Zvex, troubledtom, getting started in the FX business

[jimmy]

hi guys

i am interested to know as to how you guys got started in the business, because id sure like to do it one day.

please, tell us your story.

cheers
Jim

[troubledtom]

well.....................................
   i built some pedals that i made for me, people liked them and wanted them. i started small ,got a web site up[that badly needs updating] and just
hammered at it. now i have a 2000 sqft factory and a 6-9 month waiting list.
   when i play a gig people will buy the devices on my pedal board, cool and crazy.
 i have have custom enclosures made locally and buy 80% of my parts from mouser.
    that's pretty much it.  :wink:
            peace to you,
                   - tom pollock
  www.troubledvariance.com

[Alpha579]

wow, id love to do that some day

[zachary vex]

tom, you've got to tell me how you do it.  8^)

[troubledtom]

if it wasn't for for the coolness and greatness of the mighty Z , i don't know if i'd still be doing it :wink:
    dann green really helped me out for the the fist year of two. mike both
, jack orman, paul perry, doc, and chistian. have helped me out in a pinch more than once , thanx gents. ohh and if it wasn't for aron alot of us would
of never met , aron your cool. leo fender was a great help too.
    and last but far from least bob moog is god and the sad thing is he's getting old and it'll be crushing to see him go
      peace to ALL pedalpals,
                 - tom

[Marcus Dahl]

I wish I knew how Tom does it all too!!!  :shock:
I know I'm no where in the same league.  :oops:

It was good talking to you Monday. Thanks.

[Transmogrifox]

I've thrown the idea around.  Thinking about it, you kinda have to find your niche.  Your business is a reflection of who you are (keep in mind these are just my present thoughts about it, I am by no means speaking from experience as I have only ever sold one custom job on eBay once).  If who you are and the types of effects that you dream up happen to be what people are looking for, then you end up in the place of those like troubledtom and Mr. Fuller where you're just making some cool stuff and people are like, "Wow, I need to have one of those, can you make me one?"

Once you have the effects that people like, you need to be able to produce them in an efficient and quality manner.  If you can deliver a problem-free product that's easy to figure out, you're in a good place.  

My biggest hang-ups in making FX that people like are:

1.  Most of my circuits are rat-nests on a breadboard.
--The solution:  How badly do I want to market it?  If I think it's worth marketing, I will put a serious amount of time into perfecting the breadboard circuit and put it in a rugged and attractive enclosure.

2.  Noise, annoying whines, parameters that can potentially make the circuit unstable.

--The solution:  Spend more time ironing out the details, and as above, put it in a rugged enclosure.

For now I've made up my mind (kinda by proxy) that I'm not ready to spend that much time perfecting circuits.  Instead, I go run 14 miles up a mountain and praise God for the beauty of His creation.  If He makes me an FX company, that will come in its own time.

I know that none of you were asking for my opinion on this stuff, but the question inspired me and helped me think through this stuff as I write.

Nevertheless, I hope that there's some food for thought that may encourage and stimulate those of you who are talented in this area.  Best wishes to you all who do this for a living.  You're miles ahead of me!

[troubledtom]

you kinda have to find your niche


that's right!!!!!!!!!!!
   you are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo right, look at puretube,
he's a phuck'n monster.
   rock on ,
    - tom :wink:

[troubledtom]

I wish I knew how Tom does it all too!!!  :shock:
I know I'm no where in the same league.  :oops:

It was good talking to you Monday. Thanks.

come now, marus.
    hey it was nice talking to you too!!!!!!!!
               peace,
                   -tom

[troubledtom]

off to the ozzfest and namm show , be back in a week
  - tom :twisted:

[Marcus Dahl]

I wish I knew how Tom does it all too!!!  :shock:
I know I'm no where in the same league.  :oops:

It was good talking to you Monday. Thanks.

come now, marus.
    hey it was nice talking to you too!!!!!!!!
               peace,
                   -tom

I know, I know. It's just like you said. "Just get in there and do it." I'm just amazed at your schedule. You are the "Iron Man" of pedal builders. Have fun at Ozzfest and NAMM. Be safe bro.