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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: Joep on April 06, 2004, 05:14:24 AM

Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Joep on April 06, 2004, 05:14:24 AM
Hi All,

I noticed some movies of Zack (?) demoing his pedal. Especially the Probes are ultra cool!

Check this (http://www.zvex.com/videos.html) link:
http://www.zvex.com/videos.html

Bye,

Joep
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: zachary vex on April 06, 2004, 05:34:20 AM
8^)
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: gez on April 06, 2004, 06:57:29 AM
Zach, are the ‘roll-bars’ on the Nano made from aluminium tubing?  If so, how easy is this stuff to bend?  Or does someone else do all that for you?  

The reason I ask is I bought some diecast boxes recently with deep holes in the front which are just the right size for quarter inch tubing.  In my case the bars wouldn’t serve any purpose, but would look cool (and would get rid of those unsightly holes!).
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Mike Burgundy on April 06, 2004, 07:18:59 AM
Looking into the mad scientist's lab - cool!
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Bassybert on April 06, 2004, 07:51:34 AM
I wish ALL manufacturers would give as much insight into their products as this. I take my hat off to Mr Vex - not only are his products totally cool and recognisable, they sound amazing as well. Top stuff!!

Also, sounds like Zak is parodying Apple in the Nano Head video - Jeff Goldblum eat your heart out!!!

Peace

Jim :D  :D
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: zachary vex on April 06, 2004, 08:09:34 AM
Quote from: gezZach, are the ‘roll-bars’ on the Nano made from aluminium tubing?  ...

no, they are actually solid nickel-plated brass.  they are bent before being plated... when i get them, they're all ready.
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: zachary vex on April 06, 2004, 08:10:36 AM
Quote from: Bassybert...Also, sounds like Zak is parodying Apple in the Nano Head video - Jeff Goldblum eat your heart out!!!

Peace

Jim :D  :D

i'm not familiar with this... a commercial?
Title: o
Post by: Bluesgeetar on April 06, 2004, 08:13:59 AM
Off topic question for Zachary.  Hey Zach do you prefer Electrolytics or Tantalums in your circuits and why?  Please help big guy. :(
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Bassybert on April 06, 2004, 08:20:28 AM
QuoteBassybert wrote:
...Also, sounds like Zak is parodying Apple in the Nano Head video - Jeff Goldblum eat your heart out!!!

Peace

Jim  

i'm not familiar with this... a commercial?

Hi Zachary

It was a commercial here in the UK, something about 'the worlds smallest, fastest, most powerul computer!

Jim
Title: Re: o
Post by: zachary vex on April 06, 2004, 08:32:32 AM
Quote from: BluesgeetarOff topic question for Zachary.  Hey Zach do you prefer Electrolytics or Tantalums in your circuits and why?  Please help big guy. :(

i've used both.  tantalums can have longer life.  the tone of each is different.  neither are perfect, but they're what we've got.  

i use electrolytics in the nano head for large values because it's traditional to use electrolytics in tube amps and tantalums aren't available in really high voltages (250V for example.)  i use electrolytics for my smaller pedals because they have a smaller footprint and are available in a wider variety of lead spacings.  it's mostly a matter of practicality.  when i first started, for example, i found a bunch of surplus 10uF caps and used them for years in the fuzz factory and SHO circuits, until i ran out... then i switched to electrolytics, and in those particular circuits it was hard to tell i had changed anything.
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: AL on April 06, 2004, 08:41:41 AM
Gez,

Aluminum is very easy to bend with a pipe bender.  You should be able to pick up a small hand held bender at a supply shop but aluminum tubing isn't cheap or sturdy.  If you bend it too much it will break so you should use the bender whenever possible to alleviate stress points.  If I remember correctly (it's been about 5 years) tubing around that approx. size was about $20 for 6 foot sections from McMaster-Carr -  they should also have a bender (which isn't cheap either).  http://www.mcmaster.com/

AL
Title: O
Post by: Bluesgeetar on April 06, 2004, 08:51:05 AM
Thanks Zach!  Oh and sorry for last year.  :)
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Chris R on April 06, 2004, 09:01:41 AM
Yeah.. those vids are cool.. i havn't seen the probe ones yet.. but i'm shopping for a lofi now ;p

i definately feel alot better about buying something that i can't play in a local music store.. after seing the vids.

keep up the good work z

C
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Doug H on April 06, 2004, 09:22:46 AM
Very nice! It's good to have some definitive examples of what these sound like. The seek and ooh-wah remind me a little of the sound of the oberheim filter/sample&hold. I like that sound a lot. I like the wah-probe and wooly mammoth as well as the nano head too. Very impressive. :D

Doug
Title: Octane III... yes..please!!!
Post by: Winged Eel Fingerling on April 06, 2004, 09:47:31 AM
WOW!!! I'd never heard the Octane III in action before these vid clips...I'm blown away. :shock:  It sounds awesome when Eric plays those low power chords, really gnarly and nasty, mmmmmmmmmmmmmeaty!!
Looks like thee ole Tone Bender's headin' for eBay : )

Excellent work Mr Z,  :D
Dave
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: BDuguay on April 06, 2004, 10:09:24 AM
While Zachery is still here I have some constructive critism(sp?).
This goes for the Boss's and Ibanez's of the pedal world too. Lock washers.
It seems nobody uses them.
I added a power supply jack to a friends old SHO, a pretty darn cool piece'o'gear, and noticed an absence of lock washers on the in and output jacks. Same goes for a Blues Driver and Tube Screamer I recently worked on. This may sound petty to some but, in the case of the Blues driver, the circuit relied on a ground connection through the chassis. Both the in and output jacks were loose from use and that contributed to the problem.
In my line of work, we use at least 2 forms of locking - lock washers and loctite wherever possible. I know Zack can't speak for the two "Big Guys" but I was wondering if there was any reason he doesn't include them.
Just a thought.
Brian
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Bassybert on April 06, 2004, 10:10:49 AM
Man, what a name Winged Eel Fingerling.

Where are you in the UK, i'm in Taunton, Zumerzet!!!!!

Jim :shock:
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: zachary vex on April 06, 2004, 10:52:15 AM
Quote from: BDuguay... I know Zack can't speak for the two "Big Guys" but I was wondering if there was any reason he doesn't include them.
Just a thought.
Brian

i do use them.  i've been using them for a couple of years now.  i didn't at first, and of course, with the glitter paints which settle after a time, i saw a lot of loose jacks in the field.
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: BDuguay on April 06, 2004, 01:00:23 PM
Great pedals made even greater now!
Cool.
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: Alex C on April 06, 2004, 03:43:11 PM
Hey, I just wanted to note how involved Zachary is in all aspects of his business.  With so many other manufacturers, it's hard enough to get a product manual or a live person on the phone.  This guy personally gives a demonstration of his effects, each and every one!  Excellent stuff, Z!

Alex
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: PB Wilson on April 06, 2004, 09:27:13 PM
I checked this page out a while ago and loved listening to the wide range of effect ideas. The only one that wasn't working at the time was the Machine. Thanks for pointing this link out again.

So I finally listened to the Machine and LOVED IT! From the site description I was expecting an atonal mess, but it really makes the guitar signal sound distinctive. Thanks for showing off what it can do.

Now if other effect companies produced such meaningful clips the market would be much more knowledgeable about what exactly they are getting. Great job Zach!
Title: ZVex Demo movies
Post by: MartyB on April 06, 2004, 10:10:56 PM
Winged Eeled fingerling - wasn't that Elliot Ingber - played with Zappa?

That guy was like a mystical guitar god - maybe more fact than fiction, at least when I was 15.
Title: Mean E Tron
Post by: Winged Eel Fingerling on April 07, 2004, 06:45:20 AM
Yeah damn right an he played with the Magic band for a few years too, Fantastic guitar player and surely wins the prize for the coolest hair/beard conbination!!! :D
http://www.bean95.freeserve.co.uk/photos/s464beefheart.htm

Hey Jim I'm in Whiston, near Sheffield- home of Chinese made steel!! LOL

Roll up roll up come buy yer Vox Tone Bender!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3716422852&category=22669&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1

Sorry had to be done :?

mmmmmmmmmmm gold sparkle
:lol:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3716173416&category=22669&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1