would not worry about counterfeit current model pedals. That would be a lot of work for not a lot of money. I supsect there are some fakes in the vintage market (pedals which are used and $500++).

 

[bongomania]

I've seen fakes, but only of high-dollar handmade pedals like Klon, ZVex, and BJFE. There would be no profit in counterfeiting Digitech or Line6--it would cost way too much to make the copies, relative to the selling price!

 

[walker rosewood]

There's cheap fakes of hundreds of well known pedals out there. But you can easily spot them because they say "Behringer" right on them.

 

[kaputsport]

^^^I see what you did there...

 

[Pollinator95]

There's cheap fakes of hundreds of well known pedals out there. But you can easily spot them because they say "Behringer" right on them.

 

[walker rosewood]

If I was slightly more self involved I'd sig my own quote. Not too often I get a zinger of such quality.

 

[BawanaRik]

Copying Boss pedals would be a lot of work for not a lot of money. Zvex pedals on the other hand.