Has a bad graphic ever prevented you from buying a pedal?

[mrverks]

Maybe I'm the only one here who has this issue, but has anyone purposely not added a pedal to their board because it LOOKS terrible? I know.. It's the sound that matters and the visual aesthetic of a pedal should come a very distant 2nd 3rd or 4th down the list, but seriously, as a graphic artist / illustrator by trade, there's certain pedals I wanted to try but won't because they're going to make my pedalboard look like crap.

Take EHX for example.. Most of their pedals look insane, Hot Tubes? killer. Electric Mistress? SUPER cool. But the newer stuff like East River Drive? Soul Food? and to my eternal disgust, the Tone Tattoo? Take Analogman.. KOT is fairly simple aesthetically but looks GREAT.. Peppermint Fuzz? again, amazing yet simple pleasing design.. I want stuff like that on my pedalboard. I get that with a lot of boutique guys, the graphic may come second and the budget may not be there to get a graphic designer on board, but I feel like I kinda struggle with the "never judge a book by it's cover syndrome" and even though I know I shouldn't, I do.

I for one would seriously help out any small boutique pedal maker dirt cheap just to ensure their product looks as good as it sounds.. I also know that once the lights go down and the stage lights go on, the only thing that matters is tone. I get it.. But it still bugs me. Just my two cents.

 

[9520575]

So you'll design some boxes for me for free?
Thank you. I'll PM you some specs next week.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

No, that's one of the stupidest things about this board. Get some spray paint or a sticker. I intend on putting a sticker like this on my Soul Food. Because I think it's hilarious.

 

[GreenKnight18]

I feel like with the number of options and builders big and small out there now you can get a fine sounding pedal for just about any sound you like at a range of prices from 'reasonable,' to pricey, to very pricey.

I totally consider looks. I want my pedals to look as good as they sound, if they don't there is another pedal out there that will.

 

[elron hoover]

They're not shoes.

 

[skiltrip]

Not yet. But I naturally lean toward aesthetics that I like. So a graphic might steer me one way or another if I'm on the fence between two similar pedals.

 

[mrverks]

So you'll design some boxes for me for free?
Thank you. I'll PM you some specs next week.

Probably not for free. I'd do it for trades though. The fun jobs hardly ever pay well.

 

[lightningblues427]

I wont even look at a pedal seriously if it is stamped with weird or decorative graphics, Im talking about the whole each is painted different or its got ladies painted across it that kind of thing....I dont even like colored pedals to be honest with you. give me black, gray or plain metal boxes.

My thought is if they have to paint it out to be a collectors item, then there must be a short in the tech dept. or their trying to jack for an unqualified dollar amount.

what I mean is will the paint job sound better...no...so why the heck do I want to pay extra for it.

I would actually prefer if all my pedals came in gray metal boxes with minimal writing, at least then it would all look good together.

 

[aaronmcoleman]

i'm a pretty minimalist in my design aesthetic. but it's never stopped me from buying a pedal. i'd prefer simple monochrome (boring but classy?), but there are also some killer graphics on some pedals right now.

I was just at NAMM and checked out a bunch of stuff. Mojohand, Walrus, Caitalinbread just to name a few...plus the more minimalist stuff like fairfield circuitry. Some great designs...may not be everyone's thing, but I thought a lot of companies are really stepping up the looks of the pedals.

 

[thewordking]

Nope. Don't care what a pedal looks like. Except for the Greenhouse No Brainer. The whole Cobain suicide graphic just seems a little macabre to me. I think it would bum me out to always look down at it. It sure sounds good in the demos though.

 

[mtperry85]

So you'll design some boxes for me for free?
Thank you. I'll PM you some specs next week.

I'm guilty of not buying anything that doesn't look pleasing... blame it on my education as an architect or just inherent love of cool-looking things.

I'd happily design a pedal for you, whoever you are, as long as it sounds decent and you send me a sample. You can track down my contact information at www.mtparchitecture.com if you're not just being a smartass. I love graphic design, and often enter competitions that offer no compensation unless you win. Working for free is just part of the game when you're trying to make a name for yourself as a designer.

 

[mrverks]

i'm a pretty minimalist in my design aesthetic. but it's never stopped me from buying a pedal. i'd prefer simple monochrome (boring but classy?), but there are also some killer graphics on some pedals right now.

I was just at NAMM and checked out a bunch of stuff. Mojohand, Walrus, Caitalinbread just to name a few...plus the more minimalist stuff like fairfield circuitry. Some great designs...may not be everyone's thing, but I thought a lot of companies are really stepping up the looks of the pedals.

Maybe purposely not buying a pedal simply because of the graphic was too harsh. Probably should've said did a bad graphic ever make you look for a similar pedal from another manufacturer.. I totally agree with you on the Mojo Hand line and Catalinbread stuff.. I honestly like seeing the trend towards more visible well thought out graphics etc.. Think my personal fav is the Catalinbread Manx Loaghtan right now..

 

[guitarslinger21]

I've started a thread just like this and I was attacked big time for being SO superficial.

Hot pink pedals look bad, period.

 

[earwax]

Well I wanted the wren and cuff tri pi but but I kind of didn't want to suffer the abuse from my wife.

 

[mrverks]

I've started a thread just like this and I was attacked big time for being SO superficial.

Hot pink pedals look bad, period.

I think it's BS.. you can't tell me aesthetics have zero factor in a pedal purchase. Maybe for some players. But most people don't buy a car just because it handles well. They don't buy a snowboard if the thing looks like sh*t up on the hill.. If it's superficial why the trend in pedal makers putting more emphasis on graphics?

 

[Drak]

I've started a thread just like this and I was attacked big time for being SO superficial.
Hot pink pedals look bad, period.

So funny you mentioned that, the one pedal I hesitated on was the Iron Bell, I avoided it for awhile hoping I could score one of the black or creme ones but wound up with the standard hot pink.

I wonder if it was subconsciously the hot pink that made me sell it ?

 

[jm9239]

I care about all of the design choices when it comes to pedals or any other products. I tend to gravitate towards pedals that sound AND look great (e.g. Bearfoot, Spaceman, Analogman) and less to those that are missing on one of the design aspects, including looks.

 

[Cgkindler]

The pentagram on this black distortion pedal prevents me from even trying it, because I can't buy it - I'm in a P&W band. Even if I paint over it, well, hey, I'm just not meant to buy that pedal. LOL

Stupid? Eh, matter of perspective. Damaging to my tone? Eh, I do far worse with my fingers than any pedal (or lack thereof) would ever do!

 

[jmaster67]

The Greenhouse pedals with all the death and suicide graphics prevented me from buying the Stonefish chorus even though I like the sound of it. Overall, I like either graphic intensive or minimalist as long as it looks good.
If I had the money to have all my pedals custom painted I would go with original graphics with white on black and black on white alternating in order of the pedals to get sort of a checkerboard look.

 

[William Braddell]

The only thing that would bother me is if it was sexually explicit.