The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[Sushi Box FX]

@Sushi Box FX Maybe recall how much a pain its is to fix the issue before running with the "I'M SO EXCITED I WANT TO RELEASE THIS RIGHT NOW" attitude gets the best of you, but no one here is stupid, everyone including the maker knows how to facilitate this correctly, its execution that's a lacking imho

Yup, that's exactly what needs to happen. Rushing things that I want to happen is a common occurrence in my life and is probably one of the main reasons I'm not in leadership at my day job. I rush decisions because WHY SHOULD I BOTHER TO WAIT???

Exactly this. This is exactly why I should wait. It's been said before, and I hope to get to a point where it doesn't need to be said anymore. I need to slow down and be more careful.

 

[revd]

I'm not in leadership at my day job.

Well, I am, but I'm probably much too visceral to be so. Ah well, keeps everyone on their toes, including myself.

 

[NKBassman]

Yup, that's exactly what needs to happen. Rushing things that I want to happen is a common occurrence in my life and is probably one of the main reasons I'm not in leadership at my day job. I rush decisions because WHY SHOULD I BOTHER TO WAIT???

Exactly this. This is exactly why I should wait. It's been said before, and I hope to get to a point where it doesn't need to be said anymore. I need to slow down and be more careful.

The other side of that coin is that, sometimes, no matter how many times you look at a thing, stuff gets missed. When I'm proofreading a work report for final issue, I always print it for final review. Especially if it's something I've written myself. This helps me read it over more critically and I don't just gloss over what I already know it says on the page.

This is also where a second set of knowledgeable eyes giving things a final once-over can really make a big impact.

 

[el murdoque]

Is it for a Smoke Signal? Cuz that would just be too awesome.

Awesome it would have been, but sadly, I was too late ordering the SS for Oct. Mine will be built during November, this is a UA. At least I went with the psychedelic artwork.

 

[Kelly robinson]

Some ' tough love " here today and some appropriate points are being made to be honest . Nathan absolutely needs to be better at his quality control on released models even if some of the mistakes made are not anything more than labeling issues . It all counts in the end . What bares remembering though - is that he has been very forthright and upfront about acknowledging any issues - all the while turning out quite a few impressive sounding pedals . He may need to self edit his output better or slow his roll a bit with new designs but all in all - it seems like he has been a benefit to the pedal community . .... Kelly

 

[Sushi Box FX]

The other side of that coin is that, sometimes, no matter how many times you look at a thing, stuff gets missed. When I'm proofreading a work report for final issue, I always print it for final review. Especially if it's something I've written myself. This helps me read it over more critically and I don't just gloss over what I already know it says on the page.

This is also where a second set of knowledgeable eyes giving things a final once-over can really make a big impact.

And that's something I need to find a good resource for. As I think most of you know I do circuit design for my day job. When I do a design at work it takes months before boards get ordered because it goes through multiple stages of reviews with dozens of engineers. Block diagrams, schematics, part lists, and layouts all have their own reviews, and depending on complexity sometimes multiple reviews.

The Sushi Box FX engineering team is unfortunately just me. I've tried having random strangers online review designs for me, but where nobody really has a vested interest in the design I haven't had anybody that has been able to contribute in a meaningful way. So it really comes back to me, I need to slow down. I think something I'll be working on over my break is working on a process with a design checklist like I have at work. The Sushi Box design process is fast because it's completely unregulated. There are designs where I've gone from abstract idea to having boards ordered in a couple hours. While it's neat to be able to do that, I should really break up the process. So I'll work on that. Sushi Box has grown bigger faster than I ever planned it to, and my manufacturing process has stepped up, but the design process really hasn't. I'm a borderline real company, and I need to act like one.

I could keep going, but you're probably getting tired of reading this.

The buck stops here.

 

[moon-bass]

." I'm impatient and I rush things a lot

Man, this is me to a T. I sympathize, empathize, etc. Your paragraph described my morning lol.

 

[NKBassman]

And that's something I need to find a good resource for. As I think most of you know I do circuit design for my day job. When I do a design at work it takes months before boards get ordered because it goes through multiple stages of reviews with dozens of engineers. Block diagrams, schematics, part lists, and layouts all have their own reviews, and depending on complexity sometimes multiple reviews.

The Sushi Box FX engineering team is unfortunately just me. I've tried having random strangers online review designs for me, but where nobody really has a vested interest in the design I haven't had anybody that has been able to contribute in a meaningful way. So it really comes back to me, I need to slow down. I think something I'll be working on over my break is working on a process with a design checklist like I have at work. The Sushi Box design process is fast because it's completely unregulated. There are designs where I've gone from abstract idea to having boards ordered in a couple hours. While it's neat to be able to do that, I should really break up the process. So I'll work on that. Sushi Box has grown bigger faster than I ever planned it to, and my manufacturing process has stepped up, but the design process really hasn't. I'm a borderline real company, and I need to act like one.

I could keep going, but you're probably getting tired of reading this.

The buck stops here.

Maybe start by sleeping on it after completing a step in the design, and then checking over your work the next day before moving forward? Fresh eyes and all that...

I'd even go so far as to suggest adding a month of beta testing before any final release for purchase. Send a handful of test units out the door to a few people who know what to look for, and get their feedback before proceeding with production. Obviously this adds delay, cost and complication, but it may help catch some of these things before building up and sending out a dozen units with a misprint on the artwork.

 

[labeledbass]

 

[Kelly robinson]

Hey SB - Just offhand but in reading your latest reply - it seems like the steps giving you trouble involve the prototype testing and actual final quality control stages of production . Some of this could be assisted by a trusted second set of eyes - certainly on the quality control side prior to shipping . Maybe that could be done by a local bassist who's willing to help out in some form of barter arrangement just to run thru the final pedal model to insure it is up to snuff - ins are ins and outs are outs etc . The prototype testing aspect should be your baby and your responsibility with a checklist done to make sure output volumes are appropriate - no whines are present etc . - you're happy with the sound and whatever else needs to be checked before going to the manufacturing stage . Make one and put it aside that you know is as perfect as you can get it in all aspects - then have someone check your production units against that standard . I'm sure I'm not inventing the wheel here but hopefully this will help some .... Kelly

 

[kranahan]

There's an SBVT and Westinghouse (Don't tell Night Owl Industries!) in the classifieds. NA.

 

[Lowendtech]

Not too long ago, I bought a SVT emulation pedal that was well regarded and liked by all who tried it. It had been recently redesigned in a smaller housing. When the new batch shipped out, a bunch of us had a banter on the pedals tb thread about the high an low switches function. The high seemed to work one way but the low switch seemed (and did) work opposite. High got activated in the up position but the low switch worked the opposite way. They weren’t labeled as to which way they worked just what they were for. In all the discussion in the thread, the maker (active in the thread) never once even acknowledged it or chimed in to say anything about it.
I don’t have that pedal anymore for a different reason but the lack of input into peoples concerns bothered me more than the switch orientation. Once I knew what it was doing, it was a non issue.

Kudos to Nathan for being a standup, transparent, forthright and forthcoming dude.

I lost count decades ago of how many new vehicle releases that needed warranty recalls, FAR’s, or other “after sale corrections” due to things that became apparent after the vehicle was built. Engine failures due to manufacturing debris left in the exhaust pipe. An entire years worth model run that needed new ABS modules for the antilock brakes because of manufacturing debris in the module. On an entry level motorcycle no less.

Preventable? Yes.
Is Nathan a good dude that stands behind his work? Yes.

 

[NKBassman]

...
Preventable? Yes.
Is Nathan a good dude that stands behind his work? Yes.

100%. Nathan made my Westinghouse right, and refunded me in full on my Dr Wattson when he couldn't do the same for that pedal.
Any suggestions I offer are just honest suggestions for consideration, without any snark or ill will.

 

[Nuage420]

Just an observation... @Sushi Box FX gets an awful lot of pressure and badgering to hurry up and build and ship pedals from us right here in TB. If you all want him to slow down and QC then you can't turn around and fuss about lower monthly output or less frequent new designs.

 

[Lowendtech]

without any snark

That’s because you're Canadian and are probably hopped up on tree sauce (aka maple syrup) and Timbits.

 

[labeledbass]

Just an observation... @Sushi Box FX gets an awful lot of pressure and badgering to hurry up and build and ship pedals from us right here in TB. If you all want him to slow down and QC then you can't turn around and fuss about lower monthly output or less frequent new designs.

Problem is, the same people that rush and request, also comment rest and relax, it's got to be taxing. This is a really strange business sometimes, I really find it interesting how each different maker gets "it done". I'm glad I'm on the other end of this machine.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback. I absolutely make mistakes, I will always acknowledge them and try to fix them, but obviously it would be a lot easier if I could reduce and eventually eliminate them. So based on feedback both in this thread and from private messages (both of which I appreciate), I'm going to be making some changes. These will be gradual, as all things really should be, but hopefully I can start phasing out my tendencies that let me cause mistakes.

• I have made a beta testing arrangement with a fellow pedal builder to test each other's pedals. This will be a mandatory step for every release, no more being the only person checking my own work. He's a good friend, but we're past the point of "he's my friend and I don't want to offend him" and we're at the point of "he's my friend so I'm going to tell him if something is $hit." Tone is subjective so that won't be the main purpose of testing, but he will be checking to make sure everything works the way it's supposed to and that everything makes sense, nothing is intermittent or weird, etc.
• I will be looking through ordering trends to figure out which pedals haven't been seeing much interest and will be cancelling some models. It's easier to do quality control when I have a handful of models then when I have 17, and if something is ordered once in 6 months then it doesn't make sense that I spend time and effort supporting it when my time could be better spent on something else.
• As mentioned above I will be slowing down my design process, allowing myself a sufficient amount of time to review each step before moving on to the next, so I won't have the opportunity any more to rush something through and miss points of the design. I'm going to see if I can find someone knowledgeable enough to do a full engineering design review, but in the meantime slowing down and making each step at least a day instead of a couple minutes should help.

I'll continue looking at things to see what else I can do to improve, and I always continue to welcome suggestions and feedback. This has further solidified my decision to take December off

 

[labeledbass]

Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback. I absolutely make mistakes, I will always acknowledge them and try to fix them, but obviously it would be a lot easier if I could reduce and eventually eliminate them. So based on feedback both in this thread and from private messages (both of which I appreciate), I'm going to be making some changes. These will be gradual, as all things really should be, but hopefully I can start phasing out my tendencies that let me cause mistakes.

• I have made a beta testing arrangement with a fellow pedal builder to test each other's pedals. This will be a mandatory step for every release, no more being the only person checking my own work. He's a good friend, but we're past the point of "he's my friend and I don't want to offend him" and we're at the point of "he's my friend so I'm going to tell him if something is $hit." Tone is subjective so that won't be the main purpose of testing, but he will be checking to make sure everything works the way it's supposed to and that everything makes sense, nothing is intermittent or weird, etc.
• I will be looking through ordering trends to figure out which pedals haven't been seeing much interest and will be cancelling some models. It's easier to do quality control when I have a handful of models then when I have 17, and if something is ordered once in 6 months then it doesn't make sense that I spend time and effort supporting it when my time could be better spent on something else.
• As mentioned above I will be slowing down my design process, allowing myself a sufficient amount of time to review each step before moving on to the next, so I won't have the opportunity any more to rush something through and miss points of the design. I'm going to see if I can find someone knowledgeable enough to do a full engineering design review, but in the meantime slowing down and making each step at least a day instead of a couple minutes should help.

I'll continue looking at things to see what else I can do to improve, and I always continue to welcome suggestions and feedback. This has further solidified my decision to take December off

Awesome news! I was thinking well what if 9 out of 10 are fine, and number 2 gets beta, what about number 10's issue, but looking back the issue is always across the board, you seem to catch the inconsistencies in batches pretty well, in house second eyes like some one before mentioned would be paramount here

 

[NKBassman]

That’s because you're Canadian and are probably hopped up on tree sauce (aka maple syrup) and Timbits.

I sometimes use maple syrup in my Old Fashioneds, does that count?
"No Comment" on Tim Hortons. :barf: I get my doughunts from the fancy-pants independently owned shop up the street.

 

[bassbrad]

@Sushi Box FX I [we] appreciate your enthusiasm, creativity and that you are constantly innovating new industry standard products in very short times, especially compared to the rest of the industry -
all by yourself!!. That takes a Bold and Brave Soul! Cherish That!

That sometimes comes at a cost, I see a value those things some see as "mistakes". Those early submini tubes effects, side jack boxes, limited edition finishes are all precious as are those first Finally DI boxes. Those are worth collecting and are fine pieces of gear.

And trust me being the boss or on the management team ain't all that fun, not for those of us that care.